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 What jobs can you get in London on a working holiday?

Hospitality and events

This is where most working holiday makers start. Event caterers staff festivals, concerts, sporting events, hotels, restaurants, bars and VIP events across London, and they need people every week. Typical roles are:

• bar staff
• waiting staff
• food runners
• hosts
• cloakroom attendants

No experience is needed. You do a short induction with the employer before you're given shifts, and they train you on the job. Shifts can be early, late or doubles, so you can pick up a lot of hours when you want them.

Event crewing and labouring

If you'd rather work with your hands, event crews set up and pack down festivals, concerts, sporting events, TV sets and major venues. The work includes stage preparation, unloading equipment and general site labouring.

It's physical, with early mornings and late nights, so you'll do a skills and fitness check at induction. No experience is needed, and training is provided.

Construction labouring

Prefer a regular weekday routine? General labouring roles support trades on building sites across central London, with Monday to Friday day shifts. You'll need to be fit enough for site work.

Office, education and café jobs

Once you're in London and can interview in person, more structured roles open up:

• Admin and reception: entry-level and experienced office roles, often through temp agencies
• Education: teaching and teaching assistant positions
• Cafés and wine bars: barista and front-of-house roles
• Restaurants: bar staff, waiting staff and hosts in sit-down restaurants
• Trades: skilled and general labour for qualified tradies

These usually have set hours and a formal application and interview, so most people start in flexible work and apply for these once they've landed.

What do London jobs pay?

Every job must pay at least the UK minimum wage, which rose on 1 April 2026:

Hospitality jobs often add tips on top, and by law employers must pass all tips on to staff. Some venues also share out a service charge, which you may hear called tronc.

Your employer takes income tax and National Insurance from your pay through PAYE. The first £12,570 you earn in a tax year (6 April to 5 April) is usually tax-free, which helps if you're only working part of the year.

What permanent hospitality jobs pay

If you move from flexible shifts into a permanent role, London pay rises with experience. These are 2026 salary ranges for permanent London hospitality jobs:

Source: Cookaburra, London Hospitality Salary Benchmarks 2026

Whatever the salary, your pay must work out at no less than £12.71 an hour if you're 21 or over. Many London venues pay more, and some are accredited Living Wage employers that pay the voluntary London Living Wage, set by the Living Wage Foundation at £15.45 an hour for 2026–27.

How flexible shifts work

Most hospitality and event employers book shifts through an app. You see the shifts on offer, pick the ones that suit you and turn down the rest. There are no minimum hours, so you can:

• work a big week when you want to save
• keep days free for interviews with other employers
• take a week off to travel Europe and pick shifts back up when you return

That flexibility is why many people keep a few event shifts going even after they land an office or café job.

What you need before you start

• A share code to prove your right to work. Every UK employer checks this before your first shift. You get it from your UK Visas and Immigration account, where your eVisa sits.
• A National Insurance number. Apply online once you're in the UK. You can start work while you wait for it.
• A UK bank account for your wages.
• A UK-style CV: two pages, no photo, with your availability and UK phone number at the top.
• Black work clothes. Event catering usually needs black trousers and black non-slip shoes, so pack them.

Our first-week checklist walks through the admin step by step.

Can New Zealanders get the same jobs?

Yes. Kiwis aged 18–35 get the same UK Youth Mobility visa as Australians, with the same right to work in most jobs, the same 2 years and the same option to extend for a third. Every job in this guide is open to New Zealanders on the same terms.

How Jumpstart London helps you find work

Jumpstart London introduces you to independent London employers before you fly, so you're not starting your job hunt from a hostel bed. When you arrive, you register with the employer, complete their induction and right-to-work checks, then choose your shifts. Roles depend on availability and the employer's checks.

You can use these jobs for a few weeks while you settle in, or keep them for your whole visa. Our team can also help arrange interviews for admin, barista and other roles in our network when you're ready to move on.

FAQ

Can I get a job in London with no experience?

Yes. Hospitality, events, crewing and labouring jobs don't need experience: employers train you at a short induction. Office, education and some restaurant roles ask for experience or an interview.

How much do working holiday jobs in London pay?

At least the UK minimum wage: £12.71 an hour if you're 21 or over and £10.85 if you're 18 to 20, from April 2026. Hospitality jobs often add tips, which employers must pass on in full.

Can I change jobs on a UK working holiday?

Yes. The Youth Mobility visa isn't tied to one employer, so you can change jobs, work two jobs or apply for other roles at any time.

Ready to line up your first London job?

Pick your arrival week and we'll introduce you to London employers and hold your bed before you fly.

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New to the UK working holiday? Start with our complete guide.