Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Moving to London

  • 11-04-2009 7:54pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭


    I plan on moving to London as soon as i can. To be honest im just sick of this country and want a more enjoyable life in a bigger environment.

    Just wondering what are the job prospects over there?? Im finishing a postgrad in a few weeks in business and would take any decent job i.e. I dont want to have a degree and end up working in a retail shop (no offense intended).

    Also, how should I go about it?? Should I find a job before I go or go over there and just chance my arm?? It'll be pretty expensive living there without any income. Where are the best places to live?? What forms do I need to fill out?? Can you collect social benefits even thou im an irish citizen?? What do people do-do they just step of a plane and hit the city looking for a place to stay??

    Im asking loads of questions because im heading over on my own (which im pretty excited about), my friends will follow me as soon as I settle down.


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    Expensive accomodation.

    Underground to get everywhere.

    Awful traffic.

    Good nightlife.

    Weird homeless people who randomly get up and dance as you walk past.

    Annoying cockney accent.

    Good nightlife.

    Did I mention, expensive?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭GiftofGab


    dlofnep wrote: »
    Expensive accomodation.

    Underground to get everywhere.

    Awful traffic.

    Good nightlife.

    Weird homeless people who randomly get up and dance as you walk past.

    Annoying cockney accent.

    Good nightlife.

    Did I mention, expensive?

    sounds better than dublin


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭OPENROAD


    Mr.S wrote: »
    Clearly you have never seen the underground at rush hour;)

    Thing is one tube pulls out and another pulls in and if you know the stations on a particular line well you can position yourself to stand at the right spot to get a seat :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,048 ✭✭✭✭Snowie


    dlofnep wrote: »
    Expensive accomodation.

    Underground to get everywhere.

    Awful traffic.

    Good nightlife.

    Weird homeless people who randomly get up and dance as you walk past.

    Annoying cockney accent.

    Good nightlife.

    Did I mention, expensive?

    What and Dublins better ?

    crap traffic.

    crap night life with FFs imposing law's...

    homeless people who throw money at you when its not enough !

    At least they got some good word vira lin's , pete tyhong, ruby murry, bee's and honey,

    what and Irelands not expensive ? :confused:

    oh and not to mention the fact when he chats up a girl hes got an increased 40% chance of getting layed simply because hes got an irish accent

    oh expresions like to be shore a lot top of the morning to ya!!!!


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    I don't like London, way too big and way too busy and way too many terrorists.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,070 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    London's a great city. I don't think I'd fancy spending any more than an odd weekend there though. It's cramped, impersonal and full of English


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    What and Dublins better ?

    No, Dublin's a human toilet. I wouldn't be caught dead within 102 miles of it. Hence me living in Waterford.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,228 ✭✭✭bluto63


    dlofnep wrote: »
    Did I mention, expensive?

    What you on about? London is far cheaper than Dublin.
    I moved over almost 2 years ago, haven't regretted it for a second. The nightlife is amazing, so much more to offer than Dublin. The people are far more open minded, much more variety.
    The only thing I don't like is how big it is. Where I am, it takes an hour to get to central on the bus. Meh, you get used to it after a few goes.

    I'd suggest you sort things out before you go over though


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,048 ✭✭✭✭Snowie


    dlofnep wrote: »
    No, Dublin's a human toilet. I wouldn't be caught dead within 102 miles of it. Hence me living in Waterford.

    but isnt Tramore where most of the human toilet people go on hoilday ?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    Actually, I'd move, there are some serious hot women in London.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,048 ✭✭✭✭Snowie


    Actually, I'd move, there are some serious hot women in London.

    thats very true :cool:.......:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭GiftofGab


    hey can anybody actually answer any of my questions??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,048 ✭✭✭✭Snowie


    hmmm google


    Jobs in london see what comes up might be a good start.

    Im suprised you can use a forum!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭NickNolte


    Don't go over to live in London unless you've got something lined up job-wise and be sure to have a few grand put aside for initial living expenses and to get your accommodation sorted out. London isn't the kind of place you can just pack your bags and take a flight to and hope for the best. You'll end up on the streets... or coming home very early with your tail between your legs!

    London is a great place to live if you like big cities. The up-side:
    • The Underground is a fantastic transport system. You can go from anywhere in London to anyone in around about an hour.
    • There's always loads to do in London. Even if you find yourself broke, there are always loads of free events and great things to see. The Tate Modern and a walk along the West Bank was one of my favourite weekend past-times.
    • The nightlife is fantastic and there are a variety of boozers and nightclubs to suit everyone.
    • The city center and West End are fairly compact and navigable.
    The things you mightn't like about London:
    • It's expensive... although, accommodation aside, not a lot more expensive than Dublin.
    • The people. This is a very hard one to quantify to be honest. I might not be too popular for saying this but I think, deep down, Londoners are much nicer people than Dubliners. On the surface, they can be quite aloof and rude and come across somewhat arrogant. However, I always found the friends I made there to be much more easy going, genuine and kind. Despite the gregarious nature of Dubliners and their outward friendliness (although maybe less so these days), they tend to be a lot more cliquey, bitchy and workplace bullying is more endemic in Dublin than in London. London will suit you if you're the social butterfly type.
    • The Underground is hard work at peak times; particularly if you're on one of the older, stuffier lines such as the Picadilly.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,399 ✭✭✭✭r3nu4l


    GiftofGab wrote: »
    I plan on moving to London as soon as i can. To be honest im just sick of this country and want a more enjoyable life in a bigger environment.

    Just wondering what are the job prospects over there?? Im finishing a postgrad in a few weeks in business and would take any decent job i.e. I dont want to have a degree and end up working in a retail shop (no offense intended).

    Also, how should I go about it?? Should I find a job before I go or go over there and just chance my arm?? It'll be pretty expensive living there without any income. Where are the best places to live?? What forms do I need to fill out?? Can you collect social benefits even thou im an irish citizen?? What do people do-do they just step of a plane and hit the city looking for a place to stay??

    Im asking loads of questions because im heading over on my own (which im pretty excited about), my friends will follow me as soon as I settle down.
    Try here. A lot of us have moved from Ireland to the UK and can answer lots of your questions, including how to get a National Insurance number, what recruitment agencies to use etc. DO NOT come to England without at least having a couple of interviews lined up. There are hundreds of thousands of people looking for jobs over here, lots of them from Middle Management of major companies who have been slimming down. There's loads of jobs available but the number going for each job has increased!

    Ask your questions on the London forum on boards.org.uk and you'll get some answers. Also, try the Living Abroad forum on boards.ie. :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,384 ✭✭✭Highsider


    GiftofGab wrote: »
    I plan on moving to London as soon as i can. To be honest im just sick of this country and want a more enjoyable life in a bigger environment.

    Just wondering what are the job prospects over there?? Im finishing a postgrad in a few weeks in business and would take any decent job i.e. I dont want to have a degree and end up working in a retail shop (no offense intended).

    Also, how should I go about it?? Should I find a job before I go or go over there and just chance my arm?? It'll be pretty expensive living there without any income. Where are the best places to live?? What forms do I need to fill out?? Can you collect social benefits even thou im an irish citizen?? What do people do-do they just step of a plane and hit the city looking for a place to stay??

    Im asking loads of questions because im heading over on my own (which im pretty excited about), my friends will follow me as soon as I settle down.
    Shut the door on the way out


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    but isnt Tramore where most of the human toilet people go on hoilday ?

    It is. Just as well I don't live there either!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,150 ✭✭✭kumate_champ07


    dlofnep wrote: »
    No, Dublin's a human toilet. I wouldn't be caught dead within 102 miles of it. Hence me living in Waterford.

    smart move. waterford is the asshole of ireland.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,570 ✭✭✭Ulysses Gaze


    so, how should I go about it?? Should I find a job before I go or go over there and just chance my arm??

    Definitely have a few job interviews lined up. Don't go over there without at least a few interviews unless you have some serious cash to last you until you find a job. Commute from here for interviews if necessary. Companies will understand this and some (in my experience) will do a phone interview first and if they like you, line up the whole interview process in one day (instead of the two/three round process).

    If you can get a few interviews over a two/three day period it gives you the chance to go over, do the job interviews and also gauge whether or not you will like the city.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    smart move. waterford is the asshole of ireland.

    Well, we can't all be Kumite champs!


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,378 ✭✭✭Borneo Fnctn


    GiftofGab wrote: »

    Also, how should I go about it?? Should I find a job before I go or go over there and just chance my arm?? It'll be pretty expensive living there without any income. Where are the best places to live?? What forms do I need to fill out?? Can you collect social benefits even thou im an irish citizen?? What do people do-do they just step of a plane and hit the city looking for a place to stay??


    Why the two question marks after every question??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 37,214 ✭✭✭✭Dudess


    OP, send as many job applications as possible. Your qualifications alone may not suffice for the type of job you want - it may also require experience.

    You might have no choice but to work on a shop - just bear these things in mind. It's not advisable to go over there without some type of work sorted out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,150 ✭✭✭kumate_champ07


    dlofnep wrote: »
    Well, we can't all be Kumite champs!
    practice doing the splits and wear a blindfold while training and your odds will improve greatly


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,228 ✭✭✭bluto63


    Why the two question marks after every question??

    To show the urgency of the situation!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭GiftofGab


    bluto63 wrote: »
    To show the urgency of the situation!!

    exactly!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,534 ✭✭✭FruitLover


    dlofnep wrote: »
    Well, we can't all be Kumite champs!

    You mean Kumate (apparently). It's like kumite, but with even more claws!

    (For those who don't get this pun, 'kumate' means 'bear hand' in Japanese...)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    practice doing the splits and wear a blindfold while training and your odds will improve greatly

    That's alright, I'd rather practice drinking pints of cider.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,813 ✭✭✭BaconZombie


    Don't forget to pack for TinFoil hat and anti-CCTV face mask.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 164 ✭✭CeilingCat


    I lived there for just under a year back in 2001/2002 and I loved it. My advice would be to get in touch with some estate agents about accommodation and some temp agencies about work before you go. Have several grand saved before you even think about it.

    My flatmate worked for an estate agency at the time and he reckoned that they were asking for huge security deposits, sometimes several months rent in advance or a guarantor for the properties they were renting out so I'd keep that in mind.

    I found the temp agencies were brilliant for finding me work, I got a few great jobs out of them but I don't know what the job market is like there now - better off ringing a few to get some info.

    I had trouble setting up a bank account even though I have dual citizenship - you have to be living there 12 months it seems.

    There's loads to do even if you're skint, loads of art galleries and free shows, and I found the people really lovely. Much friendlier and more laid back than here most of the time. There's great entertainment to be had just wandering around the west end or Camden or Covent Garden at the weekends. I'd go back in a heartbeat :)


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭GiftofGab


    CeilingCat wrote: »
    Have several grand saved before you even think about it.

    I had trouble setting up a bank account even though I have dual citizenship - you have to be living there 12 months it seems.

    Firstly, I think I may need a loan (if possible) as I've actually no money at the moment. Do you reckon 2000 would do it??

    Secondly, how did you get your bank account sorted?? That's crazy how they won't let you set up a bank account, I only need one getting paid out of work and taking my money out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,331 ✭✭✭✭bronte


    I've been living there since last August.
    Love the place...find the people very welcoming, friendly and helpful.
    I haven't worked here yet (am currently studying) so don't know a whole lot about that aspect.
    Hsbc offer a 'passport' bank account to tide you over for the first 12 mths at which point you can open a normal one.
    I've been living in West London, in a really gorgeous area, and I was made feel welcome straight away.
    I'd give it a shot!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 164 ✭✭CeilingCat


    Personally, I'd be looking at more than 2000. Even if it means waiting a little while longer to save up. Seriously, ring a few estate agencies in the area you're thinking of living and ask them what kind of a deposit you're likely to need. My mate was telling me about two girls just out of college trying to rent an apartment off them and the security deposit was several thousand because they had no guarantor and no previous landlords' references etc.

    Alternatively, you could go into a house share... I think that's what I'd do if I went back. Could turn out to be a good way to make friends too. Property websites for the area should give you an idea of what's available.

    I ended up not being able to set up a bank account, I got paid by cheque by the temp agencies and I had to pay charges every time I wanted to cash a cheque - right pain in the neck. If I'd had a Bank of Ireland account here, I think I'd have been able to use it but I was with another bank at the time.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,918 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    2 grand won't get you far in London. The standard rent deposit is 18 months so if you get a place for 700, you'll need £1,750 to move in.

    It is a great place. Public transport runs all night, 7 days a week. Compared to Dublin groceries, pints, concert tickets, restaurants are all so much cheaper. There is such a variety of entertainment and cultures.

    As for the English, I was in a pub beside Stamford Bridge today and witnessed the lowest strata of society you will ever come upon. Skinheads, tattooed hands, sovereign rings and that's just the women. BUT there are so many people from so many places. Every nationality you could ever imagine. And the English can be Mancs, Scouse, Geordie. You'd be hard pushed to find a genuine Cockney.

    Do it. Move over. But do it properly. There are probably about 2 other cities on Earth so diverse and exciting.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,392 ✭✭✭TequilaMockingBird


    Three male members of my immediate family have been working in England solidly for the last twenty years. The three of them have been unemployed for the last six months. One in London, one in Essex, and one in Dorset.

    Be prepared young man. Its grim over there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭GiftofGab


    CeilingCat wrote: »
    Alternatively, you could go into a house share... I think that's what I'd do if I went back. Could turn out to be a good way to make friends too. Property websites for the area should give you an idea of what's available.

    That's what I was thinking, there's a few websites that you can make a profile and choose what house mates would best suit you. I seen a few of them that only require about a months rent in advance for house sharing.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,377 ✭✭✭An Fear Aniar


    London's a great place, and the English are OK, contrary to the first impressions you might have. London's very very crowded. Also, not many jobs these days... big recession on and it'll get worse before it gets better. Not a good time to seek your fortune here - you could probably get a crappy sales job - if you're good at sales - but that's about it.

    .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭OPENROAD


    , I was in a pub beside Stamford Bridge today and witnessed the lowest strata of society you will ever come upon. Skinheads, tattooed hands, sovereign rings and that's just the women.


    If you were in the same pub/area at this time of night, you would come across the complete opposite social class scale.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭GiftofGab


    Three male members of my immediate family have been working in England solidly for the last twenty years. The three of them have been unemployed for the last six months. One in London, one in Essex, and one in Dorset.

    Be prepared young man. Its grim over there.

    The recession has hit everywhere but I think there's a better chance of getting a job in London than here.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,339 ✭✭✭✭tman


    Definitely don't consider moving over without at least a job lined up, finding a place to live should be a piece of piss though (decide on an area you want to live in and check out a few places on Gumtree)
    I'd heartily recommend it, but I'm bloody glad that I already had a job sorted before I moved (Have been looking for something else since Jan without much luck!)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,692 ✭✭✭✭OPENROAD


    GiftofGab wrote: »
    The recession has hit everywhere but I think there's a better chance of getting a job in London than here.


    London is a great great city and the locals are very friendly imo but you really will need much more than 2k imo. As others have said I would really have a job and decent accomodation lined up in a nice area. Things are tough everywhere at the moment, I personally think they will come out of the recession before us. I would try and get some work experience here for a year or so first.


  • Advertisement
  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    GiftofGab wrote: »
    Firstly, I think I may need a loan (if possible) as I've actually no money at the moment. Do you reckon 2000 would do it??

    Secondly, how did you get your bank account sorted?? That's crazy how they won't let you set up a bank account, I only need one getting paid out of work and taking my money out.
    You want to get a loan, to move to a different country?

    You haven't really thought this through have you? Was this an idea you came up with over your cornflakes this morning?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,183 ✭✭✭Peared


    Gotta say, given your general lack of wherwithall when it comes to just getting there- I wouldn't give you a job.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,034 ✭✭✭deadhead13


    Yes, Irish citizens can sign on in the UK. You would be entitled Jobseekers allowance and housing benifit. First thing you will need to do is apply for a National Insurance Number. This takes time. Ideally you should bring enough money to able to keep yourselve going for a couple of months.

    http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/jcp/index.html

    I wouldn't recommend just jumping on a plane There are loads of employment agencies and estate agents online. Check them out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 57 ✭✭drunkdaz


    bluto63 wrote: »
    What you on about? London is far cheaper than Dublin.

    LOL. Where were you living? On the streets?
    GiftofGab wrote: »
    Firstly, I think I may need a loan (if possible) as I've actually no money at the moment. Do you reckon 2000 would do it??

    Secondly, how did you get your bank account sorted?? That's crazy how they won't let you set up a bank account, I only need one getting paid out of work and taking my money out.

    TBH mate 2g would barely cover your first months rent + deposit at most. Don't get drawn into the cliché that Ireland is crazily expensive. While its not cheap, London is definitely another step up. I lived in Dublin for 6 years before moving to London in 2006. And remember that the exchange rate might look attractive right now, but its way off its natural level so in a few months your savings could be worth a lot less in the UK.
    Regarding setting up a bank account, yes it can be very difficult. I've heard stories of people getting turned down for a current AC from the bank they actually worked for! My Girlfriend was given an account by Barclays only to have it withdrawn for no reason a few weeks later. Again here your employer is your friend; hence its best to arrive with a job.
    On the job front, I'm not sure situation here is a whole lot better then at home. For the type of job I'm presuming you'll want, many employers are having a hiring freeze. Its very tough. Some employers are even offering their newly hired graduates money to get lost and go travelling for a year. The big 4/consultancies/Banks are laying off their graduate hires of 2 or 3 years previously...
    deadhead13 wrote: »
    Yes, Irish citizens can sign on in the UK. You would be entitled Jobseekers allowance and housing benifit.

    Remember at home I presume you'd get 200+ Euro a week. In London it'll be 60 quid (lol), or 50 if you're younger than 25. And the impression I get is that its a lot harder to get too.

    On the plus side if you can get a job sorted, you'll never look back. For all the anti-Brit moaning at home, I have to say I love the friends I've made over here. As someone else here has said when push comes to shove people seem to be more genuine once you get to know them, very little judgement regarding your car/clothes/job compared to back home. And whatever your scene is, be it live gigs, high brow opera, or sweaty clubbing, its here 7 nights a week. Enjoy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,653 ✭✭✭steviec


    I'm working in London at the moment and to be honest I'd love nothing more than to be back in Dublin, and once the economy sorts itself out I probably will be.

    If you want to see the vast majority of your wages disappear on living costs, and most of your spare time spent in the hell that is commuting on the tube, then by all means London is the place for you.

    It's a nice place to be on weekends I will admit, and there's plenty to do, but you won't have enough time or money to actually do it if you're working and living there. I'd much rather live somewhere else and visit London occasionally.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 217 ✭✭geurrp the yard


    Highsider wrote: »
    Shut the door on the way out

    And MIND THE GAP!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,918 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    steviec wrote: »
    I'm working in London at the moment and to be honest I'd love nothing more than to be back in Dublin, and once the economy sorts itself out I probably will be.

    If you want to see the vast majority of your wages disappear on living costs, and most of your spare time spent in the hell that is commuting on the tube, then by all means London is the place for you.

    It's a nice place to be on weekends I will admit, and there's plenty to do, but you won't have enough time or money to actually do it if you're working and living there. I'd much rather live somewhere else and visit London occasionally.

    I can't see how you can find the commute in London worse than in Dublin!

    The tubes may be packed but so are Dublin commuter trains. The difference is that the tubes run every minute so if one is too busy you can wait for the next. There are also several options to make the same journey. According to platform 11 the commuter trains in Dublin are the busiest in Europe. The train I take in Dublin only comes every 15-20 minutes so I have to force my way on, regardless of how busy it is. Also it crawls along at 15mph for most of the journey.

    Also, the buses in London are so much better than Dublin. For a start they are cheaper and newer but what is best is the timetables at the stops. You always know when a bus will be there as the timetables are specific to that particular stop. In Dublin you can be standing in Donnybrook, waiting for a bus and the timetable tells you when it should have left Phoenix Park.

    London commuting is not fun but it is a world away from the hell which is Dublin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭Monkey61


    Setting up a bank account is no problem. All you need is ID and proof of address.

    And I find London much cheaper than Dublin as far as living expenses go EXCEPT, and this is a big one, RENT. Everything else is far cheaper, but rent is ridiculous. Although it can be manageable if you choose your area and house share wisely.

    Transport can be very expensive too if you use the tube a lot, but buses are extremely cheap and London is a very cycleable city.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,918 ✭✭✭Terrontress


    Monkey61 wrote: »
    Setting up a bank account is no problem. All you need is ID and proof of address.

    And I find London much cheaper than Dublin as far as living expenses go EXCEPT, and this is a big one, RENT. Everything else is far cheaper, but rent is ridiculous. Although it can be manageable if you choose your area and house share wisely.

    Transport can be very expensive too if you use the tube a lot, but buses are extremely cheap and London is a very cycleable city.

    When compared at current exchange rates then rent is very similar, provided you don't want to live in Notting Hill. But, as posted above, the current exchange rate gives you a false idea. I find my monthly travelcard, which allows travel on tubes and trains in zone 2 and on buses throughout all of London regardless of the zone, less expensive than my Irish Rail ticket which allows me to take the train in Short Hop zone and the Luas. The difference? There are 2 train and 2 Luas lines in Dublin and there are dozens of tube and train lines in London plus 24 hour buses when my ticket in Dublin doesn't allow bus travel at all.

    I've also found road travel in London to be much easier than in Dublin although it costs £8 to get in to town in your own car which you have paid road tax on!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,243 ✭✭✭kelle


    GiftofGab wrote: »
    Firstly, I think I may need a loan (if possible) as I've actually no money at the moment. Do you reckon 2000 would do it??

    Secondly, how did you get your bank account sorted?? That's crazy how they won't let you set up a bank account, I only need one getting paid out of work and taking my money out.

    Have you any friends or relations in London who would allow you to sleep on their floor for a couple of weeks until you get yourself sorted? I lived there from 1989 to 1993 (a long time ago, I know!) and I constantly had people stay with me for that reason. If you know of anybody I'm sure they'd help you out as, after all they were in the same situation once.

    When setting up my bank account, it was difficult as I had no passport (you could go to UK without one at the time). I had to get a reference from the principal of the school where I was training, then the manager of the Ulster Bank where I'd had an account since my first Holy Communion phoned the manager of that bank and straightaway they opened my account. but I still wasn't able to withdraw money for 2 weeks - grr! So for that reason I would advise bringing over lots of cash to tide you over - just be careful!


  • Advertisement
Advertisement