Living in London was always a pipe dream of mine. How would I ever land a sponsorship in the city, especially right after university? It was on my solo backpacking trip in 2016 that I was informed about the Working Holiday Visa, where Canadians under 30-something can simply apply and pay to live/work in the UK for two years. I got home from my trip and started the application. No job, no flat, no friends, no connections, just a dream that could actually be made into a reality.
Now those two years are sadly coming to an end. Since I’m only at the beginning of my post-university career and I failed to find my 20-something Hugh Grant husband, I can’t stay through a work sponsorship nor a marriage visa.
The countdown is less than two months and to cope with the inevitable, I am reflecting on the things I wont miss about the incomparable London.
*For those concerned like my father, it’s glitter under my right eye not a bug ✨
Things I Won’t Miss About London
1. The Destruction of my Skin (from Pollution)
When I moved to London I used to always get compliments on my skin. With a love for skincare, I had achieved a clear and even complexion. If you have this, do not take it for granted! A few months into living in the centre of this bustling city of pollution, the acne broke through the barrier of what I thought was good genes. Since then I have not gone one day without a pimple – typically three. Spotting newly formed whiteheads as you walk out the door for a date really makes you miss the fresh Canadian air.
2. The Crowded Streets
For a girl who claims to belong in a big city, I really do need to get over my foot rage. This is a term I use to describe the road rage I get on sidewalks when there are crowds and SLOW WALKERS. I am usually described as a really sweet polite gal, but I’m sure my face screams otherwise on a crowded sidewalk.
3. The Dating Scene (Shockingly)
I discovered the way to cure my obsession with finding my own Hugh Grant is dating in London. It didn’t take too long to find out the British men that make girls’ fannies flutter (thank you Jacob for this wonderful term) are either stuck on the screens of movies and television OR they are already taken. Of course there are gems out there, but they surely aren’t a dime a dozen.
4. The Lack of Mingling
A big reason I am over the men here is because of this! In Canada it is completely normal for men and women to go up to one another and strike up conversations, especially at bars. When I moved here, I continued with my ways. Though people conversed with me, there was clearly a sense that I may be crazy for doing so. It makes no sense! Guys don’t have the balls to go up to girls, but think it’s far too forward when girls go up to them. Hence why dating apps are so popular here.
5. No Air Conditioning
I crave London summers until I start to feel like a swamp woman. Wonder why I get more dates in winter?
6. Bottomless Brunches
This may be a controversial one! For those of you who don’t know, bottomless brunches are brunches where you get UNLIMITED alcohol for 2 hours (typically prosecco). This was always my suggestion for a weekend activity in the beginning, but then I came to terms with the fact that I cannot control myself at these gatherings. It becomes a race to get the most bang for your buck; basically the table chugs and ensures the restaurant needs to restock their prosecco supply by the end of your meal. The hangovers I get, mere hours later, are atrocious; like an animal is trying to crawl out of my forehead. I was invited to one tomorrow (a Sunday) but politely declined. Maybe I should just learn to have control?
7. The Goodbyes
As an expat, most of the friends I’ve made have also been expats. It’s only natural, since we are all looking for new friends in a new place, and the people who live here already have a support system. Though I’ve made wonderful friends who have left me with amazing memories, they also left me! Everyone’s visa runs up at some point and then it’s time to go home. Out of all the friends I made in my first year here, only one remains and even she leaves before I do. It comes with the territory! I’ll be leaving the friends I made behind too.
Things I Will Miss About London
To avoid going on too much of a tangent of all the great things about London, I’ve made a short and sweet list.
- The endless choice for food and drinks
- The cool pop-ups
- The supportive expat community
- The day drinking culture (and public drinking ability)
- The expansive and 24hr transportation system (aka drunk tube)
- The cheap groceries and booze (compared to Canada)
- The illustrious history
- The hustle and bustle
- The proximity to Europe (quick trip to France anyone?)
- Never running out of people to swipe through on Bumble or Tinder ;)
Though London is no longer rainbows and unicorns in my mind, it’s still a dream city to me and I will defend it to anyone who thinks otherwise.
So what’s next?
Make the most of my remaining weeks here and let it be!
We ain’t all that bad! (The men that is.) But, yeah, if you’re looking for Hugh Grant, you’ll be a long time looking! We don’t talk to strangers unfortunately, an irrational fear they might want to murder us. Good luck with whatever you do next!
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Haha just me being dramatic. Not the best luck in the dating scene I suppose! Thank you!
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Hi there! Thanks for visiting my blog and for the ‘like’. Umm… London…I have to agree with your post…many things to be bothered about (like the pollution… and the tube in the summer)….but so many things to love. Never boring though…jx
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SO MANY things to love, but ranting is always more fun 😉
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Bottomless brunches are a trick! If they weren’t, they wouldn’t exist!
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Excellent post – I left London over 15 years ago but can still relate to a lot on your lists!
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Thank you!
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Oh man I recently arrived in London and my skin is a mess!! I’m glad that I’m not the only one haha
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Haha doesn’t take long! Enjoy London though it really is the best city despite everything I said
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Such a great read! We don’t live in London but are only a 40 min fast train ride away so do go often. Totally identify with the foot rage hahahah
Anna and Sam x
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Haha glad it’s not just me! Thank you for reading x
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Sounds a lot like New York City , lol. I don’t think some Europeans are as chatty as Canadians and we Americans are. I might be wrong. We have bottomless brunches here in the states too. (Las Vegas anyone?????)
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Haha another city dear to my heart! I imagine the same complaints … though I do hope it’d be a better mingling environment!!
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New York is definitely a better mingling environment than London
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Your ‘foot rage’ cracked me up! I used to say to my sister that pavements needed lanes for overtaking slow walkers! Glad you’ve enjoyed your time in the UK 🙂
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That would be brilliant 😂 All expanding cities should take note
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Great to see there are things you will miss about London too. We had a year in London a few year’s back and I found it a very lonely experience. Poms are not the most open and friendliest people in the World, especially if you are only there for the short term. But we DID love the all the history and all the things to do and, as you say, Europe is only a quick plane or train ride away. Luxury! Enjoy your remaining time and wishing you more adventures! Mel
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Couldn’t agree more with your view on London and yet I’ve come to realise I miss it so much. Loved this read as I’m travelling the world and looking back at the good and bad I left behind for a while. Good luck with your next journey!
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Thank you! It’s always best to focus on the positives but I’m hoping this will make me miss it less. Probably won’t lol
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London is a weird city in that each part or suburb has its own special aspect to
It. I’ve lived here 35 years and still feel like a tourist when I go out in the centre. Sounds like it has been a chapter In your life so far but who knows how the story ends. No one, yet.
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So much to explore! I’m not done with London just yet!
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I am so sad that you are leaving, but I know exactly the feeling. WHV are great visas to allow us to explore the world. You had such a great experience here and I cannot wait to keep following your adventures! :D
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Thank you so much! WH visas are such incredible opportunities and I plan to keep taking advantage of them in other countries as well! Hopefully I’ll find my way back to London 😊
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If you are meant to be there then you’ll come back eventually! In the meantime, keep exploring the rest of the world, it’s such an amazing place <3 :D
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This list is hilarious and so true!! When I get sad about leaving I am going to come back to this and remember that home does have some things that are better… haha.
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Haha hope it helps you too!!
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i totally get what you mean with some of your dislikes – the slow walkers especially haha. coming from nyc, the tourists were the worst where they block all the sidewalks and corners so that i can’t pass through…got really good at weaving in and out through crowds! i think london is an interesting city…it’s not quite as urban as i would like and sometimes i feel like it’s a bit stuck in the past. but it’s still fun to explore and has tons of cool things to do so i can’t wait to go back some day!
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Haha I’m a weaver too! It annoys my friends because they have to be alert to keep up with me 😂
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I can so relate to this, fabulous list
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Thank you! 😊
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Native Londoner, who lived in San Francisco for a few years.
Coming back to London….OMG…. the high level of cigarette smoking. Yuck!
Didn’t they get the memo’s from the 1960s about cancer?
Love the bustle and energy.
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Haha ya so much smoking, forgot about that point. Suppose I got used to it? Though I must say it’s not as bad as I thought it’d be, guess some people got the memo!! haha
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Bottomless brunches actually sound rather intriguing to me! I wonder if I might lack the self-control too and hate myself afterwards.
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Haha they are very intriguing and lots of fun! Best of luck on your self-control ;)
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I’m going to London for the first time (finally) in September – can’t wait! Enjoyed reading this. I can definitely relate it to when I lived in NYC for 4 years.
Ariana
adventuresingourmet.com
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So exciting! Have the best time 🤗
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Being a born and bred Londoner myself, reading this list is so interesting and refreshing, these are all the little things that I have just become used to. Your point about mingling is so true! And not just within the dating scene but in general – very rare to find people striking up conversation with a stranger in a social setting. What would you say is the biggest difference between living in London and back home in Canada? Glad you had a lovely time, hope we can welcome you back in the future!
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Pardon any typos. Typing on a phone screen, not my strength.
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I loved this post!
I definitely have foot rage too haha! And I need to try these bottomless brunches for sure! x
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This is wonderful! Reblogging to sister site “Timeless Wisdoms”
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