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Reviews 3.3.

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Poor experience

A very poor experience today at the Nomad clinic in Bond Street. My son had wanted a dengue fever vaccination not available in the country he lives in. He told Nomad about an operation 12 weeks ago and this was checked in before saying to travel down : one hour journey! When he arrived they said they couldn’t give the vaccine and charged him £25 for 4 minutes with the nurse. Poor treatment !

Date of experience : 27 February 2024

Vaccination appointment

Just had an appointment at the Cardiff clinic with Jo Vickery. What a lovely, professional and informative gentleman. He gave us plenty of information to helps us stay well and enjoy our holiday. Will definitely use Nomad again and I would highly recommend. Thanks Jo.

Date of experience : 20 December 2023

I have an overland expedition company

I have an overland expedition company, and most years need to renew our expedition kit with supplies. Kata (Pharmacy Coordinator) was superb and very patient as there was some back and forth to get everything we were after, plus some prescription items. Can't fault the service top marks! A++

Date of experience : 21 September 2023

Kind and compassionate staff

We had not booked in advance for our test to return to France the following day. We asked for help at the clinic having been sent from various other covid clinics, as we hadn't booked. The ladies were so helpful when they saw our dilemma ,and fitted us in between their other appointments. Such a relief for a couple in their mid seventies, to be treated so kindly. Thank you both.

Date of experience : 18 July 2021

Cooldrive Nomad was not a great experience as a credit hold was put down after a tentative enquiry

We made the mistake of making a tentative enquiry with Cooldrive Nomad about hiring a motorhome before reading their reviews and like others discovered a credit hold had been placed on our account which we couldn’t get rid of in order to change our booking until the 7 day period was up. The person we were dealing with seemed to be doing his best but couldn’t release the credit hold. We ended up going direct to a local provider once the credit hold had been released after 7 days. I think it’s best to avoid brokers if possible. I wouldn’t use this company again.

Date of experience : 23 July 2023

The service was very good particularly…

The service was very good particularly the support. I had some suggestions all the same about making sure that people understood they needed to register their sample in order to get results. I did not. This information should be included with the package. Nomad said they are looking into this.

Absolutely fantastic service

I dont usually leave reviews but I am very impressed by the service Nomad offers. I was incredibly anxious about getting my PCR test done and receiving the results on time - the team was friendly and reassured me every step of the way. I received my results on time, was taken through the process in a very friendly and supportive way and would highly recommend them.

Date of experience : 28 January 2021

Professional and caring

I attended the Cardiff clinic for the first time on 26/05/23 following my GP’s recommendation. Everybody there were polite and professional. I was seen by Dhanya who discussed my travel plans with me and identified the advised vaccinations. She provided me with suitable advice to inform my decisions. Everything was clear and transparent, she even invited me to view the results on the computer screen for the regions I was intending to visit. I had the vaccinations there and then and Dhanya gave me a leaflet with further guidance… including appropriate repellent sprays and where to source them. I will definitely re-use the Nomad clinic in future. Highly recommended.

Date of experience : 26 May 2023

Excellent Service

Excellent company in every area. Quality of clothes is second to none. Delivery is always earlier than expected. Any returns you may have are dealt with immediately. Telephone manner of the guy is absolutely brilliant. I have been buying from them for a while.

Date of experience : 25 August 2021

PICK A DIFFERENT COMPANY!!!!

Family member used this company after returning from a amber country. They use oncologica which has shocking reviews.Day 6 and still no sign of the day 2 results. They refuse to recognise the Royal Mail delivery time and send a email when they scan the item. Which could be up to 12 hrs later. This gives them even longer to process the test. Still no results. False advertising, trading standards and breach of contract!

Date of experience : 27 August 2021

Ignore bad reviews!

We ordered our fit to fly tests plus day 2 and 8 tests through Nomad travel and customer service was excellent! Was worried after reading previous reviews however all of our tests arrived in plenty of time and our fit to fly results were actually received the same day that the courier collected our tests! Mollie Moore dealt with all of our test collections and deliveries and provided excellent customer service and explained each stage of each test for us as the whole process can get a little confusing! Would definitely recommend Nomad and wouldn’t be put off by previous reviews Thanks again Mollie ☺️

Date of experience : 11 September 2021

DON’T USE THEM

DON’T USE THEM. They partnered with one of the worst Covid testing companies in the U.K. They advertise 24 hours on tests being conducted, but absolve themselves of any responsibility to fulfil those promises in the terms and conditions. This kind of deceptive business practice should be illegal. AVOID.

Date of experience : 13 September 2021

Unreliable - Avoid - Day 2 & Day 8 Covid19 Tests

I have purchased through them a Day 2 & Day 8 Covid19 Tests. They collaborate with a company named Oncologica. Tests arrived on time but results no. I have sent them the day 2 test on Monday morning using Royal Mail priority service and still I haven't received my results - Friday morning. I emailed the company asking for the results on Wednesday and haven't received any reply yet (apart from an auto response email). Unreliable- Avoid.

A great service from Nomad

Interesting to see such disparity in reviews of Nomad's PCR testing service. Can only comment on our recent experience; all very positive. We ordered Day 2 kits in France, driving to our ferry on 15th August, after belatedly realising we needed a test reference number on the UK passenger locator form! At £55 they were not the most expensive, nor the least, but all courier and return postage included...unlike other providers who slap £25+ on at the end of your order! The kits arrived within the specified delivery hour on 17th August. We returned same day through priority Royal Mail post box -easy. Despite forgetting to scan our kit barcodes into the Coronfocus App (reminder instructions to do this could be included in the kit, although are in the original confirmation email) we have our results today -20th August. I cannot fault this service.

Date of experience : 20 August 2021

Poor BA recommendation for COVID-19 tests

We are travelling on 31/Dec so needed a COVID-19 PCR test service just after the Christmas break. BA offered 2 clinics including City Doc. I emailed them to check when their clinics were open on 28th-29th Dec. They said their PCR testing stops on 21st Dec and re-opens on 2nd Jan. British Airways team, you need to get this company off your recommended list. Very poor service and reflects badly on whoever in BA selected them as a pass-through service provider. DO NOT RECOMMEND.

Date of experience : 02 December 2020

Dhanya was fantastic and really knows…

Dhanya was fantastic and really knows her stuff. Had some really useful information for our trip to Vietnam and had the vaccinations we needed. The receptionist was super friendly too. Great service, 100% recommend!

Date of experience : 01 July 2023

I tried to make an appointment online…

I tried to make an appointment online for the travel clinic, as they don't pick up the phone. There is no opportunity to add more than 1 individual on booking form, so i added a line to that effect in free text when making a booking. They then called me that my chosen time is not good for a family and they wanted to reschedule to a time not practical to us or a time very close to departure. They then kept nagging about a deposit. Nomad used to be an excellent company, but no longer I am afraid

Date of experience : 04 April 2022

Day 2 Covid Test - great experience

I wanted to write this review because it was such a minefield when we came to book our day 2 covid test on return to the UK from an amber destination. So many providers have bad reviews and there is such a range of pricing! I booked through Nomad Travel and the process was extremely efficient and well managed. I booked the test 2 days before departure, and the test kit arrived the day after I landed. The kit came from Oncologica and was very easy to follow.. the details had all been pre-loaded on to the website for me and the results came 2 days after posting the kit back. It cost £55 which was very reasonable compared to other providers - my partner paid £90 and the process was harder to follow and slower (he had to enter all details himself and the kit only arrived on day 2). He still hasn't got his results. We will definitely use Nomad Travel next time we travel for all required tests and wanted to reassure those in a similar quandary!

Date of experience : 30 July 2021

A reasonably good service at a reasonable price

We booked Day 2 and 8 tests and also Day 5 Test to Release tests - all arrived on time, but the Day 2 results took 4 days from posting the tests, perhaps because we took the tests on a Saturday. The results of the Day 5 tests were fairly quick, so we could quit quarantine early on Day 7. Altogether not bad, but no question of a result in 24 hours. What they promise is 24 hours from when they receive the test. The prices were not bad - £55 for Day 5, and £99 for the Days 2 and 8 package. And you can track progress of your tests on their app.

Date of experience : 15 August 2021

Day 2 test on return-just a bad joke or an advertising stunt

I tried to book Day2 only tests for our return from holiday in August at the Nomad Turnpike Lane clinic after finding them on the government website. It is a con : the booking system doesn’t work and the rude lady on the phone told me it is a limited offer(not mentioned anywhere though!) and it already stopped because of the big demand in July. In their booking system you could see all the bookings they made for this Day2 tests, 8 in total on the 16 July. I found it extremely funny if you think these tests will only be usable from the 19 July. Forget about them and their amazing deals, they do not exist.

Date of experience : 14 July 2021

Site Navigation and Reservations

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• Where It Began
• Giannini Place

Reservations

NoMad London, a World's 50 Best Hotel, takes residence inside the historic, grade II-listed building famously known as The Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station. A collaboration with New York-based interior design studio Roman and Williams, the transformation of the storied 19th century building draws inspiration from its history and location in Covent Garden, as well as exploring the artistic and cultural connection between London and New York.

Of the moment.

NoMad London, the perfect bookend to a night out. Join us for dining and drinks before or after the theatre or ballet.

Indulgence is encouraged. Schedule wellness treatments in transformed suites with spa partners in residence, Ricari Studios and Katie England.

Guests of NoMad London receive complimentary entry to the Bow Street Museum, where the stories contained within our walls and in the surrounding neighbourhood come to life.

Accommodations offer an understated luxury and residential comfort that is distinctly NoMad.

Food and beverage

NoMad's signature culinary perspective is tailored to its new home in London; casually elegant with moments of whimsy, showcasing the bounty of the region and the season, and always served in gracious spirit.

NoMad London

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• Very Good 19
• All languages ( 141 )
• English ( 137 )
• Spanish ( 1 )
• Italian ( 1 )

" onze kamer met zicht op de binnenplaats was bijzonder rustig. "

" Skip the city traffic. Take the Heathrow Express. Clean, frequent and relaxing. Use the famous London Cabs to get around. "

" Just avoid! "

" No need to pack converters, flat iron, or steamers - they have you covered. "

" Take note of location based on what you are intending to do when in London "

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NOMAD LONDON - Updated 2024 Prices & Hotel Reviews (England)

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This London Hot Spot Was Once a Legendary Courthouse — and Now It's One of the Best New Hotels in the World

Travel + Leisure's It List 2022 was just released, and it named NoMad London among the top new hotels in the world.

Nina Ruggiero is Travel + Leisure's senior editorial director and the co-founder of Be A Travel Writer , an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. A New Yorker based in Los Angeles, she has a special interest in beach destinations, outdoor adventures, unique hotels, pet-friendly travel with her golden retriever, @travelswithcali, and all things Italy.

During the Bow Street Magistrates' Court 's 125 years of operation in Covent Garden, it saw the likes of writer Oscar Wilde and the Kray twins, two of the most notorious London gangsters of the 1960s, take the stand. Legendary suffragettes went to trial there, as did a Nazi propagandist. Even designer Vivienne Westwood once spent a night behind its bars after a protest. When it shuttered in 2006, it was touted in the British press as a "living monument" and one of England's most famous courthouses. And even then, rumors were swirling that it was meant to become a hotel.

On May 25, 2021, after years of changing hands and stalled plans followed by a global pandemic, it did indeed (finally) open as a hotel — and NoMad London was worth the wait. The proof? When Travel + Leisure's It List 2022 , naming the top new hotels in the world, went live this week, it ranked NoMad London among the cream of the new hotel crop.

The hotel successfully translates the brand's sophisticated-casual New York style across the pond as NoMad's first property outside the U.S. Designed by Roman and Williams, there are nods to the synergy between New York City and London : a cheeky pub, Side Hustle, serves British and American spirits alongside Mexican fare in the court's former police station, and the Library blends books and artwork representing both cities — particularly their shared love for theater, as those enjoying a coffee, tea, or cocktail on its red velvet furniture will find themselves sitting just across the street from the Royal Opera House.

The main NoMad Restaurant is inside a three-story atrium — the site of the former police station courtyard — now modeled after an Edwardian greenhouse. Executive chef Ashley Abodeely, whose work has touched every NoMad property, has masterminded a menu centered around a wood-burning grill and farm-fresh, U.K.-sourced ingredients.

Common Decency, NoMad's first-ever lounge, where East London cocktail bar meets West End nightclub, has yet to open but already promises to draw locals and visitors alike once completed. The private VIP booths out back feel like an insider's secret, nestled in Victorian-era coal holes once used to heat the building that now house elegant furniture with elaborate golden artwork gracing the walls and low ceilings.

For private dining and events, including weddings, the former heart-of-the-action Magistrates' Courtroom is now an ethereal ballroom with two dining rooms, a bar, and its own entrance.

The 91 rooms vary in size, layout, and design, with suites offering separate sitting rooms, and some of them, clawfoot bathtubs. Blush, rose gold, and velvet touches throughout soften the stately courthouse architecture, and the Royal Opera Suite boasts views over its namesake landmark.

For history buffs, the smallest room category may be the coolest: Down a light green hallway, what was once the women's jail wing is now a hall of guest rooms (two cells make a room), with the original tilework and cell doors still intact.

A visit will leave the curious guest yearning to know more — and the Bow Street Police Museum is just the place to satisfy that craving. The museum delves into the history of the police station and courthouse and the stories of the colorful characters and criminals who passed through, as told by the officers who served there long before a world-class hospitality team was passed the baton.

Nina Ruggiero is Travel + Leisure's digital editorial director. A New Yorker living in Los Angeles, she's happiest on a beach, a cobblestone street, or in a hotel bathtub with a view. Find her on Instagram @ninamarienyc .

NomadTreneur

The 15 Best Hostels in London for Digital Nomads

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April 13, 2023

London, a vibrant and bustling city, is an attractive destination for digital nomads seeking a lively and diverse environment to work and live. The city offers a plethora of options when it comes to accommodation, with hostels being an affordable and convenient choice for those looking to balance work and travel. To help digital nomads find the perfect hostel in London, we have compiled a list of the 15 best hostels that cater to the needs of remote workers, offering a comfortable stay, reliable Wi-Fi, and a conducive working environment.

Wombat’s City Hostel London

Located in the heart of London, Wombat’s City Hostel is a popular choice among digital nomads. The hostel features a spacious co-working area, fast Wi-Fi, and multiple power outlets to keep your devices charged. The on-site bar and lounge provide an opportunity to unwind and socialize after a long day of work.

Safestay London Elephant & Castle

Safestay London Elephant & Castle is an affordable yet stylish hostel that caters to the needs of digital nomads. The hostel boasts a dedicated work area with comfortable seating, ample power outlets, and high-speed Wi-Fi. The location is well-connected to the rest of the city, making it easy to explore London’s attractions during your downtime.

Generator Hostel London

Situated in the trendy area of King’s Cross, Generator Hostel London is a contemporary and chic hostel that offers a comfortable stay for digital nomads. The hostel features a spacious co-working area, equipped with fast Wi-Fi and power outlets. The on-site café serves delicious food and drinks, providing a convenient option for meals during your stay.

YHA London St Pancras

YHA London St Pancras is a budget-friendly hostel that offers a comfortable and peaceful environment for digital nomads. The hostel provides a designated workspace with reliable Wi-Fi and power outlets. The location is ideal for those looking to explore London, as it is situated close to public transportation and various attractions.

Clink78, housed in a historic courthouse, combines modern amenities with a unique atmosphere. The hostel offers a dedicated work area with comfortable seating, power outlets, and high-speed Wi-Fi to cater to the needs of digital nomads. The on-site bar and social events provide an opportunity to mingle with fellow travelers and make new connections.

Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage

Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage is a charming hostel housed in a Victorian-era building. This hostel offers a cozy and quiet atmosphere, ideal for digital nomads looking for a peaceful work environment. The dedicated workspace features ample power outlets and reliable Wi-Fi. The hostel is also conveniently located near public transport and various attractions.

St Christopher’s Inn Village London Bridge

St Christopher’s Inn Village London Bridge is a lively hostel that offers a comfortable stay for digital nomads. The hostel features a dedicated workspace with fast Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating. The on-site bar and regular events create a fun atmosphere and provide a chance to socialize and meet new people.

Located in the heart of Soho, SoHostel is a trendy and stylish hostel that caters to digital nomads. The hostel offers a dedicated co-working space with reliable Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating. The on-site café and bar provide a convenient option for meals and drinks during your stay.

Selina Camden

Selina Camden, part of the global Selina chain, is a boutique hostel that offers a creative and inspiring atmosphere for digital nomads. The hostel features a co-working space, complete with high-speed Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating. The on Selina Camden, part of the global Selina chain, is a boutique hostel that offers a creative and inspiring atmosphere for digital nomads. The hostel features a co-working space, complete with high-speed Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating. The on-site café, bar, and restaurant provide a variety of food and beverage options, making it convenient for digital nomads to grab a meal or a drink without leaving the premises. Additionally, Selina Camden hosts regular events and workshops, fostering a sense of community and offering opportunities for networking and personal growth.

The Dictionary Hostel

Situated in the trendy Shoreditch neighborhood, The Dictionary Hostel is a modern and stylish hostel that caters to the needs of digital nomads. The hostel offers a dedicated co-working area with fast Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating. The on-site bar and café provide a space to unwind and socialize after a day of work, while the hostel’s location makes it easy to explore London’s vibrant art and culture scene.

Meininger London Hyde Park

Meininger London Hyde Park is a contemporary hostel located in the heart of London, near popular attractions such as the Natural History Museum and Kensington Gardens. This hostel offers a co-working space with high-speed Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating, making it ideal for digital nomads. Additionally, the on-site bar and lounge provide a space for relaxation and mingling with fellow travelers.

PubLove at The Green Man Paddington

PubLove at The Green Man Paddington is a unique hostel that combines accommodation with an authentic British pub experience. The hostel offers a co-working area with reliable Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating, making it suitable for digital nomads. The on-site pub serves traditional British food and a wide selection of beverages, providing a convenient option for meals and socializing during your stay.

Astor Hyde Park

Astor Hyde Park is a budget-friendly hostel located in a stunning Victorian townhouse. The hostel offers a cozy and quiet atmosphere, making it perfect for digital nomads seeking a peaceful work environment. The dedicated workspace features ample power outlets and reliable Wi-Fi, while the hostel’s location near Hyde Park allows for easy access to outdoor spaces and leisure activities.

Barmy Badger Backpackers

Barmy Badger Backpackers is a family-run hostel that offers a home-away-from-home atmosphere for digital nomads. The hostel provides a designated workspace with comfortable seating, power outlets, and high-speed Wi-Fi. The hostel’s central location and proximity to public transport make it easy to explore the city during your downtime.

New Cross Inn Hostel

New Cross Inn Hostel is an affordable and comfortable option for digital nomads looking for accommodation in London. The hostel features a designated workspace with fast Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seating. The on-site bar and live music venue provide entertainment and a space to socialize with fellow travelers.

London, with its rich history, vibrant culture, and diverse neighborhoods, is an attractive destination for digital nomads. The city offers a wide range of hostels that cater to the needs of remote workers, providing comfortable accommodations, reliable Wi-Fi, and dedicated workspaces. By choosing one of the hostels listed above, digital nomads can enjoy a productive and enjoyable stay in London while making the most of their work and travel experience.

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London, England

A Digital Nomad Guide to London

London is the capital and largest city of the United Kingdom. It’s one of those cities that holds so much contrast in every way. A city that dates back 2,000 years is rich in its history, culture and ancient buildings which have become some of the greatest monuments of London and the world such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and many more. However, the contrast lies in London’s modern and adaptive nature that shines while still valuing its heritage. 

London is the most populated city in the UK with 9.4 million citizens. It is a flat city that covers 1,579 square km. London not only stands on the River Thames, but the river cuts the city in half creating both northern and southern London. The Thames, 346 km long stretches over a great part of London making it an iconic and breathtaking physical feature of the city. 

London is a multicultural city due to its global political, economical and social ties with the rest of the world. Not only that, but London is also one of the most important cities when it comes to art, design and fashion. All year-round, you’ll find art exhibitions, design weeks and fashion shows happening making it quite an exciting place to be.

Living in London Overview

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Police : 110 Ambulance : 112 Firefighter : 113

Precautions

Tap Water: Non Drinkable Traffic: Dangerous Hygiene:  Medium

Air Quality

Vaccinations .

Typhoid Hepatitis A Tetanus Diphteria

Sun Screen Mosquito Repellent

Currency: Indonesian rupiah (Rp)

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Max Withdrawal: Rp 3,000,000

Withdrawal fee: rp 30,000 – rp 50,000, use of credit cards: mostly cash, transport & delivery.

ojek will help you to stay productive at home because we are beyond an app for online transportation. You can do groceries, food delivery, logistics, payment, and even watch series with us.

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Thank you to more than 40 million people who believe in Traveloka, we are very happy to support those of you who still need to travel, with our booking services for plane tickets, trains, buses…

Average Temperature °C

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London is the kind of city that literally adapt to any person. You can choose to see it through various eyes with all of the different perspectives and definitions leading to a full picture of what this magnificent city has to offer. 

London is the true meaning of a cosmopolitan city to the extent that you barely encounter British people. This makes it very easy for any person to fit in, as everyone is different. London to me feels like home even more than my own country. While it can be a very difficult place to live in, it is very straightforward and offers comfort in its habitual way of life. 

In London, there’s always something exciting happening making a social life quite entertaining. Whether you’re interested in art, theatre, music, design, fashion, adventure or absolutely anything, you’ll find other like-minded people and events happening. This is one of the things that make London such a popular city and such a great place for a digital nomad. 

As a person who loves being around any kind of water, life around the River Thames has always been a favourite of mine. Whether it’s dining with a river view, taking a boat on the river or going for a walk, there’s something so relaxing about it. 

Having lived in London for almost 10 years, I’ve come to realize that your perception of London heavily changes based on the area, neighbourhood and atmosphere around you. While London is generally a cosmopolitan city and filled with different cultures, ethnic groups and religions, some certain neighbourhoods and cultures will not be accepting of other differences. That’s why it is important to do your homework and stay away from dodgy areas or neighbourhoods that could be risky based on your background. Otherwise, London is an absolute delight to live in and a city that is difficult not to fall in love with.

Work in London

Because London is such a large city, it is best to find a workspace, cafe or library close to your home that offers WiFi. While they might not always be free, here are a few options to get you started: 

Pret-a-Manger

Bethnal green library, bfi reuben library, westminster reference library, british library, campus london, rocketspace, the book club, the riding house.

This cafe has many branches situated around the entire city making it easy to look up a cafe in your area. While using their free WiFi, you can also enjoy a strong cup of coffee and grab a bite from their sandwich or bakery section. 

Quite similar to Cafe Nero, Pret-a-Manger offers the same availability, internet access, coffee and food for a digital nomad looking for a place to work. 

Libraries are always a great option for anyone looking for a quiet space to focus and work. Here, you can get free internet access, sometimes even computer access and a whole lot of books, information and resources available. While there are many libraries across the city, here are a few to check out. 

This Victorian building offers free WiFi but can be a bit complex to set up. It is located right next to Bethnal Green Tube station and operates on weekdays from 10 am -6 pm. 

Located in South Bank, the library acts as a workspace divided into 3 sections with 24 individual workspaces, public computers and six large desks. This library operates on weekdays from 10.30 am – 7 pm. 

This library is an absolute gem with its incredible interior and quiet and elegant atmosphere. Located near Piccadilly Circus this library opens on weekdays from 10 am – 8 pm.  

If you’re looking for a workspace jam-packed with entrepreneurs and small business owners, you’re bound to find them at the British Library. While the WiFi is not free, it is still a great co-working space that operates on weekdays from 9.30-8 pm. 

This startup hub located in central London is one of the most popular workspaces you can find. While it is a great place to meet other digital nomads, get a coffee and grab a bite as you work, it can get a bit noisy and crowded for those who need to focus. This workspace is open on weekdays from 9 am – 8 pm. 

Located on the corner of Old Street and Shoreditch High Street, this workspace offers a casual environment as cheap as 5p per minute, £3 per hour or a cap of £15 per day. You can work here on weekdays from 10 am – 11 pm. 

This tech campus is located just a few steps away from Angel Tube Station. Asa digital nomad, you can sign up for RocketSpace Surf Desk membership and get access to the workspaces as well as Rackspace’s corporate innovation program. 

Located in Shoreditch, this cafe is buzzing with a creative and relaxing atmosphere. With large wooden tables, natural light and art exhibitions, the atmosphere is very inviting for a digital nomad to sit back and get their work done. Here, you’ll encounter other digital nomads and creative beings sipping a cup of coffee and staring at their laptops. This cafe is open from 10 am – 2 am but can offer DJ sessions in the evenings making it too noisy to work. 

Situated near Oxford Circus, The Riding Horse is packed with entrepreneurs looking for a place to grab breakfast as they start working on their daily tasks. The good food, optimum location and casual atmosphere make it a popular location for digital nomads during the day. You can work here on weekdays from 7.30 am – 10.15 pm. 

Best Places to Live in London

Notting hill.

London is a huge city, but the good thing about it is that it is all well-connected due to the excellent transportation system. This makes choosing where to live in London vary greatly depending on a digital nomad’s preferences and the lifestyle, budget and atmosphere they’re looking for. While many digital nomads like to be in the heart of the city where all the livelihood is, others might prefer the serenity, calmness and beauty of the outskirts of London and choose to go into the hustle and bustle of London only when need be. Taking several preferences in mind, here are some of the best neighbourhoods to live in London: 

If you’ve ever watched the movie Notting Hill starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, you’ll know why Notting Hill is such an incredible area to live in. Located in West London, Notting Hill is a safe, vibrant and lively place that is home to high-end restaurants, boutiques and casual cafes. The area itself is picturesque with its cobbled-stoned streets, Victorian townhouses and well-kept gardens. On the weekend, Notting Hill turns into a shopper’s dream with the famous Portobello Market where you can find antiques, arts and crafts, street food as well as street performers. While it is one of the best neighbourhoods that has so much to offer, it is rather on the expensive side, especially due to its excellent location.

If you’re looking to stay away from the crowded city and enjoy living close to River Thames, then Kingston can be a great place for a digital nomad. Due to its close proximity to Richmond Park, it is a great place for families or those who enjoy the endless greenery. Kingston high street also offers many shops, cafes as well as restaurants overlooking the Thames making it a great place to sit back and enjoy the view. While Kingston is a great destination, it can be difficult to get into schools due to the high demand and low availability of schools. So, if you’re looking for good schools, Kingston might not be your best bet. 

Although Ealing has been dubbed as ‘Queen of the suburbs’, the Crossrail service has made it very accessible to Central London. This gives it the advantages of the suburbs in larger spaces, more greenery, gardens and less traffic, while still being well-connected to the city making it an excellent location. With an entire high-street and shopping centre available at Ealing Broadway, it is a lively area with everything you might need. The open green spaces can be found in this area and the houses or apartments are also at a slightly lower price point for larger spaces making it ideal for families. 

For a digital nomad who wants to live where the action is happening, Camden is the absolute perfect option. Not only is it home to Camden market, one of London’s most popular attractions, but it also offers so much diversity in terms of people, culture, events and nightlife. If you want to be surrounded by a whole lot of buzz with music, festivals, concerts and street performers pumping up your nightlife, then this neighbourhood will be absolutely perfect. Because Camden also has its own brewery and gin factory, you’ll never be at a loss of finding a good drink somewhere. Due to the diversity and the touristic aspect of Camden, the food scene is absolutely delightful with an array of street food from different parts of the world. All this, topped with the view of the canal that runs through Camden makes it a great place for a digital nomad to live. 

Located in South London, one of the most popular neighbourhoods for digital nomads is Brixton. Not only is this due to its less than average rent prices, but also as a result of many tech startups rising in this area. Brixton is colourful and welcoming with many facilities and entertainment for young adults and digital nomads looking for a lively neighbourhood to reside in. With markets, music spots, cinemas and cuisines from different parts of the world, the neighbourhood is multi-cultural and inviting. 

Located in South East London, Peckham is one of the slightly more affordable neighbourhoods making it one of the coolest places to live in London. With the low rental costs attracting youngsters, Peckham offers entertaining clubs, cool cafes and markets. Not only that but one of the things that makes Peckham a great place to live is that you’ll never feel out of place. With at least 16 different ethnicities residing in Peckham, the diversity and multicultural nature of the neighbourhood is very welcoming.

Choosing to move to London can be one of the most exciting decisions to make, but it is also one that comes with a hefty price and a stressful decision especially when trying to find an apartment. To help you get a start and know where to look, here are a few websites on where to find an apartment in London: 

Another common option in London that can help you find a place to live is real estate agencies. There are so many over London that you can even find if you take a walk down the streets in the area you wish to reside. But, if you’d like to search for an online option, here are some of the best real estate agencies in London: 

• Knight Frank
• Purplebricks

Some agencies are only dedicated to certain areas, so it is best to take a stroll down the street in that neighbourhood and see which agencies are available. 

To help you wrap your head around the possible costs you could be incurred for rent, here is an average estimate for rental prices in common London neighbourhoods: 

While this area is on the more expensive side, the cost of renting an apartment in Notting Hill can start from £1,700 for a one-bedroom apartment, but usually averages at £1,900 per month. However, renting a room in a shared apartment in this area could cost around £750 per month. 

Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Kingston Upon Thames can start from £1,175 per month but usually averages at £1,300. If you’re looking to rent a room, prices can start from £600 per month. 

A one-bedroom apartment in Ealing ranges between £1,300- £1,400 per month. However, renting a room in a shared apartment can start from £700 per month. 

The average one-bedroom apartment in Camden can cost around £1,600 per month but can start from £1,400 per month. If you’re looking to rent a room, it could cost you around £800 per month. 

Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Brixton can cost approximately £1,350 per month whereas renting a room in a shared apartment can cost around £700. 

The average cost of apartments in Peckham can start from £1,200 for a one-bedroom apartment and £650 for a room. 

It’s not easy to find low-budget accommodation in London, but there are a few ways that you can get cheaper options for short stay. If you’re looking for long-term low budget accommodation prices, your best bet is sharing a flat with other people and paying for a room rather than an entire apartment. Here are a few places where you can find rooms to rent in London: 

• City Accommodation

However, if you’re looking for short-term low-cost accommodation, hostels are always a good option. Here are a few hostels to consider: 

• London Backpackers Hostel – £8
• Generator London – £12
• Smart Hyde Park Inn Hostel – £11
• Abercorn House London – £16
• Central Hotel – £11
• Queen Elizabeth Hostel & Pub – £10 
• London Waterloo Hostel – £12
• Kensal Green Backpackers – £11
• HENX Inn Hostel – £10
• Smart Russell Square Hostel – £11

Similar Digital Nomad Destinations

Compare london with other destinations.

The kind of visa you require to stay in London will vary based on your country of origin, your length of stay as well as whether you need a work permit or not. For starters, if you’re from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you will not require a work permit to work in the UK. However, you still need to apply to stay in the UK according to the EU Settlement Scheme. 

If you are not from the above countries mentioned, then you should apply for a work visa or temporary residence to be eligible to work in the UK. Usually, a work permit will be processed by a UK based company and will allow you to work in a specific location with a specific job. However, it is almost impossible to get as an individual and could take up to 3 months to get the visa. 

As a digital nomad , your best bet would be to apply for a UK Self-employment Visa. While several options are depending on the kind of job you do as well as how long you plan on staying in London, most will require the same documents: 

• A valid passport or travel ID
• Financial proof to support you
• Proof of healthcare insurance
• TB test if you’re staying for more than six months for some countries. 

The cost will still vary based on each individual. As a digital nomad, you could also enter the city as a tourist and stay for a period of 6 months. 

While British cuisine isn’t fancy, there are a few British dishes that are a must-try. The British take breakfast very seriously and have a few dishes that are quite tasty. A traditional English breakfast includes sausages, bacon, eggs, baked beans, toast, mushrooms, tomatoes and black pudding. Combine this with coffee or tea and you’ve got a full English breakfast. 

Fish and chips is one of the most common meals to try in the UK. Fried fish with potato chips on the side can be found all around London and is a must-try. As for typical British dishes to taste, Shepherd’s pie is the kind of dish you’ll find at any dinner. This dish is a ground-meat pie topped with mashed potatoes and a crust. There are many different variations and additional ingredients that make this British dish a masterpiece. Sunday roast, steak and kidney pie are also a part of the British cuisine that is worth trying. 

You’ll soon come to realize the importance of tea in British culture. Tea isn’t just a beverage that is accompanied with breakfast but also has become a social activity and part of the culture to the extent that it has its very own timing. Don’t be surprised if you’re invited over for tea or to a tea party as this is a way for Brits to connect, socialize and enjoy a cuppa while chitchatting. Tea Time in the UK is usually a light meal which is typically after lunch and before dinner. This snack could be between 3.30-5 pm. This meal can include tea with biscuits or cake. However, because tea is such a strong part of the culture, it can be drunk at any time of the day. 

If you’re ever invited over for dinner, it is customary to bring a bottle of wine or some sort of gift for the host. It is also expected to wait until everyone is seated and the host starts eating before starting to eat. Also, remember that the British are very high on manners and etiquette and therefore take using the right utensils quite seriously, especially during a formal dinner. When eating a several course meal, always remember that you start with the utensils on the outside and make your way inwards with each course. 

London Nightlife

London is home to some of the best clubs and always has exciting nightlife to suit different tastes. For starters, you’ll find some night tours and attractions in London by bus, boat, bike or even on foot. When the city gets dark, London lights up and can be a fascinating place to take a stroll. From open bus tours to night walking tours, or cruises on the River Thames, it can be a magnificent experience. 

Brits really enjoy drinking and so pub crawls are a huge thing in London. One of the most common areas for pub crawls can be in Camden as it has its own brewery and various pubs offering a vibrant nightlife. 

As for pubs and bars, you’ll find a variety of rooftop bars, cozy pubs, traditional pubs and other bars that will suit your taste. While there are endless options in every neighbourhood, here are some of the best pubs you can find in London:

• The Churchill Arms – Notting Hill 
• The Angel – Bermondsey 
• The Harwood Arms – Fulham 
• Southampton Arms – Kentish Town 
• The Mayflower – Rotherhithe 
• Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese – Fleet Street 
• The French House – Soho 
• The Coach & Horses – Soho 
• The Guinea Grill – Mayfair 
• The Harp – The Strand. 
• Kwant – Mayfair 
• Murder Inc – Hanway Street 
• The Berkeley Bar & Terrace – Wilton Place 
• The Laughing Heart – Hackney 
• Hide Below – Piccadilly 
• Satan’s Whiskers – 
• The Lost Alpaca – 
• The Parrot – Covent Garden 
• Passione Vino – Hackney 
• The Bar at China Tang – Mayfair 
• Electric Brixton 
• Ministry of Sound 
• Pintworks London 
• Corsica Studios 
• Egg London 
• Studio 338 

You’ll also find stand-up comedy, underground music gigs, concerts, art galleries, exhibitions happening constantly in the city. 

London is filled with different activities and things to do ensuring that regardless of your idea of fun, you’ll find something to do. Whether you’re looking for a cultural experience, historic experience, entertainment or relaxing things to do, you’ll find it all in London. Here are the top things for a digital nomad to do to experience London at its best: 

One of the most famous parks in London is no other than Hyde Park. Here, you’ll find open green spaces where you can go for a picnic, sit back and read or play with your kids. The river also has many ducks which people like to feed, although it is advised against it. Spending a day here when the weather is sunny is something lots of Londoners like to do. 

Buckingham Palace

Visiting the Queen’s palace and residence is an extraordinary experience. If you decide to take a tour, you will be able to during the summer but it is always recommended to book your tickets in advance. The audio guide is no other than the Prince of Wales, heir to the throne making it quite a unique experience. However, if you choose to skip the tour, attending the change of guards is such an entertaining aspect that you just cannot miss. For 45 mins, you’ll see a show that will make you fall in love with London and really enjoy the normal tasks that happen on a regular basis in the Queen’s world. 

South Bank and London eye

South Bank isn’t just an area that overlooks the River Thames, but is also where you get to experience a panoramic view of the entire city by taking a ride on the London eye. The beautiful district is great for a relaxing view or grabbing a bite or a drink on one of the cute restaurants or bars overlooking the river. Don’t forget the street performances that attract tourists from all over the world on the weekend making it an exciting place to be. 

While China Town used to be known as the home to immigrants from China, it is now a popular tourist destination in London. This area is different from the rest of the city and where you feel like you’ve fled from London and set foot literally in the heart of China. The Chinese culture is evident across the entire area in terms of decor, restaurants, scent and stalls. China Town Food Street is the place to get the best Chinese food in the city, but in this area, you’ll also get to experience the Asian culture through the China Town Heritage Center as well as the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. 

You probably already know that one of London’s most iconic landmarks is Big Ben, which is actually the clock tower’s largest bell. What makes Big Ben so famous is that it is considered the most accurate clock on the planet. You can even take a tour inside the bell tower when it chimes to the hour. 

London Zoo isn’t just a place for kids, but is an educational and an interactive experience for both adults and children alike. Here you’ll find penguins diving for their food, monkeys playing around and even get to see live tigers. The animal shows are really interesting and you can even sign up to be a zoo-keeper for the day. 

Walking into Camden market is like walking into another universe. You easily forget that you’re in London and get to marvel at hundreds of stalls filled with pop-culture, arts and crafts, clothing and fast food where you can eat some oft he best cuisines from all over the work for less than £5. While Camden market itself is one of London’s top attractions, Camden as an area offers so much more. Here, you can take a stroll along the canal, visit the Jewish museum, enjoy live music from some of the best underground musicians and street performers or even just drink the night away in some of its most famous pubs. 

Portobello Market

You cannot be in London and not experience it through its markets. While there are markets around every corner in London, there are some markets that are a vital part of experiencing London in its truest forms. One of these is Portabello Market in Notting Hill. Here, taking a stroll in this famous street is an enjoyable act alone, but seeing what the stalls have to offer from vintage clothing, unique items and arts and crafts will never disappoint. You’re bound to find some of the best picks you’ll ever encounter. 

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is not only famous for its fruit and vegetable market but also is one of the best places to be on the weekends due to the large number of people who flock there to enjoy the street performances while sitting on the steps. The area itself is home to the Royal Opera House and also offers fashion boutiques, restaurants and bars and a whole lot of entertainment. Here you’ll find the London transport museum. 

If you’re looking for a vibrant area filled with entertainment, Soho is the place to be. Especially at night and during the weekends, this area comes alive and becomes one of the coolest places in the city. Here, you’ll find some of the coolest cocktail bars, traditional pubs and restaurants in London. And if you’re a Potterhead, be sure to visit the House of Minalima where there’s a huge collection of art dedicated to Harry Potter and the wizarding world. 

Museums can be a tad boring anywhere else in the world except in London. While there are so many museums to look forward to, there are a few that make the entire experience worthwhile. The British Museum is home to some of the most famous artifacts of the world such as the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon Marbles, Ancient Egyptian mummies as well as Renaissance and Medieval objects. Next on your list of museums that will not disappoint is the Natural History Museum. Not only does it exhibit a wide range of specimens, but it also contains an entire section on fossils of dinosaurs and other extinct species. Whether you have kids or not, the Science Museum is also an absolute must as it is all built on interactive experiments and installations that make it fun for children and adults alike. 

Thames Cruise

The River Thames is one of the most iconic physical features of London and taking a cruise on it is a breathtaking and relaxing experience. Some cruises offer a gorgeous view, while others also offer dining options or activities such as kayaking to canoeing. 

Piccadilly Circus

A famous part of central London is Piccadilly Circus as it is within walking distance to Oxford Circus, Trafalgar Square, Regent Street and Leicester Square. However, that’s not only what makes Picaddily Circus famous, but the Picaddily lights which light up the entire area at night. Here, you’ll also find a lot of beautiful theatres where you can see some of the most popular musicals and shows in the world.

Oxford Street

One of the most prominent streets in London is no other than the famous Oxford Street known for being the best shopping street in the city. The 1.9 km street has over 300 shops, restaurants and bars, making it the place where you can find pretty much anything you need. 

Art Galleries

London is one of the biggest art and design capitals of the world. That’s why it comes as no surprise for visiting art galleries to be an absolute must when in London. You’ll find events, exhibitions and phenomenal artists displaying their work regularly with something always exciting to look forward to in the art scene in London. 

Platform 9 ¾

It’s known that King’s Cross station is where Harry Potter got on the Hogwarts Express to be a part of the Wizarding world. Since the success of the books and movies, King’s Cross station has become a popular destination for all fans as it is where parts of the movie were shot as well as where there is a current Platform 9 ¾ stationed with half a trolley going through the wall. Here, you can queue up to take a memorable photo entering the platform as well as visiting the Harry Potter store filled with merchandise you’ll fall in love with. 

Best Time to Visit London

If London is known for anything, it is its cold and gloomy weather making it not that popular amongst many. However, when you live in London, you start to understand the concept of layering up and expecting the changes in the weather during all seasons. 

London’s weather is moody and feels like it is indecisive and hormonal, to say the least. On any given day, you should be prepared to experience the four seasons in one go. While the weather might start as sunny, it is expected to rain, get super cold and cloudy and even experience thunderstorms all in the same day. 

The saying ‘ When it rains, it pours’ is an accurate way of describing London’s weather and that’s why some of your greatest investments will be rain boots, a waterproof jacket, a windbreaker and an umbrella. You should always have a raincoat on you even in the summer and that’s why London’s fashion offers seasonal raincoats that are lightweight and packable in the summer, thick and padded in the winter. 

If you’re wondering how cold it can get in the winter, expect it to be highs of 9 degrees Celsius and lows of 5 degrees Celsius during the months of December – February. However, with a high wind speed, especially in areas near the Thames it feels like it is a lot colder. During the winter, snow is also expected to fall several times a year making London a cold, gloomy winter with short days and rarely any sunlight. 

Spring is a lovely time to be in London with flowers blossoming all around you and the weather starting to slightly get warmer. During the months of March-May, the temperature is around highs of 12-18 degrees Celsius and lows of 6-10 degrees Celsius. However, just like any other season, rain is expected to fall at any time. 

While summer in London can be great, when a heatwave strikes it becomes impossible to stay at home. As homes are equipped to hold in the heat and rarely ever have AC or fans, it can get quite stuffy. Luckily, this only happens for a few days a year. During the summer months of June-August London expects highs of 21-23 degrees Celsius and lows of 13-15 degrees Celsius. However, during the summer the days are so long that the sun could set at around 9 pm.

One of the best seasons to be in London is arguably during Autumn as the leaves start to fall and a yellowish-golden colour takes over the city. During the months of September-November, the temperature is expected to offer highs of 20 degrees Celsius to lows of 7 degrees Celsius. And of course, rain is inevitable. 

Regardless of your nationality, if you’re a resident in London, you’re entitled to be part of the public education system offered by the country. You can check for your right of abode in your visa status to make sure your children are eligible for free public education. Schools in the UK are based on your home address which allows children to apply in schools only within their district. This makes it difficult to apply to good schools and usually mean that the good schools have a long waiting list of other residents trying to get into the school. In order to do this, you should apply for a state-funded primary school online or by going to your local council and filling in an application form. 

While most people apply for state-funded schools, private schools are available in London, too. However, they do come with quite a price-tag even though their educational systems are actually worth it. Here are some of the best private schools in London: 

• St. Paul’s Girls Schools – Hammersmith 
• West minister School – Westminster Abbey 
• Paul’s School London – Barnes 
• North London Collegiate School – Edgware 
• Go dolphin & Latymer School – Hammersmith 
• King’s College School – Wimbledon 
• London School for Boys – South Bank 
• City of London School for Girls – Farringdon 
• South Hampstead High School – South Hampstead
• Latymer Upper School – Hammersmith 

As for daycare, All 3-4-year-olds are entitled to 570 free hours per year which is usually translated into 15 hours per week for 38 weeks a year. If you need to send your child to a full-time daycare or nursery, the average cost is around £280 for a child younger than two-years-old and gets a bit cheaper as the child gets older. 

When looking for things to do in London as a family with kids, you’ll find a lot of outdoor activities, parks with playgrounds or open spaces in pretty much every area. As mentioned above, the museums in London are an absolute blast for kids and something to definitely be enjoyed as a family. But if you’re looking for other things to do in London with kids here are a few ideas: 

• Madame Tussaud’s 
• SEA LIFE London Aquarium 
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour 
• Shrek’s Adventure! London 
• HMS Belfast 
• London Transport Museum 
• The London Dungeon 
• Chessington World of Adventures 
• Legoland Winsor 

Living in London

If you ever think of driving in the UK, just remember that Brits drive on the other side. That can take a little while to get used to. Otherwise, transportation in London especially is very well-connected and offers several options to easily move from one area to another. To move around in the UK, a digital nomad can use the underground, overground National railway service, buses, taxis or bikes. To make public transportation easier, you can buy an Oyster card for £5 from any newsagent, at the airport or main stations and recharge it at any underground station. This will allow you to use the buses, the tube or railway. 

The underground system most commonly referred to as the ‘tube’ in London is the most common form of transportation as it connects London and Greater London together and is the fastest form of transportation to get around. However, it can be a bit costly. 

Children under 11 years old travel for free and those under 16 years of age get discounted fares. However, for adults the fares are as follows: 

For single tickets, the price varies depending on the zone. Most people living close to central London only use Zones 1 and 2. A single ticket in this area costs £2.40-2.90 on your oyster card. However, if you move around a lot in this area, you could purchase a  weekly 7-day travel card for £36.10. The more zones you include, the more expensive it becomes. 

Travel cards or Oyster cards also allow you to get on the bus. You cannot purchase a ticket on the bus, but you can use the previous transportation cards or a contactless debit/credit card. The fare costs £1.55 or a whole day of bus-only transportation costs £4.65. 

There are also peak fares and off-peak fares. Peak fares are charged on Monday-Friday from 6.30-9.30 am and 4:00-7:00 pm. 

As for bikes, you’ll find bike-sharing is quite common in the UK, too. From stationed bikes that you can find quite commonly in London, or using one of the bike-sharing apps such as Ofo and Mo-bike where you can locate them through the app. Just keep in mind, that while there are bike lanes in a lot of areas, you sometimes have to ride in the streets and need to be aware of the British driving rules to avoid accidents from occurring. 

Looking for a gym in London won’t be difficult to find, but memberships can vary greatly based on the location and facilities being offered. Gyms in London can cost anywhere between £15-80 per month.

But if you’re looking for something else to do and are interested in getting fit for free around London there are several options that can help you reach your goals, meet new people and enjoy being active. Here are a few options: 

Because London is filled with open spaces and greenery, it’s quite easy to find an interesting and beautiful path to become your new running route. If that doesn’t cut it out for you, you’ll find several organised runs you can take part in for free such as ASICS Running Club.

Whether you choose to use one of the stationed bikes, use a bike-sharing app or own your own bicycle, cycling through the large parks can be an excellent way to reach your fitness goals while shedding a few pounds. Be sure to check out the Go Sky ride for freecycling meet-ups happening close by. 

Outdoor gyms

In most big parks, you’ll find an outdoor gym available that anyone can use. Not only will these help you stick to a fitness routine without paying an arm and a leg, but will also give you the chance to meet other fitness fanatics who come to these areas to workout, too. 

Sweaty Betty

It’s no secret that Sweaty Betty offers several fitness classes for free across their locations. However, they tend to fill up quite quickly as there are limited spaces available, so be sure to book ahead. 

London Friday Night Skate

Every Friday night at 8 pm, you’ll find a bunch of skaters at Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner ready to kickstart the weekend with an amazing skate. It’s a great way to get fit while skating along the green pathways with some of the coolest people in London. 

Project Awesome

Three times a week, Project Awesome get together at 6.30 am with an awesome exercise routine. The feel-good vibes and the early risers looking to start their day with positive energy can really turn your day around and make getting fit a whole lot of fun. 

But if these still sound boring, remember you’re in London and there must be other fun and quirky ways to get fit that you absolutely must try: 

• Kayaking on the Thames
• Oxygen Freejumping Trampoline 
• Paddle and Litter pick 
• FloatFit wobble on water 
• Hula hoops with HulaFit
• Dancing at Seen on Screen
• Parkour Generations Academy 
• Date-Ercise at Right Path Fitness
• Line Dance 

For starters, one of the things that makes London special is that it is a multi-cultural city with so many different people from all over the world with different cultures, beliefs and traditions. This makes talking about the people a bit difficult to narrow down. However, if you’re wondering about how the Brits are, there are a few things you need to know. 

For starters, Brits are known for being quite reserved. They will build a wall that won’t be very easy to get through. However, the British are known for their manners. More often than not, their bluntness and straightforwardness are mistaken for being rude, but once you get used to the honesty, you will understand that it is in their nature to speak their mind and it is not something to be taken personally. In general, Brits are very well-mannered and will follow a specific etiquette as well as what is expected of them. 

If there’s one thing to be extremely alert to and will really make a huge difference with Brits, it is punctuality. If you’re given an appointment or meeting at a specific time, expect a Brit to arrive 10-15 mins in advance and start literally on the dot. Punctuality is not only a way of life for a Brit, but is also a form of respect and can be considered rude to arrive late to a business meeting or even medical appointment. 

While many people find Brits as stuck up or reserved and sometimes even snobbish, once you get to know them, you will start to understand their incredible sense of humour and the sarcastic ability that makes them genuinely funny. However, their humour isn’t something that everyone finds appealing and needs a lot of work to be able to see the sunny side up. 

Because of their reserved nature, when you meet someone for the first time make sure you do not cross your limits. A handshake will be the only acceptable form of greeting until they get to know you on a more personal level and start allowing more intimate greetings such as a peck on the cheek or a hug. Personal space is highly valued by Brits and they will not shy away from making that clear. 

When it comes to work, Brits tend to shut down completely after working hours and business is never conducted on weekends. In fact, the weekends are quite sacred and should not be interrupted unless you’ve been approached by them. On a Friday night, you’ll find most Brits enjoying a pint or two at the local pub and getting absolutely wasted. On the weekend, Brits enjoy spending time with their families, going for walks and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible when the weather permits. 

The UK provides one of the best healthcare systems in the world. If you’re a resident in London, you’re most likely entitled to free healthcare by the NHS.  You can get free NHS healthcare if you have: 

• A valid visa and have paid the immigration health surcharge. 
• A valid visa and are exempt from paying the immigration health surcharge.
• Permission to stay as a family member of an EEA citizen who has been living in London before Brexit. 
• Have an EHIC insurance card. 
• If you’re from Norway, Iceland or Switzerland. 

NHS treatment offers the following: 

• Visiting a GP in your local area. 
• Getting treatment in a hospital for accidents or emergencies. 
• Family planning services 
• Treatment for chronic or infectious diseases 
• Referrals for doctors by your GP
• Compulsory psychiatric treatment. 

While other benefits can be provided by NHS treatment, your entitlement to them will differ according to your visa and how long you plan on staying in London. 

If you are not an ‘ordinarily resident’, you might be required to pay for NHS services or be required to access private medical care in the UK which could be quite expensive. In this case, it is advised to have international health insurance from your home country that allows you to be covered for any healthcare issues or accidents that could happen during your stay.

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide.

Depending on the visa you’ve applied for, you may not be eligible to work in London, but if you’ve got your documents in order then London has a lot of jobs you could do: 

• Sales Assistant 
• Delivery Driver 
• Store Manager 
• Customer Assistant 
• Waiter/Waitress 
• Babysitter 
• Paid Survey Taker 
• Secret Shopper 
• Online Tutoring 
• Translation 
• Walking tours guide
• Dog walking

If you’re looking for a job with more skills, then it is best to search within your field on some of these job portals in London: 

•   Monster UK

It is also worth highlighting that London is one of the best places in the world to be if you’re in the design field. While the competition is intense and the jobs are limited, if you’ve got extreme talent, you can really thrive by working in London.

Check out our Digital Nomads Jobs Postings to find the best jobs available for Digital Nomads.

London Overall Budget: $2860 per Month

London is one of the most expensive cities to live in the world, ranking as the 6th most expensive city. However, the bulk of the expenses is attributed to the high rental prices. To give you an idea of the expected cost of living in London here are a few prices of day-to-day items: 

• 1 litre of Milk: £0.94
• A loaf of bread: £1
• Coffee: £2.50
• Water bottle (0.33 litre): £1.18
• A dozen eggs: £2.20
• 1 kg of cheese: £6.80
• 1 kg of rice: £1.50
• 1 kg of beef round: £9.80
• 1 kg of chicken fillet: £6.10
• A meal at an inexpensive restaurant: £10-15 
• A meal at an expensive restaurant: £20-30
• Utility bills for an 85m2 apartment: £170/month
• Internet ADSL: £30-35
• Meal deal at the supermarket: £3-4
• Microwaveable meal from a supermarket: £2.50-6

While the figures can really add up, it really depends on your expenses and habits. However, there are always cheaper alternatives and ways to save up money and limit your spending in London. These include travelling at off-peak hours to avoid paying more for transportation as well as visiting bakeries, supermarkets and cafes at the end of the day as they cut down heavily on prices of freshly baked and daily made items to avoid throwing them away. These tips can really help reduce the amount of money you pay each month especially when it comes to food and groceries. You’ll also find a lot of grocery items you can get from Poundland where every item is reduced to £1 due to its close date to expiry.

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Archived: Nomad Travel Clinic - Loughton

157 High Road, Loughton, London, IG10 4LF (020) 8508 6626

Provided and run by: Nomad Travellers Store & Medical Centre Limited

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Review: Nomad London review

Reviewed by Rick Jordan

Why book the NoMad? When the original NoMad opened in Manhattan back in 2012, New Yorkers instantly fell in love. Here was a place that really got their city, the boutique hotel come of age. It kickstarted a whole neighbourhood – north of Madison Square Park – and its bar became a rendezvous darling, stirring Dirty Martinis with aplomb. By comparison, Covent Garden has been more or less fashionable for centuries, but NoMad will pin a new centre of gravity here. This is a big-thinking, blockbuster hotel in London that knows how to have fun. And as the city emerges out of lockdown, it seems to crystallise the renewed optimism and energy of the capital. Maybe the Roaring Twenties can begin again here.

Set the scene Just across the road from the neoclassical oomph of the Royal Opera House – and only a little more modest in scale with its etched Portland-stone façade – the NoMad is set in a former court. There’s a sense of occasion without the grandeur. Box-fresh white trainers on lobby staff; gold and black silk jackets in the library bar. From around five o’clock, a noise begins that many haven’t heard for a while – gradually rising in volume, it sounds a little like theatre stalls before curtain up: the sound of expectation. Centre stage is the courtyard restaurant, a three-storey glass atrium rising like a Victorian greenhouse, dressed with hanging plants . Daylight paints the space in shifting watercolour hues. A catwalk leading from the lobby to the bedrooms forms a balcony for people-watching. The restaurant’s been booked out for weeks; half of London is champing at the bit to land a seat. It’s been a long time.

What's the story? Pull up a pew – there’s a lot of history. Until 2006 this was the Bow Street Magistrates’ Court, dating back to the days when half the places round here were gin shops. Author Henry Fielding was a magistrate; Oscar Wilde, Emmeline Pankhurst and the Kray Twins were tried here, Vivienne Westwood too, for a punk-era breach of peace in 1977. Carriages once drove through the 13ft-high entrance, dropping off prisoners in the courtyard. To one side was the Bow Street Police Station, home to the city’s first police force, known as the Bow Street Runners (surely there’s a Netflix series in that?). It’s a heritage that appealed to Andrew Zobler, founder of the Sydell Group, who had launched the NoMad in New York in a 1920s-era Beaux Arts building. Two more NoMads followed, in LA and Las Vegas , along with a pair of LINE hotels and the big and boisterous Ned in London, in collaboration with Soho House ’s Nick Jones.

For the first NoMad outside the States, Zobler brought in the design team of Roman and Williams – whose CV includes the Ace hotels, the new British Galleries at New York’s Metropolitan Museum and Zoolander ( Zoolander ! Give me the Blue Steel!) – to completely reimagine the space. The courtyard was sunk by several metres, creating a dramatic focal point for the restaurant, and the Magistrates’ Court turned into a ballroom, painted with a moody cloudscape mural that wouldn’t be out of place in the National Gallery down the road. There’s a sense of theatre throughout, draped with velvets, mohair and damasks, brass and crimson, lit by vintage chandeliers. Studio be-poles, working with scenic painters from the opera house, have dressed the interiors with art works and antiques. And as for the first ever police station, it’s now a museum, with cells and offices turned into gallery spaces telling its story. Spend a little while in the infamous drunk tank and consider how a Friday night here would be considerably different to a Friday night in a bedroom at the hotel.

What can we expect from our room? The Royal Opera Suite is worthy of a standing ovation, of flowers thrown across its herringbone parquet. The opera house itself is close enough for the high notes to shatter the Old Fashioned glasses in the cocktail cabinet. Lie in the bath and you can look across at its Grecian magnificence, its portico etched with classical myths and the gurning masks of tragedy (don’t take it personally). Artworks are set all around, a jumble of pencil sketches, photographs, oils and exhibition posters (Pollock at the National, Frankenthaler at the Lincoln Center) and portraits of eminent, mutton-chopped Victorians. One enormous frame holding a bold black abstract swirl is propped against the wall. Overhead, a glass chandelier; underfoot, faded oriental rugs. The claw-footed bath peeks out from behind a claw-footed screen; in the sitting room is a sofa the colour of a peach Bellini; on the desk, a dandelion clock trapped inside a glass paperweight.

The bathroom has a golden aura, a Twenties-style bubble of rippled glass, mosaic tiles and lamps of the sort Mae West would emerge from underneath in a mink dressing gown. Of course, not everyone will be booking the Royal Opera Suite, but this room was the template for the others, so you will find elements of this in all of them. And each reflects the mix of Twenties Art Deco, velvety Victoriana and gritty New York abstract expressionism that the hotel has gathered together without it seeming incongruous. Other rooms of note are the duplex 237, a favourite of Andrew Zobler’s, with its original fireplace and circular chandelier connecting the two floors, and the series of former cells, with tiles, grills and signs advising on using the loo.

How about the food and drink? Forks hover mid-air when fresh arrivals walk down the circular staircase to the main restaurant – this is London’s new see-and-be-seen destination, but the food is worth coming for too. NoMad has long been associated with star chef Daniel Humm, but the two are no longer working together; instead the group’s New England-born Ashley Abodeely has taken the reins, bringing over many of her New York team but also inviting Guy Palmer-Brown (of Clove Club and The Fordwich Arms ) to take on wine duties. NoMad regulars will be familiar with dishes such as the roast chicken for two (a meal in three parts: egg starter in a ceramic rooster, chicken stuffed with brioche and Parmesan, peach sundae) and the tender suckling pig served with wild greens. But other plates are new, and aimed at all-day dining. Miso flatbread and pea hummus is surprisingly moreish; the seafood platter is a still life of briny freshness, five delicate mouthfuls of customised oyster, mussel, crab with avocado and caviar, lobster tail and scallop ceviche; the turbot on bone well cooked and vibrant with a green-curry sauce. In the leather-clad Side Hustle – railway-bar style, Brooklyn hubbub, Martin Parr police shots on the wall – the menu steers west, with an accomplished Mexican menu of barbacoas, tacos and tostadas, and the sort of mezcal cocktails that could stop a conquistador’s mule in its tracks. Try the Black Dahlia, which throws in bourbon for good measure. A subterranean cocktail den, Common Decency, will open further down the line.

Anything to say about the service? Several key members of staff have worked with NoMad before, in New York or LA, so know the drill; others have adopted the same sense of unintrusive attentiveness, and even with a slight opening-week glitch in the kitchen remained unflappable.

What's the neighbourhood scene like? There’s a little place opposite called the Royal Opera House that serves as a useful marker for the NoMad. A guest could down a bottle of fin-de-siècle absinthe, run blindfolded around the streets, then still easily find their way home to the hotel. Covent Garden has many other well-known sights: the London Transport Museum, the Market and Piazza, and all those little independent shops and restaurants (favourites include Aram for lighting, Magma for ’zines, Paul Smith on Floral Street, naturally, and the menus of Cora Pearl, Cafe Murano and 26 Grains). One of the city’s newest museums, of course, is the Bow Street Police Station in the same building as NoMad. There are other hotels in the area – the recently opened, Parisian-accented little Henrietta being the most interesting (hard to get excited about One Aldwych or ME Melia, while the Starck-designed St Martins Lane is far from its glory days).

Is it suitable for families? This is quite a grown-up hotel, though budding Eloises would find a lot of material. And if you’re nine years old, staying in one of the former cells would be huge fun. There’s plenty on the menus – burgers, hot dogs, pasta dishes – to satisfy. Several rooms can be interconnected. And Covent Garden itself has endless distractions.

What's its accessibility like? There’s good access all around the ground floor and main restaurant, with several bedrooms available as DDA compliant rooms and a fully accessible bathroom for restaurant guests.

Anything left to mention? You know how some places buy books by the yard and plonk them upside down on shelves in the bar in an attempt to appear well-read? Well, the NoMad has its own curated library bar with a floor plan on the menu. So before ordering, say, a Diplomat (double vermouth, maraschino, grapefruit bitters) you can head to the Music section and find a book on Iggy Pop, refamiliarise yourself with Genet and David Hare in Theatre or just aim straight for American Modernism: Graphic Design 1920–1960 . Off-duty sleuths (or lags) may gravitate to the dastardly true-crime shelves. For some peculiar reason, fellow guests seemed more intent on reading the cocktail list than the books, the fools.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveller are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

By Steve King and Condé Nast Traveller

A definitive guide to London’s best hotels

T here are plenty of hotels in London , but choosing the right one for the ultimate sleepover can be a daunting task. My checklist for the perfect hotel is: stylish design and immaculate service, while dazzling bars, restaurants, and spas are an added bonus which keep me revisiting my favourite haunts time and time again - regardless of whether or not I’m looking to stay over.

Here’s my pick of the eight greatest places to stay, spa and eat in the capital.

Beaverbrook Town House

Perhaps Chelsea ’s best kept secret, this charming townhouse is a whirlwind of pattern and colour as soon as you step inside. Expect plenty of drama in each of the thespian-inspired bedrooms: sweeping canopied bedsteads and plush furnishings in every shade of the rainbow are the norm, along with TVs that pop out from the end of your bed, and complimentary minibars that guests are encouraged to raid. Slip downstairs to dinner at The Fuji Grill, the hotel’s sleek Japanese restaurant and bar, where you can indulge in a mouthwatering 20-course omakase menu.

Book: Rooms from £443 ( beaverbrooktownhouse.co.uk ).

The Twenty Two

Behind the doors of this discreet Mayfair townhouse, a unexpectedly playful party pad awaits. This private members’ club and hotel offers plenty of pizzaz in each of its 31 bedrooms. Parisian-inspired romance makes itself known via Pierre Frey wallpapers, opulent draped curtains, and velvet fabrics: no bedroom room here is the same, with even the smallest of pads boasting rich red four-posters and checkered marble bathrooms.

Tuck into elegant British fare in the hotel’s blue-panelled restaurant - or descend the leopard staircase for a boogie at the members’ nightclub downstairs.

Book: Rooms from £650 ( the22.london )

The Mitre, Hampton Court

Just skirting the edge of the city, The Mitre, Hampton Court is a Tudor boozer turned bougie boutique hotel. Creaky floorboards and sloping ceilings might hint at the hotel’s history as the former stomping ground for Henry VIII’s courtiers, but patterned de Gournay wallpapers and sumptuous fabrics now reign supreme in all of the individually designed bedrooms.

Splash out in one of the hotel’s suites (naturally, the largest is named after Henry himself), where you’ll find generous four-posters, deep copper bathtubs, and prime views over Hampton Court Palace. Make merry into the early hours of the morning at one of the hotel’s three restaurants and bars.

Book: Rooms from £194 (mitrehamptoncourt.com).

One Hundred Shoreditch

Sitting on Shoreditch High Street, this industrial beast of a building oozes laidback cool once you step inside. Freelancers tap away on laptops in the mid-century inspired lobby, and airy bedrooms feature minimal colour palettes and unfussy interiors, which create an oasis of calm just a stone’s throw from Brick Lane. Expect ivory sofas to sink into, bold artwork, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Do as the east London locals do, and sip on cocktails shaken by award-winning bartender Mr Lyan at the sultry, subterranean Seed Library - or for sunset views over the skyline, head up to the hotel’s leafy rooftop bar.

Book: Rooms from £269 ( onehundredshoreditch.com ).

The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel

A hushed townhouse sanctuary just minutes from the hum of Sloane Square and Knightsbridge, this Chelsea mainstay is a favourite of those in the know. Understatedly luxe bedrooms are panelled in muted tones and boast gleaming marble bathrooms, while personalised pillow menus guarantee an uninterrupted night’s sleep.

You’ll be best placed to explore one of London’s buzziest neighbourhoods, but if you’d rather hibernate inside, there’s plenty to indulge in between mealtimes. Check out all-day brasserie The LaLee, treat yourself to a bespoke facial by Teresa Tarmey, or enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge.

Book: Rooms from £767 ( belmond.com ).

Nobu London Portman Square

Of course you’ve all heard of Nobu, but few may be aware that the world-class Japanese restaurant has expanded its offering to a cohort of glossy hotels around the world. Their Marylebone pad is a shimmering glass-fronted behemoth, oozing Japanese zen from top to bottom.

Stylish, minimal bedrooms are kitted out in muted tones and luxe fabrics, and while it might be tempting to order bento boxes to your bedroom, head to the restaurant instead for a serving of miso black cod and a side of people-watching (you might just spot a celebrity or two). Work it all off the next morning at the skylit Pilates studio.

Book: Rooms from £414 ( london-portman.nobuhotels.com ).

NoMad London

Presiding over Covent Garden market in the building that once occupied the former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court, this palatial pad is pretty hard to miss. Within its storied walls, striking original artworks and chintzy furnishings abound, while guests dine on modern American fare at the leafy greenhouse-like restaurant.

Generous emperor beds and glittering gold mosaic bathrooms are the norm in all of the bedrooms, but it’s the split-level Royal Opera suites that offer guaranteed views over neighbouring Royal Opera House. It would be simply criminal not to sample the hotel’s trio of restaurants and bars: slip into Common Decency, the subterranean speakeasy, or Side Hustle, the hotel’s diner-style bar, where you can sip on Latin-inspired cocktails.

Book: Rooms from £403 ( thenomadhotel.com ).

The Berkeley

For those searching for the ultimate indulgence, checking into this belle of Belgravia unveils a playground of no-expenses-spared luxury around each corner. Generous suites are designed by a slew of lauded names, guaranteeing the most stylish of sleepovers for every guest.

Your entire stay could easily be spent hopping between the multitude of bars and restaurants - all under the same roof. Nibble on flakey croissants at the Cedric Grolet bakery, tuck into Michelin-starred fare at Marcus, and schmooze between the hotel’s varied bars. Don’t forget to factor in a trip to the restorative Bamford spa, as well as leaving ample time to spread-eagle yourself by the rooftop pool.

Book: Rooms from £780 ( the-berkeley.co.uk ).

London Hotels by Gina Jackson, £10.95, is out now, published by Hoxton Mini Press.

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Hilton makes a splash in luxury lifestyle travel with its plan to grow NoMad by 100 hotels

Hilton has arisen from its slumber on luxury and lifestyle brands.

The hotel giant is taking a majority stake in Sydell Group, the parent company of the NoMad Hotels brand, both companies announced Wednesday. The deal puts Hilton in charge of expanding the NoMad brand, currently limited to hotels in London and Las Vegas. The plan is to eventually expand NoMad up to 100 hotels, with deals for 10 hotels in "advanced stages of discussion."

While the deal was only announced this week, Hilton leaders had been teasing for months that some play for a luxury lifestyle brand was in the works.

"Adding NoMad to our growing brand portfolio will create new offerings for guests seeking unique luxury experiences in some of the world's most desirable locations," Chris Silcock, Hilton's president of global brands and commercial services, said in a statement . "By pairing an already proven brand concept that's ready for expansion with the power of Hilton's commercial engine, we are accelerating our ability to drive growth in the luxury lifestyle segment."

If you're not familiar with NoMad, you're not the only one: It is only a two-hotel brand, after all. But this also enables Hilton to have more influence in the overall vibe as it beefs up the brand into its offering in the competitive luxury lifestyle space, which counts brands like Marriott's Edition and W, and Hyatt's Thompson Hotels as leading players.

Hilton's "buy small" is a similar growth strategy to what IHG Hotels & Resorts did with the smaller Regent brand , which the company took a majority stake of in 2018. Regent was an established brand before IHG came knocking, but IHG now has the final say in what it looks like as it goes global. Expect Hilton to do the same with NoMad.

The brand aesthetic NoMad is going for as it grows into the Hilton ecosystem will be to provide guests with a residential feel in some of the world's most desirable neighborhoods, per the company announcement. Expect a mix of "grand and intimate," "classic and playful" and "fun and elegant," per the adjectives Hilton uses to depict the soon-to-grow brand.

Details on the full lineup of amenities travelers should expect from a more robust NoMad portfolio with Hilton's involvement remain scarce, but the important thing is Hilton Honors members will now have an option in the popular luxury lifestyle space where Marriott, Hyatt and Accor's Ennismore offshoot currently dominate.

"We're excited to begin this new phase for Sydell, as we enter into a partnership with Hilton to expand the NoMad brand around the world," Andrew Zobler, Sydell Group founder and CEO, said in a statement. "Grounded in the idea of the hotel as a great home, the NoMad brand is dedicated to providing guests with accessible luxury, exceptional design and award-winning food and beverage. Hilton's expertise in both luxury and lifestyle, paired with its track record in scaling brands, makes for an exciting opportunity."

The flagship NoMad London hotel — a TPG favorite for its rich, moody furnishings, spacious accommodations and atrium restaurant — will appear on Hilton booking platforms later this year. The NoMad Las Vegas, which is part of the MGM Resorts and Marriott-affiliated Park MGM complex, is not included in the deal and will reflag to a different brand identity in the coming months.

"By fusing Sydell's chic hospitality with Hilton's unrivaled distribution and loyalty programs, we have created the perfect partnership — a marriage of Andrew Zobler's pioneering creativity with Hilton's best-in-class leadership," Jeremy Cooper, Sydell Group's chief investment officer, told TPG. "This unprecedented collaboration sets a new benchmark in the luxury-lifestyle hotel sector."

A new day at Hilton

The NoMad deal is a departure from Hilton's longtime "build, don't buy" growth strategy of organically developing brands instead of acquiring existing hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Accor are known to do .

But in the last month, Hilton has acquired two: Graduate Hotels and now NoMad.

There have been swelling murmurs in the hotel orbit in recent months over Hilton's ambition to snatch the world's largest hotel company crown from Marriott, especially as the gap narrows between each company's development pipeline and loyalty program membership count. For a while, it seemed like Hilton was focusing on the affordable end of the spectrum by developing new budget-friendly brands like Spark and LivSmart Studios to fuel more hotel growth.

But the company can't ignore the luxury and lifestyle end of the spectrum, where Hilton has lagged behind its competitors.

Hilton appears ready to put that line of thought in the rearview mirror, as Graduate Hotels will give the brand a viable lifestyle hotel product in various towns and cities with ties to a college or university. NoMad can be the glitzy luxury lifestyle sibling in some of the most popular destinations in the world.

Further, Hilton's upcoming partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World — with the expected snatch from Hyatt slated to finalize later this year — provides Hilton Honors members with a wide array of new options in the boutique luxury space.

Consider this a new day for luxury at Hilton — one that can play a vital part in making this company vault to the top position in the hotel conglomerate food chain.

Related reading:

• The award travelers guide to Hilton Honors
• How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you
• Hilton Honors elite status: What it is and how to earn it
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards

NoMad London teams up with Tulum’s ARCA for Cinco de Mayo celebrations

NoMad London is partnering with Tulum restaurant and bar, ARCA, for a remarkable two-night event celebrating the spirit of Cinco de Mayo. Slated for the 5 th and 6 th of May, the collaboration will mark ARCA’s first appearance in London, bringing its distinguished flavours and cocktails from the heart of the Mexican jungle to the historic streets of Covent Garden. The event is expected to bring a memorable combination of gastronomy and mixology, highlighted by ARCA’s notable ranking as No. 29 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants and No. 23 in North America’s 50 Best Bars.

The festivities kick off at NoMad London’s Side Hustle on Sunday, 5 th of May, where guests will indulge in mezcal-infused cocktails and Mexican-inspired small plates. The evening will showcase the combined expertise of Liana Oster, NoMad London’s bar director, and Peter Sanchez, Global Brand Ambassador for The Lost Explorer Mezcal and ARCA’s bar director. The collaborative effort aims to encapsulate the vibrant culinary heritage of Mexico through drink creations and tantalising dishes.

The celebration continues then on Monday, 6 th of May, as NoMad’s main restaurant plays host to a six-course tasting menu meticulously crafted by ARCA’s executive chef José Luis Hinostroza, in concert with NoMad London’s kitchen team led by executive chef Zak Gregoire and executive sous chef Juan Hernandez. Guests will be treated to a dining experience echoing the essence of Tulum, complete with optional mezcal pairings and live music. The menu is a testament to the chefs’ collective prowess, featuring a fusion of culinary techniques and flavours that spotlight seasonal ingredients and the art of open-fire cooking.

Set in the iconic ambience of NoMad London, located at the Old Police Station Entrance on 28 Bow Street in Covent Garden, the event is a rare opportunity for London’s food enthusiasts to experience the authentic taste of Tulum. Tickets for the restaurant event on the 6th of May are priced at £175.

For bookings, visit the related Opentable page here .

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Planning to Combine Business and Leisure Travel? You’re Not Alone.

As employees increasingly add leisure time to their business trips, companies are trying to figure out where their duty of care obligations begin and end.

Credit... Aart-Jan Venema

Supported by

By Amy Zipkin

• April 7, 2024

On a Sunday in late January, Melinda Buchmann, who lives in Florida and supervises client relations for RevShoppe, a 30-person remote company advising organizations on sales techniques and strategies, arrived in Banff, Alberta, to help set up a four-day company meeting.

The last day of the event, her husband, Josh, a director of strategic partnerships for the delivery company DoorDash , who also works remotely, joined her. They spent two leisurely days hiking in Banff National Park and visiting Lake Louise.

“I take advantage, because I don’t know when I’m going to return,” Ms. Buchmann said of the decision to combine downtime with a business trip.

As postpandemic work life has changed, and arrangements now include full-time office attendance as well as hybrid and remote work, so, too, has business travel. The phenomenon known as bleisure, or blended business and leisure travel, was initially embraced largely by digital nomads . But such combined travel is now also popular with people outside that group . Allied Market Research, a subsidiary of Allied Analytics, based in Portland, Ore., estimated that the bleisure travel market was $315.3 billion in 2022 and would reach $731.4 billion by 2032.

As employees increasingly add leisure time to their business trips, companies are struggling to determine where their legal obligation to protect employees from harm — their so-called duty of care — begins and ends. And workers may think that because their trip started with business, they will get all the help they need if something goes wrong on the leisure end. Instead, they should generally consider the leisure part of a trip as a regular vacation where they cover all expenses and contingencies.

Companies are responsible for knowing where their employees are during a business trip, covering expenses if an accident or emergency occurs, securing new lodging if a hotel is damaged, even swapping out a broken down rental car. Still, it’s not entirely clear if that coverage ends completely after the conference or the last client meeting.

Companies recognize that threats are increasing, said Robert Cole, senior research analyst focusing on lodging and leisure travel at Phocuswright, a market research company. They are trying to figure out how to take care of a valuable company resource, the employee, without leaving themselves open to financial risk or potential litigation.

“Crafting a comprehensive policy that balances business objectives, employee well-being and legal considerations can be challenging,” Nikolaos Gkolfinopoulos, head of tourism at ICF, a consulting and technology services company in Reston, Va., wrote in an email.

Employees may be on their own without realizing it and may be surprised by out-of-pocket expenses if they require hospital care abroad or evacuation, said Suzanne Morrow, chief executive of InsureMyTrip , an online insurance travel comparison site in Warwick, R.I.

Ms. Morrow said medical coverage provided by a company “is generally only for the dates of the actual business trip abroad.” If travelers are extending the trip for personal travel, she added, “they would want to secure emergency medical coverage for that additional time abroad.”

Employers and employees are left to figure out when the business portion of the trip ends and the leisure segment begins, a significant detail if an employee has a medical emergency. “Where does the corporation liability end?” said Kathy Bedell, senior vice president at BCD Travel, a travel management company.

Companies have varying policies to deal with the new travel amalgam. The chief executive of RevShoppe, Patricia McLaren, based in Austin, Texas, said the company provided flexible travel options and allowed employees to work anywhere they choose.

Even so, there are constraints. The company requires all employees, including executives, to sign liability and insurance waivers when they are on a voluntary company-sponsored trip, such as an off-site meeting. Such waivers typically place responsibility on employees for their own well-being. And if they bring someone, they are responsible for that person’s expenses.

Employees are responsible for requesting the paid time off and notifying their managers of their whereabouts, although that part is not a requirement. Managers have to ensure adequate staffing, Ms. McLaren said.

Elsewhere, employees may not bother to mention the leisure portion of their trip. Eliot Lees, a vice president and managing director at ICF, said he had been on trips as a child with his parents when they combined business and leisure. His parents were academics, who would piggyback vacations onto conferences.

Now he does the same. “I don’t think I ever asked for approval,” he said. (ICF has no formal business-leisure travel policy. It’s allowed as part of personal time off.) After a conference in the Netherlands last year, he spent four days hiking in the northern part of the country.

“I go anywhere, and take more risks than I should,” he said. He said he didn’t carry personal travel or accident insurance.

Any nonchalance may quickly evaporate if a threat emerges. Security experts say even low-risk locations can become high-risk for a few days or weeks of the year.

“Companies are concerned about losing visibility into a traveler’s whereabouts if they booked flights and hotels outside their corporate travel management company,” Benjamin Thorne, senior intelligence manager in London for Crisis24, a subsidiary of GardaWorld, wrote in an email. “The company may think the traveler is in one city when, in reality, they could have booked a holiday package to another nearby city. This lack of visibility by the company makes it difficult to support travelers when a disaster occurs.”

He also raised the possibility that “a traveler with bleisure travel reservations and expectations may find their work trip canceled due to changes in the risk environment or company policy, disrupting their leisure plans.”

Will a company step in off hours if there’s a problem? “That depends on how you are booked,” Mr. Cole, the senior research analyst at Phocuswright, said. A rule of thumb is the further you get from corporate control, the greater the gray area gets.

Half of GoldSpring Consulting’s clients take the responsibility for the entire trip, said Will Tate, a partner at the consultancy based in Cross Roads, Texas, and a certified public accountant. They don’t want the reputational risk. The other half say: “The business trip ended Friday. That’s when we end our duty of care.”

Some companies are trying to define and narrow the gray area. “If you are clearly on personal time, there is no legal requirement for your employer to provide for you,” said Nicole Page, a lawyer whose practice includes employment law at Reavis Page Jump in New York.

Uber provides employees with advisories before a trip, travel assessments, safety tips while traveling and emergency travel assistance, including medical aid, airport travel support, urgent and emergency assistance, and lost or stolen personal property insurance whether they are on business or pleasure travel or a combination.

And at DoorDash, Chris Cherry, head of global safety and security, wrote in an email that “while personal travel is not something we track, we have received requests to extend our travel support capabilities to personal travel.” Mr. Cherry said in those cases, the company has manually added employee leisure itineraries to its travel risk management system and “provided the same level of overwatch that we do for regular business travel.”

The Buchmanns plan to travel this month to Barcelona, Spain, for the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention. DoorDash will have a booth, and Mr. Buchmann will work on the exhibit floor and also entertain clients.

Ms. Buchmann will accompany him. She plans to go sightseeing in the morning, and work in the afternoons and evenings Barcelona time. She will also take three days of paid time off and has shared her plans with Ms. McLaren, the RevShoppe chief executive.

They will stay a day after the conference and plan to visit the Dalí Theater and Museum in Figueres. “I’m sure there will be no shortage of tapas and window shopping along way,” Mr. Buchmann said. He expects to be back at work the next Monday.

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