If you are looking for a hip neighbourhood, Bethnal Green is a great choice. Despite London's famous gentrification, it still remains quite affordable. People who live there are a mix of students and young professionals. In recent years and thanks to its convenient location, it's become more and more popular…
London
Tips to Cut the Cost of Shared Living in London
Ready to start living the dream? Bags packet, train/plane booked? Prepared to go out every-single- night? Awesome. Now, let's go back to reality. I need to tell you that sharing a home with strangers (and even friends) isn't a walk in the park. It is in fact a quite…
How to survive in a flatshare
Leaving mom and dad to go to university? Hello you! You're change your life forever. Moving away from your parents' house probably sounds like a dream right now. And it is. However, the reality of sharing a kitchen and bathroom with strangers can be quite a shock. How do you…
The Brexit Effect: Living in London in 2020
As we are approaching the end of this exhausting and quite frankly ridiculous process, it's time to give you some news about Brexit and what will happen now that it has been confirmed that the UK is living the EU on January, 31st 2020. Photo by James Claffey / Unsplash What…
How to Learn English in 3 Months - The Complete Guide
When I firstly moved to London, I could barely speak a hundred words of English. Yes, I was that bad. However, from my personal experience, I truly believe that, with the correct approach, a lot of determination and practice, anyone can master a foreign language in as little as three…
Easy and Remarkable 2020 Resolutions
Here we are again. Once again. A blank page in front of us and a brand new year in front of us. 2019 is almost over and we are now standing in front of three hundreds and sixty-six days to fill with remarkable days, adventures, dreams and love. ph by…
7 Tips for a Great Christmas away from your family in London
The perfect guide to celebrate a magical Christmas if you can't celebrate with your loved ones. Christmas can be very tough if your family is on the other side of the world. Maybe you've just moved to London or Paris or Lisbon and your loved ones are far away, this…
How to celebrate Thanksgiving in London
Thanksgiving, like Halloween, has nothing to do with London or the UK (or even Europe), but like many other things it's about to become a tradition on this side of the world too. In a week, on Thursday, November 28th, millions of Americans around the world are going to be…
Brunch + Self-Guided Instagram Walk in London: Notting Hill
There is only one thing I love more than pizza. And that is a good brunch. As you all know I have Italian blood and carbs running through my veins, but I do also love eggs Royale and avocado on toasts. In fact, I love brunch so much that a…
10 Things to Ask when Renting a House in London
We've already discussed in details how to find your perfect home in London, now I'm going to point out here the questions to ask when renting an apartment in London. Whether you are renting from a private owner or an agency, keep these questions at hand. In this article I…
Best Afternoon Tea in London
Whether you are a London veteran or looking to rent a house in London, the ritual of the afternoon tea is a must. I've spent the last few days strolling around the British capital soaking in the most delicious tea flavours and eating plenty of cakes and pastries, just to…
How to Switch your Driving Licence for a UK Driving Licence
Welcome to London my friends! Now that you've finally moved to the best city in the whole world you might be planning to explore a bit of the rest of the UK or maybe head to the stunning coastline of Dorset or the beautiful city of Bath for the weekend.…
How to Switch to a Zero Waste Home - 10 Easy Steps
I'm sure you all have heard of Greta Thunberg and her global initiative #Fridaysforfuture. In short, the aim is to try to save the planet from its self-destruction. Not an easy task I know, but what if we all could try and do something to help? The first step to…
Renting in London is cheaper than ever on Spotahome!
Dear London tenants, we've got some great news for you: Renting is now cheaper on Spotahome! In light of the new Tenant Fees Act 2019 that comes into force on 1st June 2019 in England, Spotahome has been hard at work implementing great changes on the platform that will affect…
Documents needed to rent a property in London
Congratulations! You finally found the perfect place to rent in London and are finally ready to start your new life. Amazing. Ok, hold on your horses now! Renting a place in London can be quite tricky or lengthy at least. In this article, I give you a clear overview of…
2019 Guide to Expats Taxation in London
If you are about to move or have recently settled in the most beautiful city in the world, hello ya! Welcome to London! However, like anywhere else in the world, you are going to have pay taxes. I wish somebody wrote this article for when I first moved to London…
London's Ultimate Foodies Bucket List
The Big Ben, the London Eye, the Tate, the National Gallery and the list goes on. When planning a trip to a new city, we often forget to add food-stops in between a museum and a monument. If you are planning to visit London, I've done the hard job for…
Expats' Guide to the NHS - Healthcare in the United Kingdom
The UK, and in particular London, is one of the most popular expat hotspots for students, professionals and entrepreneurs in the world. You might be one of those lucky ones who never fall ill - thank gosh, I'm one of them too! - however, it is good to remember…
What to do before Renting your Property in London
With housing prices in London always on the rise, renting out a property is a great way to earn extra cash. This is why many people are buying apartments which allow them to have a secure return on their investment. However, in the ever-changing and super-fast rental industry in London,…
Moving Flat in London: A step-by-step Guide
Moving house is not a walk in the park. I've moved house more than 10 times in my life. And I hate it. I've hunted for a new house, packed my life, moved. Well, I wish it was that smooth, however, in real life I have always encountered some issues,…
What should I do if my Landlord increases my rent?
So you finally found the apartment of your dreams in London. You've bought all the furniture, plants and things to make your flat look and feel like home. And then, out of the blue, your landlord decides to increase your rent. Hold on, my darlings, don't fret. Having lived in…
Moving to London? The Ultimate Checklist
Moving to London can be extremely stressful. Especially if you don't plan ahead and rush things at the very last moment. That is why I've compiled a practical checklist that I now use every time I move to a new country. I promise, with this to-do list (and a bit…
How To Apply for the National Insurance Number in London
Are you looking for a job in London? Or have you applied to a London university? Remember that there is something you must do as soon as you land in the British capital. Do I Need a National Insurance Number (NIN)? If you’ve just moved to London for work…
The Truth about the Costs of Moving To and Living in London
Living in the UK – particularly London, is expensive. Let's say the truth, it's really expensive. If you are moving to the British capital, you need to be prepared financially, especially if you have been saving up for quite some time before the move. If you are looking to get a…
Best Christmas Getaways from London - Top 10 UK Christmas Destinations
London is great. There is no doubt about it. However, sometimes you might need to get away from the big smoke and find some peace elsewhere. This is why, here at Spotahome, we've compiled a list of the Best Christmas Getaways from London. 1. Bath One of my favourite cities…