Ask HN: Moving to London from California

I’m moving from a smaller beach town in California to London in a month as an American. Any tips?

30, no kids and a wife. Felt like life was short, so we found jobs and bought a plane ticket.

You'll love it. It will change your life in an amazing way.

Tips? Nothing concrete. Be open. Everything will change; let it. What you thought is true and indisputable will be called into question; let it. Find new truths. Bruce Lee said, "Be water." Be water. Allow it to change you and it will, permanently, in the best way possible.

When I was 26, I moved from California to Europe and never looked back. Easily one of the best decisions of my life. Have fun. You won't regret it.

Oh and when they ask you, "Who do you support?" (and they will!) it means which football (soccer) team do you back, and the answer is Liverpool.

P.S. If you have any concrete questions, my email is in my profile.

9 hours agoby david927

Take a day-long walking tour with Fabian. He’s a German expat who is a city plannner in london. Besides being a super-nice guy, his tour offers a view of some of london’s most interesting neighborhoods. Not a tourist’s view. Buy him a beer and tell him Cal sent you. https://www.airbnb.com/slink/IH7SGUyq

5 hours agoby ljsocal

Can anyone tell me what London is like (from someone who lives/lived there)? Just overview of the life there, people, job market, etc.

1 hour agoby speedylight

Good luck!

If you like walking try and walk around the centre as much as possible (without using phone mapping ideally), you'll realise it's quite small really and get to know the place. Take some time to experience the history, art galleries, theatre etc I wish I'd done more of that now I live in the provinces.

Take time to see different parts of the UK, although I loved living in London for 2 years and visit a lot I way prefer other parts of the UK and now a lot of people live remotely it's practical to live in the midlands for example and go there for work once a week maybe.

Take regular trips to Europe by plane, train or car. It's cheap and doable for a weekend. There is a lot of variety between countries/cities which I think you'd really appreciate.

4 hours agoby thorin

Whereabouts in London? I am at the south-western edge.

Make use of the huge amounts of green space that London has.

Make use of the nightlife in London.

Make use of the huge number of in-person events in London.

I am contactable via my profile if you'd like a more detailed discussion, and/or to meet for beer, coffee, etc.

9 hours agoby DamonHD

Cambridge is worth a visit it's fairly close by train.

2 hours agoby coolcase

Any reason why you want to swap sunshine of California for the grey skies of London? :)

Jokes aside, but just curious what is bad about California that makes you want to go to London?

8 hours agoby colesantiago