Moving to any new city feels like stepping into another world, but when it’s London it can feel like a whole new universe.
One moment you’re buzzing with excitement at all the possibilities and the next you’re filled with existential dread pondering if you made the right choice.
Thankfully, that’s completely normal and everyone goes through these stages, from the highs to the homesickness to the gradual adjustments and then finally being able to say “this is home” and it’s important to recognise it’s a gradual process.
As you navigate that process, here’s what to expect from those first few months in a new city like London…
Stage One – Excitement
The first few weeks in a new city feel like a whirlwind of fresh possibilities. It’s easy to be whisked away by the desire to do everything right away; the museums, the bars, the restaurants, the parks.
Absolutely, do soak them all in but also make sure save a few things for later as there’s always going to be more to explore in London and it’s important to keep your new city feeling as fresh as possible.
This is also the perfect time to build personal foundations with small rituals that can make a place start to really feel like yours.
Find your go-to coffee shop, familiarise yourself with the local supermarket and start chatting with your neighbours as these small things will anchor you when the buzz inevitably wears off.
Most importantly, start building connections early. Go to events, join a club, say yes to invitations when they arise.
When the excitement fades, and it will, those early friendships will mean more than you can imagine, but also remember to not completely isolate yourself from your old friends too.
Stage Two – Homesickness
Homesickness can hit anyone at any time, but it’s often around the three month mark in a new city that reality starts to hit. The novelty of London has worn off and what once felt exciting might now feel incredibly overwhelming.
You might start to miss your old friends, your favourite takeaway or even the way your old city smelled and that’s completely normal. Homesickness is not a sign that you’ve failed or that you’ve done something wrong, it’s just a sign that you care.
The key is to avoid comparisons. Every city has its quirks and every chapter has its charm and so try to appreciate your new home for what it is and not what it isn’t.
If you find it helpful, you can try to recreate some small comforts that help you feel to connected to home like cooking your favourite meal or video calling a friend.
Stage Three – Adjustment
Once you overcome that initial homesickness, around six to twelve months in, then things will start to naturally click for you.
The bus routes start to make sense, you stop getting lost and you find yourself complaining about the same things as the locals, which is surprisingly a good sign.
After the initial homesickness, things slowly start to click. The bus routes make sense, you’ve got go-to spots, and you find yourself complaining about the same things as the locals – which is a surprisingly good sign.
Eventually, there’s a shift. You visit your old hometown and find yourself missing London as you’ve built a rhythm, friends who you miss, your own space, and favourite corners of the city. It’s not perfect (no place is), but it’s yours.
There’ll still be off days when the homesickness returns… that’s normal and just a reminder that settling in isn’t a single moment, but an ongoing process.
Step Four – Settling In
Reaching this stage doesn’t mean everything suddenly feels perfect – nowhere ever does. There will always be things you love and things you miss, but you’ve built something real here: people who make you feel seen, places that bring you comfort, and routines that make the city feel familiar.
To deepen that sense of belonging, keep investing in the connections that matter, because if there’s one thing that makes moving to a new city easier, it’s friendship.
After all, belonging isn’t about ticking off landmarks, knowing who does the best Sunday roast, or having your coffee order remembered – it’s about the people around you who make this city feel like home.
That’s exactly what our work is about: helping young adults find community and build genuine friendships in London.
Everyone you meet at our events is looking for the same thing – connection, friendship, belonging, and a sense of home. Many are navigating the same transition as you. Whether it’s your first week or your first year here, our events are designed to help you meet people who truly understand what you’re going through.
Because once you’ve found your people, even a city as vast as London starts to feel like it’s yours.
