Living in London – Cost of Living - Image by jamesmorton via Flickr

You are now living in London and are still working out how to use pounds instead dollars when ordering a Big Mac and wondering whether it’s cheaper here or in the US. London is not a cheap city in contrast and living there you will realise that your biggest expenditure is your new London apartment.

Food prices vary depending on where you buy for example a week’s groceries will cost you about £40. A MacDonald’s meal is around £4; a restaurant meal could cost you £15+ and a pub lunch £8-15. The same goes for drinks and entertainment where a pint at the pub can cost you around £3.50 and buying at the off-licence at six pack of lager you could spend between £5-£6; supermarket wine goes for about £6. So it’s best to consider your options on where to buy when doing your shopping.

Living in London can be costly depending on the area or location you choose to live in. Rentals on apartments or houses will obviously vary from city to city as well as the size of the property. So again it is important to do some footwork and also check out ads for suitable areas. Clothing is also often reasonable, but again this depends on whether you’re wearing the local brand or Gucci. International fashion brands are very expensive because of import so sticking to locally made clothing and other products is often the way to go.

If you are looking to go for a night out on the town then be aware of how much entertainment in London will cost you. If you just want to relax in front of the big screen, movie tickets are from £5–£15, or if you have a hankering for going to a gig then you should look at parting with £15-£30. Since you will needing transportation to paint the town red then you will be spending £2 for a single bus journey and for a taxi or minicab it can be anything from £5 – £34 depending on the meter reading or agreed fare.

Living in London is a venture worth experiencing and by shopping around for the best deals you can make your stay there worthwhile and worth every penny!

For more information on calculating cost of living in London to ensure your London job salary foots the bills, please also see our post, “Cost of Living in London – Calculating COLA.”

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Living In London – Sorts of Sports 1- Image via Wikipedia

Author: Belinda

Living in London means that you will have the opportunity to attend some of the greatest sporting events in the world that are held at some of the most famous sporting venues. Moving to London can be a sports lover’s dream and you will have the chance to learn about different sports as well as indulge in a bit of history and tradition while you are at it. Just in case you think all of these articles are written by chicks (well they might be indeed) who have poor understanding and less interest in sports, be aware that many women in London have a keen interest in sports and are avid sports fans.

The Beautiful Game: Football

Football in the rest of the world is not football in the United States or Canada. You might have to get used to the fact that soccer is football across the world. England is ‘footy’ mad and nearly everyone has a local team that they support, even if they prefer another sport such as rugby or cricket. Supporting your local team is something of a tradition in England and although London is not home to Liverpool (oddly, the home of the Liverpool Football Club is in Liverpool!) or the famous Manchester United, there are a number of world class London teams that you should know about. Arsenal and Chelsea are two of the oldest football clubs in London. Chelsea has been at Stamford Bridge since they were founded in 1905 while the other teams have moved home a number of times. Supporters move with the team! You could also have a look at the professional teams of Crystal Palace and Fulham if you are looking for a team to support.

The best way to learn about football is to attend one of the weekly matches of the English Premier League and get a Londoner to explain the rules to you. You might find that they are far less complicated that AFL rules and that there is a greater degree of skill needed, but perhaps I could be treading on toes here. The most important part of football fever is to find a team that you like and support them at your local pub. It is what the locals do and you will soon be wearing the right colour each Saturday afternoon and shouting yourself hoarse with the thousands of other fans across the country.

Oh, and one other tip to fitting in with football: Learn the ‘offside rule’ just as quick as you can!

Living In London – The Best Places For Expats To Live In London- Image via Wikipedia

Author: Belinda

If you are considering moving to London, then your first search is going to be to find a place to live. You will want your cosy little London rental to be in an area that is central and close to the major transport hub as having a car in London is neither practical nor necessary. Expats tend to congregate into certain areas depending on where they originate and while it may be comforting to be able to walk down the street and hear a familiar accent, you might decide to cast off into areas that are not traditionally associated with the large expat community in London.

Many American and Canadian expats who are considering moving to London will want to have a certain degree of familiarity, at least at first and if you have children who will be attending and American school then one of the best areas to live in has to be St. John’s Wood. It is also one of the more pricey neighbourhoods of London; certainly, it attracts a fair share of celebrities and the ultra wealthy. St. Johns Wood, though, is one of the friendliest and safe suburbs of London and having the American School in London means that it is a huge draw card for Americans with young families. There are beautiful homes in St. Johns Wood as well as a number of parks and green areas, quaint shops and outdoor eateries lining the tree lined avenues.

Notting Hill on the other hand is the trendy spot for Americans and other expats to live in. It was made famous by the film of the same name that starred Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts and many expats are drawn to the lifestyle as opposed to specifically enjoying the area. It is also an expensive area to live in, but it is so charming, bohemian and quirky that you will fall in love with it immediately. The homes in this neighbourhood are small; do not expect wide lawns and gardens here. If you want to escape the bustle of Notting Hill then the closest park is the exquisite and beautiful Kensington Gardens that are nearby. Notting Hill is home to the famous Portobello Road flea market and it is a lively sopping experience for anyone who is new to London. The neighbourhood is young, trendy and definitely up and coming. It is a fabulous place to get out and meet new people from all over the world who have flocked to this city for the time of their lives.

Meeting new people in London is easy. London is a city of travellers and has a large population of expats from all over the world who will be as interested in learning about as you are in learning about them. That is the key really: Get out there and start having fun in your new city. London is one of the best places on the planet to live in.

Living In London – Renting Property 3- Image via Flickr

Author: Belinda

In previous articles this week, we have discussed moving to London and the basic types of London rental apartments that you can find on the market. There are a number of details that you need to know about renting property in London, and how to go about it so you can be settled into your new home as soon as possible.

If you are renting privately, or through a letting agent, there will be a certain amount of paperwork and documentation that is required before you can sign the contract. Renting from a private landlord may be easier if you have just moved to London, and do not have an English bank account or a credit rating on England yet. If you are going through a letting agent, then you will have to provide traceable references and proof of income.

In London there may be a number of agents that handle a property, and the one who gets the contract in first will get the London apartment. If you find a property that you like and wish to rent it, then you may have to pay a reservation fee. This will ensure that no one else can rent the apartment while the paperwork is being done. The property market can be cut throat and aggressive so you’ll need to move fast on your new home if it is a place that you especially love. The reservation fee will be deducted from the deposit fee, and it is usually the value of about two or three weeks rent. If you do not pass the credit checks or change your mind then the fee will not be refunded.

One of the biggest checks that a letting agent will do is on your references (which must be contactable) that say you are a trustworthy tenant, and that you are able to pay the rent without any financial struggles. You may have to provide up to three years worth of references, and certainly you will have to give your proof of address for the last three years at least. You will also have to provide proof of employment or funds on a regular basis to be able to pay the rent. If you have just moved to London, then you must ask your new employer to provide you with all of the documentation that you need to satisfy a letting agent. You will have to give them your bank account details, as some agents prefer to set up a debit order that will automatically deduct the rental from your account every month.

The problem in London is not providing proof of income or getting the paperwork together; it is finding the perfect London rental. Property varies considerably in price and quality across London and it might be best to get a professional letting agent find your new home, or even better: Use the services of a relocation agent who can have a property available for you as you arrive. Get settled as soon as possible so you can get out and enjoy London.

Living In London – Renting Property 2- Image via Wikipedia

Author: Belinda

Moving to London means you’ll be looking for a London rental apartment as soon as possible. If your employer is going to find you an apartment for a short while, then you’ll have the chance to look around at the different areas and types of properties that will suit you and your family. This series of articles gives an in depth review of the London rental business, and how to go about renting an apartment or house if you are a foreigner who is moving to the city of London.

There are a number of different types of rentals in London. You can choose to rent an apartment that is fully furnished with all the furniture and kitchen appliances that you will need. If you know that you are going to be living in London for a number of years, and may want to buy property, then this may be the perfect option for you. It will give you the chance to really look around and you won’t be burdened by having to go and buy appliances or furnishings until you are really settled and have found the home that you are looking for.

There are also a number of partly furnished apartments available in London. A partly furnished apartment will provide you with the basic furniture such as cupboards, chairs and tables. Beds are not usually provided, and there are no kitchen appliances provided in a partly furnished rental. An unfurnished rental is exactly that. There are not furnishings at all and you will either have to go and buy everything you need or have you furniture shipped from you home country. It should be noted that kitchen appliances in America and Canada are much larger than the ones that you will find in most London homes. It might even be impossible to get your fridge through the door of most London apartments, and it is not an uncommon sight to see removal companies using a crane to hoist furniture through a top floor window!

You will have to weigh up the cost of shipping all of your belongings to England compared with the cost of buying new ones once you get there. Appliances are not particularly expensive in London and you should be able to pick up what you need quite quickly. If you can then you should try and find some furnished accommodation on a short lease, so that you will be able to look around for a permanent home, and have time to get your belongings shipped to England. If you don’t want to have t do all of this yourself then you should consider using a relocation agent who will be able to take care of all of the details for you, before you arrive so you can just pick up the keys, move in and start to have some fun in your new city.

Living in London – Property and Real Estate- Image via Wikipedia

Author: Belinda

If you know you are going to be moving to London, and living in London for a few years, you may want to consider buying a property instead of renting a London apartment, which will not give you any return on investment. The property market in England and London in particular is complicated, so you might want to get to grips with the way things work before buying a London home. It is true though that property is an excellent investment and if you manage to buy in an area in London that is set for future development, then you could end up making a lot of money.

Living in London – Property Pointers

The first aspect of buying a property in London is whether it will need to be financed with a loan. Most people will apply to a bank or financial institution before they start looking at properties, so they have a good idea as to how much they can spend before they start. This is a legal document that will be provided to you by the bank and is known as an ‘in-principle mortgage agreement’. It does give you some sway when making an offer on a home because they seller will be aware that you are able to get financing quickly. There are also extra costs involved in buying a home in London, such as stamp duty tax and conveyancing fees. These can reach thousands of pounds so make sure that you have extra money available to cover all of the taxes and duties that are required by English law.

Living in London – Finding a Property

Once you have established the amount of money that you have available to buy a property, the work of finding available properties begins. You need to establish which area you would like to live in based on the needs of your family. Transportation will probably be an important factor in choosing a property as well as schools, parks and other amenities. Be aware that you will have to pay council tax on your home after you have bought it, and this can differ tremendously from area to area, so check on the amount of tax you’ll have to pay before you buy.

You can buy property through an estate agent or directly from the seller, in both cases you will still have the final agreement drawn up for you by a lawyer that specialise in real estate and conveyancing. A conveyancing attorney will handle the transfer of funds from the mortgage lender, as well as paying all of the stamp duties and taxes that are owed. They make the buying of property much easier, and your attorneys will communicate directly with the seller’s attorneys so that everything is handled smoothly and efficiently.

Buying property is a major investment, but if you are going to be living in London for a number of years, or are looking for an investment opportunity, then buying a property may make the most sense. It will be a home that will appreciate and when you return to your country of origin, you will have a great rental property that will provide you with an income.

Living in London – City Area Guide Part II- Image via Wikipedia

Author: Belinda

If you are contemplating relocating to London for work, then now is the time to start looking at the different suburbs and area in London that you might want to live in. Finding a home in London is not as easy as it seems, and you might be wise to consult with one of the excellent relocation agents who will help you find the perfect apartment or house in a suburb that suits you. Each suburb in London has its own pros and cons, and each one has its own personality. You just need to take a look at what you require in a suburb and you can then start looking for possible rental homes for the duration of your stay. Of course, you will only be able to properly assess each area once you are on the ground. Take a walk through the suburb and see if it lives up to your expectations before renting a home.

North London – Pricey suburbs where some of the rich and famous choose to live. These suburbs have a distinctly village feel to them and they have plenty of open spaces and are great for families. If you have the cash then Hampstead and Highgate are the suburbs to choose.

South London – A lively area that has undergone great change in the past few years. While the great North vs. South debate will always be maintained, there are some charming and dynamic areas that are great if you have a job nearby and if you like enjoying the interesting nightlife that South London has to offer. Clapham and Brixton have undergone massive urban development recently and have become suburbs of choice for many expats living in London.

East London – Traditionally this has not been an area that many expats choose to live in, but recently there have been more people choosing to live in suburbs that are close to the city, such as the beautiful suburb of Greenwich and the urban renewal areas of Canary Wharf. There are some pretty pricey apartments along the river, but they have great views and are considered prime real estate locations.

West London – Traditionally this is considered a transient area of London with plenty of Aussies and South Africans living here. It does have a great nightlife and there are an astonishing amount of pubs in the area. The prices of London apartments in this area are quite reasonable and if you are looking to buy real estate then you might some real gems in suburbs such as Hammersmith or Shepherd’s Bush.

You really need to have a list of items that are important to you before you start looking for a home in London. Like any big city, London is incredibly diverse and you might not find what you are looking for as soon as you land in London. If you know that you are going to be here for a number of years then you should take a bit of time to find your perfect home in London.

Author:  Colleen

Continuing on with our London Relocation version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to make your London move festive, the next line in the original is: “On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight maids a-milking.”

Please join me in now singing our London Christmas carol:

“On the eighth day of Christmas, London gave to me…

HOUSEMAIDS a’cleaning…”

Perhaps not the most festive gift, but a necessary one if  you have to arrange to have your flat cleaned upon moving out of your London apartment (the landlord or lettings agency should arrange this, but just in case…) or if you’re too busy a bee to tend to household deep-cleaning on a regular basis. The options are endless, and I don’t have one in particular to recommend, but thought I’d pass on this link to local reviews as your starting point: http://www.qype.co.uk.

And now, to continue caroling:

“…several swans in Round Pond,
farmer’s market goose eggs,
fiiiiive O-lym-pic riiiiings!
Soaring raptor birds,
sweet French crepes,
a pub named Dove,
and a Partridge’s Kraft Mac-n-Cheese.”

Author:  Colleen

This past fall, I was marveling over how many books I’d read since moving to London that took place at least in part in London itself or England—a “marvel” because I wasn’t choosing them intentionally. London is just that kind of hub. So that had inspired me to compile my UK reading list for Halloween two months ago. I was thinking this week that I ought to now write up a Christmas version, but I don’t know if it’s the nostalgia of Christmas specials on TV or Christmas music playing in the background that I just can’t seem to think past the audiovisual Christmas stories . Hence, I’m running with a Christmas movie list instead.

My challenge here, however, is that chancing on British Christmas films is not as naturally reoccurring as British books. In fact, the more Irving Berlin I hear and Vince-Vaughn-as-Santa’s-brother I see, the more it dawns on me how much Christmas media is dominated by the States. I say that without a drip of arrogance, mind you. It’s merely an observation, and in scouring the internet to pull up more titles to offer here, I found discussion boards by Brits commenting on the same. It’s not that they’re not out there, they’re just apparently not widely enough known for an American expat in London to pick up on after only a couple Christmases here…so I would love for any UK locals that chance on this post to kindly add to list! Belinda, my British blogger friend, any ideas?

A Christmas Carol – Well, pick a version, any version of this infinitely retold tale—most recently by Disney—but remember they all stem from London’s own Charles Dickens. Personally, my favorite version is The Muppet Christmas Carol because I’m a huge dork and will never cease laughing and slapping my knee at the way Gonzo says Dickens’s original line, “And to Tiny Tim, who did not die…” (*hee*…excuse me…*slap!*…there, it passed). Yet it seems the version held most dear at large is the UK’s 1951 Scrooge, starring Alastair Sim in the title role. Ah, I do remember watching that one as a kid…

The Holly and the Ivy – I have not seen this one, but hear it’s underrated. In this 1952 film, an English minister and his family who have toiled through WWII are reunited at Christmas.

A Child’s Christmas in Wales – This is actually a 1987 made-for-TV film version of Dylan Thomas‘s prose poem of same name, a nostalgic reflection on childhood Christmases.

Love Actually – This one needs no introduction…this modern London Christmas tale took the US by storm as much as the UK.

The Holiday – This one offers a 50/50 split, ideal for the expat. American woman and British woman swap respective US and UK homes for the holidays. American woman falls in love with British man, and British woman falls in love with American man. There ya have it. It’s cute.

Nativity! – Haven’t seen this yet. Released last year, it’s a comedy about two British schools competing over which has the best nativity play.

The Bishop’s Wife – Yes, an American film, BUT with a stellar British cast (David Niven, Cary Grant, Gladys Cooper, and Elsa Lancaster), so this classic  favorite of mine has always felt British to me…In any case, an angel answers a bishop’s prayer, teaching the bishop himself a lesson in what matters most in life.

Joyeux Noel – Okay, so it doesn’t take place in London and isn’t even British, but in the international spirit of things, I’m throwing it in. Scottish (see, there’s a little UK in it), French, and German troops peacefully unite on Christmas Eve amidst WWI.

Don’t Open Till Christmas – I should be ashamed including this, yet some evil force compels me…In this 1984 horror film, Scotland Yard seeks a killer who is murdering Santa Clauses all over London. *titter*

And if you think these last three were stretches (what did I tell you?!), wait for it…
Now for a few that aren’t even Christmas films, but incorporate the holiday enough to make for entertaining viewing this season:

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Part of the Witch’s curse over Narnia is that it experience eternal winter but never Christmas (Father Christmas himself also makes an appearance). The Pevensie children who rescue the land originally hail from London, and real-life series author C.S. Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and lived much of his adult life in Oxford, England.

Bridget Jones’s Diary – This is the movie that taught Americans that “sweaters” are called “jumpers” thanks to Colin Firth’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer garb.

Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone – ’tis heart-warming indeed to see Harry get to open real Christmas gifts for the first time at Hogwarts.

Huh. So considering several of the above are based on books, guess this could qualify as a reading list after all . Either way, snuggle up with a hot toddy and a movie/book in your London apartment to bask in the good cheer (unless you’ve chosen to watch Don’t Open Till Christmas…). And if you can’t spot any London locations in those, get off your keester and explore the real deals!

This November-in-review blog post is brought to us all by Sue Hillman of It’s Your London touring company.  Providing custom tours of London tailored to your personal interests, It’s Your London will help you make the most of your time in this phenonemonal city whether you’re visiting, hosting visitors, or looking for something to do outside your new London apartment! (For more information, see our previous blog post on It’s Your London as well visit www.itsyourlondon.co.uk)

Sorry about missing out your October’s blog, I was all backed up with work and Colleen kindly let me off for just one month. From the beginning of October to the end of November in London we’ve been on a weather roller coaster from warm sunny days to the current very unusual early snowfall which has sent everyone into a spin! Having  2 months’ highlights to tell you about means picking just a few but after a long think, I’m including  the Lord Mayor’s Show, Anish Kapoor’s outdoor exhibition, a visit to the Houses of Parliament, and London Chocolate Week – is that enough variety?

The Lord Mayor’s Show has been happening every year since 1189 and they have only missed one year, 1852, due to Wellington’s funeral. The event marks the appointment each year of a new Lord Mayor as they have just a one year term of office. Confusion reigns as the Lord Mayor’s Show is not about the rather well known Boris Johnson who is Mayor of London, this is about the Mayor of the City of London, a smaller but I’m sure very important mayoral appointment. It’s the world’s oldest civic procession and it is a wonderfully mad mix of the Armed Forces, horses and carriages, and lots of dressing up including the dramatic drawing of Civil War muskets in front of the VIP grandstand. I’ve attached a load of photos to give you the idea but one thing hard to see is the soft toy theme!  It was really funny to see serious guys in ancient get up waving hand puppets – see if you can spot the guy with the sheep – and no, I’ve no idea why they did this! The Lord Mayor gave us a big wave with his hat as he passed by in the most extravagant fairytale carriage.

Anish Kapoor’s The World Upside Down is a number of reflective stainless steel pieces around Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park but I’m focussing on my favourite piece which has one side reflecting up and one down called C-Curve.  It sits among the lovely old trees and they blend wonderfully into the piece and the crowd around it were really enjoying interacting with it – looking at themselves and Kensington Palace in the far distance.  His work is full of fun and draws people into it so go if you can.

During the summer visitors can take a tour of the Houses of Parliament and they have just started offering Saturday tours for a trial period and it looked pretty busy so hopefully they will carry on.  You can’t take pictures except of the extraordinary Great Hall, the sole remaining part of the medieval Old Palace of Westminster which burned down in 1834.  It was built in 1097 and was then the largest hall in Europe and it still a remarkable sight. The tour takes you round the key areas of the Houses of Parliament including the House of Commons and House of Lords, the Lords is so much more elaborate it’s rather funny to see although that may be because the Commons was bombed in the Second World War. One great story was that Churchill had to decide whether to save the Great Hall or the Commons and thankfully opted for the much older Great Hall.  Knowledgeable guides will tell you this and other stories of the famous people who have worked here and the impact they have had on our history.

Last but not least is Chocolate Week which had a big show at Vinopolis – normally the home at wine.  The lovely hall was lined with stalls from every major chocatier around and they were all giving us free samples so it was a tough visit! We watched a talk by Paul A Young who is a top end and entertaining chocolate maker who tempted us with his off- the-wall Marmite truffle (if you don’t know Marmite it’s a love or hate spread) which definitely split the crowd. There was even a chocolate train but not for eating..  Everything was really beautiful but we did feel rather full and slightly sick afterwards!

I hope you enjoyed that rush through some fun times in London. Have a wonderful Christmas and I’ll see you in 2011 ready for another busy year.

Sue

www.itsyourlondon.co.uk