Posts Tagged ‘american expats in london’
Saturday, November 19th, 2011
Author: Colleen
Howdy there, Pilgrims! It’s time for another round-up of Thanksgiving dinners in London if you’re making an international relocation to London from the US in time for the holiday.
I’ve blogged before about how I, as a fellow American expat living in London, have been able to find the traditional fixin’s for a Thanksgiving meal (like Stove Top stuffing and pumpkin pie) at the South Kensington Partridges in London (there’s another in Chelsea on the King’s Road, and the American Food Store is alternative located in Holland Park). That helped me out with my quick-n-dirty attempts at the feast when more formal meal plans had to be scrapped at the last-minute. It’s also tougher to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner given limited time constraints if you and your spouse or partner both have jobs in London, as we for obvious reasons don’t get the day off here in the UK. Unless you’re planning to use one of your vacation days to do it, that’ll be a real challenge to stuff the bird in the oven in time. Luckily, you’ll have Whole Foods at your disposal (the world’s largest one is located on London’s Kensington High Street), as they offer an American Thanksgiving menu that will prepare you entire meal, bodda-boom-bodda-bing.
If you’re not inclined to either cook or have to wash dishes, though, there are plenty of London venues that usually serve up a Thanksgiving feast or near-enough equivalent. So let’s gives thanks to the following if they’re continuing to do so this year (be sure to confirm with them in case they don’t specifically display their Thanksgiving menu on their website):
The City:
Missouri Angel near Tower Hill/Aldgate
Texas Embassy Cantina near Trafalgar Square
Bodean’s BBQ Steak House near Tower Hill
North London:
Belushi’s in Camden
The Breakfast Club in Angel and Hoxton
East London:
The Marksman Pub in Shoreditch
The Medieval Banquet in East Smithfield (St. Katharine’s Docks near Tower Hill)
Belushi’s in Greenwich
South Bank:
Tentazioni in Bermondsey
Belushi’s in London Bridge
West End:
Automat in Mayfair
Hard Rock Cafe in Mayfair
Butlers Restaurant at The Chesterfield in Mayfair
The Reading Room at Claridge’s in Mayfair
HIX at the Albemarle in Mayfair
PJ’s Grill in Covent Garden
Christopher’s American Bar & Grill in Covent Garden
Belushi’s in Covent Garden
Planet Hollywood in Haymarket
Bodean’s BBQ Steak House in Soho
The Breakfast Club in Soho
Eagle Bar Diner in Soho/Noho (off Oxford Street)
Villandry in Marylebone
Cafe Luc in Marylebone
West/Southwest London:
The Fifth Floor at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge
Chicago Rib Shack in Knightsbridge
Henry J. Beans in Chelsea
Big Easy in Chelsea
PJ’s Bar & Grill in South Kensington
Babylon at The Roof Gardens on High Street Kensington
Bodean’s BBQ Steak House in Clapham and Fulham
Belushi’s in Fulham, Shepherd’s Bush, and Hammersmith
We welcome comments here if you know of any other restaurants hosting Thanksgiving in London this year! And even if you’re not relocating to London for Thanksgiving this year, at least you know that it does exist in London if you know where to find it. In the meantime, the London Relocation agency is thankful that you’re here checking out our site right now and would love to chat with you about finding your London apartment—a new home for spending the holidays in London. 
Tags: accommodation in london, american expats in london, american thanksgiving gatherings in london, Americans moving to London, colleen, london apartment, london apartments, London Relocation Services, london restaurants serving thanksgiving dinner, rent london, thanksgiving in london 2011, where to find american food in london
Posted in Americans Moving to London, London Food & Beverage | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
The 425, a classic double-decker bus, took a diverted route this morning. I didn’t share in the irritation of the other commuters. Instead, I optimistically blasted my music, slouched in my upper-deck seat and let my earphone’s melodies dance with the dynamic streets of London. Many have suggested I do an official bus tour, to view all the “must-see” attractions. If you do see a tour, I recommend to bring music. Tune out the mechanical tour-guide and see the city to the backdrop of your favourite song. If you, like me, are not willing to pay the 30 £ to see a tour, check out the bus routes and bounce around from place to place for free.
At Sloane’s St. I bitersweetly hopped off the 425 and proceeded to Saatchi Gallery. The gallery is located on King’s rode in the midst of high-end shops and restaurants. The gallery is known for featuring eccentric, extreme works. The exhibition of 20 international sculptors proved such.
One gallery was simply an illusive room. Dark, black oil covered the floor’s surface. The reflections in the oil made one believe the room was two stories. In the upper galleries I discovered sculptures constructed entirely of shelving units, vinyl, light boxes, acrylic sheet, cable and plug boards. They glowed enticingly against the black backdrop of the gallery.
The size, extremity and detail of the exhibition left me with feelings of awe and appreciation. As I hopped on the 425 to head back to Notting Hill, although eager to resume seeing London as a music video, I was melancholic. Sad to leave behind work I could have stared at for hours and hours. The work seemed to tangibly and beautifully exemplify the imagination. I felt as if my dreams had been perfectly and purposely arranged in each gallery.
The current exhibition will be going on until the 16th of October, for more information click here.
Go!
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, London Relocation, London Relocation Services, Moving in London, Moving to London, relocating to London, relocation to london, sights in london, students relocating to london, traveling in london
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Recreation, London Transportation, Moving to London: London Sightseeing, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Living in London – As English as… - Image via Flickr
One of the things most people struggle with when moving to London is adapting to day to day living. When you’re moving to London, you must try to push that concern to one side so that your enthusiasm for the big move isn’t dampened by your anxiety for how it could fail. I think what really helps to ease the transition is discovering something that you like about your new home. It really isn’t that hard (unless you’re determined not to find anything you’ll like).
My personal list of favorite things about living in London probably amount to all the clichés that I’ve discovered are truisms. I mean the kind of things you read about in books or see in movies and then come over here and you discover that it’s just the way you pictured it in your head. Like bangers and mash.
It really does sound like the simplest meal ever, doesn’t it? And it is. It really is. But it’s also very tasty. And when you combine ‘simple cooking’ with ‘very tasty’ you get what is officially the top recipe on The Lazy Person’s List of Cooking. Honestly, it really doesn’t get much better than this. Get some bangers (sausages if you’re new to this English thing), potatoes, baked beans (you could try gravy if you wanted but I did say this was for lazy people) and bread. Fry up the sausages, cook the potatoes and mash them, put the baked beans into a pot, get them hot and toast the bread. Now, arguably speaking, that’s more of a sentence than it is a recipe. But, like I said, it’s very tasty.
And if you’re the lazy sort of person and if it’s been a particularly trying day at the office, you could do far worse than stopping at your local Tesco’s on your way home from work, picking up the necessary ingredients and heading home for some (All together now) Bangers and Mash! It might not be up there on the list of the most wholesome meals you could eat while living in London, but it’s quick, easy and very English.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, Cooking, England, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London Relocation Services, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, moving to London England, moving to london from america, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, relocating to london england
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Food & Beverage, London Neighborhoods, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, London, England History, Moving to London: Tips & Culture, Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Living in London – You’re English now!- Image via Flickr
There are so many English traditions that are worth experiencing when you’re moving to London. From quaint affectations and mannerisms, to a completely different way of eating; delving into English traditions is going to be one of the more fun aspects of settling into your new London rental and life in London.
Learn the proper deployment of the word bollocks. It basically means ‘balls’ but to my ears, it sounds a lot more tasteful. Useful for many occasions, just don’t confuse it with ‘dogs bollocks’ which is ‘bollocks’’ complete opposite!
‘Going down the pub for a pint’. I’m almost certain that there can’t be anything more English than this and if you’re an American moving to London, it really won’t take you that long to adjust to this tradition. Ever gone to a bar for a beer after work? Pretty much the same thing, except in England they sometimes do it during working hours too! A measure of a pint is equivalent to 470 ml, just to make it easier for you to wrap your head around the concept of a pint. With regards to my earlier blog about English traditions, many pubs will even have Bangers and Mash on the menu, so you’ve got that as an option.
In a similar vein, back home in the States, we have the NFL, here we have the English Premier League. That’s for football, i.e. soccer, but don’t call it soccer. Call it football. Every year, starting around the middle of August and going through to May of the next year, the nation’s top football teams compete for the honor of ending the season on top of the Premier League. We’re talking about Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal. It’s pretty much the most hotly contested sports competition in England, bar none. And if you’d like to get an idea of how big a deal the Premier League is, get a few tickets for the next match between Manchester United and Liverpool. Trust me, the level of rivalry between these two teams and the drama that each match promises won’t leave you bored.
Essentially, you could have yourself an extremely English day if you just did the three things I mentioned in this blog. Head down to the pub where you’ll get yourself a pint along with some bangers and mash, perhaps. Stay at the pub and watch the football there. Or go to the football with your mates, where you’ll shout “bollocks!” every time your team concedes a goal and describe your team’s performance as “complete bollocks” at the end (Alternatively, should your team win, you can describe them as the “dog’s bollocks”). And then you can go to pub again and drown your sorrows or celebrate your win with a pint.
You’re living in London. Act like it!
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Association football, England, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London Relocation Services, Manchester United, Manchester United F.C., Moving to London, moving to London advice, moving to London England, Premier League, relocating to London, things to know about london
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Recreation, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, London, England History, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Living in London – Smile for the Camera!- Image via Wikipedia
One of my favorite things about living in London is catching the city I live in on the telly. And I don’t just mean EastEnders (though that’s fun too). I mean watching a movie and suddenly seeing a part of the city you visit quite regularly. Like watching ‘Mission Impossible’ and spotting Bankside located nearby to London’s Southwark Bridge. Or an unnervingly empty and desolate Piccadilly Circus in ‘28 Days Later’. It can be loads of fun playing ‘spot-the-location’ while sitting on your couch watching movies or amongst an audience at the cinema. Here are some of my favorite examples of London in the movies.
28 Days Later – Like I said, hugely unnerving. The part where Cillian Murphy runs around the city looking for someone, anyone, and not finding a soul gave me shivers given how I much I take it for granted the huge crowds I see in the city.
Notting Hill – Obvious choice this but, given the millions of people that have been inspired by this film to visit and move to London, it has to come into this list. It really does help to show off the city. For any true Londoner, the last bit with them tearing through city, fighting traffic is both funny and thrilling.
The Bourne Ultimatum – it’s doubtful that anyone has gone sprinting around Waterloo station quite as frantically as Matt Damon does in this film, but for anyone who’s experienced the mad crush of people in one of the busiest train stations in the world, this is fantastically exciting.
Shaun of the Dead – A favourite for film buffs in general and not just Londoners. North Londoners will probably spot Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Finsbury Park in the background.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – two words: Millennium Bridge.
I guess you could say that it’s not exactly a list of top class cinema (more crowd-pleasers, actually), but I think all these films help to show off the swinging city. There must be hundreds of films that could be added to this list, so maybe this blog needs a sequel. And who knows, spend enough time exploring London, and you might spot yourself on the telly if you’re lucky.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, living in London, London, london apartment, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, moving to London advice, moving to London England, Moving to London from US, Muswell Hill, Piccadilly Circus, relocating to London, Southwark Bridge, Travel and Tourism
Posted in 'London Literacy' - our poet's corner!, Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Living in London – Summer Shopping- Image via Flickr
If you’re living in London and you’re lucky enough to have some cash to throw around, why not take advantage of the fact that London is, without a doubt, one of the shopping capitals of the world. You’ve got your choice of places to carry your wallet to and a plethora of things to buy for you to kit out your London flat. It’s a big city so there’s loads of shopping opportunities for you to explore.
Let’s start with the obvious – Harrods. The store has about one million square feet of selling space and over 300 departments, including the world famous Food Hall. So you won’t struggle to find anything for dinner.
Also pay a visit to Covent Garden, for the best in High Street fashion. Up till the 1960s Covent Garden was more likely to be recognized for its fruit and veg market, but these days, its popular visit for the tourist looking for famous fashion labels and its top quality restaurants.
Do you have kids? Then it’s only right that you make a stop at Hamleys, the biggest and most famous toy shop in the entire world. Don’t think that you’ll only be able to stop for a quick fifteen minutes, and be in and out. When a toy store takes up six floors packed from top to bottom with toys and games, you’ll have to devote an entire day to taking it all. And if feels a bit indulgent to be taken in by all this kiddie fare, just remind yourself that it’s not just for play, as Hamleys is over one hundred years old, which makes a valid part of London’s history.
Or are you a bit of a bookworm? Get thee down to Charing Cross Road, noted for its many book stores, from comic book stores to those stocking the classics to second hand book stores, you won’t leave disappointed.
And if you’re are in the vicinity of Charing Cross Road, head to St. Giles’ Circus where you’ll find Tottenham Road, where you’ll find anything and everything you’ll need to kit yourself out with the latest that electronics has to offer.
Shopping in London is an experience, whether you’re getting your groceries delivered to you London apartment, or you’re striding down the High Street on a Saturday morning looking for that perfect outfit.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, Charing Cross Road, England, fun facts about london england, Harrods, High Street, learning about london england, living in London, London, London flats, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, london relocation agent, London Relocation Services, Moving to London, moving to London England, Moving to London from US, relocating to London
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Shopping in London Places | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Living in London – Home is Where the Heart is…- Image via Wikipedia
If you’re an American moving to London, one of the things that you’ll struggle to overcome is the feeling of homesickness that will sweep over you occasionally. It’s not enough to just will yourself to adapt or to focus on your work so that the aching feeling of being away from home will go away. Sometimes you’re just going to miss home and all that comes with it, like pancakes, BBQ, the 4th of July or having your family and friends over for the Super Bowl.
It doesn’t matter either that you can make your own pancakes or buy them, that you could try getting a grill and some marinade and giving the BBQ a shot (weather withstanding), that London also has a 4th of July on its calendar (albeit, not with quite the same fanfare) or that the Super Bowl can be broadcast over in England as well (internet streaming helps in a big way in this case).
An adage that I really have taken to heart is that it’s not just where you go, what you do, but what matters above all is who you’re with. You’re not alone while you’re living in London. Turns out that there are over forty four thousand Americans staying in London. Not only that, but they get together pretty regularly and also have websites dedicated to that effect. It won’t be quite the same as walking in your mom’s front door for Thanksgiving Dinner, but spending an evening with people from back home can really help to ease the transition that comes with moving from one country to the next.
You can meet with groups as diverse as students studying in London, families that have pulled up roots to move here, an American TV Nights group (no, seriously) and all other sorts. So even if you are struggling with the big move, it helps to understand that there are others that have been there before and may even be experiencing what you’re experiencing at the same time. You can tear your hair out about the problems of moving to a new country, or you can laugh about it with someone who shares your pain.
Give it a shot. It’s like America, but in London.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, England, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Moving to London, moving to london from america, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, Travel and Tourism
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Food & Beverage, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Monday, June 13th, 2011
Living in London – Ghostly Goings On- Image via Wikipedia
You’re settled into your new London rental; done the tourist sights and now you may be looking for something a little different. As an American living in London, it may interest you to know that the city is almost two thousand years old. Scattered all over the city are many old buildings, many of which date back to the fifteenth century.
No, this isn’t another history lesson. Something far more enticing: ghosts.
London, you see, is as famous for its numerous haunted buildings as it is for being the home of the Royal Family and there are a number of tours for you to take that show off various haunted areas of London.
The Tower of London is a popular visit for ghost-fans, seeing as it was used as a prison and saw its fair share of executions (including beheadings). Henry VI is supposed to be one of the ghosts holding residence there and legend has it that his ghost supposedly appears as the clock nears midnight, walking back and forth till the clock hits twelve.
Another famous tale of the haunted Tower of London tells of Mr. Arthur Crick, a custody guard for the tower. Apparently, he decided to take a rest from his rounds and had just slipped his shoe off and sat down when he heard a voice behind him whispering, “There’s only you and I here.” To which Mr. Crick replied, “Just let me get this bloody shoe on and there only be you.”
Another of the Tower’s famous undead residents is the ghost of Anne Boleyn, former Queen of England and married to Henry VIII. When Henry grew tired of his wife, he ordered her beheaded and her remains were buried within the Tower’s grounds. Anne’s ghost is said to be seen roaming the grounds quite frequently, scaring the living daylights of anyone who crosses her path.
Over at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End, the ghost of the theatre’s former manager, Mr. John Buckstone, who passed away over one hundred years ago, still haunts the theatre, with his voice often being heard in the backstage dressing rooms.
So if you’ve just moved to London and you’ve got the nerve to try it, take up one of London’s Haunted Tours.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Anne Boleyn, canadians moving to london, fun facts about london england, Henry VI of England, Henry VIII of England, Her Majesty's Theatre, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Moving to London, moving to London advice, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, things to know about london, Tower of London
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London, England History, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Sunday, June 12th, 2011
Living In London – People and Personalities - Image via Wikipedia
While you’re living in London and indeed even in your own country, you notice people and services that have been influenced, aided and developed by one of the most famous Londoner’s of all time. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that an entire part of our entertainment today has been influenced by this man. Without him, we’d have no CSI, no Law and Order, no 24, and very possibly we’d never have seen Don Johnson starring in Miami Vice in the 1980’s. Okay the last one probably isn’t a huge loss, but the modern police force and investigation techniques are the work of one outstanding man: Sir Robert Peel
Sir Robert Peel
With a diverse background and a myriad of interests this man is the founder of the Metropolitan police Force and Prime Minister of England bringing about great social reforms in working conditions, industry and prisons. Born in 1788, this great Londoner has had a far reaching effect on the modern police force across the globe, as well as being active in politics and social reform until his death in 1850. A statue stands in Parliament Square right outside the Palace of Westminster.
Peel helped create the modern police force and to this day, London uniformed police officers are known as “Bobbies” as a tribute to Sir Robert. The other less affectionate term is “Peelers”, but unless you’re on the other side of the law, you’ll only ever see them as Bobbies on the Beat, patrolling the streets of London in their unique uniform and proudly acting as ambassadors for their city and their country.
One of the most important aspects of the police reform that Sir Robert placed into action concerned the ethics of behavior and investigation. This was the forerunner of the exacting standards in forensic investigation that have to be used before a person can be arrested of a crime. “The police are the public and the public are the police”, Sir Robert was fond of saying.
As a politician, Sir Robert Peel is most famous for his Factory Act. This Act of Parliament cam down strongly against wealthy industrialists who had made their fortunes on the backs of children and sweat shops. The Act regulated the amount of hours that children could work, and introduced the first basic machinery safety standards. In his second term in office as Prime Minister, he repealed the Corn Laws which protected the landowners by restricting foreign imports. Despite knowing that it could bring about the end of his political career, Peel forged ahead and broke the monopoly that had been one of the causes of the Irish Famine.
To be a police officer during the time of Sir Robert was an exacting position and required you to wear your uniform both on and off duty. London police were equipped with a wooden baton, a pair of handcuffs and a wooden rattle to raise an alarm if need be. The rattle was later replaced by a whistle.
To this day, uniformed police officers are not armed in the United Kingdom, which is a testament to the respect that many people have for the police force. His legacy will remain for as long as there are Bobbies on the beat, fighting crime and helping you back to your new London apartment after you’ve lost your way. Go on I dare you, just ask a Bobby for directions and you’ll see how friendly and professional they are.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, fun facts about london england, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Metropolitan Police Service, Moving to London, moving to London England, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, relocating to london england, Robert Peel
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Saturday, June 11th, 2011
Living In London – Weekend Away - Image via Flickr
You cannot escape the history of this city if you’re going to be living in London. It is all around you. From the earliest examples of the Roman wall built two thousand years ago to the buildings that still remain from before the Great Fire of London. The massive fire that wiped out large areas of London during 1666 was not all bad for London. The fire had the effect of being able to wipe out much of the scourge that that swept across Europe for hundreds of years: The Black Death.
“A ring, a ring of roses, a pocketful of posies, a tissue, a tissue, we all fall down!”
A childhood nursery rhyme with sinister origins, while this has not been attributed directly to the Black Death, it is the most commonly accepted origin of the rhyme. Sung today by millions of children, they do not know the devastation that preceded this little ditty.
The reference to the roses is based on the rashes that appeared on the body of a person with the Bubonic plague, and the sneezing is the flue like symptoms that follow. Falling down? Well, that is death…The Black Death.
The Black Death does not just cover one period of history in the world. There have been instances bubonic plague recorded right back to the 7th century. The largest recorded epidemic was in Europe and started in the 14th century. At different time it was under control, but would always break out again in different cities and countries until the 18th century. It has been called by many different names across different countries and eras. In London it was known as the Great Plague of London and reached it height and end during the year 1666, as a result of the fire that burned most of the city.
The Black Death reached Europe in 1340 on Italian boats that were from the east. It is said to have originated in china and was carried to Europe on the fleas which were in turn carried on the rats that were found on many of the merchant ships sailing from the East.
How do you know if you’ve caught the Black Death?
There is no point in getting alarmed, there are very few modern cases of bubonic plague, but if you do develop any of these symptoms, you should probably get to a hospital sharpish!
The appearance of a rash, possibly caused by flea bites, is the first sign, and very soon after that there are swellings that develop under the armpits, in the groin area and on the neck. These swelling are filled with pus and they spread rapidly across the body. After that there is the appearance of black spots all around the infected areas which also spread across the body. Followed by fever, vomiting and death, the entire cycle takes between 5 and 7 days. Pretty grim if you consider the medical care available at the time. Antibiotics had not yet been developed, and there was little that could be done to stop the plague from spreading through the crowded and unsanitary street of London.
The Destruction of Europe and England
During the 14th century the Black Death was responsible for the deaths of nearly 200 million people. Although the plague does not last long, in England it was to keep breaking out for over 400 hundred years. At its height in 1666 it killed over 35 000 people in a few months. This is a direct result of the living conditions at the time. The streets and houses that were close together, sewage that was not disposed of and a host of social ills that affected the city. The overcrowding of London was a huge factor in the rapidly spreading Great Fire of London, which burned the plague out.
There is very little chance of a recurrence of the bubonic plague in modern times, because of the antibiotics and other drugs that have been developed, there have only been a few hundred reported cases of bubonic plague since the end of WWII.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, Black Death, Bubonic plague, England, Great Fire of London, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Moving to London, moving to London England, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, relocating to london england
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, London, England History, Moving to London: London Sightseeing, Moving to London: Tips & Culture, Moving to London: Weekend Excursions | 1 Comment »
Friday, June 10th, 2011
Living in London – The West End- Image via Wikipedia
If you’re living in London and settled into your new London apartment you will get the urge to venture out and take in a night on the town. If you are looking for a good night out, you could do a great deal worse than the West End. The district is home to more than a few cinemas, theatres and restaurants, and it’s recognized by most as the entertainment capital of the UK. You might also like to know that its Europe’s largest shopping district.
At the risk of contradicting myself, the West End isn’t solely limited to giving you a good night out. The area is home to a selection of art galleries and museums, meaning you’re just as likely to have a good day out as you are an evening out.
What the West End is most popularly known for is the quality of its theatre productions. And with productions like ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ making their home here (the musical has been playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre since 1986 and saw its 10 000th performance there in 2010); the area has acquired a reputation for theatre that’s enough to rival New York’s Broadway. Also check out ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the Royal Opera House and a little show you may have heard of, ‘Les Miserables’.
And if theatre isn’t your thing, the West End also offers ice skating, art galleries and a pretty decent selection of restaurants. Anything from Chinese and Turkish through Vegetarian and Seafood. It’s the West End though, so it’s probably a good idea to come armed with your wallet, and packing plastic.
Don’t forget that the West End doesn’t only cater to those with the classical taste. It’s also home to a few cinemas, the popular Odeon on the West End for instance, so if you’re not into those treading the boards or singing an aria, you still have the choice to enjoy some low-brow humor or deafening explosions on the big screen with big sound.
There is a fair amount of shopping to be done in the area and with West End shopping being one of the pricier aspects of living in London; you really don’t want to show up only to do window shopping.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London Relocation Services, Moving to London, relocating to London, Royal Opera House, things to know about london, West End, West End theatre
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Neighborhoods, London Recreation, Moving to London: London Sightseeing, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Friday, June 10th, 2011
Living in London – Talk like a Proper Londoner- Image via Flickr
Many Americans moving to London are a bit baffled by the change in terms and names for things you’ve grown accustomed to in your homeland. Perfect examples are pavement to sidewalk, chips to fries and petrol to gas. It’s the kind of thing that could more than likely save you some confusion in day to day life here in London city. Asking for jelly on your sandwich may very result in you getting a large blob of wobbliness quivering between two slices of bread. Ask for jam instead.
Also, don’t worry that you’re being slightly un-PC should you ask for a dummy; that’s what they call a pacifier in these parts. Likewise, asking for a banger won’t result in a large man walking up to your table pounding his fist into his palm threateningly. Bangers are to England as sausages are to America. It’s one half of that famous national dish, bangers and mash (that’s Mashed Potatoes)
Heading to the Emirates Stadium or Stamford Bridge to take in a match? Then whatever you do, don’t call it soccer. It might make you grate your teeth if you’re a devoted NFL fan, but in England, twenty two guys gathered on a field to kick a ball around is officially known as Football. Calling it soccer could risk some rude comments from the ‘footie’ fans.
To become a true Londoner, try using the more particularly English terms, the slang if you will. If anything, learn these terms largely because of the pleasure you’ll take when you see the surprise on your English friends’ faces when they hear you throwing around the local slang.
Here then, for your edification:
It’s not a telephone, it’s called the blower.
Underwear? “Alan Whickers”, Cockney rhyming slang for knickers. Often shortened to Alans. As in, “Keep your Alan’s on!”, the English equivalent of “Don’t lose your shorts.”
Another bit of Cockney rhyming slang is Ayrton. As in Ayrton Senna. He was a world famous Formula 1 racing driver. It rhymes with tenna for Ten pounds.
Bollocks, which essentially applies to anything which can be called rubbish, drivel or nonsense. Used effectively and in the proper situation this should go some way to showing off the burgeoning Anglophile that you are. Not to be confused with ‘dogs bollocks’ though which applies to anything cool and inarguably awesome!
There you have it. There’s lots more than that, but living in London and spending enough time with the locals, you’ll be throwing around London talk with the best of them in no time.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, move to London, Moving to London, moving to london from america, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, relocating to london england, things to know about london
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Language Barriers, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Friday, June 10th, 2011
Living in London – Art Underground - Image via Flickr
If you’re moving to London, it may surprise you to find out that the London Underground is not a political movement (thanks to ‘A Fish called Wanda’ for that one). What it is, is a very convenient way of making your way around the city. The London Underground (just call it the Tube or the Underground like everyone else), is the second longest metro system in the world, it has about 402 kilometres of railway track and is used by about 3 million people every day.
The Underground serves the area of Greater London, covering everywhere from Aldgate East to Highstreet Kensington, as well as from Elephant and Castle all the way over to Regents Park and Great Portland Street. It’s a nice thing not to have to be the one making the effort with the transport, what with driving around and fighting through traffic and then having to find parking. Better to buy a ticket, catch the train and take a seat while the train carries you to your destination. You’ll only have to fork over a few pounds versus all the hassle of driving, petrol costs, the congestion and then having to pay for parking as well.
And it’s not as if you’ll be bored waiting for a train to arrive. If you don’t have a book about yourself, or your phone to surf the web, the Underground has projects like ‘Arts on the Underground’ and ‘Poems on the Underground’ to keep you entertained. Featuring the diverse art of high school students, abstract art, sculpture and pencil portraits of Jubilee line staff, you’ll spend more time looking at the scattered art throughout the Underground than you will looking at the watch on your wrist.
It’s a given that security will be a concern, but thankfully, there’s a constant police presence. The Underground works hand in hand with the Police so crime shouldn’t be a worry. That said, keep your wits about yourself and if you use the tube at night, make sure you’re with other people.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, England, living in London, London, london facts, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London Underground, Moving to London, Poems on the Underground, Regent's Park, relocating to London
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Recreation, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
Living in London - Wimbledon- Image via Wikipedia
June is here and if you’re living in London that means one thing: Wimbledon. The comfortable sound of racket meeting ball, crowds ‘ooh’-ing and ‘aah’-ing at every desperately won point, champagne and strawberries with cream, and all the drama that comes with a day’s play at centre court. There’s nothing quite like it.
The qualifying rounds take place from the 13th to the 16th of June, with the Championships starting on the 20th of June and finishing on the 3rd of July with the Men’s Final. If you’re a tennis enthusiast, you’ll no doubt want to take advantage of living in London and having the tournament just on your doorstep (relatively speaking). A few things to consider, though:
First of all, there’s not much point in going if you don’t have a seat. Not to worry. Just head on over to the Official Wimbledon site, and you’ll find whatever help you need to go about getting your hands on tickets. You might want to hurry, though, as this is Wimbledon we’re talking about, quite possibly the most anticipated two months in the Professional Tennis Diary, and calling it popular is a bit of an understatement. If you’d like, you can partake in a fun Wimbledon tradition: camping for tickets. It’s a relatively simple exercise: get a few friends, a flask of hot coffee and your sleeping bag and wait outside the Gate 3 turnstiles along with everyone else. Even if you don’t get your hands on tickets, you’ll still have a fun time and if you’re new to living in London, you’ll more than likely make a few new acquaintances.
Next up; getting there. The Wimbledon site very wisely advises using Public Transport wherever possible, and with the options you’ll find living in London, this shouldn’t pose a challenge. Go to your nearest public train station, take a train to Waterloo and from there you can catch a train to Wimbledon station. Alternatively, you’ll find trams running every ten to fifteen minutes at East Croydon Station to Wimbledon Station during weekdays (Monday to Saturday) and every thirty minutes on Sundays. Couldn’t be easier.
As for the Strawberries and Cream; give them a try as they really are quite delicious and law decrees that if you’re at Wimbledon, you are ordered to partake in them, by order of the Queen!
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london uk, colleen, England, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Moving to London, moving to London England, relocating to London, things to know about london, Wimbledon Championships, Wimbledon Station
Posted in Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Recreation, London Relocation & What People Say About Us | No Comments »
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
Living in London – A Millennium And Counting…- Image via Wikipedia
If you’re an American moving to London, one of the more fascinating aspects of your new home city will be the interesting history of the birth of London. It’s always an interesting thing to find out about the back-story of something, particularly when it’s as colorful as this one is.
Legend has it that London was built on the ground where Brutus of Troy defeated the giants Gog and Magog, the two guardians of the land. Even if it is just a myth, it is one that adds a fascinating bit of color to the city. And while it might just be legend, the two giants have been granted a range of hills just southeast of Cambridge named after them.
London was actually a town called Londinium, established by the Romans around AD 43. Between 190 and 225 AD, the Romans built a defensive wall around the landward side of the city and thus the foundations of London were formed. If it takes your fancy and you’d like to see what remains of the wall, pay a visit to Aldersgate, go from there to Moorgate; on to Wormwood Street and finish at Bishopsgate. This walk will take you along the path of the original structure and you’ll see the remains of the old London Wall. It really does give your imagination a workout when you consider that something that was built almost two thousand years ago can still exist among towering skyscrapers and rushing traffic.
And if you’d like to delve further into the history of your new home town, pay a visit to the Museum of London, which sits conveniently on the route I’ve just described. It has collections taking in the history of London from the Prehistoric era, the Roman era, the Saxons, the times of the Tudors and the Stuarts. The museum also has actual discoveries of items dating back to the times of cavemen, including axes and other tools used as well as the bones of a Mammoth.
You’re living in London; in the very center of all the action now. You may as well learn a little about the city you’re calling home.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, England, living in London, London, london facts, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, london relocation agent, Moving to London, moving to london from america, relocating to London, relocating to london england, Travel and Tourism
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, London, England History, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
