Relocation to London – Americans Moving To London - Image via Wikipedia

One of the most common questions asked by American planning their relocation to London is, “Will I like living in London?” The answer of course is entirely personal and every person making a move will have their own set of unique experiences about their relocation to London.

Often, people have frustrations and challenges when it comes to the physical act of relocation to London. If you have to spend six weeks looking for an apartment, your relocation to London is probably going to be soured somewhat. For people intent on making their relocation UK a smashing success, it may be wise to consider paying a little more and using one of the professional London relocation services agents to help you with the basics of relocation to London.

Most Americans love living in London and find that their time there is particularly rewarding and fulfilling. If you plan your relocation to London with the expectation that everything is going to be “the same as back home”, you’re going to be disappointed. If you plan your relocation to London with no expectations and a great attitude then you’re going to have the time of your life. It really is as simple as that.

What could help to make the transition smoother is having advice and help from people who understand where you are coming from (literally) and where you want to go. If you do want to use London relocation agents then choose a company that has a tie to your home country as well as a firm foundation in London. There is a large community of Americans and Canadians living in London, and for the most part, the language is similar. If you are homesick and need a dose of American culture there are numerous events and gatherings of expats in London.

Relocation to London may be a once in a lifetime opportunity, as well as a life changing experience. Not only do you get to explore another country on the other side of the world, but you are given the chance to experience many different aspects of daily life, an historic nation, and probably the world’s most culturally diverse city.

Living in London – Politics and Parliament - Image via Wikipedia

Author: Belinda

Politics in England is completely different to politics in the United States, and while you might not be terribly interested in politics, it might be wise to have an understanding about the way that the political system works. As usual, you will find that there are a number of words that you’ll find people using in conversation that mean something completely different, so you if you want to be in the know, then this is the pace to go for everything London. Living in London and settling in to your new London apartment is only a small part of getting to grips with moving to London.

Politics is tied inextricably to the Monarchy, which is one of the biggest differences between England and the rest of the world. The Monarch, who is at present, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth the second, is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of the government. With a constitutional monarchy, the reigning monarch does not wield much political power and is at time a mere figurehead. It has been said recently though that the present Queen has an immense knowledge of world politics, having consulted with so many heads of state and presidents over the past 50 years. She meets with the Prime Minister of the day at least once a week, so you can be sure she has her royal finger on the pulse of what is happening in English politics.

The Executive power rests with the government of the day, and legislative power resides with the government as well as the two houses of parliament. These two houses are known as the House of Commons and the House of Lords. If you are looking for a similar comparison to politics in the United States, the Senate and the House of Representatives is the closest thing. The judiciary is run independently of the government and the highest court is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom enjoys a multi-party political system, although there are really only two political parties that have dominated the political scene over the last century. In the most recent elections though, it was so close that the third political party, the Liberal Democrats held the swing vote, which made for a close race. The biggest parties are known as the Conservative Party (you may hear them referred to as “Tories”) and the Labour party. Again, in a loose comparison with American politics, you could link the Republican’s with the Conservative Party and the Democrats with the Labour Party.

The House of Commons is the main parliament and although the House of Lord’s has an executive veto, they do not have much to do with the daily debates and legislation. A seat in the House of Lord’s is a life seat and is passed on from generation to generation through the male line of people who are nobility. The House of Commons members are also known as Members of Parliament and they are elected by during local elections and serve not only the country but their constituency as well.

Parliament is based in London and the Houses of Parliament are open to the public and are well worth a visit to see where one of the most powerful nations in the world governs.

Hello all!  In this modern era of social marketing, people across the globe have been increasingly shedding paper to connect with one another over internet.  It’s the immediacy and multimedia that the web offers that makes this such an appealing means to market one’s self or business, and it’s obviously something that we at London Relocation Ltd. are partaking in more and more each day.  But this isn’t about us.

It’s time for casting votes for the Social Recruiting Awards (SOCRA), which seeks to recognize the outstanding online presence of recruiters.  Today, we want to give props to the social media efforts of a brilliant business that works in collaboration with us to assist North Americans with moving abroad.  As I’ve written in a previous blog post, Classroom Canada is an organization that assists Canadian and American teachers with finding employment in London schools.  Its owner and operator, Victoria Westcott, is a Canadian teacher who has had firsthand experience living and working in London, and her passion for both the education field and sharing her expat experiences with those making the move themselves has yielded a myriad of online resources, from blogs to e-books, aiming to assist others with their understanding of English culture, be it with regard to work or pleasure.  Her practical guidance offers an empathetic voice that knows both sides to the story, so we cannot applaud nor promote her efforts and superhuman energy more!

I can keep expressing this until I’m blue in the face, but the purpose of this post is to give YOU a say in it, too!  If you know of Victoria either through Classroom Canada or her e-published works or become familiar with these resources via the links provided here and like what you see, you can express your support by participating in the SOCRA Awards.  Here you will find information on Victoria’s Guide to Teaching in London:  A Survival Guide for Canadians and cast your vote.

Bravo, Victoria, for all the time and enthusiasm you devote to helping others–we can’t think of anyone else who deserves recognition more.  London Relocation Ltd. shares a common purpose and finds great solidarity with your mission!