London New Girl is a guide for moving to London and a thriving community for expat women living in London.
Kamila founded the community in 2012 when she moved to London from her home city of Melbourne. She’s been helping others make the same move ever since.
Driven by helping other women settle into London life, Kamila continues to grow the London New Girl community so others can find their feet and build a support network in what can often be an overwhelming city.
Kamila’s current obsessions include wine, cheese, being an OTT sausage dog mum, pretending to be good at DIY and hunting down the best coffee in every city she visits.
She’s recently resurfaced after a year of wedding planning and can now be found travelling between London and Paris, where she now lives with her shiny new husband and equally-shiny-but-less-new dog.
You can also find London New Girl on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
If you’ve recently moved to London, be sure to join the London New Girl Facebook Group and meet thousands of other expat women in London.
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So glad to find your blog page. I really enjoy to reading your blog posts.
Hi Kamila!
Just wanted to reach out and say hi as have just found your website and subscribed to your newsletter. My home town is also Melbourne, Australia! I am living in the US now but moving to London next month. I am 37 and coming over with my husband and dog and very keen to make new friends! Look forward to hopefully hearing from you!
Hi –
I would like to offer a job to a London New Girl. How do I send it in?
We don’t have this functionality I’m afraid. Thanks for checking in though x
I can see your love for travel that is so exciting 🙂
Hi Kamila, my name is Aimee and I am only 17 years old and I am looking to move to London at the end of school/2019 (I will be 18 then). I am currently working at Woolworth’s and I am concerned about moving to London with only 1 years work experience and no real skills. Do you have any extra tips for me to find a job with little experience?
Hi London new girl 🙂 my name is samara and i am a 20 something year old and also a Scorpio and moving to London on the 1st November 🙂 I have found ur blog very helpful as I am very scared but excited of moving to London on my own lol thanku 🙂 xx
Hi London new girl 🙂 my name is samara and i am a 20 something year old and also a Scorpio and moving to London on the 1st November 🙂 I have found ur blog very helpful as I am very scared but excited of moving to London on my own lol thanku 🙂 xx
Whoops I didn’t mean to repost that 🙂
Whoops I didn’t mean to repost that 🙂
This entire blog has been so helpful. I live in Queensland, and I have my British passport, and I am now contemplating moving to London. Reading this blog was definetly enjoyable! I love this blog! Especially being from Australia there isnt all that much information or stories of people moving to London, so this was a life saver! Keep up the good work! and hopefully I see you sometime soon in London! =)
Jesse x
Hey Jesse,
That’s awesome, thanks for dropping by & making my Friday even better! 🙂
You’re very lucky to have a British passport – you should definitely make the most of it and spend some time in London. I know so many people who would kill to have that option (ok, maybe killing is a little dramatic, but you get the point).
Keep in touch and let me know if you do decide to move over
Kamila x
Noway! I live in Queensland and have a British passport. When were you thinking of going? Have you been to London before? X
Noway! I live in Queensland and have a British passport. When were you thinking of going? Have you been to London before? X
Thats ok! I’m glad I came across this blog! Its lovely.
HAHA. Yes killing may be an option but I don’t think I am that kind of person. I do thank mother dearest for being born in the UK though and giving me the pleasure of having two passports. I can live and work over there with ease having a passport, right?
Do you happen to have Instagram? I would love to follow your adventures, I’m a total Instagram fanatic (Good old social media).
Hi Chloe! No I havent been, but I am the kind of person who , a: loves to travel (I crave it actually), and b: can adjust to places and situations quite easily, so I think I would be fine moving and enjoying the adrenaline of a new place and a new life! =) I am in sunny Townsville so it would be a bit of a change in weather for me! haha xx
Oh i just scrolled down and found the find me on Instagram section, all good lovelies! haha
This entire blog has been so helpful. I live in Queensland, and I have my British passport, and I am now contemplating moving to London. Reading this blog was definetly enjoyable! I love this blog! Especially being from Australia there isnt all that much information or stories of people moving to London, so this was a life saver! Keep up the good work! and hopefully I see you sometime soon in London! =)
Jesse x
Hey Jesse,
That’s awesome, thanks for dropping by & making my Friday even better! 🙂
You’re very lucky to have a British passport – you should definitely make the most of it and spend some time in London. I know so many people who would kill to have that option (ok, maybe killing is a little dramatic, but you get the point).
Keep in touch and let me know if you do decide to move over
Kamila x
Noway! I live in Queensland and have a British passport. When were you thinking of going? Have you been to London before? X
Noway! I live in Queensland and have a British passport. When were you thinking of going? Have you been to London before? X
Thats ok! I’m glad I came across this blog! Its lovely.
HAHA. Yes killing may be an option but I don’t think I am that kind of person. I do thank mother dearest for being born in the UK though and giving me the pleasure of having two passports. I can live and work over there with ease having a passport, right?
Do you happen to have Instagram? I would love to follow your adventures, I’m a total Instagram fanatic (Good old social media).
Hi Chloe! No I havent been, but I am the kind of person who , a: loves to travel (I crave it actually), and b: can adjust to places and situations quite easily, so I think I would be fine moving and enjoying the adrenaline of a new place and a new life! =) I am in sunny Townsville so it would be a bit of a change in weather for me! haha xx
Oh i just scrolled down and found the find me on Instagram section, all good lovelies! haha
That would be amazing if you made a Facebook group 🙂 let me know if you do xx
That would be amazing if you made a Facebook group 🙂 let me know if you do xx
Hey! I was thinking the same thing, setting up a Facebook group for people moving to London / living in London – really good idea! You should do it! I have 10 months until my friend and I leave Melbourne and we are super keen to get some friendships going (not creepily, don’t worry…). It’s always easier to move when you at least know one person!
Lizzie XO
Awesome, good to know!
Well I’ve just set one up on Facebook, but I haven’t had a chance to promote it yet, but it will be on the to-do list for the next week or so.
But feel free to get in early and check it out anyway and let me know what you think 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LondonNewGirl/
Kamila x
Hey! I was thinking the same thing, setting up a Facebook group for people moving to London / living in London – really good idea! You should do it! I have 10 months until my friend and I leave Melbourne and we are super keen to get some friendships going (not creepily, don’t worry…). It’s always easier to move when you at least know one person!
Lizzie XO
Awesome, good to know!
Well I’ve just set one up on Facebook, but I haven’t had a chance to promote it yet, but it will be on the to-do list for the next week or so.
But feel free to get in early and check it out anyway and let me know what you think 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LondonNewGirl/
Kamila x
So glad l found your blog page 🙂 Exactly what l needed. Just wondering if you moved to london by yourself? Or no anyone who has? That’s what lm going to do and lm a bit scared 🙁
Hey Chloe, I’m glad you found it too 🙂
I didn’t move by myself actually, but I think even if I didn’t have anyone to move with, I would have still done it!
I know a lot of people who have come by themselves, and it’s definitely not an easy move to make, like you said it’s really scary but it’s so personally rewarding and it doesn’t take long to settle in and feel at home.
I’m actually thinking of setting up a Facebook group for people moving to London who want to get in touch with others in a similar position, as it could be a great way to make some new friends & connections. Would this be something you’d find interesting or helpful?
x
So glad l found your blog page 🙂 Exactly what l needed. Just wondering if you moved to london by yourself? Or no anyone who has? That’s what lm going to do and lm a bit scared 🙁
Hey Chloe, I’m glad you found it too 🙂
I didn’t move by myself actually, but I think even if I didn’t have anyone to move with, I would have still done it!
I know a lot of people who have come by themselves, and it’s definitely not an easy move to make, like you said it’s really scary but it’s so personally rewarding and it doesn’t take long to settle in and feel at home.
I’m actually thinking of setting up a Facebook group for people moving to London who want to get in touch with others in a similar position, as it could be a great way to make some new friends & connections. Would this be something you’d find interesting or helpful?
x
Love everything you’ve got on here! Congratulations on making the move!
Karina.
Love everything you’ve got on here! Congratulations on making the move!
Karina.
Hey London New Girl!!
I am moving to London from Wellington, New Zealand at the end of July and your blog has been my go-to for advice! I am finding the whole thing pretty stressful, so it is great to have advice from someone who has already been there!
Keep it up – I need it!
Alice x
Hey London New Girl!!
I am moving to London from Wellington, New Zealand at the end of July and your blog has been my go-to for advice! I am finding the whole thing pretty stressful, so it is great to have advice from someone who has already been there!
Keep it up – I need it!
Alice x
Love your carpe diem spirit! 🙂
Love your carpe diem spirit! 🙂
Great blog!
I’m currently going through similar things you’ve been through – was a temporary expat in the UK, and two years later I’m becoming a permanent expat in the UK! Your experiences, while crazy, remind me of a lot of the fortunate and very ‘out-there’ things that I’ve been able to do!
And I may not be a scorpio, but once I find something I love, my life begins to revolve around it. Along with a few other things, traveling has become one of them – it’s absolutely addicting!
Looking forward to reading more!
Caity at Adventures Abroad Blog
Great blog!
I’m currently going through similar things you’ve been through – was a temporary expat in the UK, and two years later I’m becoming a permanent expat in the UK! Your experiences, while crazy, remind me of a lot of the fortunate and very ‘out-there’ things that I’ve been able to do!
And I may not be a scorpio, but once I find something I love, my life begins to revolve around it. Along with a few other things, traveling has become one of them – it’s absolutely addicting!
Looking forward to reading more!
Caity at Adventures Abroad Blog
same boat same starsign. 😉
i’m moving in the next year from adelaide/melbourne and am so excited.. your blog has just made my day. x
same boat same starsign. 😉
i’m moving in the next year from adelaide/melbourne and am so excited.. your blog has just made my day. x
Hi London New Girl!
I wanted to get in touch with you as I found your piece on accomocation really interesting. I am part of the marketing team at a serviced apartment provider which helps people relocate to the UK, and actually London specifically.
I’d be really keen to invite you to stay with us for a night and sample it yourself!
I can’t seem to find your contact details but I’d love to chat to you about it,
Laura
Hi Laura,
Sounds very interesting, do you have a website that I can take a look at?
You’re welcome to get in touch with me via email – kamila.zawa@gmail.com
Thanks,
K.
Hi London New Girl!
I wanted to get in touch with you as I found your piece on accomocation really interesting. I am part of the marketing team at a serviced apartment provider which helps people relocate to the UK, and actually London specifically.
I’d be really keen to invite you to stay with us for a night and sample it yourself!
I can’t seem to find your contact details but I’d love to chat to you about it,
Laura
Hi Laura,
Sounds very interesting, do you have a website that I can take a look at?
You’re welcome to get in touch with me via email – kamila.zawa@gmail.com
Thanks,
K.
Hey London New Girl!
My friend and I are originally from the UK but we are living in Melbourne at the moment. I found your blog a few months ago but just linked her to it then – we are both basically in love with you! You sound just like our type of person … we have exactly the same opinions as you about travelling. At the moment, as much as I like Melbourne and the friends I have made here, there is something about this city that just isn’t as fulfilling to me as London is. When you mentioned in your blog about the endless choice of art and exhibitions, cafes and bookshops, culture, fashion, weekend getaways, career opportunities, etc etc, I thought – YES! So true!
I know it’s unorthodox, but if you’re interested, Steffi & I would love to get in touch with you to talk more in depth about the move to London. We both have British passports so it’ll be much easier than without them, and I’m designated organiser and she is designated motivator, so between us we have it set – but we would really appreciate any other advice we could get.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and loving your blog – keep it up!
All the best 🙂
Hey Lizzie,
Thanks for your very kind comment, it made me laugh 🙂
Very cool that you can both relate to me and my ramblings. How long have you been living in Australia for?
With an organiser and a motivator, I think you’re both set for the move! I’m definitely the organiser haha, luckily the decision to move to London didn’t need much motivation!
Definitely feel free to ask anything you may want to know, am happy to help with whatever I can!
x
Hey London New Girl!
My friend and I are originally from the UK but we are living in Melbourne at the moment. I found your blog a few months ago but just linked her to it then – we are both basically in love with you! You sound just like our type of person … we have exactly the same opinions as you about travelling. At the moment, as much as I like Melbourne and the friends I have made here, there is something about this city that just isn’t as fulfilling to me as London is. When you mentioned in your blog about the endless choice of art and exhibitions, cafes and bookshops, culture, fashion, weekend getaways, career opportunities, etc etc, I thought – YES! So true!
I know it’s unorthodox, but if you’re interested, Steffi & I would love to get in touch with you to talk more in depth about the move to London. We both have British passports so it’ll be much easier than without them, and I’m designated organiser and she is designated motivator, so between us we have it set – but we would really appreciate any other advice we could get.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and loving your blog – keep it up!
All the best 🙂
Hey Lizzie,
Thanks for your very kind comment, it made me laugh 🙂
Very cool that you can both relate to me and my ramblings. How long have you been living in Australia for?
With an organiser and a motivator, I think you’re both set for the move! I’m definitely the organiser haha, luckily the decision to move to London didn’t need much motivation!
Definitely feel free to ask anything you may want to know, am happy to help with whatever I can!
x
Hey the London new girl!
I’m in the same boat as you.. in my twenties, from Australia and have finally made the decision to do the move this year after years of waiting and just holding back. I randomly stumbled across your website and have found it encouraging and gives me more confidence that I will not regret this new life I am about to embark on. Please keep up with your blogs/helpful hints 😀 Thanks
P.S I still find the biggest challenge as the moment is where to live.. I’ve looked at sites of London boroughs and London rent prices and your posts but still confused as to how and where to start. Any more tips you can give? Do
you still live in Islington?
Hi there. I’m very happy to hear you’re finding this blog helpful!
I am still in Islington, I have moved only once as I’ve been really lucky to find two amazing places.
I recommend that you look for share housing when you first arrive (living in a big house with housemates – the most common style of renting in London), so looking on sites such as Gumtree and SpareRoom.co.uk, where you look for ads where the housemates describe themselves and what kind of housemate they’re looking for, and you normally then arrange a meeting with them to view the house and meet everyone, to see if you all get along. If they offer you the room, and you like it, then it’s easy! Otherwise, you keep looking until you find the right one.
You normally pay 1-2 months rent as deposit (most often it’s 6 weeks) plus sometimes there’s some small fees for getting your name on the lease and what not, can be up to £200 extra.
Houses are almost always furnished, so it’s really easy to find a place with full furniture – beds, couch, table & chairs, washing machine, wardrobe, etc etc. You may just need your own small electricals – kettle, iron, that sort of thing, but if you move in with existing housemates then you prob won’t need to buy anything!
I hope that helps a bit. If there’s anything in particular you want to know about then just let me know.
I’ll look at reviewing and maybe adding to my existing ‘Finding a Home’ page to include some more info!
Hey the London new girl!
I’m in the same boat as you.. in my twenties, from Australia and have finally made the decision to do the move this year after years of waiting and just holding back. I randomly stumbled across your website and have found it encouraging and gives me more confidence that I will not regret this new life I am about to embark on. Please keep up with your blogs/helpful hints 😀 Thanks
P.S I still find the biggest challenge as the moment is where to live.. I’ve looked at sites of London boroughs and London rent prices and your posts but still confused as to how and where to start. Any more tips you can give? Do
you still live in Islington?
Hi there. I’m very happy to hear you’re finding this blog helpful!
I am still in Islington, I have moved only once as I’ve been really lucky to find two amazing places.
I recommend that you look for share housing when you first arrive (living in a big house with housemates – the most common style of renting in London), so looking on sites such as Gumtree and SpareRoom.co.uk, where you look for ads where the housemates describe themselves and what kind of housemate they’re looking for, and you normally then arrange a meeting with them to view the house and meet everyone, to see if you all get along. If they offer you the room, and you like it, then it’s easy! Otherwise, you keep looking until you find the right one.
You normally pay 1-2 months rent as deposit (most often it’s 6 weeks) plus sometimes there’s some small fees for getting your name on the lease and what not, can be up to £200 extra.
Houses are almost always furnished, so it’s really easy to find a place with full furniture – beds, couch, table & chairs, washing machine, wardrobe, etc etc. You may just need your own small electricals – kettle, iron, that sort of thing, but if you move in with existing housemates then you prob won’t need to buy anything!
I hope that helps a bit. If there’s anything in particular you want to know about then just let me know.
I’ll look at reviewing and maybe adding to my existing ‘Finding a Home’ page to include some more info!
Hi there!
I’ve just stumbled upon your blog and I’m really enjoying it! My partner and I are making the big move in February and are now in the heavy planning stages. I’m trying to read as much as I can! Would you be able to recommend any other blogs like yours, or that helped you out?
Thank you for putting together this excellent resource!
Hi there,
Sorry about my terribly slow reply. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I’m making an effort to keep this more updated going forward so you will be able to get more information soon!
Unfortunately I couldn’t find any other blogs when I was in the planning stages, which is why I decided to make my own! If I come across anything though I will definitely let you know!
Good luck with the planning 🙂 Let me know if you have any particular questions
Hi there!
I’ve just stumbled upon your blog and I’m really enjoying it! My partner and I are making the big move in February and are now in the heavy planning stages. I’m trying to read as much as I can! Would you be able to recommend any other blogs like yours, or that helped you out?
Thank you for putting together this excellent resource!
Hi there,
Sorry about my terribly slow reply. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I’m making an effort to keep this more updated going forward so you will be able to get more information soon!
Unfortunately I couldn’t find any other blogs when I was in the planning stages, which is why I decided to make my own! If I come across anything though I will definitely let you know!
Good luck with the planning 🙂 Let me know if you have any particular questions
Hi, I love your blog, and I’d like to invite you to a special event in London next week. I can’t find your contact details. Email me back! x
Hi, I love your blog, and I’d like to invite you to a special event in London next week. I can’t find your contact details. Email me back! x
Hi Sam. I hope you will find our free walking tours an asset to your readership. We offer pay-what-you-wish walking, food and bike tours of London. Guests determine what, if anything, a tour was worth, only after the tour is finished. We get lots of guests who are scoping London out for a future move or have just moved to London and are looking to get a better feel.
Hi Sam. I hope you will find our free walking tours an asset to your readership. We offer pay-what-you-wish walking, food and bike tours of London. Guests determine what, if anything, a tour was worth, only after the tour is finished. We get lots of guests who are scoping London out for a future move or have just moved to London and are looking to get a better feel.
Cute bio! Nice to meet you 🙂
You too… thanks for stopping by 🙂
Cute bio! Nice to meet you 🙂
You too… thanks for stopping by 🙂
The best of luck to you in London! My daughter is also a Scorpio and now I have a better understanding of her love for travel.
Thanks Darlene, I think I’ll need as much luck as I can get. I’m glad I could shed a bit more insight into the Scorpio mind for you 🙂
The best of luck to you in London! My daughter is also a Scorpio and now I have a better understanding of her love for travel.
Thanks Darlene, I think I’ll need as much luck as I can get. I’m glad I could shed a bit more insight into the Scorpio mind for you 🙂
Good luck with your upcoming move! It looks like you have done a lot of good research. With my traveling, I find my manta is to ‘expect the unexpected’.
Thanks for popping by my blog!
Thank you! That’s a very good manta to live by, although at the moment I find it’s much more reassuring to let myself thing that I can plan for the unexpected too 😉
Thanks for stopping by too!
Good luck with your upcoming move! It looks like you have done a lot of good research. With my traveling, I find my manta is to ‘expect the unexpected’.
Thanks for popping by my blog!
Thank you! That’s a very good manta to live by, although at the moment I find it’s much more reassuring to let myself thing that I can plan for the unexpected too 😉
Thanks for stopping by too!
I love your zest for life! Thank you for the follow, I look forward to moving to London “with” you 🙂
Thank you! I look forward to sharing my move with the blogging world 🙂 (and seeing more pictures of those gorgeous doggies of yours!)
I love your zest for life! Thank you for the follow, I look forward to moving to London “with” you 🙂
Thank you! I look forward to sharing my move with the blogging world 🙂 (and seeing more pictures of those gorgeous doggies of yours!)
You sound like the type of person who will get out there and really experience everything London has to offer! I moved to England when I was 18 and am still here 6 years later (but moving back to Canada in about 8 weeks as I finally feel like it’s time to head home – and I’m taking my favourite souvenir from my trip, an Englishman, home with me!). I really think you’ll love London for how busy and exciting it is.
I’m looking forward to reading more about your move!
Thanks Sam, and wow, I really appreciate all the feedback and tips from you today! So it took you 6 years to want to go back home, that’s quite some time. I’m sure this Englishman had something to do with it 😉 I’m wondering how long it will be for me… I’ll either want to come home really quickly or will want to stay forever! I’m secretly hoping for the latter, because then I can get a puppy which I’m dyyyying to get 🙂
Anyway, thanks again for the tips and I look forward to hearing more from you.
You’re welcome! Sorry for leaving so many comments, it was probably a bit overkill, lol. I started wanting to move back about 2 years ago, but it was easier then for me to stay than for him to move to Canada, so I thought I’d give it two more years. I love England, and I’m sure you will too, but sometimes I really miss home!
The English love their dogs, you’ll fit in well here! It might be hard having a puppy in London but people manage it so I hope it works out for you!
No such think as overkill, don’t worry 🙂 It get’s a bit hard researching everything from Australia, as obviously I can only share what I find online or hear from those who live there, so any sort of information or help from people such as yourself who are actually living in London and know what they’re talking about is a huge help!
If the English love their dogs then I think I’ll fit right in. But I’ll have to wait a while before I can commit, I struggle keeping plants alive at the moment! :/
You sound like the type of person who will get out there and really experience everything London has to offer! I moved to England when I was 18 and am still here 6 years later (but moving back to Canada in about 8 weeks as I finally feel like it’s time to head home – and I’m taking my favourite souvenir from my trip, an Englishman, home with me!). I really think you’ll love London for how busy and exciting it is.
I’m looking forward to reading more about your move!
Thanks Sam, and wow, I really appreciate all the feedback and tips from you today! So it took you 6 years to want to go back home, that’s quite some time. I’m sure this Englishman had something to do with it 😉 I’m wondering how long it will be for me… I’ll either want to come home really quickly or will want to stay forever! I’m secretly hoping for the latter, because then I can get a puppy which I’m dyyyying to get 🙂
Anyway, thanks again for the tips and I look forward to hearing more from you.
You’re welcome! Sorry for leaving so many comments, it was probably a bit overkill, lol. I started wanting to move back about 2 years ago, but it was easier then for me to stay than for him to move to Canada, so I thought I’d give it two more years. I love England, and I’m sure you will too, but sometimes I really miss home!
The English love their dogs, you’ll fit in well here! It might be hard having a puppy in London but people manage it so I hope it works out for you!
No such think as overkill, don’t worry 🙂 It get’s a bit hard researching everything from Australia, as obviously I can only share what I find online or hear from those who live there, so any sort of information or help from people such as yourself who are actually living in London and know what they’re talking about is a huge help!
If the English love their dogs then I think I’ll fit right in. But I’ll have to wait a while before I can commit, I struggle keeping plants alive at the moment! :/
So that explains my love for travel–I’m a Scorpio! 🙂 I’m excited for you and your new adventure, New Girl! It will shape your world and your self in ways you never would have imagined.
I’m glad to have found you–thanks for visiting my site.
I think that being a Scorpio gives us some great excuses for a lot of things!
Thank you for sharing my excitement! I hope that it’s all that I’m building it up to be, I guess that we’ll find out soon – exactly 3 months to go today. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Attitude is everything, my dear, and if you have that attitude of adventure and enthusiasm, I’m sure that this experience will be a wonderful one for you.
So that explains my love for travel–I’m a Scorpio! 🙂 I’m excited for you and your new adventure, New Girl! It will shape your world and your self in ways you never would have imagined.
I’m glad to have found you–thanks for visiting my site.
I think that being a Scorpio gives us some great excuses for a lot of things!
Thank you for sharing my excitement! I hope that it’s all that I’m building it up to be, I guess that we’ll find out soon – exactly 3 months to go today. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Attitude is everything, my dear, and if you have that attitude of adventure and enthusiasm, I’m sure that this experience will be a wonderful one for you.