ACCOMMODATION

In the UK you can find a  place to stay  through contacts, newspapers, ads at technical institutes and all the other usual places. Prearranging accommodation before arriving is difficult unless you have friends over here with vacancies in their flats. It is common practice to "dos" (sleep in someone else's living room) at a friends until you find a place of your own..

Another option is to stay at a hostel until you find somewhere. Hostel prices can range from £10 to £25 per night.  To get information on youth hostel accommodation and prices for when you first arrive "click here". To visit a web site that displays general UK hostel information "click here". 

In the UK bed and breakfasts can be comparable to some hostels in cost but they have the advantage of being a better place to get a couple of nights decent nights sleep after a long flight. For a directory of London B&B sites "click here" .   

Options & Cost of Living in London 

Compared to most other major European cities, finding a night’s accommodation in London can be pricey. As a general rule of thumb, the more centrally you choose to base yourself (e.g. Underground Zone 1, and parts of Zone 2) the more you will pay for the privilege of having a roof over your head. This is not to say that you can’t find bargains, and value for money. But you should always be aware that what might seem like a rip-off back home could be pretty reasonable by London standards. Finding accommodation will be your first concern when you arrive, and it will really help if you have a good idea of what you’re looking for, and what you can afford.

There are four main accommodation options :

(1) Hostels

Prices range from £10-20 per night for fairly simple, dorm-style accommodation. Food, such as breakfast, will usually be charged extra.

(2) B’n’Bs

Slightly more expensive than hostels (from £20-£30), but you’ll get your own room, and breakfast included in the price. You can often secure a discount for stays of a week or longer.

(3) Renting

It is almost impossible to predict how much you will be charged for rented accommodation in London. It depends on the area, the type of accommodation, and the character of the landlord. In a reasonable part of town, bedsits tend to cost between £50-85 a week, flatshares from £80-150, and one-bedroom flats from £100 to almost any amount you care to name! Of course, the hiring of appliances, bills and council tax can push these figures up, and the customary initial deposit can be a major outlay.

(4) Dossing with Friends

Free! Or however much you want to contribute to the household expenses. Although staying with a friend can be a great laugh, it can all go a bit wrong if you outstay your welcome, or fall out with your hosts. It is best to keep dossing to a short-term option, not least because it restricts your freedom. Your “bedroom” will probably be their lounge, and if someone wants to sit up watching late-night re-runs, there won’t be much you can do about it.  

The major downside to dossing is loud prolonged snoring from co-dossers, no privacy and lack of sleep, but be grateful - at least you have a roof over your head. Usually dossers are people who have just arrived in the country, have returned to a city after time spent traveling or are trying to save money before they go traveling. For the pleasure of sleeping on the floor or, if you are lucky, the sofa, you can expect to pay about £35 a week. Roughly £5 a night. The money you pay goes towards the household bills like gas, power and council tax. Most dossers sleep in the lounge of a flat.
Dossing Tips:

 Make an effort to help out with chores in the flat.
 Sleeping on a sofa is better than the floor.
 Keep looking for permanent accommodation everyday.
 Be very considerate of other flatmates.

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