While more people are choosing to move away from the London area, now is the best time to start looking for property here if you’ve always wanted to relocate to one of the world’s most popular cities. There’s a lot to be said for living in London, and the experience is certainly a unique one. The population fluctuates greatly as the years go on, and the main reason that there are more people choosing to sell their homes is merely for a change of scenery now that flexible and remote working are being offered by more and more of the UK’s businesses. Moving anywhere can be a complicated procedure and London is definitely no different. Here’s a list of our top things to think about when moving to the Western part of the city.

London housing market

West London is a very affluent area and whether you’re buying or renting, you’re going to have access to some of the city’s most beautiful homes situated in prime locations. This obviously doesn’t come cheap so make sure you’re well prepared for the steep housing prices. Interestingly though, London’s housing market is currently lagging behind the rest of the country making it a potentially great time to buy for below the asking price if sellers begin to get impatient. It may be an expensive move, but remember that if you’re buying a property, the higher the value of the house the better the investment will be in the long run.

Best places to live

When it comes to choosing where to live, West London has so many options available to you. Kensington and Chelsea are of course at the top of anyone’s list, with some incredible, classic London architecture, fancy restaurants and quaint cafes. There is also South Kensington which delivers a surprisingly Parisian feel to the city due to the myriad of French bakeries and restaurants surrounding the French Embassy. As well as these areas, there is the slightly more affordable Fulham, nestled in a Thames River bend. This area is not only cheaper to live than its neighbouring areas, but it’s also incredibly pretty with lots of green space as well as being situated nearby some great amenities.

Essential services

Of course, when you move house, there are lots of essential tasks that you should be focused on before you get distracted with other fun activities. Make it a top priority to sign up to some of West London’s health and wellbeing services. First, you’ll want to register at your local GP surgery to avoid the complicated process when you desperately need a doctor’s appointment. It’s also worth thinking about dental care to prevent any prolonged wait times when struggling with tooth pain for example. Search for a good dentist in Fulham, such as Fulham Road Dental so you can feel relaxed knowing that you’ll have quick access to quality dental care if you ever need it.

The moving process

This step is often frustrating no matter where you’re moving to. Packing your things and transporting them to a place you’re not necessarily familiar with can be a real challenge. We recommend one of two options. First, you could travel light by selling any non-essential furniture and items and use that money to buy new furniture once you’ve moved into your new place. This saves you time and money during the process as you’ll likely not need a large moving vehicle to navigate London’s city streets. Alternatively, hire a professional moving company that can worry about the logistics of moving your things. It may be expensive, but it’s entirely worth having professionals deal with this that are used to the complex layout of London.

Getting to know the area

Once you’ve made it to your new home, you’ll probably want to get out and about to experience your new London life. And this is definitely something you should do. However, take it slow as there is so much to see. In West London you’ll find hundreds of shops for groceries, fashion, and other luxuries, as well as some incredibly restaurants and bars. Places like Notting Hill and the area around Westbourne Park are some of the best places to visit for a light lunch or an evening meal. The multiculturalism of London lends brilliantly to the dining scene with cuisines from just about everywhere you can imagine dotted around the area, and West London is no exception.

Transportation

Lots of people do drive in London, but traffic is understandably quite bad because of this. The city is so large that transport should be a big consideration for you. Buses and cabs are great for relatively local travel options, but if you’re looking to get across the entire city, it will definitely be worth getting used to the London Underground rail network. This subway system connects you to just about every part of London, and is incredibly quick and easy to navigate, as well as being quite affordable.

Related posts:

How to help your kids adjust to moving house Moving House: your guide to a smooth move 10 tips to moving to a new city alone Removing the headaches from moving home