I moved from California to London 10 years ago. The whole experience has been a culture shock, but these 9 things surprised me most.
- I moved to London from California for my master's degree 10 years ago and decided to stay in the UK.
- Unlike in California, I take advantage of four weeks of paid time off and access to free healthcare.
In August 2014, I quit my job as a reporter in Berkeley, California, and moved to London to pursue a master's degree — and also experience an adventure.
Although I was only supposed to stay for three years, I fell in love with the city, and 10 years later, I still call London home.
However, moving to London has been full of adjustments. Here are nine things that surprised me most about life in the UK.
When it comes to traveling, London feels like the center of the world.
Living in London means I can hop on a short, relatively cheap flight and land somewhere with a different language, culture, and cuisine.
Speaking broadly, lots of Londoners I know encourage travel. There are six major airports in Greater London, and nearly every airline I've flown on has a stop in the city.
Since moving here, I've visited over 30 countries and have taken trips across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
The UK has lots of rain, but I didn't realize how much I'd love the distinct seasons.
When I arrived in London, I was welcomed by a cloudy sky and a chill in the air. It took time to get used to London's gray, wet weather, which sometimes stretches into the summer.
London is known for its rainy days — last year was the UK's 11th wettest year on record since 1836 — and even complaining about the weather is a classic British pastime.
However, I love England's distinct seasons (something I didn't have when I lived in California). Cherry blossoms bloom each spring, and there are perfect summery days and gorgeous fall foliage.
Many salaries are lower than they are in the US, and prices are higher than I'd expected.
London is an expensive city — according to consulting firm Mercer, it's considered to have some of the highest costs of living in the world.
But when I entered the workforce, I was surprised by the salaries in the city. According to the Office for National Statistics, the median gross annual salary for a full-time employee in the UK was £34,960, or about $45,445, in 2023.
This is lower than the salaries I remember seeing in the US, which averaged about $59,380 in the fourth quarter of 2023, a USA Today analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data found.
In my opinion, public services in the UK are pretty solid.
Though it may not be perfect, the UK's publicly funded healthcare system, the National Health Service, is an important part of the quality of life for most people.
Anyone in England can register with a general practitioner, and physician services, screenings, and hospital stays are publicly funded.
Many full-time UK employees take advantage of federally mandated paid maternity leave and about 28 days of paid annual leave. In the US, paid leave is ultimately up to an individual's employer, and the country doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave.
Tipping culture is less prominent in London.
Simply put, London doesn't have an excessive tipping culture.
Patrons are encouraged to tip 10% to 15% when eating out, but many restaurants often add a discretionary 12.5% service charge to the final bill.
In the US, a restaurant might include a tip for a large party, but most customers are expected to tip about 15% to 20% of the total bill.
Advertised prices in the UK also often already include sales tax — so the price you see is the price you pay. In the US, sales tax is usually added to items at the point of purchase, and it varies by state.
British phrases and terms can feel like a foreign language to me.
I write for a living, but sometimes, the English spoken in England still sounds foreign to me.
"Biscuit" means "cookie," and dressing up in a Halloween costume is called "fancy dress."
I also learned the hard way that "pants" are actually a term for "underpants."
I knew getting a visa could be tough, but I was surprised by how much it costs to keep this paperwork.
After studying in the UK on a student visa, I had to find a job that would sponsor a work visa so that I could continue living in England.
I struggled to find a job that would sponsor my work visa, but I eventually succeeded. Still, it meant I had to take a very low-paying job and pivot from the journalism industry to marketing.
Once I got a visa, I was surprised to learn that keeping this paperwork up-to-date can be expensive. I pay upward of $1,300 in visa fees every 2 ½ years.
Making friends takes effort, but the city attracts people with an adventurous spirit.
Meeting people organically in a transient city like London is difficult, and it can be easy to feel alone. The UK even has a minister for loneliness — an appointed figure who raises awareness for isolation throughout the nation.
Still, many people I've met in London have an open, adventurous quality about them. I've formed strong friendships with former colleagues who I met through networking and mutual friends.
Before I moved, I hadn't realized the city had so much to offer — but that's what makes it so exciting.
London is incredibly diverse and multicultural. There are so many people to meet, and each neighborhood has its own character.
From the rich theater culture of the West End to the posh shops in Knightsbridge, there's always something exciting to do, eat, and enjoy.
Throughout my decade in London, I've experienced New Year's Eve fireworks at the London Eye, watched athlete Roger Federer play tennis at Wimbledon, and attended a Manchester United football match at Wembley Stadium.
Although moving had its challenges, I've made the best memories of my life in this English city.
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