London, the UK's capital city, is a vast, buzzing and thrilling city with much to offer both its citizens and its visitors. Whether you're a first time visitor or have lived in London for years, there's always something new and exciting waiting to be discovered.
With an official population of 7.5 million, London is a huge metropolis and life in the city is both lively and energetic but can be congested. Inhabitants travel around the city by tube, bus and rail networks and public transport is generally good.
The city is a major tourist destination with four world heritage sites, several royal parks, and numerous iconic landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye. Other attractions include institutions such as the British Museum and the National Gallery, along with a multitude of shopping, nightlife and entertainment venues. London's main geographical feature is the River Thames which runs through the city from the south-west to the east.
Moving to London is exhilarating and terrifying, all at once. You've got yourself a significant task: to find employment in the third most expensive city in the world. London is one of the world's leading business, financial and cultural centre and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts all contribute to its status as a major global city.
London is a major centre for international business and commerce and is the leader of the three "command centres" for the global economy (along with New York City and Tokyo). It is the world's second largest financial centre after New York and has the sixth largest city economy in the world.
The city is home to banks, brokers, insurers and legal and accounting firms. Outside "The City" (a term used to describe the financial district) is a second financial hub called Canary Wharf. This is home to many global headquarters for companies such as Citigroup, HSBC, Reuters and Barclays. More than half of the FTSE 100 listed companies and over 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies are head quartered in central London. Whilst qualified accountants are in high demand in London, finding the right role without guidance can be a mind field when you first arrive!
Living in the London can be expensive compared to many places in the World. The cost of living will of course depend on the tastes of each individual, but you still need to be prepared financially. Flat share will generally cost between £300-£650 per month and rental of a one-bedroom flat will cost at around £650 plus depending on the area of London. Transport costs will also need to be factored (especially if you are looking cheaper rents which tend to only be available further out of London).
London's five airports combine to serve more destinations and traffic than any other city in the world. Heathrow is the world's busiest airport and both it and Gatwick serve the most routes around the world. Fortunately all this traffic does help reduce prices; Londoners benefit from the cheapest air fares in Europe.
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