London: It goes without saying that renting in one of the world’s financial centres does not come cheap. Photograph: Agency PhotosThe jazz singer George Melly once said Camden Town is as far from Euston Station “as an Irishman with two suitcases can walk on a rainy night”.
Later on, as flights took over from ferries as the most convenient way to travel, young builders would be given exact instructions on what bus to get when they left Heathrow Airport, along with the pub to get off at where they could source their “start”. Now, some 400,000 people who were born in Ireland live across the UK, many of them based in London. And although getting a cheap flight to Stansted has made emigration easier than a ferry and train to Euston, there are some things they should know before they move to the British capital.Britain is no longer in the European Union, but that does not mean that Irish emigrants have to jump through the same bureaucratic hoops when moving as citizens from France, Germany or Spain among others.
New arrivals to London should get used to being asked where they are living, which tube or train line they are on, and how long it takes to get somewhere. South of the river, areas such as Clapham and Balham are connected via the Northern line, while areas such as Islington, Finsbury Park and Walthamstow are easily traversed via the Victoria line. Many will try to avoid changing lines in order to get to work in the most straightforward manner possible and where you live will dictate that.
One benefit of the proximity of the two countries is that it is relatively straightforward to go over for a few days to view properties. Bring references from a landlord in Ireland, and a job offer, if you have one. Property listing websites that cover London include
I moved from London to Cork in November. Wouldn't dream of going back. It's a great city & I had a positive experience but there are better places. Try Paris or Munich, Madrid. If language is an issue LEARN ONE ffs OK, if it HAS to be UK, go to Belfast or Edinburgh.
Surprisingly a collegue of mine recently moved to London from Dublin and absolutely loves it. I was sure it was just as bad over there but there ye go.
Why the obsession with London? We've spent the last six years adjusting to their regressive anti-European outlook. What about Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Madrid, Berlin? We can't go back to the way it was. London is not the future. Reconsider your outlook
One word advice? Don’t. It’s Londonistan now, a third world shit hole.
No accommodation ten times as bad as Dublin
You could start with - DONT
Don't, if you think we have it bad. They are absolutely screwed over there