LETTERS FROM ABROAD
Issue 2 - LONDON
THE NEW LONDON -
How the City Became Liveable for Digital Nomads
I'll be honest - London wasn't on my radar. After years of helping clients navigate Paris and other European cities, I'd mentally filed London away as expensive, bureaucratic, and frankly, past its prime for the lifestyle I value. Then family circumstances brought me back for an extended stay, and I discovered a version of London I didn't know existed.
What I found has genuinely surprised me. So much so that I've actually taken a small flat there myself - something that fits my nomadic rhythm. Let me tell you what changed my mind -and why this might matter if you've been weighing up where to base yourself.
A New Style of Living (That Actually Works)
Here's what caught my attention: London has developed a completely new residential model that seems purpose-built for the way many of us actually live now - mobile, wellness-focused, craving community but needing flexibility.
I visited a property recently - considering it both for myself and for the type of clients I work with. It's in an outer borough, well-connected by tube, about twenty minutes to Mayfair. Walking in felt like entering a high-end New York apartment building transplanted to London. High security, proper package handling, bike storage, the works. But here's what made it remarkable: your rent includes not just the flat, but an entire ecosystem.
Your monthly payment covers a fully-equipped co-working space with proper desks and meeting rooms. It includes a comprehensive wellness facility - gym, pool, sauna, yoga studios. There are communal kitchens designed for actually preparing healthy food, not just reheating takeaway. Different levels of hospitality services available if you want them. It's like someone asked, "What if Soho House were a residential building?" and then actually made it affordable.
The pricing? Between £2,000 and £3,500 per month for a furnished flat in a serviced building. For context, that's less than many Paris apartments without any of these amenities. And crucially - it's not that difficult to arrange. Much less paperwork than France. The building management handles new arrivals directly; you don't even necessarily need a traditional estate agent. It's somewhere between booking an Airbnb and going through an agency, which for those of us maintaining nomadic lives, is remarkably refreshing.
Ultimately, I chose something smaller and more flexible for my own needs - something that fits better with how I actually move between cities. But discovering this new model of London living changed how I think about the city entirely.
The Wellness Infrastructure (No, Really)
I wasn't expecting this, but London has developed perhaps the most sophisticated wellness scene I've encountered anywhere. And I don't mean expensive spas - I mean accessible, integrated into daily life, genuinely high-quality facilities for movement, recovery, and well-being.
The gym and studio options are exceptional. Whatever modality you're interested in - you'll find it here, and you'll find it done well. But what struck me most is how this has become genuinely mainstream. Your co-working space has yoga at lunch. Your residential building has proper training facilities. There are serious recovery protocols - cold plunge, sauna, breath work - available without needing to join some exclusive club.
For those of us who prioritize how we feel physically as part of how we work and live, this matters enormously. It's become genuinely possible to structure your London life around wellness in a way that simply wasn't feasible even five years ago.
The Parks (London's Secret Weapon)
This deserves its own mention: London's parks are extraordinary. Not just the famous ones like Hyde Park, but the network of green spaces woven throughout the city. The property I visited for clients sits fifteen minutes by bike from a genuine nature reserve. In the middle of a city of nine million people.
For those of us who need access to green space and nature as part of our daily rhythm, London delivers this in ways that might surprise you. These aren't just ornamental gardens - they're substantial wild spaces where you can actually clear your head and remember what trees look like.
The Practical Reality
Let me be direct about what makes this actually workable, especially for Americans considering a move:
London is not Europe from a visa and residency perspective, which creates different considerations post-Brexit. However, for Americans and others navigating residence options, the UK has certain pathways that can be surprisingly straightforward compared to EU bureaucracy. The lease arrangements I've described are genuinely easier than most European rental situations - less paperwork, faster approvals, more flexibility.
The language barrier is obviously non-existent, which matters more than we sometimes admit. Banking, healthcare navigation, understanding your tenancy agreement—it's all in English, which removes a layer of friction that exists even in places we love.
The transportation infrastructure is exceptional. Yes, the tube can be crowded, but it's reliable, extensive, and genuinely well-maintained. You can live in an outer borough and still be central within twenty minutes. Many American cities don't offer this level of connectivity even in their cores.
A PERSONAL NOTE
I find myself living what I'm writing about. I've taken a small flat in London - something that works for my nomadic rhythm. I've been so focused on the classic European lifestyle - the bistros, the piazzas, the afternoon aperitivo - that I perhaps overlooked what daily functionality and community access actually require.
London is giving me something I wasn't finding as easily in France: immediate integration into daily rhythms of wellness, work, and connection. The ability to access green space, work in proper co-working facilities, take a yoga class at lunch, and meet people organically in the process.
Is it perfect? No. The weather is what it is. The food culture doesn't have the depth of France or Italy. But if you're someone who values practical functionality, wellness infrastructure, and the ease of plugging into community - London might surprise you as much as it surprised me.
If you've been curious about London or want to understand these new residential models in more detail, I'm happy to continue the conversation. Sometimes it helps to talk through these decisions with someone who's actually navigating the same questions.
Feel free to contact us here if London has been on your mind.
With warmth,
Susie Hollands
Founder, VINGT Paris & Twenty1
P.S. If you're considering London and would like introductions to the building operators managing these new-style residences, or want recommendations for the co-ops and wellness spaces I've found most valuable, just let me know. I'm building a proper list.