Your first week in United Kingdom: a city-by-city primer

Your first week in United Kingdom is equal parts logistics and discovery. London, Edinburgh, Manchester all reward the same approach: sort housing and transport first, then let the city teach you its rhythm.

London — Rain-ready layers, long walks, museum weather.

Edinburgh — Cold light, cobbles, windproof everything.

Manchester — Indie energy, brutalist concrete, hoodie climate.

London runs on drizzle and layering. A single morning can start with sleet in Shoreditch and end with sun in Soho, so the kit logic is simple: waterproof top layer, knit mid-layer, and shoes that treat the pavement like a puddle. Carry light — you'll be on the Tube more than you think.

Wherever you base yourself, arrive with a documents wallet at hand and a power bank charged — the first 48 hours are a lot of queues, keys and maps.