London is a great city to move to, whether it is for a job or to further your studies. London is lively and has all the amenities you need to have fun. There are plenty of great restaurants to explore, fantastic coffee shops from which you can get work done, and of course a lot of museums and galleries to visit.
Even so, it is still very common for Canadians moving to London to feel homesick and miss their hometowns a little. Worry not, because we are going to discuss some of the things you can do to feel more at home in London. Let’s jump right in, shall we?
Join a Facebook Group
One of the best ways to feel at home is to connect with other Canadians in the city. Fortunately, there is a Facebook group you can join called Canadians in London. Not only will you be able to meet fellow Canadians in the capital city, but you can also get a lot of information from the page.
For example, you can learn the best restaurants to try or grocery stores to visit if you miss the usual cuisines you have back in Canada. There are no Tim Hortons in the UK, but other group members can point you to coffee shops that are similar.
You can share your experiences and ask questions. Before long, you'll be helping those who are moving to London adapt just like you did.
Hockey Night
Nothing makes me miss Canada more than the Saturday night tune playing on CBC. Even if you're not a hockey fan, hockey night is still part of the Canadian way of life. It used to be difficult to get access to hockey matches, but now you can easily have your own game night at home thanks to streaming TV and satellite services.
You can even choose to watch hockey games as well as engage in some wagers to make the whole experience more fun. Online bookmakers are easy to find in the UK, so you will have no trouble placing bets on your favorite hockey teams.
Bagel and Cream Cheese
We’re back at Tim Hortons again. A bagel and cream cheese is the perfect combination when it comes to enjoying a taste of home. The Beigel Bake at Brick Lane, the Beigel Shop not too far from it, and Brill near Exmouth Market are the places you need to try.
The latter is a coffee shop with good coffee and delicious toasted bagels you need to taste. If you miss home that badly, you can also order a cup of black coffee with double cream and double sugar for a hit of Double Double.
Go on Road Trips
You can’t expect to explore natural beauty in London, but there are great places to visit near the city. Don’t expect to find anything like the Banff Mountains or Lake Louise, but a short road trip over the weekend to Primrose Hill or a bike tour around London’s Royal Parks will help you miss home just a little bit less.
You can also enjoy a day at the park for a more relaxing weekend. Regent's Park and Hyde Park are especially beautiful in the summer. You can just sit down and read a book or play some games on your phone; click to investigate Canadian games you can try on your next day out in the park. Alternatively, do what I do and take the time to visit some of the most remarkable museums in the city or the many live music street shows that this amazing city has to offer. If you love history and art, these places are remarkable.
Join Canadian Gaming Websites
Finally, sometimes you just want to speak to people from your home country. If there are no Canadians located close to you in London, you can easily do this online. Aside from speaking to friends and family over Skype and Facebook messenger, I love playing on online Canadian casino websites. Here I can play poker, roulette, and other games while chatting with fellow Canadians. You can find one great option straight from the source and it’s really easy to get started.
These are some of the things you can do to feel at home in London. There will still be a lot of things you miss from Canada, but you will find London caters to most of your needs.
