Posts Tagged ‘canadians moving to london’
Wednesday June 8th, 2011
Living in London – Treat Yourself- Image via Wikipedia
Now that you’re living in London and are getting your groceries and takeaways delivered right to your front room, you need to explore the other delicious treats and fancies that you can have delivered with a click of your mouse.
If you’re going to go all out and really splash some cash around then I suggest you do this at least once while you are living in London:
Harrods Online
This has to be the ultimate in food delivery and online shopping. Imagine a whole section just for Foie Gras and Truffles! Fine champagnes, exotic and rare wines and a whole host of hampers that will have you drooling at the deliveryman in his Harrods livery. The poshest hamper is also the most expensive, but if you do feel like treating yourself, and everyone does then ‘The Mayfair’ hamper from Harrods will only set you back £1000.
Over 50 luxury treats sourced from all over the world, and 9 varieties of wine. This is opulence and splendor at its best. We spend a lot of time telling you how to save money while you’re living in London, but just this once we’re going to tell you how to spend, spend, spend! If you’re looking for a taste of London to send back home, then why not try the Harrods ‘Teatime Treat’ hamper which is fully exportable and makes a delicious present for the folks back home. It comes in a Harrods gift box and includes chocolates, shortbreads, jams and English Breakfast Tea. At only £40 excluding delivery it really is a great way to let people know that you’re a real Londoner!
If you’re throwing a party and want to splash out on some gourmet goodies then London Fine Foods is the place to go. They have a range of goodies and meals sourced from Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and other top foodie halls. You can ask them to prepare an intimate evening selection for two or a selection of snack for a cocktail party.
Take some time while you’re living in London to really spoil yourself and make yourself at home.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Business and Economy, canadians moving to london, flats to let in london, Foie Gras, Hamper, Harrod, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Moving to London, moving to London England, relocating to London, Shopping, things to know about london
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Wednesday June 8th, 2011
Living in London – Visa Guides- Image via Wikipedia
If you’re planning on moving to London this year and you don’t have the promise of a job in the city, then you’ll have to organize your own visa which will allow you to live and work in London for a few years. Even if you are being sponsored by your company and transferred to London, you may have to organize a visa for your spouse or partner so that they will have the freedom of the city just like you.
Visa Facts
Most visas will allow you to live and work in England for a period of between 2 – 3 years. Depending on what type of visa you are eligible for, you may be able to apply for an extension at the end of the period. To apply for permanent residency in the United Kingdom, you have to have been living there for 5 years at least.
Sponsored Workers Visa: This is the easiest way to get into England. If you are transferred to a subsidiary of your company then they will handle the visa application for you and there will be no problems with immigration. Be sure to check that they sponsor your partner’s visa and any family members who are coming with you.
Student Visa: If you intend on studying for a degree in the United Kingdom you can apply for a Student Visa that will last the length of your course and give you another four months after your course ends. The United Kingdom works on a ‘points system’ for entry. To qualify for a student visa you need to have at least 40 points on the scoring system. To get the required points you will need a letter of acceptance from the educational institution as well as a letter from the bank stating that you have enough funds to cover the first year of your studies and your living costs.
Other Visas include the Highly Skilled Workers Visa and the Entrepreneurial Visa. These are not easy to get, and you need to have achieve over 75 points to even get a look-in. You’ll also have to have a large sum of money in your bank account for over three months before you make your application.
To make a success of moving to London, you should apply well in advance for your visa and makes sure you have all of the paperwork that they need to process it as fast as possible.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, England, fun facts about london england, Immigration, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Marriage and Fiance Visas, Moving to London, moving to London England, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, things to know about london, Visa (document)
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Tuesday June 7th, 2011
Living in London – Off the Beaten Path - Image via Wikipedia
I think it’s safe to say that after living in London for some time, you’d be quite familiar with the famous tourist attractions that the city has to offer. Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace and Regent’s Park will leave you feeling a bit ho hum after a while, particularly if you’re the kind with your very own London flat.
Worry no more, for there is more to London than these admittedly worthy attractions.
Swing on over to Islington, which is a fun and vibrant mix of bars, restaurants and boutiques, and where you’ll find all and any kind of food and beverage. There’s also Brick Lane, which has reformed itself from the grim and downtrodden character which coloured its past for so long. The area has become renowned for its curry restaurants, a tasty reflection of the area’s influx of immigrants from the east.
Over in Neasden, tucked away amongst the factories and the warehouses, is the world’s second largest Hindu temple. Complete with elaborate designs worked into its walls it seems dream-like given its industrial home. And if the temple’s serene interiors haven’t left you as relaxed as you’d hoped, head on over to Queensway, where you’ll find Porchester Spa, a spa complete with Russian Steam Rooms, a Finnish sauna cabin and Turkish Hot Rooms. And if you don’t mind throwing out a bit more, you can even get a massage to help work out your worries.
For something even more clandestine, plot a course for Chelsea’s 606 Club, a restaurant cum Jazz venue. The door won’t exactly scream for your attention , so do make sure you’ve got the right place (90 Lots Road SW10 0QD). With good food, fine wine and a top notch selection of the finest jazz London has to offer, 606 may be a secret, but with what it has to offer, it won’t stay that way for long.
And if you must know everything there is to know about the city’s history, head on over to the tastefully monikered Farting Alley for a history lesson in how 19th Century London lit its gas lamps.
For anyone living in London, there’s nothing quite like going off the beaten path while all the tourists fight for space on London Bridge and crowd Westminster Abbey.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Buckingham Palace, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, fun facts about london england, living in London, London, london apartment, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Moving to London, Moving to London from US, Piccadilly Circus, relocating to London, things to know about london, Westminster Abbey
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Monday June 6th, 2011
Living in London - Summer in the City- Image via Wikipedia
Heading straight into June and with the glorious days of July, August and September ahead, we find ourselves with Summer in London upon us. As an American moving to London, you may very well find yourself comfortably sitting with the illusion that London (and England as a whole) is a drab and colorless city, with summers as cold as many cities’ winters. If so, you’re in for quite a surprise once London’s summer swings around.
If you’re living in London in the summer, you’ll often see days climbing to 25 °C (77 °F) on the thermometer and sometimes even as high as 30 °C (86 °F). For the neophyte, it’s the kind of weather that means seeing London and its environs in a manner befitting seeing any new city – on your feet and at a leisurely pace. Start off with a visit to the London Eye on a clear day. As well as giving you an eye popping view of the city and its surrounds, taking a ride on this popular tourist attraction will give you a bird’s eye view of the city. It could show you places you have yet to visit and help you sort out your ‘explore London’ itinerary.
As for drab, grey and colourless, banish these images from your mind. Places like Regents Park, Notting Hill and the open space of Trafalgar Square really do help to show off the colour and vitality that London has to offer. And nothing will help to clear the stereotype of a grey and dreary London from your mind quite like the Chelsea Flower Show, the unofficial kick-off to London’s summer.
London is a city that revels in its summer, with the season being a veritable riot of things to do and see. From music concerts to public entertainment to sports events, none are more exciting than the highlight of summer in June, The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship, which will see the world’s top tennis players gather in London to face off for that tournament’s prestigious trophy. As an American moving to London, it’s an event which should go straight into your diary.
A drab and colourless London? Perish the thought.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, Chelsea Flower Show, England, living in London, London, london apartment, London Eye, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, moving to London England, Notting Hill, Regent's Park, relocating to London, things to know about london, Trafalgar Square
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Monday June 6th, 2011
Living in London – London-Cheap, Cheap!- Image via Wikipedia
If there’s one thing that most people are prepared for when they are moving to London, it’s to spend lots of cash. This is chiefly because London is recognized as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Now that you are living in London, it’s no doubt something you’ve come across quite frequently. Moreover, even if you’re no cheapskate, it’s always a bit heartbreaking to see another few pounds go fluttering out of your wallet.
Fear not, for even in a city as terrifyingly expensive as London, there are opportunities to save something here and there, or to get something and not have to hand over paper or plastic.
Looking for a good night’s entertainment? Try The Tuesday Night Experiment, every Tuesday at the Comedy Cafe, and the open mic night, every Wednesday, no charge. Guaranteed laughs and an overall fun night out.
Given that you’re right in the cultural melting pot that is London, you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to music, with umpteen places offering a heady mix of styles to enjoy, all for the low, low price of absolutely nothing. Check out Proud Camden, Upstairs at the Ritzy, Dysart Arms and Favela Chic, to name a few. You’ll find everything from London’s up-and-comers in Jazz, traditional music straight out of Rio’s favelas, laid back Blues, indie-influenced Dubstep all the way through to psychedelic rock. And all free.
Festivals you say. Try the Notting Hill Carnival. With colourful floats and a melange of music and other performances on show, the festival runs from Aug 28-29 (a bank holiday weekend. Hurrah!). Add to that the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival with its open-air arts and performances running from Jun 23 – Jul 3. There’s also the Shoreditch festival, the Marylebone Summer Fair and the Thames Festival.
As for eating out, London has a fair selection of restaurants offering specials that will not dent your wallet. Bahn Mi Bay, Bi Bim Bap, Four Seasons, Golden Union Fish Bar, Koya and Pimlico Fresh have some excellent specials, especially in the summer. Beatroot, Comptoir Libanais, Maoz Vegetarian and Mooli’s will give you a top-notch meal that hovers at the £15 mark.
Living in London means that you could enjoy an entire day out of your new London rental and not worry about phoning your bank manager for permission first!
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Arts and Entertainment, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, England, Greenwich, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Maoz Vegetarian, Moving to London, moving to London England, Moving to London from US, Notting Hill, relocating to London, Shoreditch
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Saturday June 4th, 2011
Living In London – Weekend Away - Image via Wikipedia
The history of the city of London can be categorized and divided up in many different ways. One of the best ways of learning more about the history while you are living in London is to explore it from a geographic perspective. Remember that London is in effect a city of immigrants and much of the history of the city has been influenced by the waves of people who tended to settle together in an area.
There is really only one area of London left today that can be said to be a true reflection of the city. The East End of London has been a part of the growth of the city, it is one of the most colorful and diverse parts of the city, and it’s the only place in the world where you can hear real Cockney’s, speaking Cockney rhyming Slang.
What is a Cockney?
To be a true Cockney you have to have been born within earshot of the chimes of Bow Bells which are found in St Mary-le-Bow Church in Cheapside. Today though, as long as you have a Cockney accent or a parent who was a true Cockney, you can call yourself one of the family!
The Cockney Language
Cockney Rhyming Slang is not in fact a different language, although if you’re moving to London you won’t be able to understand a word of what a Cockney is saying to you. The ‘language’ is made up of phrases and words that rhyme with each other to give a new meaning.
It’s confusing, contrary and downright frustrating at times:
For example, the word ‘feet’ rhymes with ‘plates of meat’ so your feet in Cockney Rhyming Slang is ‘Plates’. Yes, it does not make very much sense, but then again, you’re living in London now so why not accept the fact that part of the magic and majesty of the city is that everything goes and nothing needs to make sense to be fabulous!
East Enders
What is it about this area of London that has had such an impact on the history of the city? Even today there is a fascination with this most Londony of all London areas. While many people choose not to live in the area, it is one of the most community based and friendly parts of the city. Perhaps the fascination has to do with the reputation that has grown up over the years. The east End of London is traditionally known as the ‘dodgy’ side of the city. It was where the ‘common people’ lived for the most part, and was shunned by the upper classes and gentry of central London. It is an interesting enigma and as difficult to understand as Rhyming Slang. The best way to do it though is to use yer ‘loaf’ and yer ‘minces’, and get yer ‘plates’ into the East End!
The East End has been influenced and changed by the waves of immigrants that flood into the area even today, and yet it is singularly its very own world within the city of London. The London Docks were probably the start of the East End proper and the area between London Bridge and the Tower of London became a busy industrial and residential area. The reason for the docks being placed in this area was because the west winds, which are common in London, kept the smells of industry, fishing and factories away from the delicate nostrils of the nobility in West and North London.
The immigrant wave began in 1653 with an influx of Jews from Eastern Europe, struggling to flee the continual persecution and pogroms. The Jewish settlers continued to flood into the area between 1870 and 1914 and have had a huge impact of life in the East End. Things have changed and the Jewish east End is all but gone, having moved out to the north of the city. Today the area is dominated by the Bangladeshi immigrants and the West Indian settlers.
You cannot say you are truly living in London until you have experienced the East End. If you’re nervous about going into the area alone, then ‘do us a cheesy quaver’ and why not take one of the immensely popular guided walks with a proper Cockney tour guide who’ll show you a ‘Hale and Hearty’.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, East End of London, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Moving to London, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, things to know about london
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Thursday June 2nd, 2011
Living In London – Packing Paperwork…- Image via Wikipedia
In order to have a hassle free moving to London experience, you need to start preparing a couple of months in advance. Moving to London will mean that you are packing up a home and a life. You’ll have to be fairly judicious about what you take with you and what you leave behind. Major appliances should not be taken when you are moving to London. Not only may you run into problems with the power compatibility, but more often than not, you’ll find that they just don’t fit into your smaller sized London apartment.
- Packing paperwork. It is vital that you do not pack your important paperwork into your boxes. When you are moving to London you need to travel with your paperwork in case you need it in the first few weeks. There is nothing worse than trying to open a bank account with a document that is in the middle of the Atlantic buried in a box!
- If possible, make certified and notarized copies of all of your important documents before you leave. You never know when you may have to part with a document for official purposes. And if you have a few copies of each document you’ll not have to run around London looking for a notary or magistrate to certify your birth certificate.
- If you don’t absolutely need it, then don’t bring it with you. You need to look at living in London as one of the greatest adventures you’ll ever take. You’ll have the chance to experience life from a different perspective. Old letters and trinkets? Do you really need them? It might be wise to leave smaller items at home and use your time in London to really experience a new life and a new world.
The biggest question is when to send your boxes to London. There is no point in living in a hotel with all of your household contents lying in the lobby! Wait until you are sure that you have found the perfect London rental, before instructing your moving company to ship your belongings.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, England, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London Relocation Services, Moving to London, relocating to London, things to know about london
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Thursday June 2nd, 2011
Living In London – ‘All My Bag’s Are Packed…’ - Image via Flickr
Part of the moving to London process will be your packing and storage before you leave your home town. Packing for an international move is a lot more complicated than a local move. You need to be fairly organized to make sure that when you’re unpacking in your new London rental that you’re able to settle in as fast as possible.
- The Goodie Box: This is a box that contains essential items that you’ll need immediately. A first aid kit, some snacks from home, toiletries and other items that you may need immediately. I always like to include fresh, clean linen in my international goodie box. The first thing that I do when settling into a new home is to make the bed! That way, even if you’re not finished unpacking at the end of a long day, you can slip into bed without having to hunt through your boxes to find clean sheets!
- Pack Wise: Don’t overload your boxes for transport. It might be fine when the moving company is in charge of them, but when you have to heft them up three flights of stairs to your new London apartment, you’ll appreciate the value of packing light. If you do have to pack really heavy items then pack them in smaller boxes to try and distribute the weight.
- Use your linen and towels to wrap breakables: You’re packing two things at once that way. Use large containers such as pots to put smaller items in, it saves space and money when you’re paying by the box. Remember to check if your electrical appliances will work when you are living in London. Getting conversions done is expensive and a waste of time. If it won’t work, leave it behind!
- Label ALL of your boxes according to what room they need to go into. If you have time to list all of the contents, do it on a separate spread sheet and categorize your boxes by number as well.
Don’t try to do everything in one day when you’re trying to get settled in. Take frequent breaks and spend some time in your new neighborhood. You’ll be stuck into the daily grind of work and travel soon enough when you’re living in London.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, England, fun facts about london england, 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 america, Moving to London from US, Packing and Shipping Supplies, relocating to London, things to know about london, Tourism
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Thursday June 2nd, 2011
Living In London – Sunday Afternoon… - Image via Wikipedia
You’ve settled into your new London rental and you’re becoming accustomed to living in London. Good for you! Now it’s time to get out and explore London like a real Londoner: on foot! You’ll probably have noticed that you do a lot more walking than you did back home. And while you might not fancy the idea of spending a Sunday afternoon walking the city streets, it really is the best way to experience the city.
You can choose to go on a guide walk, but finding your own way through the streets of London will leave you with a sense of pride and achievement. There are a number of walks that you can do alone or in a small group. They are not guided but you can purchase a guide book which will give you detailed route maps and interesting information about the area and the history.
If you’re not much given to museums then a self-guided walk is the perfect way to get a little history and culture while you’re learning about living in London.
Time Out has a number of excellent books that cover self-guided walks around London, or you can choose to buy your own books that have very detailed and descriptive guides on specific subjects.
Shakespeare Walk: While many people visit the birth place of William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, it is a great tourist attraction. You can walk the street of London where Shakespeare lived and worked for much of his life. This guide contains several walks that take in some of the big tourist attractions as well as giving you a detailed insight into life in Elizabethan times and the importance of William Shakespeare to the entertainment world today.
Jack the Ripper Walk: Take a step back into Victorian London with this East End walk through the very streets where the infamous jack the Ripper lured his victims to their deaths. Still the most famous unsolved mystery in the city.
There are other walks that take in the River Thames, or delve into Dickens’ London. The variety is endless, so grab yourself a guide and walk off Sunday lunch while you are living in London.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Buckingham Palace, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, East End of London, England, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Moving to London, relocating to London, River Thames
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Monday May 30th, 2011
Living In London – It’s All About You Part I- Image via Flickr
The most important part of your search for that perfect new London rental is going to be your personal circumstances. You may be thrilled by the idea that you are moving to London, but the hunt for a neighborhood, will not just be determined by the fact that ‘everyone’ lives in Notting Hill! You cannot approach living in London by looking at the neighborhood alone. A better way to start looking for your new home is to make a list of YOUR needs. It’ll narrow down the search substantially and you’ll be able to find a London apartment that caters to all of your requirements.
Working It!
This is going to be the biggest factor in choosing an area and London rental home when you are moving to London. Where you work is the first item you need to look at. If you have a job lined up before you are moving to London, you need to look at how long you are prepared to commute each day. An average amount of time spent on a one-way journey to work is about an hour. If you’re prepared to spend more time getting to and from work then you may be able to live further out of London and enjoy some of the countryside. If you can’t stand the idea of spending an hour on the tube each morning, then you may have to live close to your work so it’s only a short bus ride away.
Simply Social
If you already have friends living in London then you may want to live close to your social circle. This is quite important if you are an American moving to London. You’ll want to be able to mix with people from your own country and it might be easier, certainly at the beginning, to rent a London apartment close to your countrymen. Remember that London is a massive city, and even if you do have friends living in London, the sheer scale of the place might make it difficult to get together regularly. If you’re friends form back home are important to you then you should talk to them before you arrive about finding a new London rental close to them.
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, Moving to London, Notting Hill, Portobello Road, relocating to London, Travel and Tourism
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Friday May 27th, 2011
Living In London – Home(sick) in the Big City- Image via Flickr
If you have been living in London for a short while, you may be experiencing bouts of homesickness and loneliness. If you are moving to London with a partner or spouse, you might find that the transition is easy, but if you’re a single in the city, you may find it a challenge to adjust to living in London.
Culture Shock
Many people think they are homesick, but really you’re just adjusting to living in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Be prepared for the culture shock, and use it as a gateway to a unique adventure. Many Americans moving to London think that living in London will be similar to living in the States. It isn’t.
The first thing you’ll have to get used to is the language barrier. Despite popular believe that England and America both use English as a common language, the differences might have you reeling for a few months. The trick to avoiding culture shock and homesickness is to get out of your new London rental and mix with as many people as you can. One of the great aspects of living in London is that you’ll be able to meet people from all over the world. It really is a cultural melting pot; dive in!
Meeting people and asking questions is the best way to get over the fact that you’re alone in the big city. Don’t spend time comparing how you do things back home, you’ll never integrate and make a real go of your life in London if you’re going to continually compare and contrast. It might be hard to meet people and you’re not going to start up conversations with random strangers on the tube. The best advice is to start chatting to your colleagues at work. Joining in is the most important aspect of fitting in and if you’re feeling homesick and lonely then get out of your new London flat and join a community activity. Sports teams, adult classes and community based groups are one of the best ways of meeting new people.
Living in London can be scary sometimes. It’s bustling, big and very busy. Give it some time, you’ll soon discover that moving to London is the best decision that you’ve ever made.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, living in London, London, 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
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Wednesday May 25th, 2011
Living In London – Three Reasons Why You’ll Love Living In London - Image via Wikipedia
Just in case you’re still deciding whether or not to move to London. I thought I’d give you five excellent reasons why London is one of the best places in the world to live. Moving to London will be one of the biggest adventures that you may ever have and whether you stay six months or six years you’re going to love it!
- Cultural Melting Pot: London is a city of travelers and many Londoners are not from London or even England. Living here will expose you to people from different countries, different cultures and a diverse range of interests. Meeting people from all over the world has to be one of the top reasons for spending time in this fantastic city. London is one of the most social cities in the world, so get out just as soon as you have moved in and meet the world!
- Culture Club: Not only is London a cultural melting pot, it is also one of the most important cities in the world if you are looking for a little culture in your life. Most of the museums and art galleries are free in London and the city of London is the art capital of Europe. From community theatre to the blazing lights of Shaftsbury Avenue in the West End, there is always theatre, music, and art that will thrill you, challenge you and give you a good dollop of culture.
- Sensational Shopping: If you have some cash to splash then London is a dream city. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can have some fun shopping. Oxford Street, Bond Street and Knightsbridge are the premier shopping destinations. This is where the well-to-do and the well-heeled come out to play. If you’re looking for something unusual and different, then head to the smaller markets and neighborhoods for your shopping experience.
You won’t be living in London for long before you realize that you’re a part of one of the most vibrant cities in the entire world; now get out there and live in it!
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Bond Street, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, England, English language, Knightsbridge, 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 america, Moving to London from US, Oxford Street, relocating to London, River Thames, Travel and Tourism
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Wednesday May 25th, 2011
Living In London – Summer Sensations - Image via Flickr
If you’re moving to London during the summer, you’ll be in for a treat. There is so much to do and see during the summer in London, and the weather means you’ll be able to get out and really explore the city before settling in for the long winter.
London during the summer can be a bit of a hot box, so if you can, try to avoid the tube on hot days. Rather take a bus or overground rail journey to get to where you need to be. Always carry a bottle of water with you when you travel, and if you feel unwell you can ask for assistance at any time. You may find that your apartment is actually hot and possibly a bit stifling during the summer months. That double glazing on the windows will be great come winter, but if you may want to consider investing in a fan for those hot, sweaty summer nights.
As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible outside. Many pubs and restaurants open up Beer Gardens during the summer. Long lazy afternoons by the river while sipping your cocktail become the way to spend your Saturdays. Look out for al-fresco dining and riverside cafes and bars if you want to spend time enjoying your meal outdoors.
London is a tourist haven during the summer months, and while you can’t really consider yourself a tourist if you’re living in London, you can fit as many tourist attractions into your schedule as possible. Take advantage of the London Pass and other discount schemes available for the major tourist sites. Explore your new home like a tourist, safe in the knowledge that you can go back home at the end of the day, Revel in everything that London has to offer during the summer. Winter is long, cold and harsh and you’ll dream of summer days while you shiver through the winter months.
Tags: Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Buckingham Palace, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, England, Hampton Court Palace, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Pass, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, move to London, Moving to London, moving to London England, moving to london from america, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, relocating to london england, Tourism, Travel and Tourism, Travel Guides
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Wednesday May 25th, 2011
Living In London – Three (More) Reasons Why Living In London is Great! - Image via Wikipedia
London is at the center of everything that it important in England and Europe today. For work or play, London remains one of the premier cities in the world.
- Working in London: If you get the chance to work in London, you’ll be exposed to a different work culture and a slightly different way of doing business. If you’re an American moving to London you’ll be able to gain international experience and be able to do business with people from all over the world. Working in London is like being part of the world’s biggest business network. With so many foreigners living and working in London you’re going to develop friends and business relationships that will last forever.
- Transport: You don’t need to own or drive a car when because the public transport system in London is one of the best in the world. Even when it goes wrong, it is still great! If you want to get out of the city and explore the rest of the country then you can rent a car for the day or for a holiday. Remember that while you may be in London, you are an hour away from the rest of Europe. Fancy a jaunt to Paris for the weekend? Chill out in Amsterdam for a while? Anything is possible when you are living in London.
- Celebration Central: Londoners love to party and the city of London has hundreds of festivals and celebrations throughout the year. Even if you just go for a look, it’s always nice to see London turn out to play and celebrate their heritage and history, as well as a great party.
If you’re moving to London, you’ll be moving to the one of the most spectacular cities in the world. Get ready for the adventure today!
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Amsterdam, Barclays Cycle Hire, canadians moving to london, England, fun facts about london england, living in London, London, london facts, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, moving to London advice, moving to London England, Paris, relocating to London, things to know about london, Travel and Tourism, United States
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Tuesday May 24th, 2011
Living In London – The Name’s Bond, James Bond…- Image via Flickr
When you’re living in London, you’re living in one of the most iconic cities in the world. So many characters from films and television shows have made their way to worldwide prominence and they are all tied inextricably to the great city of London.
If you’re an American moving to London then this is the time to try out some uniquely British style cars. If you fancy giving James Bond a run for his money then why not try an Aston Martin. While we would never advocate owning or using a car in the city center, you can get out for the day and experience the speed and thrill of driving one of the truly unique British cars that has ever been built.
Silverstone is the home of British motor racing and if you have never experienced the thrill of race day, then you can have the opportunity to spend some time on the track in one of the world’s fastest cars. With a top speed of 175 miles per hour and the power to go from 0-60 in under 5 seconds, you’ll not only feel like James Bond in a high speed chase, but you’ll look pretty good too!
Even if you don’t want to be in the driver’s seat, a visit to Silverstone is a great way to enjoy a day out and visit one of the world’s most famous racetracks. For over 60 years, Silverstone has been considered one of the finest circuits in the world. If you can manage to get tickets, then you simply have to attend the world class Formula 1 race weekend held on 8, 9 and 10 July 2011. Formula 1 is the international equivalent of the Indy 500. It’s a high class event and is a part of the great London social summer season. Beautiful women, fast cars and the elite from the world of racing combine into a fantasy weekend of speed, adrenalin and high powered fun.
There is so much to do when you’re living in London, you’ll just have to stay forever, to fit it all in.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Aston Martin, Bernie Ecclestone, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, Formula One, Formula racing, James Bond, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, london relocation agent, Moving to London, moving to London England, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, Silverstone, Silverstone Circuit, things to know about london
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