So, you've just made the decision to move to London on a Working Holiday? Congratulations!

It may be bit of work to get yourself organised but it will be well worth it for 2 years full of fun & life-changing experiences. To get yourself started on the planning journey, here's what you should do:

Firstly, make sure you're eligible for the Working Holiday Visa. Don't fear - if you're not eligible you may be able to apply for another type of visa. If you are eligible, kick off the visa application process.

Next, start thinking about what sort of work you'd like to do. Gone are the days where Aussies and Kiwis had to
work in pubs & other low paid roles. Now that the Working Holiday Visa allows people for work for the full 2 years,
it's easier to get full time work in your chosen field.

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Book a flight

There are a wide range of options when it comes to choosing how you will fly to London. Here are a few things you should consider:

1. Start looking early

As soon as you know you are moving to London you should start keeping an eye out for good flight deals. Sign up to email alerts with major airlines and if you use social networks, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Some good websites to check are:

• Emirates special fares
• STA Travel Australia / STA Travel New Zealand
• Webjet (flight comparison tool)
• Air New Zealand
• Air Asia

2. Consider a stop-over

As Australia and New Zealand are so far away, the trip to London can be long and painful. Consider stopping over in another country for a few days – popular options are Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and USA.

Air Asia frequently offer cheap flights from Kuala Lumpur to London meaning that you can often afford a few days in Asia at the same cost of flying direct with another airline.

3. Use the internet and shop around

Gone are the days when travel agents were the only place to get a good deal. These days you’ll often get the best price by booking direct through the airlines online. Keep an eye on their websites but also watch the travel agents too – you never know who’s going to come up with the deal that’s perfect for you.

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London Airports

If you're anything like me, you may have assumed that Heathrow is the only airport in London. The truth is, there are actually 5 airports servicing the greater London area!  There are pro's and con's to each so it's worth doing some research before booking a flight.

If you're flying from Australia or New Zealand it's likely that you'll be coming into Heathrow. If you decide to do a stopover in Asia on the way, you may arrive in Stansted or Gatwick - depending on which airline carrier you choose. Here's some information on all three airports and where they are in relation to the central London:

Heathrow

The largest airport in the United Kingdom, Heathrow was actually called London Airport up until the 60s. According to Wikipedia, Heathrow is the third busiest airport in the world and carries more international passengers than anywhere else.

It's located 22km out from central London and is accessible via the London Underground (the tube).

Stansted

Stansted Airport is serviced by a number of low-cost airlines such as AirAsia and Easy Jet. This means that you're likely to find cheaper flights arriving here. Despite it's small size, Stansted is the third busiest airport in the United Kingdom.

Stansted is located 48km North East of London so taxi rides into the city can be very expensive (~£100!). Unfortunately it's not covered by the London Underground (as it's technically located in Essex) but there is a Stansted train that you can catch into the city. Warning - the train can be fairly expensive (£18 one way) so make sure you take this cost into consideration if you're only going to be saving a small amount when choosing a flight here.

Gatwick Airport

Gatwick is located in West Sussex, 46km from central London. As with Stansted, Gatwick is serviced by a number of low-cost airlines offering domestic and international flights.

There is a train that runs from Gatwick to central London called the Gatwick Express. Tickets start at around £16 for a single trip and the journey takes around 30 minutes.

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