Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions page of the A Lady in London blog. This is a great page to reference for everything you want to know about me and the blog. I add to it regularly, so make sure to check back for updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you from and what is your background?
I’m originally from San Francisco. I moved to London in 2007 after leaving a career in finance.

After living in the UK full-time for 15 years, I started splitting my time between London and California in 2022. You can learn more about my background on the About page.

How did you move to London, and how have you managed to stay?
I got a UK work visa in 2007 that allowed me to live and work in London for two years. After that, I renewed the visa for three more years.

After five years of living and working in the UK, I applied for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and after six years, I applied for citizenship.

I became a British citizen in 2014, and I now have dual British and American citizenship. You can read more about the process here.

What advice do you have for people trying to get a visa to live and work in London?
The visa I came to the UK on was discontinued, so the process of getting a visa to live and work in the United Kingdom is different now than it was back then.

There are still ways to do so, though, including getting a student visa or getting sponsored by a company. You can learn more on my blog post about how to move to London. The gov.uk website has information, too.

Where should I stay when I visit London?
I often get asked that question, and there’s no right answer. London is a big city, the attractions are spread out, and every neighborhood is unique.

In order to narrow it down, click here for a guide to where to stay in London based on your style, and click here for a guide to choosing a hotel that’s right for your individual taste.

You can also take a look at my guide to quirky hotels in London. It includes unique accommodation, pubs with rooms, aparthotels, and more.

Where should I live in London?
People always ask me where they should live in London. The answer depends on your personal style, circumstances, and commute. I’ve written a blog post about where to live in London that can help you choose the best area for you.

Where have you traveled?
I’ve traveled to 112 countries and every continent apart from Antarctica. You can see the list of my first 100 countries here.

Since then I’ve also been to Rwanda, Azerbaijan, St Lucia, Nepal, Bahrain, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, and Mauritius.

I’ve also created a World Travel Map of every country I’ve visited and my blog posts about each one.

How often do you travel?
It depends on the month, but sometimes I travel up to three or four times, and sometimes I stay home all month. In an average year, I spend around 100 days on the road and take approximately 30 trips. It keeps me busy!

What’s been your favorite place you’ve visited?
That’s the most difficult question I get asked, but I like to say I prefer different places for different things.

For beaches, I love the Maldives, for natural beauty, it’s Namibia and Chile, for food I like Mexico, Japan, and Thailand, and for wildlife, it’s Botswana and the Galapagos.

My favorite cities are Paris, Hong Kong, London (obviously), and San Francisco (not that I’m biased!).

Where do you want to go that you haven’t been?
Ethiopia and Antarctica are at the top of my list right now. I would also love to see the Northern Lights and do a barbecue road trip through the American south.

How did you start blogging?
I started blogging in 2002 when one of my college roommates introduced me to the concept. A lot of us were about to study abroad for a semester, so we decided to use blogging to keep in touch.

I ran the blog until I graduated in 2004, then I started the A Lady in London blog before I moved to London in 2007. You can read the full story here.

Do you do this full-time?
Yes. I’ve been running the A Lady in London blog full-time since the beginning of 2010.

What other projects are you working on?
In addition to the blog, I do a lot of public speaking and teaching. You can learn more about my corporate speaking work on my business website.

I also offer travel planning services and blog coaching for clients. There are always new projects in the pipeline, too!

What kind of camera do you use?
I use a Canon EOS R5. The main lens I use with it is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM (standard zoom). You can learn more here.

Can I use your photos?
I don’t allow the use of my photos outside of my blog and social channels without my permission. If you’re interested in using them, please contact me. You can find my contact information here.

I want to start a blog. What advice do you have?
That’s exciting! I’m glad you want to start a blog. I offer blog coaching services that can help you (see below).

I want to improve my blog. Can you help?
Yes. I offer private blog coaching to help people take their blogs to the next level. You can find more information on my Blog Coaching Services page.

I would like your advice for an upcoming trip. Can you help me?
Yes, I’ve offered travel planning services through the blog since 2010, and I’ve planned many trips for clients all over the world. You can learn more on the Travel Planning Services page.

I’d like to work with you on a project. How do I do this?
I’m happy you’d like to work with me. You can find out more about the blog’s readership on the Advertise page, and you can find my contact information here.

I’m coming to London and I want restaurant recommendations. Can you give me some?
Absolutely! I’ve written about my favorite restaurants in London, and many of my neighborhood guides include restaurant suggestions as well.

I’d like to take one of your self-guided walks, but I’m having trouble accessing the map and/or finding how long the walk is. Can you help?
Sure! Each of my self-guided London walking tours includes free maps with the routes and directions. All you need to do is click on the teal “Sign Up for Free!” button in the large gray box that says “Get the details and map for this walk!” to access them. There’s no need to download or print anything. The same goes for the walking distances and times.

I’m coming to London and I want to know what the weather will be like. Can you help?
Yes! I’ve written all about the weather in London, including what you can expect during each month of the year.

If you want to know how to dress while you’re visiting, you can take a look at my summer, autumn, winter, and spring packing lists. I’ve also written a general guide with 5 easy tips for what to wear in London (and what not to wear).

I want to search for a specific topic on your blog. How can I do that?
You can use the search box on the blog to find what you’re looking for. It’s on the sidebar if you’re using a desktop computer or a laptop, and it’s at the bottom of the screen if you’re using a mobile phone or device.

I have another question that’s not on here. How do I contact you?
You can find my contact information here.