- So I've been living in London
for a year and a half now and I know
lots of you wanted to move to London,
so I thought I would do a
moving to London advice video.
I asked you guys on Twitter to send me
any questions that you have using
#AskHannahLondon
and me and Doty are going to go out
and be tourists for the day,
going to see loads of different
London landmarks as I answer them.
We only have a few hours, but I printed
out this map and put crosses on
all the landmarks that we want to go and see,
so, yeah, let's see if we can do this in an afternoon.
It should be interesting.
Okay, let's go.
(city noises)
Ruby asked how long did it take
for you to find somewhere to live?
It took me six weeks.
I moved to London and for the first
six weeks I was staying with my
Dad's cousin and my Godfather.
I was very lucky that I had people in London
who would house me for so long.
That six weeks was a horrible, horrible time
house hunting, but I did it.
Other people have done it in less.
So, loads of you asked is London really
as expensive as everyone says.
Yes and no.
The rent is really expensive,
the alcohol is really expensive,
but everything else is kind of the same
as any other city in the U.K.
It's all good.
Transport is also kind of expensive,
but it's really good transport, so I think it's worth it.
Like I get a zone one to two monthly
travel card and that costs 125 pounds,
but if you have like a full-time job
and you're traveling in and out of the city
like every day, five days a week,
you know, then it adds up.
It's totally worth it.
Adna asks what are the best places to eat
when you're on the broke side.
First of all, wherever you eat, order water
because it's the drinks that are really expensive
and that's what's going to make the bill higher.
- [Doty] Tap water. - Tap water.
For cheep places to eat, I've found actually
loads of really cheep pizza places in SoHo.
They're so cheep and they're so delicious
and they just like,the come out with this
beautiful, massive, stone-baked pizzas
and (um, um, um)
There's also just loads of places
where you can just pick up things
like sandwiches and baguettes on the go
like anywhere else.
If you want to sit down and eat something
pizza in SoHo. (num, num, num)
Everyone is basically asking
how to find nice, affordable housing.
You can't, I'm sorry, it's London.
You're going to be paying like three times
as much in the city, maybe more,
than anywhere else in the U.K.
that's just the deal,
but places to find, if you're moving on your own,
or you're looking for housemates
spareroom is your best bet.
If you already have a group of you
and you're looking to find a place together
zoopla, rightmove, gumtree, all of these places
or just google 'rent in London'.
Things get swept up really fast.
You have to be quick.
As soon as you see a house on the market,
you call them up, you go view it,
and then you put that deposit down if you like it.
If you don't do it, within like 24 hours
someone else is going to get it.
That's just the way it is, so good luck,
you're going to need it,
don't cry too much, you'll find somewhere eventually.
Laura asked does it ever feel overwhelming
living in London with the sheer amount of people?
Um, sometime, but look at this.
This is a nice amount of people, isn't it?
But it is like a Monday afternoon,
everyone's at work.
There are lot's of quiet places in London
if you do feel overwhelmed.
I also get an overwhelming feeling of like,
oh my God, I live in London, a lot.
Like that's a good overwhelming feeling though.
Like look at that.
- [Doty] Ahh. (screams) - So much history.
- Mia asks how to get back home safely without
going bankrupt from a night out with friends.
That is a good question.
I would say night busses.
I've done a night bus on my own many times
and never had a problem.
It is a bit weird and rowdy,
but ultimately everyone is just drunk
and more friendly and you get home eventually.
Alternatively, if you live in the same area
as your friends or maybe you decide
to stay over at your friends
you can share the price of a taxi or an Uber.
Also, soon there's going to be a night tube
if the tube people would stop striking
and actually finally make a decision
of then the night tube is going to start
that would be great.
Reese asks what about anxiety when using public transport?
It can be very scary because everyone
is moving so fast, but try and not
get caught up in it and try not to
move as fast as everyone else.
Just kind of stand to the side
and go your own pace and don't feel
like and idiot if you have to stare at the map for ages,
just take your time, take some breaths,
and there's a tube like every two minutes
so if you miss one like don't worry
and just wait it out on the platform
until you feel comfortable enough
to get on a train.
Sam asks how reliable is public transport in the city,
would I need a car?
No, you will not need a car.
The public transport is great
and also you can walk everywhere.
We've walked to all of these locations
that we're filming today.
One big piece of advice I can give you
is when you first move to London
is once you get into central London
just walk around because then you can get
a sense of where everything is in
relation to each other rather than
going underground and coming up again
and having no idea where you just went.
So, walk around, get your bearings,
and you'll soon realize that actually
central London is really small
and very walk-able.
Get some good shoes.
So this is another question that
a whole bunch of you asked which is
how the hell do I make friends?
Um, I don't know guys.
I moved to London and I had like
a ready-made group of friends already here,
but I have made new friends since moving here
through like doing improv and just
going out and doing the things
that I want to do and then meeting people
who are doing the same things.
At work. And then meeting people
through my housemates
who I didn't know before I moved in.
So there are lots of ways to meet new people.
Just kind of anytime anyone that you like and trust
is like 'Hey, want to come do this thing?
A couple of my friends are coming along too.'
You say, you say yes,
and then you make friends with their friends.
And then you just infiltrate friendship groups
until you are a part of that friendship group.
Mary asks is the pollution really as bad
as people make it out to be?
Yes it is, but you don't notice it
until you leave London.
You just kind of get used to the smog
and the coughing, and then as soon as you leave
and you're in countryside fresh air,
you're like uh, oh my God I can breath,
what have I been living in?
But you get used to it yo.
It's all good.
- [Doty] Just blow your nose and
blow all that black stuff out.
- Anne asks any job advice?
Well, I'm a YouTuber, so, ehh.
But, obviously it entirely depends on
what you want to do,
but as soon as you get to London,
even before you get to London,
apply, apply, apply for as many jobs as possible.
Just make it your full-time job to apply for jobs.
Follow people who are already doing
what you want to do on Twitter.
Get you LinkedIn profile like, umm, super good.
Just chase any opportunity and talk to
as many people as possible.
Attend events that are like public events in your field.
Just go mental and you will get that job.
Sarah asks were you ever worried
about your finances whilst moving to London?
Um, I was in a very luck position
where I had people that I could move
in with whilst I settled myself,
but I did get a part-time job
at a catering agency for a while
before I kind of started to earn money
from doing other things like YouTube.
So, like, I was worried but not like too worried
because I used that worry to go
and get a part-time job.
Ethan asks how to spend money wisely,
rent, transport, going out, etc.?
Rent and transport you just have to do it, whatever.
Going out, if you are someone who is
a right drunk and likes to spend loads of money
on their card when they go out,
take cash out and leave your card at home.
Stop, drinking after a while.
So like, once you feel like you've hit
the peek that you want to be at
and you've had a few drinks,
just stop and order water.
You'll sober up and it's cheeper.
- Yeah? - [Doty] Yeah.
- Thank you guys for watching.
Did we manage it?
Was that good?
Please give the video a thumbs up
if you enjoyed it.
I hope it helped in some way.
I know not everyone wants to move to London,
so if there's another city that you want to move to
leave it in the comments.
I've bet someone else lives there
and then they can help you out.
Alternatively, if you live in like
New York or L.A., Paris, Berlin, Toronto, Sydney,
you know, any big city
and you have some advice for someone
who's thinking of moving there,
also leave that in the comments.
Especially New York because I want
to move to New York.
Don't forget to subscribe 'cause I make
new videos every week,
and I'll see you soon.
Bye.
(light music)