Looking for French Expats in London?

Thinking about moving to London as a French expat? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what French expats in London wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• It's open, diverse, and tolerant. The French praise a multicultural, open-minded city where you aren't judged, backed by 79% rating culture and nightlife positively.

• Careers open up. 72% of expats in London say the move improved their career prospects (vs. 55% globally), with no language barrier (75% find the language easy).

• It's a launchpad for travel. 86% rate the opportunity to travel positively and 83% the availability of public transportation, with the airports making trips easy.

• Culture and green space are close. Parks, the Thames, and world-class museums come up often, alongside 83% rating culinary variety positively.

• Housing and costs are brutal. Just 11% of expats in London rate housing affordability positively and 14% the general cost of living — among the lowest scores in the survey.

• Healthcare disappoints. Only 52% rate healthcare affordability positively, and the French often find the doctors and system lacking versus home.

• The weather and making friends take work. Just 26% rate the climate positively and 32% say making local friends is easy.

• The pace can feel stressful. Precarious work, high costs, and pollution come up as everyday pressures, with overall happiness (64%) below the global average.

For the French, London offers an open, international life, strong careers, and easy travel with no language barrier. The trade-offs are the cost of living, the weather, and a healthcare system that disappoints. For career and culture, though, few cities match it.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our French members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

InterNations is a place where French expats in London exchange experiences and tips to support each other. The "Big Smoke", as the city is caringly called, can be a great place for expats - our community helps you make the most of your experience!

• Browse our Members Network to get to know London’s French expats.
• Take part in our Expat Forums to obtain first hand tips from fellow French expats in London.
• Use the Expat Guide for London to find information on your host city.

Our community in London is also very active offline. Our InterNations Ambassadors organize regular events and various expat activities, e.g. a dinner in London’s hippest restaurant or an outing with other French expats to explore the outstanding beauty of the Cotswolds, "the Heart of England". These activities are a casual way to get to know expats from France in your local community as well as French in the UK nationwide. Interested? Simply become a member and we’ll be happy to welcome you among our French living in London!