I’ve always wanted to live abroad ever since I watched the Olsen twins constantly galavanting across Europe year after year. Originally, I planned to spend my fall semester in Europe studying abroad at a university. Yet, it somehow worked out to where I was offered a job in London for the summer, perfectly squeezing in a quality amount of time to culture myself while still being able to enjoy my last two years at SMU.
I ventured off to London for a quality chunk of eight weeks. I opted to travel by myself, allowing me to be fully immersed in the culture, as well as the experience. Because of that decision, I was able to learn a lot about living on my own, becoming comfortable in a new city, and how to balance my budget in a fashion capital.
I worried about a lot of things…. where I would get my hair done, what would I would eat, how would I get to work, what to do without my cell phone, but more importantly instagram?! But it wasn’t too long until I figured it all out and started living/eating/going out like a local. Here are the tips that I gathered for living life in London.
1. Food
Well…the foods not the tastiest…and being someone who is on a pretty healthy diet, it was hard to find healthy alternatives. At first, I found myself sticking to the safety of baguettes and tea, but after letting myself go to trying new things, I found ways to feed myself well. Since London is so expensive and not necessarily healthy, I cooked A LOT. There are a couple grocery stores you’ll see everywhere: Marks & Spencer’s, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco.
· Marks & Spencer’s is the best quality of those three. After work, I would go there to buy vegetables, chicken, eggs (they have organic), milk, etc. for cooking back at my apartment.
· Sainsbury’s is good if you want a snack, water, bread, cereal, ice cream, or anything you don’t have to worry about being sketchy (I wouldn’t buy meat or vegetables here).
· Tesco is pretty sketchy – considering they had a recall for putting horsemeat in their ground beef, WTF. But if you need something quick, it’s not a terrible choice with a good household items.
Good news is London HAS a Whole Foods! It’s by the Piccadilly Circus station. It obviously doesn’t do the USA’s Whole Foods justice, but it’s great if you are nearby and need some groceries or take out.
If you need a sandwich or somewhere to eat out for lunch:
· Pret a Manger: great for sandwiches and they make a great chefs salad
· Itsu: good teriyaki chicken and safe to eat sushi
· Pain Au Quotidien: LOVE THIS PLACE. Great for breakfast or lunch sit down. All organic and healthy and just over all delicious. BONUS: they have takeout menu as well.
If you are willing to pay more you will find some great restaurants. Like any big city, London has amazing restaurants for sit down dinners and nice lunches, but if you’re looking to spend your money on clothes, I would recommend cooking for a majority of meals – especially breakfast and lunch. Leicester Square and Camden areas are perfect for a dinner on the town, as well as make sure to check out Piccadilly Circus not just for the food, but the entertaining atmosphere as well.
2. Transportation
The Tube
I took the Tube every day to work. USE IT. It’s not sketchy. It’s very useful and can get you anywhere you need. I took it by myself to and from work with no issues. Get an oyster card which you swipe every time you use it and you just set up an account online and don’t have to pay anything at the station. Only issue with the tube is that it closes around 12-12:30 A.M.
Cabs
I really would not recommend taking a cab because they’re super expensive. It was 30-ish pounds for me to get home when I took a cab (50 bucks). There shouldn’t be any reason to take a cab to the bars because the tube will take you straight to the busiest parts of town where the nightlife is. But if you’re in a situation where you need a cab home and the tubes closed then that probably is the safest way to go.
If you decide to take a cab home there are two kinds of cabs: private hire and non-private hire. If you’re at a bar and you’re leaving. you can ask the bouncer for a cab and he will get you a private hire which means they will give you a flat rate to get you home and it’s usually a nice car. Otherwise, you can whistle your way into flagging down a cab somewhere in a busy part of town. Ultimately, it’s usually much easier and safer to go the private hire route.
3. Shopping/Attractions/Tips
Shopping: Oxford Street, Regents Street, Bond Street, Picadilly Circus and…
-Brick Lane Sunday Up Market & Broadway Market (East Side) – On the first day of work, my boss emphasized the amazing steals at these markets. Similar to farmers markets, they have delicious fresh produce, baked goods, and up and coming clothing designers. If you don’t want to buy, just go to look!
Random Tips:
· Always have cash on you. Most bars have cover charges anyways so you will need it and every time you use your card you will get charged with an international fee of up to $5 for each transaction. So go to an ATM and get the cash out you need. You’ll save tons of money by avoiding using your credit card!
· Be respectful to your new environment. Americans are known for being loud and obnoxious in London – let’s show them a new look.
· Go to a tea party! The Sanderson Hotel has an Afternoon Tea called the Mad Hatters Tea it’s amazing!! It’s Alice in Wonderland themed and the food is delicious.
· If you’re trying to be touristy… take a hop on hop off red bus they’re perfect. You can get off anywhere you want and get back on when you’re ready to go somewhere else.
· Travel Travel Travel Travel – Take the train! Paris is two hours away, Zurich is an hour plane flight and it’s all SO CHEAP. This is your chance to be Mary Kate and Ashley. Don’t shy away from exploring a variety of cultures and places.
4. Safety Tips
· If you’re walking around at night always have a buddy
· When you’re walking off the tube DON’T hold your phone out. There are people who just wait for people to walk off the tube and literally run and grab your phone from your hand. Nothing is worse than being phoneless in a foreign country.
· Buy purses that zip and don’t bring out super valuable stuff. Pick pockets do exist.
I would definitely recommend going abroad if you have the option. Find the right time to go and figure out if you’d like to work abroad, study abroad or just live abroad with friends after you graduate. I loved working and living abroad, it was an experience I’ll always remember.
There’s so much more I could tell you but that would make your adventure a lot more comfortable and easier – but shh, that’s a secret. Abroad is meant to make you uncomfortable, challenging yourself and your boundaries, and most importantly, venturing off to the unknown.