How To Be a Real London Local: London Survival Guide

There are many "How To" lists that I can create about living in London and experiencing the city. There are so many differences between London and the U.S. I truly don't know where to begin. The closest city in the U.S. I can compare London to is New York, but like I previously said, there are still distinct differences that makes it hard to judge which city is better. After reading this "How To" list, you will be ready to walk through London like you own it!

Oyster Card - This is a London MUST! If you are a London student, you will be able to get a discounted monthly subway card. Even if you are visiting London for just a week, I would recommend purchasing a weekly pass because you can swipe in or out as many times that week as you want. Exploring London is an easy process after receiving an oyster card

Pound vs. Dollar - And I'm not talking about "lb" pounds! When you arrive in the airport, do not take pounds out of any ATM machine. The exchange rate in airports is much higher than in a regular bank ATM machine. I took out pounds before I left for London. I recommend this because I was able to purchase a cup of coffee or a sandwich at the airport. Don't use a debit card when you are abroad because criminals are easily able to steal your information. Call your bank and tell them you are traveling abroad so they know where you are.

Go to a Sporting Event - The Brits are passionate about English football. When I was abroad, I had the opportunity to take a tour of Chelsea Football Stadium, which was amazing. In order to attend a football match, you must sign up online to be a member of Chelsea Football Club. It is a 50 pound registration fee on top of the price of the tickets. Although expensive, this is a once in a lifetime experience!

Local Pubs - As you walk down the streets of London, you will pass by various pubs that have the same exact menu. If you take a turn off the beaten path in a small town in London, you will experience a local pub with a true British atmosphere. In any pub you visit, if you didn't order Fish and Chips and there wasn't live music, did you really go to a pub?

Shopping - If you really want to act like a local, don't go to Harrods. Yes, it is a great place to visit and see during Christmas time. However, if you're not a millionaire than the only thing you will be able to purchase is a cup of tea. Go to Portobello Road Market and stop in each mom-and-pop shop. You will be sure to find unique antiques and souvenirs. Below are pictures I took from Portobello Road Market.



Dry Humor - After working and interacting with pure-breed Londoners, I now understand their humor. Don't be alarmed if they are very sarcastic in a self-depreciating way. If they are poking fun at you, that's a good sign. I would join right on in with their version of fun.

Tea or Coffee - Living in the northeastern part of the United States, Dunkin Donuts has become my second home.  Now that I am working a full time job and taking a full course load in college, coffee has become my oxygen. It was quite difficult to adapt to tea. There is no such thing as a cup of coffee in London (unless you want to pay $7.00 for a grande at Starbucks). Cappuccinos and lattes are popular, but it's no cup of coffee. Switching from coffee to tea acted as a sort of cleanse for me. This is the perfect way to immerse yourself in British culture.

There you have it! The perfect "How to" successfully make your way through London. 

There's a Place on Warwick Avenue

Now that I have written about the most famous locations in London, I want to share with you my home in London. I had the pleasure of living at 29 Clifton Gardens, London W9 1AR. Clifton Gardens was located right around the corner from the Warwick Avenue tube stop. This area is also known as Maida Vale. This area of London is known to be very "posh" because of the exquisite homes and high income families that live in this area. I loved living in this area because right down the block from my flat was a cute little village with a few restaurants, a grocery store, and a few clothing stores. It was the ideal place for an American to live since it wasn't in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. The area around Maida Vale was quiet, relaxing, and only a 20 minute tube ride to central London. Below is a picture of Clifton Gardens taken on my last day in London.

Maida Vale was in extremely close walking distance to some of my favorite parts of London. For example, Notting Hill was only a 25 minute walk from my flat. Notting Hill is famous for the Portobello Road Market, which is mainly held every weekend. The street is completely closed off on the weekends and is a large antique market. There is a food market with fresh fruit and various types of food trucks. My last week in London, I walked to Portobello Road and shopped for cute little trinkets to bring back for my dorm room to bring back some of London to Fordham.

Another fun aspect of Notting Hill is the Notting Hill Bookshop. Any readers Hugh Grant fans? Well, Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts starred in the movie Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant is a bookstore owner and falls in love with Julia Roberts, a movie start. The bookstore that Hugh Grant owns in the movie is in Notting Hill. Below is a picture of all my friends and I in front of the bookstore.

There is no other place in London that I would rather live. I got to call Maida Vale my home for 4 months, and I wouldn't replace it for the world. On Sunday mornings, my flatmates and I ate brunch at Baker and Spice, a restaurant right down the street from Clifton Gardens. We were able to walk to Abbey Road, Portobello Road, and Little Italy from our home. I'll never have an experience quite like living in this area with all of my friends.