London is a city of variety, excitement, and chaos and the accommodation scene is no different. The options of where to stay are endless and really depend on what your plans are for your stay in the UK. From studios the size of wardrobes, bed and breakfasts, and discount hostels to houses full of antipodeans, the choice is yours.
For weekly stays or hotel bookings, there are lots to choose from Airbnb, Booking.com, or TripAdvisor. Most of the time, I personally use AirBNB mainly because I find their website easy to use and have built a profile.
Sound Advice
Of course, the first thing you will need to organise is a place to rest your weary bones when you first arrive. It is wise to organise this before you leave home, as it will be much easier hopping off the plane and knowing you have a place for your aching body and backpack to spend the night. Of course, the handiest option is ‘dossing’ with family or friends, but there is a range of other short-term accommodation available in from discount hostels, guest houses or bed and breakfasts in London or the UK.
Another great short-term option for travellers is Housing Anywhere, which has a pretty cool system where they charge the first-month rent plus a 25% booking fee to secure your accommodation where you simply book the first-month rent to secure your accommodation.
They only transfer the first month’s rent to the landlords until 48 hours after the tenant’s move-in date. This means, if there are any fraud or problems with the room or apartment you can get a full refund.
Once you have settled in (or outstayed your welcome on your mate’s sofa bed/couch/floor) you’ll need to find longer-term accommodation. There are many things to consider before finding a permanent place to stay. First, consider where you’ll be working and how far away you want to live (don’t forget to factor in the travel costs of getting to and from work), also think about location in terms of proximity to transport links, friends and family, and of course the all-important nightlife!
There are many types of longer-term accommodation available, and the process of finding a place to stay can be painstaking, so be sure to allow plenty of time (make sure you’ve still got a bed or couch to come home to) to find the place that is right for you.
Whether you decide to share a flat with friends or fellow working travellers or prefer the privacy of a bedsit or studio, there are many additional costs and considerations to think about before renting in the UK.
Don’t get caught out with hidden costs and bills by not thinking carefully about all of the things you need to pay for.
Before even beginning the arduous task of flat hunting it’s helpful to know a little bit about where to live in London. Just because a suburb has a trendy or posh-sounding name by no means guarantees it will be a nice area! But never fear we’ve got the scoop on where to find the perfect pad.
Not all working travellers will be based in London and there are many opportunities outside of London for employment and cheaper accommodation.
Finding accommodation in London and other areas of the UK is all about the kind of lifestyle you want to have while being a working traveller. So, whether it’s a shared house that doesn’t stop partying or a friendly flat where you take turns cooking dinner, there’s a place for everyone to call home.
Arm yourself with other useful tips and information.
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