Local Living: How to Live like a Local in the UK

Are you about to move to the UK soon? When you move somewhere new, you don’t want to feel like a tourist in your new town. You want to make it feel like home as soon as possible. This means you need to learn how to live like a local.

Living like a local means that you will find the hidden gems around town and even save money too. It’ll help you make your new city feel like home and you can escape the expensive, overrated tourist traps.

But how do you find the hidden local spots without being a local? How do you know where to go and where to avoid? There are plenty of great ways to live like a local in the UK, so read on to learn all about it.

1. Get to Know the Locals

The first step towards living like a local is by actually getting to know the locals first. These are the people who can show you the best spots and give you advice on the things you should and shouldn’t do.

Get out there and meet people who know the city like the back of their hands. It’s easy to do this when you’re an international student, as you can simply start talking to the people in your classes.

Join clubs, get talking to people and generally just try to make friends with people. The connections you make with people are what make the experience so valuable.

2. Follow What’s Happening

The UK has many current affairs happening just like any other country – but you might not know about it.

Stay abreast of what’s happening here by reading the news and keeping up to date. You don’t have to be religious about keeping up with the news. You can pick up a free newspaper as you wait for the bus or train, or you can even just check your local Twitter trends.

It gives you things to talk about with locals and it will help you to gain a deeper understanding of the UK.

3. Eat like a Local

Your host city might have amazing restaurants that people visit from all over the world. But make sure you eat local and explore what your neighbourhood has to offer.

If you’re in an international neighbourhood, you could be missing out on amazing authentic food and lovingly made home-cooked dishes.

Eating local also means that you get to save money, as independent local shops will cost less than name brands or high-end chains.

4. Get a Travel Card

It might sound like a no-brainer, but getting a travel card is a fast way to start feeling and living like a local.

Tourists often only invest in a travel pass for the few days they’re in the country, but you live here now! Most cities in the UK rely heavily on public transport so a travel pass is a must.

Make sure to get an Oyster card if you live in London, and if you’re outside of London, find out what your host city uses instead. It’ll save you a lot of money in the long run and have you feeling like a local in no time!

5. Take a Trip Outside

When you live in a big city, it’s easy to fall into tourist traps in your spare time as you think you need to experience them. But instead, do as the locals do and take a trip outside of town.

Find out if there are any festivals or events happening in any surrounding towns or cities, or just go for a day trip. It’s a great way to experience another British city and if you head into the countryside, you can experience a slower pace of life.

It also helps you grasp the geography of the country much better and you’ll become more aware of smaller towns as well.

It’s Not Hard to Live like a Local in the UK

Learning how to live like a local in the UK isn’t so hard, and when you do these things, it’ll feel like home in no time. Moving abroad is always a little bit scary, but when you familiarise yourself with your city you make your experience much better.

Need to find accommodation in your host city in the UK? Talk to us and we can help you find the perfect place to call home.

Are you about to move to the UK soon? When you move somewhere new, you don’t want to feel like a tourist in your new town. You want to make it feel like home as soon as possible. This means you need to learn how to live like a local.

1. Get to Know the Locals

2. Follow What’s Happening

3. Eat like a Local

4. Get a Travel Card

5. Take a Trip Outside

It’s Not Hard to Live like a Local in the UK

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