I have been wanting to write about this move for sometime and I finally found some time today. So, here it is, I moved to London on October 8th from Stockholm.
This move was purely based on the career. There was a lot of hype about FAANG culture and I wanted to experience one, so I prepped for it and got into Amazon. To be honest, not much of a difference. Only the scale at which the company operates. Well, I will talk all about my experience later but in this article I want to talk about my move to London and why I moved away from London to NewCastle.
New Boy In Town – The London
London is everything I had heard of and watched in movies and TV series. It’s full of life – places to visit, food from every part of the world, opportunities in all forms all around, day life, night life, the much – hyped London Underground, and the architecture that tells the story of centuries.
For the first 2-3 weeks, I was just lost in the magnanimity of London. It’s a very fast-paced city, and if you are someone who thrives in that environment, it can be exhilarating. You blink, and something new has already happened.
But soon after settling in, I started to see the actual picture.
London… is not a very good place to thrive – not unless you are ready to give it your everything. It demands a lot from you.
The cost of living is insane, way more than it is supposed to be. Rent alone is enough to make you reconsider all your life choices. It is one dense artificial forest made by human beings. It is not bad at all, but if you are someone like me who has lived away from cities, then you will soon realize that London doesn’t have much to offer in your daily life in terms of natural beauty and the kiss of nature.
I’m talking about the small things – going over the farm lanes when you head back from work or just sitting next to a lake every evening with friends. I’m not saying that London doesn’t have natural beauty. In fact, you’d be surprised to know that London has some of the most beautiful parks, gardens, and natural reserves. My point is that they are not engraved in your daily life. You have to plan your time to enjoy them. You don’t just stumble upon a peaceful green meadow or a quiet riverside; you have to make an effort to seek them out.
And honestly, when you are constantly running between work, the commute, and life’s responsibilities, how often do you get the chance?
Why I Moved To NewCastle?
After living for 6 months into London life, I realized it wasn’t sustainable for me.
I needed space.
I needed the ability to step out of my house and not immediately feel overwhelmed.
I needed balance.
So, I started looking at places that could offer that. That’s when Newcastle caught my attention.
Newcastle is a completely different vibe. It’s still a city but not the kind that consumes you. It has character, history, and enough modern amenities to not feel like you are living in the middle of nowhere. The best part? The nature surrounds it. The moment I stepped foot in Newcastle, I felt that breath of fresh air – both figuratively and literally.
Life here is slower but not in a boring way. It gives you time to live.
You can walk to the river, sit by the Quayside, take a hike without traveling hours out of the city, and just generally exist without feeling like you are constantly catching up to life. The people are warmer, the rent doesn’t make you question your life choices, and overall, it just feels like a place where you can thrive instead of merely surviving.
Final Thought
Looking back, I don’t regret moving to London.
I needed this experience. It gave me perspective.
It made me realize what I truly want in my everyday life.
But I also don’t regret leaving. Newcastle has been good to me. It has given me space, peace, and a much better quality of life. And that’s what matters in the end, doesn’t it?
If you are someone contemplating moving to London, I’d say go for it – experience it yourself. But know what you are signing up for.
And if, at any point, you feel like you need a change, there are always places like Newcastle waiting to welcome you.
Well, that’s my very late life update. If you’ve stuck around till the end, thanks for reading. Until next time!
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