London is the leading financial centre in the world, along with New York, as well as a leading global city for business, the arts, education and tourism. London is a vibrant, culturally rich and fast moving city with an enormous amount to offer those looking to work, live or visit.

Working in London

The five major business districts in London are Westminster, the City, Canary Wharf, Lambeth, Southwark, Camden and Islington. The City itself is the financial and legal centre of the United Kingdom and contains more than 7.7 million m2 of office space. More than 300,000 people work in the City and nearly half of them are employed in the finance sector, insurance, accountancy and banking. The Western Central, or WC, area has the highest office occupancy rates in the world. The Public Sector is a major employer in London, with 20% of jobs in the fields of health, public administration and education. Retail and the hospitality sector are also are experiencing steady growth. London is a highly competitive marketplace and when applying for jobs in London it is essential to be proactive. Update your CV, join recruitment agencies and network with your peers.

Living in London

London is home to a diverse mix of people and cultures and more than three hundred languages are spoken in the city. London is a renowned as a centre for the arts, fashion, media, education, healthcare and transport.

The London Underground network provides extensive transport links throughout the city and TFL (Transport for London) also offers numerous bus, tram and river boat routes to a wide variety of destinations. An Oyster card will provide you with the easiest and cheapest way to get around using London’s public transport network.

House rental prices in London will vary, with Kensington and Knightsbridge being the most expensive areas to rent a home. The majority of letting agents will require both work and former landlord references, a deposit of up to six weeks rental value and a month’s rend in advance.

Visiting London

The city of London is the most visited city in the world by international tourists, attracting more than 15 million visitors annually, and world famous landmarks include the London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge. London also boasts four World Heritage sites including Kew Gardens, the Tower of London, Greenwich and the site encompassing Westminster Abbey, St Margaret’s Church and the Palace of Westminster. Other popular visitor attractions include the National Gallery, the British Museum and Wimbledon, which hosts the world famous tennis championships.

London is a major international air travel hub and is home to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London City and London Stansted Airports. Mainline train stations also provide links to other parts of the country as well as internationally.

The West End is the main shopping and entertainment district in London and the city is famous for its shopping offerings, with a plethora of department’s stores, designer boutiques and high street shops. Oxford Street is the retail and commercial centre for London with numerous bars, restaurants and clubs available and able to cater to every possible taste.