LHR

London

England, United Kingdom

Arriving, settling in and working in London: what official sources say, in the order you’ll need it. Every point links to the page it came from.

Plan my move to London Read the guide ↓

Photo: Benjamin Davies / Unsplash

Guide sections12

Sourced facts75

Last verified28 Sept 2026

Areas with rent9

Decide

Is this the right city for us?

London at a glance

The basics about London, plus official sources for time, weather and living costs.

London has about 9.1 million residents (2024 figures), roughly 15.5% of the UK's population. Around 41% of Londoners were born outside the UK.
apps.london.gov.uk ↗
More than 300 languages are spoken in London every day, according to City Hall's State of London report.
apps.london.gov.uk ↗
London is run by an elected Mayor and 25-member London Assembly at City Hall, plus 33 local authorities: 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation.
london.gov.uk ↗
The UK uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and British Summer Time (BST) in summer. Clocks go forward 1 hour on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October (29 March and 25 October in 2026).
gov.uk ↗

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For official forecasts and weather warnings, use the Met Office forecast for London.
weather.metoffice.gov.uk ↗
The ONS reports London has the highest private rents in the UK: an average of £2,332 a month in August 2026, up 3.5% on a year earlier.
ons.gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Laws and customs

Everyday UK rules that often surprise newcomers.

You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol. Under-18s can be stopped, fined or arrested by police for drinking in public.
gov.uk ↗
It is illegal to carry most knives in public without a good reason. A small folding pocketknife is allowed only if the blade is 3 inches or shorter and it does not lock. Adults caught illegally carrying a knife face up to 4 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
gov.uk ↗
Smoking is banned in all enclosed workplaces, public buildings and on public transport. Smoking where it is banned can bring a fine of up to £200.
gov.uk ↗
Since 1 June 2025, shops in Great Britain cannot sell or supply single-use (disposable) vapes.
gov.uk ↗

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You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV on any channel, or to use BBC iPlayer. It costs £180 a year, and watching without one can bring a fine of up to £1,000.
gov.uk ↗
Call 999 when there is immediate danger to life. For non-emergency police matters in London call 101 or report online to the Metropolitan Police.
met.police.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Arrive

The first 72 hours

Arriving in London

Getting from Heathrow into town, and your first admin steps.

Heathrow Express runs to London Paddington in about 15 minutes, with trains every 15 minutes. Fares start at £10 when pre-booked.
heathrow.com ↗
The Elizabeth line serves all Heathrow terminals and runs direct to Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. You can pay with Oyster or a contactless card; fares involving Heathrow start at £13.90.
heathrow.com ↗
The Piccadilly line (London Underground) serves all Heathrow terminals and reaches central London in under an hour. It is usually the cheapest rail option.
heathrow.com ↗
Your immigration status is now an eVisa, a digital record you view in a free UKVI account. Set up the account before you need to prove your status to an employer or landlord.
gov.uk ↗

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All biometric residence permits (BRPs) have expired and been replaced by eVisas. An expired BRP cannot be used to travel or to prove your status; use your eVisa instead.
gov.uk ↗
Apply online for a National Insurance number once you are living in the UK with the right to work. It can take up to 4 weeks after you prove your identity.
gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Getting around

Tube, buses, fares and paying by contactless.

From 1 March 2026, an adult pay as you go Tube fare in Zone 1 is £3.10 at peak times and £3.00 off-peak. The daily cap for Zones 1–2 stays at £8.90.
london.gov.uk ↗
An adult pay as you go bus or tram fare is £1.75. With the Hopper fare, you get unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour of touching in for that single fare.
tfl.gov.uk ↗
Bus and tram fares are frozen until 04:30 on 1 November 2026. After that the single fare rises to £1.85 and the daily bus cap to £5.55.
london.gov.uk ↗
Touch in and out on the yellow readers with the same contactless card or device. Fares are capped for each day and for each week (Monday to Sunday), so you never pay more than the cap.
tfl.gov.uk ↗

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Keep your Oyster and other contactless cards apart when you touch in, to avoid 'card clash' charging the wrong card.
tfl.gov.uk ↗
TfL customer services is on 0343 222 1234 (call charges may apply). Contactless and Oyster queries are answered 08:00–20:00, seven days a week.
tfl.gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Settle

Home, school, doctor, bank

Neighbourhoods and housing

Choosing a borough, renting rules and local costs.

Your borough council runs local services including schools, rubbish collection, parking, council housing and council tax. Use GOV.UK's postcode tool to find the council for any address.
gov.uk ↗
Council tax is usually paid by adults 18 or over. You get 25% off if you live on your own, and full-time students are not counted.
gov.uk ↗
Check the council tax band of any home in England by its address or postcode before you sign.
gov.uk ↗
Since 1 May 2026, private tenancies in England are rolling (periodic) tenancies. Landlords can no longer use section 21 'no-fault' evictions, and rent can rise only once a year with at least 2 months' written notice.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk ↗

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Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days: the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits or the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.
gov.uk ↗
Before a new tenancy in England, landlords must check that every adult tenant has the right to rent.
gov.uk ↗
Use Police.uk to find your local policing team and crime information for any area before you choose where to live.
police.uk ↗

External links

Rightmove — homes to rent and buy ↗Zoopla — homes to rent and buy ↗SpareRoom — rooms and flatshares ↗ReLoc doesn’t review listings on these sites and isn’t paid for these links.

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Schools

Applying for a state school place through your borough.

Apply for a state school place through the local council where you live. If you are applying from abroad, contact the council for the area you are moving to; you may need proof of your new address.
gov.uk ↗
For Reception (primary), applications open in September and close on 15 January. For secondary, apply by 31 October. Offers are sent on 16 April (primary) and 1 March (secondary).
gov.uk ↗
If you arrive after the school year has started, contact your local council for an in-year place; it can tell you which schools have space.
gov.uk ↗
Children must be in full-time education from 31 December, 31 March or 31 August after their fifth birthday, whichever comes first.
gov.uk ↗

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Many London boroughs take normal-round applications through the pan-London eAdmissions portal. For example, Tower Hamlets' deadline for September 2027 Reception is midnight on 15 January 2027.
towerhamlets.gov.uk ↗
Read a school's latest Ofsted inspection report by searching its name or your postcode.
reports.ofsted.gov.uk ↗
For 2026–27 the Mayor of London funds free school lunches for Key Stage 2 pupils (Years 3–6) in state-funded primary schools who are not already covered by government-funded meals.
london.gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Healthcare

Registering with the NHS and where to get help.

Registering with a GP is free. You do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status. Register online through the NHS website or app, or at the surgery.
nhs.uk ↗
Online GP registration takes about 15 minutes per person. The surgery usually confirms within 5 days of receiving your details.
nhs.uk ↗
If you need medical help now but it is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online, the NHS App, or call 111.
nhs.uk ↗
Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies such as serious accidents, strokes and heart attacks. If unsure, get help from NHS 111.
nhs.uk ↗

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In England, NHS prescriptions cost £9.90 per item. Some items, such as contraception, are always free.
nhs.uk ↗
You do not need to register with a dentist first. Contact any NHS dentist to ask for an appointment; most adults pay a charge for NHS dental care.
nhs.uk ↗
Most visa applicants pay the immigration health surcharge: £1,035 a year, or £776 a year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme visas and under-18s.
gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Banking and ID

National Insurance number, eVisa share codes and a bank account.

Apply online for a National Insurance number if you live in the UK, have the right to work and are working or looking for work. Have your passport or EU/EEA/Swiss ID card ready.
gov.uk ↗
You can start work before your National Insurance number arrives, as long as you can prove your right to work.
gov.uk ↗
Get a share code from your UKVI account to prove your immigration status to employers or landlords. A share code lasts 90 days and you can get a new one at any time.
gov.uk ↗
Basic bank accounts are free to open and run, with a debit card but no overdraft. You must be legally resident in the UK and at least 16 (18 at some banks).
moneyhelper.org.uk ↗

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Banks usually ask for a passport or driving licence. If you lack the usual documents, some accept recent official letters such as a tenancy agreement, employer letter or HMRC letter.
moneyhelper.org.uk ↗
The FSCS protects up to £120,000 per person at each bank, building society or credit union, across current, savings and fixed-term accounts.
fscs.org.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Driving and cars

Using a foreign licence, exchanging it, and London's road charges.

If you hold a licence from outside the EU and become resident, you can drive on it for up to 12 months from the date you became resident.
gov.uk ↗
After 12 months, either exchange your licence (if it is from a designated country) or get a provisional GB licence and pass the tests. Use GOV.UK's tool to check if you can exchange.
gov.uk ↗
DVLA driving licence enquiries: 0300 790 6801, Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.
gov.uk ↗
Every vehicle on the road must be insured, taxed (Vehicle Excise Duty), and cars normally need a yearly MOT test once they are three years old.
gov.uk ↗

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The central London Congestion Charge rose from £15 to £18 a day on 2 January 2026 (£21 if you pay later).
london.gov.uk ↗
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covers all London boroughs, 24 hours a day except Christmas Day. Vehicles that do not meet the standards pay £12.50 a day.
tfl.gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Where people live in London

Average rent a month from official or market surveys, as of 30 Sept 2026. Asking rents for new listings are often higher.

Westminster

Central London

1 bedroom£2,557

2 bedroom£3,320

SinglesCouplesNear the centreGood transit

Source: Housing prices in Westminster — ONS ↗

Camden

Inner North London

1 bedroom£2,063

2 bedroom£2,634

StudentsSinglesNear the centreNightlife

Source: Housing prices in Camden — ONS ↗

Hackney

Inner East London

1 bedroom£2,007

2 bedroom£2,498

SinglesCouplesNightlife

Source: Housing prices in Hackney — ONS ↗

Tower Hamlets

Inner East London

1 bedroom£1,998

2 bedroom£2,427

StudentsSinglesCouplesGood transit

Source: Housing prices in Tower Hamlets — ONS ↗

Southwark

Inner South London

1 bedroom£1,907

2 bedroom£2,387

StudentsSinglesNear the centreGood transit

Source: Housing prices in Southwark — ONS ↗

Ealing

Outer West London

1 bedroom£1,642

2 bedroom£2,049

FamiliesCouplesGood transitQuiet

Source: Housing prices in Ealing — ONS ↗

Lewisham

Inner South East London

1 bedroom£1,459

2 bedroom£1,793

StudentsLower rentFamilies

Source: Housing prices in Lewisham — ONS ↗

Barking and Dagenham

Outer East London

1 bedroom£1,378

2 bedroom£1,723

FamiliesLower rent

Source: Housing prices in Barking and Dagenham — ONS ↗

Croydon

Outer South London

1 bedroom£1,267

2 bedroom£1,577

FamiliesLower rent

Source: Housing prices in Croydon — ONS ↗

Average monthly private rent by borough and number of bedrooms, September 2026, from the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. Figures are borough-wide averages, so rents vary a lot within each borough.

Thrive

Work, study, belong

Jobs and work

Finding work, proving your right to work and minimum pay.

Search and apply for jobs in England, Scotland and Wales on the government's free Find a job service.
gov.uk ↗
From April 2026 the National Living Wage for workers 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. It is £10.85 for ages 18–20 and £8 for under-18s and apprentices.
gov.uk ↗
If you are not a British or Irish citizen, prove your right to work to an employer with an online share code or an eligible immigration document.
gov.uk ↗
You can start a job before your National Insurance number arrives if you can prove your right to work.
gov.uk ↗

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Find your nearest Jobcentre Plus office with GOV.UK's local office search.
gov.uk ↗
GOV.UK links to the Safer Jobs service for advice on avoiding job scams.
gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Universities

Applying, studying and staying on after graduation.

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS, with up to five choices. For 2027 entry, most courses have an equal consideration date of 13 January (18:00 UK time).
ucas.com ↗
Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses have an earlier 15 October deadline. Applications after 30 June go into Clearing.
ucas.com ↗
The University of London is a federation of 17 independent institutions, including UCL, King's College London, LSE, Queen Mary, Birkbeck, Goldsmiths and SOAS.
london.ac.uk ↗
Imperial College London is a university focused on science, engineering, medicine and business, with campuses across London.
imperial.ac.uk ↗

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To get a Student visa you need an offer from a licensed student sponsor. You can apply up to 6 months before your course starts.
gov.uk ↗
For a course in London you must show £1,529 a month for living costs, for up to 9 months (£1,171 outside London).
gov.uk ↗
The Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, but 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027 (3 years for PhD graduates).
gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

Communities and support

Where to get free advice and connect with others.

London is one of the world's most diverse cities: about 41% of residents were born abroad and more than 300 languages are spoken.
apps.london.gov.uk ↗
City Hall funds migrant support including the Migrant Advice and Support Fund for community advice groups, English language (ESOL) programmes and a Hong Kong Welcome Hub for BN(O) holders.
london.gov.uk ↗
Citizens Advice gives free, confidential advice on money, housing, work and immigration. Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848, usually 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
citizensadvice.org.uk ↗
Shelter's free housing helpline is 0808 800 4444, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. Expect long waits at busy times.
england.shelter.org.uk ↗

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British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens (and some EU citizens) can register to vote online. It usually takes about 5 minutes.
gov.uk ↗

Every point links to its official source.✓ Verified 28 Sept 2026

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