Top Ten Tips:
1. Buy a bike. Hands down best decision I made in 2015. London transport is amazing, but also very expensive. Cycling is generally faster, free and a dual purpose way to exercise. Cycling is also the best way to get orientated around London, the tube is straight-up confusing. Check out Brick Lane on a Sunday for legitimate bike buying as well as dodgy retailers selling stolen bikes - you will be able to tell the difference.
2. Go with the bank that asks you the least amount of questions. Getting started in a new country feels very cyclical in the sense that to get a phone/flat/job/bank account, everything is hinged on having at least 1-2 of these things already in place. So to make your life easier go with the bank that requires the least amount of paper work. TSB only required a passport and faked my occupation.
3. Even if you've lived with others for years, and have vowed to find private accommodation in London, seriously consider finding a room in an existing flat first. This means you've got plenty of time to find the right suburb and you've not signed any noose-around-your-neck type contracts.
4. Housing related again, avoid Foxtons. They are the most expensive real estate agency out there. They will lure you in with their free sparkling water and fancy couches, but you'll pay for it in the end. Burnt: yes.
5. Get a job that leaves you free to travel on the weekends. FYI it's often quicker/cheaper to get to another country in Europe than it is to get to a London airport. Having traveled from East London to all London airports, here's my ranking system from best to worst: Heathrow, London City Airport, Luton, Gatwick & Stansted. Stansted in the morning is a beast, get there on time if you're flying Ryanair.
6. Join a community, know and be known. London city is as transient as they come, I found the first 6 months to be overwhelmingly isolating and friendless. Let your schoolyard interests resurface or try something new, just try to be as proactive as possible and say 'yes' more often.
7. Do all the London touristy things at the beginning of your move. There's no way you will be willing to pay 15-20 pounds per attraction 6 months into your stay. But while the city is glossy and your wallets are full, do it all. "Free" walking tours aren't much fun in winter though...
8. If you can, try and get a job that pays well. From experience the hospitality industry is terrible. If you want to travel, save save save at home. I've been able to travel by the grace of my NZ savings. Any income earned in the UK has gone straight into simply surviving in London. Sorry to be the bearer of such dire news.
9. Don't moan about the weather, it's actually not that bad. Last winter there weren't enough layers in the world to keep me warm, and the "summer" still saw me rocking several layers. But mostly London is pretty mild, it doesn't rain much, it's not that windy, and it's light until 10pm in the summer with the chance of a heat wave! Every season has something to offer in London, just let it do it's thing.
10. Grow. Being out of the comfort of friends, family and your homeland offers you the perfect opportunity to operate from a place of vulnerability. This is not a bad thing. The chance to be more dependant on people and open to new possibilities means that you will inevitably grow. London is a perfect breeding ground for developing self confidence, carving out an identity, plucking up courage in social situations, flexibility with employment options and greater awareness of a world moving outside of the bubbliness of home.