The truth about living in London 

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London is expensive to live, a small apartment in London to rent is about the same price as renting a 3 bedroom house in Nottingham. Think that is the biggest mistake people make, when they move to the UK they go to London. But if they look outside London or further North they will find living is alot cheaper and affordable.

I see nothing has changed: I grew up in London in the 60's and 70's. My father was a full-time teacher, my mother worked part-time and we were always poor!!! But I loved London so much and miss it so much today.

Its nice to have an honest point of view of London as a Swiss moving to London in a few weeks, this video was helpful, thank you !! :)

I lived in London for three years and was out and about at all times of the day and never felt threatened apart from on two occasions where I was foolish and put myself in potentially scary situations. I also never had enough money. I even went through a phase where I pretty much only ate two meals per day with one of them being my free lunch at work, because I just couldn't afford anything more :P But I love London. It was worth it at the time :)

I'm a Brit and having lived in Germany for several years I have no idea why any German would want to live in the UK. Germany is, in my opinion, much nicer country with a better quality of life. Of course there were things that infuriated me for e.g. the myth that Germany is efficient... just try and deal with a government department to realise the myth! but overall I think Germany is a super country.

My dad has a very well-paid job in the City and he still lives in a relatively small, shared flat. London is off the charts in terms of property prices, rental costs, transport prices etc.

Move to Cardiff. I lived in London for a couple of years and couldn't save a penny, in fact I was constantly in debt. When I moved to Cardiff I saved enough for a deposit for a large house and because the house is pretty large I rent out a few rooms and I pretty much get my mortgage paid. Going out is cheap. Cinema is £4 in Vue Cinema. London was £13.50. Nightlife is fantastic and restaurants are plentiful. Lots of top shows as well, Beyonce was here not so long ago. Rugby day is pretty crazy and Saturday nights. Be warned though as Hotel rooms in Cardiff on Rugby days have been known to charge £1900 per night. Best thing to do is Airbnb it.

Your honesty on how to live and adjust to life in London is very refreshing. Thank you.

As someone living in London for 12 years , I agree with you totally. You forgot about the overcast weather,which looks like it cant decide whether to rain or shine hee hee. However, when it is a clear sunny day, it is like heaven and everyone comes out to enjoy it

What about the social aspect? I am a really social person, never struggled to make friends, love trying out different things but living in London has been the loneliest period of my life. People here don't really talk to each other. They are smart and ambitious but I've found that it's so hard to make real friends. Everybody's dealing with their own life, they're not exactly hostile, just not super friendly. Work is strictly work to them, colleagues don't hang out together outside the office. When I first moved in, I was under the impression that people who live together inevitably become friends and do things together like watch movies or go out. Yeah, no. Housemates don't really acknowledge each other even if they're in the same room. London is so big and with 7/8 million people here, you'd never think that you'd struggle to make friends but unless you already know people here and hang out with their friends it's super hard to meet new people.

I agree. I don't think London was very dangerous. I think it was fairly safe for a large city overall, however while living there the street harassment has made me feel me unsafe at times, so I would be careful walking alone at night. I was living in shoreditch which is a generally safe place but I had a few incidences that startled me, for an example had a guy pull me back once. also living in london I developed like allergies, but then again I'm from Portland, Oregon which is extremely clean in comparison. but for a large city there is a lot of green still.

Brixton 10 years ago and Brixton today are two COMPLETELY different places. It's actually wild. Not saying Brixton was the wild west but the change is crazy

This video was so helpful and honest. Really loved it! Thanks!!!

I've lived in London, Norwich, Edinburgh, Sandbanks and is currently in North Oxford. So, been quite a trip.

I understand .When I moved to a big city, it took me forever to enjoy it. I finally took some time off and played tourist in my own new city.

What is really incredible is that you are a marvelous person and you gave us a great view of human life in their freedom, their expectations, their worries. Nice to see you!

Thanks for the informative video! I am planning on living in London in a few years so this video has helped a lot!

My experience: I live in Holloway. I have never experienced pollution. I worked in Soho for years and it is not dangerous, but Friday night is a chaos. The most confrontation I notice in London was on night buses.

i'm so glad i found your channel, sandy! I am moving to London from America in September, so this has been so helpful. thank you and excited to subscribe!

Hey sandy ! I've discovered your channel a few days ago and I SO love watching your videos ! I am German as well and my future goal is to live in London too:) This video gave me a further insight in what living in London mostly is like .. So thanks a lot ! Xx lots of love from Germany ❤️

Just saw your video first time today. very informative and honest. Thank you

It depends on where you live. London borough of Hounslow is cheap (apart from Chiswick). Places like Richmond or Camden etc are more expensive. Here is an idea you can live in one of the cheapest Travelodges in London for £29 a night which is approx £900 month but obviously no paying gas elec bills or council tax

It's pretty bad all in all. Who prioritises nightlife over the fact that you don't have enough money to be comfortable? Students maybe? As a professional person you want to enjoy the money as fruits of your labour but it london yoy simply cannot.

Staying in Mayfair this week while we look for a place to live. Moving from Los Angeles. I find your channel very helpful

Very informative video, thanks for posting!

good to hear the excitement can outweigh the bad stuff! this was a great honest vid x

Sandy, I live in an English village near Bristol. Opposite my bungalow is open countryside. You can walk for miles in stunning countryside and be perfectly safe. You can walk into the village centre at 2am and be perfectly safe.There is absolutely no danger whatever.

Everywhere I go I feel like I'm missing out on life somewhere else. I don't really have a place where I just want to be all the time. I think a lot of people our age can relate to the money thing, as well.

i lived there 3 yrs for school and had a great time. I did skip meals, walked and did free things often. Sometimes for dinner I would go to Mcdonalds and have an ice cream. Buying clothes?? forget it!! But I was in a different situation because I always knew it would end.

Love London! I'm so happy to have moved here, specially that I moved to Camden. It's not perfect, but I love it. I think the fact that I ride a bicycle everywhere helps a lot in regards to the pollution.

Great video... I've been in London for many years and you got everything pretty much spot on. :)

Unfortunately it is becoming expensive - the cost of living exceeds working salaries in the last few years.

Thank you so mutch Sandy. This helped me a hell of a lot 💜 Someday I'll hopefully be living in Camden as well 👍🏼🤗

Birmingham for me is an excellent option, 1.20hour away on the train, renting pricing are much less, pleasant city, lots of opportunities and investment. Once Hs2 is finished its going to be a 45 min commute to London from here, not to mention 40 mins to Manchester.

Great video like the others.I wish i could live there but it will be my dream for a long time though.

You are very expressive in your face when you speak. and in the tone of your voice. I enjoy your British accent! It is very easy for me to understand it, perhaps because you have a german accent too, as you said. so I ' ve seen almost all of your videos listening to you and improving my english in this way. Thanks! (by the way my mother language is Greek.)

Cheers for the video - we've lived in London for a few years and this video is quite an honest representation! For all those thinking of moving here - you really do need to love the "busy city life" aspect to outweigh the negatives :)

Honestly, everything you said sounds pretty common to almost any large city (at least in the US), and even more so if it's popular with tourists. It's a great idea for a video though because these are very important things to know before you move to a place, and people who haven't experienced it might have no idea whatsoever what to expect. Thanks for taking the time to do it!

I live in one of the most ‘dangerous’ areas of London and she is right it is really not that bad

Opinions are truly beautiful. Life is an adventure, each to their own of course. Thank you so much for your personal input on London. In short everyone has their own take in life..

Thank you for the video, very useful informations.

Vielen, vielen Dank für das ehrliche Video! Das war wirklich unglaublich hilfreich. So eine konkrete Antwort in Bezug auf Geld und Lebensstandard in London hab ich noch nie bekommen. In der Regel hört man ja nur ein generelles "Ja, es ist sehr teuer, aber dafür lebt man in London und man kommt schon irgendwie klar!" Jetzt habe ich eine viel bessere Vorstellung, was das genau bedeutet, also vielen Dank! :)

Live further out of the centre of the city and commute. A 35 or 40 minute journey to the centre of town is not far and puts you in an area where flats/houses are much more affordable.

Thank to this video, this has been the very first time that I've understood most of all what a britsh person says. Thanks for being honest :)

what is the school system like in london when you were going back in the days?

As a foreigner living in London for over 6 years the financial situation seems to be a bit different for me but otherwise you were on point. I do share a flat with 2 other people but i don't find it difficult at all to eat out everyday or party if a want to and still save some money although I have to admit I do tend to wast it on my hobbies and interests more that I should.

Love your videos very helpful and real

you don't need money to have fun in London. There are so many things to do that are free, like all the museums and parks, you can get a London pass and get into places free that would normally cost money. you don't need to go to the bar or club and get drunk or drink at all to have fun..

Everything you said is so accurate!!!

in the big cities in the USA usually it takes 2 generations to actually own and have paid off a home or "flat" (apartment/condo).

London sounds like an expensive city. I've lived there. You could probably enjoy a better standard of living in somewhere like Birmingham, Manchester or Leeds, in the same job.

I lived in London for about 3 years and started to realise it's a money trap! I had a good job at thevtimevand shared a flat with my best friend. But once I helped a friend I had made in London move flat. He had 2 or 3 big bin bags of clothes, a suitcase, few pots and pans, music set and CDs. While others older than me where still renting furnished accommodation. No one owned a Car, I realised if I wanted more I had to leave London. I use to walk after a while sndvlike you started to realise how close many places are but the Tube sometimes makes especially if changing lines, feel there further apart than they are. Like Embankment to Trafalgar square, Trafalgar Squire to Green Park or Leicester squire each is about a 10 minute walk from the other. Or Liecster squire to Tottenham Court Road a 10 minute walk. Advise people to get a map sndvwalk it. The other thing I found livingbin London was how reginal you become to your areas. A metropolitan City but you end up in your hangout ares and only venture beyond to go into central London, visit friend miles away (not often) or for an event. Otherwise yoh concentrate your life on an area.

That's not so bad ! Being a Portuguese living in Lisbon I can assure you that I'm doomed to slavery , however I don't question myself if I go or not to the pub or bar , usually the question is whether if I have lunch or have dinner , and buy my own house is totally out of the equation . Kisses from Portugal .

Thanks for sharing lovely video

Thanks for the video! I love how honest you are :) I love London but I couldn't live there. I guess it depends on what you expect from your life. I couldn't imagine myself living with other people at more than 30 years old :) The most important is to be happy with your life, wherever you live :) London is such a wonderful city, but I guess I will keep on coming as a tourist :D I'm coming this Saturday and I'm really excited! :D

very good use of "rough" there.

Thanks for the advise. I'm applying for a postgraduate course at the U.K., but not sure which place to chose between London and Glasgow. London looks pretty nice, yet I'm concerned about the cost of living there. However living in Costa Rica is freaking expensive nowadays so maybe London's just normal lol

I can appreciate that this video is old, but here's my take on London as of 2019 after being here for 4 years and being mugged once. The police will not help you in emergencies. They will help you if you are a victim of racial discrimination, but violent attacks, not including weapons, are not high priority enough. Property rental and transport prices increase as a percentage year-on-year with no increase of service quality. Considering, as you said, one cigarette per trip, it's now even more expensive than smoking! Threats of terrorism is very real, you see the affects on bridges. I do agree, this is the most exciting city in UK, but the true cost of living here is utterly detrimental to life. Come here at your own risk!

you speak with a nice fluent...I have subscribed your channel

Hello I’m watching your RU-vid video clips for the first time. It’s beneficial for me.

I ❤️ London!!!!

Only bankers push the idea that every single person buys their own home. Never feel ashamed for living with family or friends :)

I like visiting London as well but it is a very busy place to live

We Brazilians make about 3.000$ per Year, we can still pay a rent of 250$ per month and go to the beach at weeknds

Bare in mind you live in central london which is expensive af, I also live in London (born and raised) and my area is still expensive but people still manage to buy their own places at your age so depends which part of London, central London is particularly expensive because of tourists etc

Brixton was a Dangerous place Back in the 70s era, i should know, i used to work there. However life suppose to be different now. i Grew-up in south East London. Great place.

love you guys trying a London accent!

About the tube pollution, the first few days here you will get black soot in your nose. Pretty gross but it goes after a few days.. Some mornings in the victoria line you can see the soot cloud built up. All in all though London is pretty great and you get used to being skint!

i'm visiting London for the first time next month, could you please show me around??

ofc its expensive you live in camden, if you move out to zone 3 it gets cheaper especially south london, only problem is travelling costs

perfect....I'm an optimist, politics aside I think everyone wants what's best for them.... l wish you the best too....I love your channel. I would love to see a travel style video from you too :)

Back in the early 90's you could buy a nice 2 bed apartment in North/West London for around £60k!, salaries havent increased much in that time too yet look at property prices now!, Infact when i started working in the City in 1991, i knew guys earning over £100k back then!...So tough now to get on the property ladder for first time buyers.

Love your videos. Can you tell us something how did you manage with english language in London working and stuff. I am also foreign so that would maybe help me living there. :)))

Hi Sandy. What an upbeat and Lighthearted video that was. I really enjoyed your take on things. I m very glad that you decided to live in Britain. Unless you are rich Im afraid London is just too expensive to live for many. I live in Liverpool. There plenty to do up here and you will have more money to spend. Try visiting us up here when the novelty of London wears off. In fact dont wait, visit us before. Kind and welcoming regards. Dave

I think, it doesn't mind if you don't have enough money to do everything what is funny and expensive, bc as you said, you only have to enjoy those little things that make you become a happier person... nice video!

Every time we reach our target income we set a new higher target before we actually feel that we have achieved our target. We keep doing this until we are so old that we cannot work anymore. We should learn to make the most of what we have

from the point of view from an American who visited London and Paris....safety: I felt that London was extremely safe. I walked almost everywhere in Kensington and was in Westminster alot. cleanliness of air: as soon as i got off the plane and I walked out of the airport I immediately felt a difference in the air. it felt so much cleaner. streets: the streets were clean as far as I was looking however if you're out at night there are quite a lot of people living on the streets. in pars the streets were far dirtier and I didn't like it as much.

THANKS YOU FOR EVERY INFORMATION....^_^

Me and two friends want to share a flat in london when we are 16 (two years away) two of us will be moving from Blackpool so this is good research. I know it will be expensive and hard especially as we will be in college

Thank you so much for your wonderful video. I will study in London in 3 months. Therefore, I will rent a budget room for living. I prefer a cheapest room, can you tell me how much I will pay for a room monthly, and I wish you can give me some pieces of advice, Thank you in advance..

Hello sandy, im from philippines, planninh to work in london and if there's a chance to migrate then ill go. What are those criteria for the eligibility of staying in london? I really appreciate your response! Thanks a lot!

I live in Maryland and I wanna move to London as a dream home

new areas? restaurants, new coffee, new venues, new openings, yeah a lot of excitement in these =S and don't get me wrong London is such a beautiful city its just that the living cost compared to the wages and the crazy working pace docent seem to be outweight for the new restaurant, coffees, etc, etc

you just got to live the best way you can? just enjoy life,

How about Manchester or Liverpool living? Is it easier or possible to get a flat on your own?

You're from Germany!? I never would have guessed that, man hört gar keinen deutschen Akzent raus.. So krass. Möchte nach meinem Abitur auch nach London ziehen, da England quasi meine Leidenschaft und England so, so schön ist. Bin immer noch blown away von deinem britischen Akzent :D Danke auf jeden Fall für das Video, war seeehr hilfreich!

you're totaly right ,if it makes sense

I'm live in Serbia and London is my favorite town

Thing is, for a flat a 1 bedroom flat in Islington I can buy a 5 bed house in the beautiful Co Fermanagh countryside, complete with 2 garages and 2 acres of land... FOUR TIMES OVER And still have some change left in my pocket...

I think about the danger aspect, yes there are news stories of ppl getting stabbed or shot, but it doesn't happen very often that's why it makes the news.

Is the standard of living for end-twenties better in Germany, for normal people ?

I don't want to live in london for ever I just want to keep on moving

i love London!

People in London live miserable lived but convince each other that it’s normal and that it’s worth it. IT’S NOT sorry to break it to you. You’ll eventually end up having to leave the city miserable looking 10 years older than you really are and with no saving. Good luck. Glad I went back to Canada after uni

Brixton is lovely!!! Just a wonderful community x

An excellent video 👍👍

Heyy your video was verry helpfull! But i really want your help, in a few months i'm planning on moving to london by myself. For my gap year. And I really don't know what to do, who i need to call or ask.

can you talk about study in london or maybe working there

I've lived in Paris before and while I think that the streets there were dirtier than in London in terms of litter and dog poo, I got the impression that the air pollution in the metro was not nearly as bad as in the Tube, where I could basically SEE the dirt and dust floating in the air in a brown haze. And I never had black stuff in my snot living in Paris or hear of anyone who did (I did cough up a lot of phlegm, but it was always clear...) Anyway, that's just my experience!