# I'm moving to London **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 24, 2022, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129 "2022-09-24T08:27:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/1 "2022-09-24T08:27:54Z")
I’ll be moving from Germany to London for professional reasons for a year starting in October, the exact date still to be confirmed. I used to live in England for two years more than a decade ago and have had a liking for the country ever since, so I’m excited to go back, although in these post-Brexit times the paperwork to get there is considerably more complicated than it was back then. I suppose there’s not enough of an SDMB population in London for a proper Dopefest, but perhaps there are dopers there who would be interested in getting together for a drink. In which case, just PM me. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/2 "2022-09-24T09:41:02Z")
It’s a bit far for me. You may have thought London expensive a decade ago - brace yourself. But you are welcome anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/3 "2022-09-24T13:49:51Z")
You lucky dog. I had plans to retire to the UK but they changed the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/4 "2022-09-24T17:12:13Z")
Sounds exciting - hope it all goes well! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/5 "2022-09-25T12:42:49Z")
I hope your “professional reasons” indicate an employer or similar organisation to help navigate the housing market! Renting here is very different from what I understand it to be in Germany. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/6 "2022-09-25T13:55:18Z")
If this American ever wins the lottery, I’d love to live for a year (or six months or however long they’ll let me) in the London suburbs. Just to experience another culture where language (mostly) won’t be a barrier. That and, you know, see what’s going on in London. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/7 "2022-09-25T15:41:54Z")
Housing is sorted out; I get an allowance to cover the cost of an apartment (or “flat” in British English), and I flew over a couple of weeks ago to view some and get a lease. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/8 "2022-09-25T16:59:24Z")
That’s good news. Hope it all works out OK. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/9 "2022-09-25T22:45:35Z")
If your win is big enough (say $3m after tax) you can get a special exemption to move here. > You can apply for the UK Investor Visa if you invest at least £2 million into the British economy and you fulfil the following eligibility requirements: > > - You are over the age of 18. > - You have a clean criminal record. > - You can prove that the money you wish to invest belongs to you, or your spouse/partner. > - You are not from an EEA country or from Switzerland. > - You have opened a bank account in the UK to use for your funds. The bank must be a “regulated financial institution”. > - Your money must be disposable in the UK (free to spend). Actually, it’s a bargain ATM. £2 million is less than $2.2 million. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2022, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/10 "2022-09-25T23:00:55Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > I suppose there’s not enough of an SDMB population in London for a proper Dopefest, but perhaps there are dopers there who would be interested in getting together for a drink. May I ask what part of London you’re moving to? I’m generally not in favour of meeting online people in real life but I am in London so I could be convinced, especially if there are a few of us. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/11 "2022-09-26T07:41:27Z")
My flat is in the City, but I’d also be happy to go to another part of town for drinks or dinner. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-moving-to-london/972129/12 "2022-09-26T08:15:49Z")
I have spent the majority of my adult life moving from country to country, living in the United States, Federated States of Micronesia, Indonesia, Mozambique, and Egypt. I have no regrets and feel that living in more than one country/culture enriches your existence. My advice: Delight in all the ways life differs between Germany and England (including the changes you see from your last time in the UK). Savor everything.