Review of London: Alex’s 2-month Experience
Key Takeaways
Alex’s testimony in London: 1 year post-study internship, expensive living but high salaries, dense subway, multicultural gastronomy, cultural life (theater, free museums). Tips: stay in Zone 2-3 (-30%), Oyster Card, dine at pubs/Whole Foods.
I don’t know if you remember, we followed Alex’s testimony about his Erasmus in Greece where he stayed in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece!
Don’t miss his first testimony: here
Hello Alex,
  ;It seems you were also in London, could you tell us about that experience?
Did you know?
London has 47,000 French people, making it the 6th French city in the world by its expatriate French population. The South Kensington neighborhood is nicknamed “Frog Valley” due to the concentration of students at the Lycée français Charles de Gaulle.
Indeed, that was 4 years ago now… already!
London is one of my best experiences abroad. After working 3 months that summer, I decided to “practice” English, and what better place than London to do it? 🙂
So I booked a one-way train ticket (with Eurostar, ps: details on transport in Europe), without knowing when I would return, it was the end of July. I was advised to use the site Gumtree.com (a classifieds site for jobs/apartments/etc) and with a bit of luck I found a room in zone 2 (Mile End) bordering zone 1 for 90 pounds a week (which was at the time quite good value for money).
| Zone | Shared Rent | Time to Center |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | £1,200-1,800 | 0 min |
| Zone 2 | £900-1,300 | 15-25 min |
| Zone 3 | £700-1,000 | 25-40 min |
| Zone 4 | £600-850 | 40-50 min |
Staying with 2 couples of Colombians and a French woman, the Spanish hostel² !
What to say about London, apart from rather bad weather (I was there in July and August after all) the Londoners themselves are very warm.
I recommend anyone to go have a beer in any local bar, because right after work you will find workers, students, strollers, mixed together, all in a friendly atmosphere.
English people are naturally more open than their French cousins, and that’s a positive point !
  ;Opinion on London : Neighborhoods and places to visit in London
Touristically speaking, the city is worth a visit, even though it was partly destroyed during the Second World War, there are still quite a few monuments and places not to be missed, such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square.
My experience
Discussion with Alex about London: he lived 12 months in zone 3 (Wimbledon), 35 min by subway from the center, rent £800/month in a shared flat instead of £1,400 in zone 1. The difference finances outings.
But also for those who like places a bit more punky and funky, I recommend the markets of Bricklane in East London, the arty neighborhood where you can stroll among clothing stalls, stands of cosmopolitan food (although you have to be careful with the curry from our Indian friends, because it is VERY spicy, my lips still remember it! )
And you can’t leave London without taking a tour of Camden Town, a bit further north in the city, the punk neighborhood of the city which is really worth a visit, for the clothes of course, but also for the really grunge atmosphere it gives off 🙂
  ;Opinion on London : Partying in London
For nightlife, “Fabric” and “Ministry of Sound” are must-sees.
Advantages
- High salaries (30-50 % more than Paris)
- Exceptional multiculturalism
- Improved English
- Free museums (Tate, British Museum)
- Air hub for easy travel
Disadvantages
- Very high cost of living
- Gray weather
- Aging subway
- Rent £1,500+ for a studio in the center
- Brexit complicates procedures
Next, I recommend a small venue in the North called Koko, which was originally an old theater. It has 3 floors, with a stage where 2 live concerts take place during the evening, with heavy rock music—basically, a blast!
A bit more in the center, near Leicester Square, is Tiger Tiger, which will meet your expectations, a nice little bar/club! 🙂
  ;How did you finance all that?
As I said for London, I worked 3 months for this one and a half month stay. It was worth it, and in the end I probably spent about one salary, all included 🙂
The classic trap to avoid
Don’t sign a lease in London without having seen more than 5 accommodations and checked the “deposit protection” (deposit protected by the State). Many scams target French people who don’t know the system.
For my Erasmus stay, I had saved some money by working during the summer and throughout the year, I also received a mobility scholarship of 426 euros per month, which really helped me get by, and finally my parents who covered the rest.
I was able to live well, while still being careful with big extras, but overall I really enjoyed my travels!
ps: info on how to manage your budget while traveling.
  ;Do you have any advice for readers who want to go abroad?
Along the same lines, the article on interview with Alex who provides useful insight. Our feedback on earning money with also offers good tips, and the guide dedicated to steps to monetize completes the picture well.
If I have one piece of advice, it would be this: don’t hesitate, go for it, you won’t regret it!
I just came back from a short week in Milan, where an Italian friend I met in Greece was celebrating his 25th birthday. For the occasion, he invited about ten Erasmus friends to join the party, and it’s always great to realize that friends from one semester are now just friends, whom I see every year, in Paris, at their place, or somewhere unknown, because the same desire brings us together: to travel, make new friends, and live new adventures!
  ;Find more travelers’ testimonials
  ;Thank you for your cooperation!
How much does it cost to live in London?
Shared rent £700-1,800, groceries £250-350, transport £150, outings £300-600. Monthly budget: £1,800-3,000.
Do you need a visa for London post-Brexit?
Yes since 2021: Skilled Worker work visa (minimum £5,000 annual salary), student visa, or 6-month tourist visa.
What is the average salary in London?
Median salary £42,000 gross/year. Expect 30-40% for rent, the rest for living expenses.
