A sabbatical in London - figuring out the expenses

Post new topic

Member since 12 August 2013

ces88Member13 August 2013 06:01:54

My husband might go on a 6 month sabbatical at University College London this next year.

We are trying to figure out about how much it would cost us to live there for 6 months to see if this is even a possibility. Our 3 daughters (16, 14, 11) will be with us, so we need 2 to 3 bedrooms. We need to keep are rent down as low as possible without living in an area that would be bad for our girls.

So many questions - and more that I don't even know to ask. Council tax & utilities or bills included, commuting & whether it's worth having a car in the greater London area, other expenses I might not expect... In what areas/suburbs would it be better to focus our search for a rental and where should we absolutely avoid? Any other tips/advice? Perhaps this is too much for one post but I appreciate any help. I'm sure you can tell we have not done this before.

Thanks.

pedrokarneiro Active member

Member since 04 April 2012

pedrokarneiroActive member06 December 2013 20:05:05

Hello ces88.

I'm almost in the same case as you are now. A family to bring along and lots of questions...

But I can forward you that there is a crime statistcs map in http://maps.met.police.uk/ which is very useful for us to check which is the best neighborhood.

Also, try to look into maps.google.com and wikimapia.org to find out schools, transportation options, distances, routes, etc.

With maps.google.com you can even see the street view of the place when you zoom in enough and put the little yellow man on the spot you want.

Wikimapia.org is best to find (and label) your points of interest.

Please keep in touch because I need to share info with other expat (or expat-to-be) parents.

All the best and success!
Pedro Carneiro Jr.
Public Servant / IT Management Agent / Databases Specialist
Goiânia - GO - Brazil

Articles to help you in your expat project in London

Accommodation in London
With a surface area of 1,572km² and thirty districts to choose from, London has thousands of homes available ...
Top things to do in London
No matter what your definition of fun is – get ready to feel active, inspired, and creative in London. ...
Discovering London
London, the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, holds a prestigious position as one of the world's ...
London's top universities
Studying in London is probably the best decision you will make for your professional and personal development. ...
Student life in London
For several years, London has been ranked as the best city in the world for University students according to QS ...
Areas of London
If you are moving to London for an executive job, you can probably afford a house in one of London's wealthy ...
Student accommodation in London
London offers abundant housing options for students, ensuring a variety of choices. Whether you're interested ...
Cost of living in London
London forms part of the top ten most expensive cities to live in for expats. However, the cost of living varies ...