London: What I've learnt so far

I can't quite believe I've been living down South for nearly a year. 

London life has been more of a shift than I ever expected; from the cost  of a cup of coffee to the wonder of 24/7 public transport, day-to-day existence in the capital city has been so much more than red buses and Big-Ben themed keyrings. It's meant getting used to a completely different place, meeting brand new people and doing my best impression of a fully fledged adult. More than anything, it's meant change - and definitely not the financial kind. Whatsoever.

So, in what has so far been a relatively brief stint in the capital, I thought I'd share a few things I've observed, acknowledged and learnt along the way.  Things that the guidebooks may choose not to include. Please read at your own discretion. 

1. If you take anything away from this post, remember this: when in London, you cannot stop. Once you get off the train at Euston or you touch down at Heathrow, whether you're stopping to tie your shoes, to check your phone or to turn the page of the latest bestseller, hesitation is not an option. Extra points if you can do any of these things whilst moving at 60 mph on the left hand side of the escalator. Which brings me nicely into my next tip.

2. Rush hour takes on a whole new meaning. Whilst previously I was lucky if my bus home turned up, now I can choose from about five trains home, all due in the next ten minutes. The one small sticking point is that there's probably a 2cm space for me and my bag to squeeze into, which means room to breathe is somewhat of a pipe dream.  On a serious note, a week or so ago, I actually did dream about getting a seat on my morning commute. Crushed when I woke up. Extra points if you line up your position on the platform with the train doors. 

4. Prepare for serious fashion envy. Whilst I imagine the same goes for most big cities, the commitment to looking incredible is higher in London than I've seen ever before. Whether it's a Monday morning busy train ride or Saturday night soiree in central, the sheer range of streetstyle on offer never fails to blow me away. Extra points if you're guilty of taking an #ootd photo in front of the multi coloured houses in Notting Hill.

5. Go with the flow. Probably most importantly, finding a rhythm and sticking to it has been the best way for me to be able to cope with living in a big city. Getting used to so much change is always hard at first, particularly when anxiety levels are at an all time high. I was scared about where I would be living and not seeing my favourite people nearly as much as I wanted to. Routines are important, but so is taking every day as it comes and just making the most of it. I've loved exploring, have taken advantage of being somewhere new and am constantly learning so much more than I would have done otherwise. It's been a rollercoaster, and I don't think I'm ready to get off just yet.

Do you live in London or have you ever visited? What tips would you give?

xxx

photos by the fab @bartekbasista_portraits