Posts Tagged ‘london flat’
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
Living In London – Moving Your Family Across The Pond - Image via Wikipedia
If you have been offered the opportunity to spend a couple of years living in London, then you should grasp the opportunity. Many people with young children and growing families are worried about uprooting their children and don’t know how they are going to raise their children in “The Big Smoke”.
Moving to London with your family can be one of the most enriching times that you will share. It is always great for children to get a different perspective on life in other countries. As soon as you are settled into your new London rental they can be enrolled in a local school. Education in England and London in particular is of a high standard and they will benefit by being enrolled in a local school. School entry is determined by where you live in London, so be careful about choosing your suburb if you have school age children.
Many people think that London is a huge city and their children will not have the benefits of a small town atmosphere. Yes, London is a big city, one of the largest in Europe, but the unique aspect of London is that it does have a feeling of being in a village at times. The city of London is divided by massive parks and green areas which provide a huge amount of entertainment and exercise for the whole family. Within most neighborhoods you can find quaint little parks and gardens to explore. Everything is so close, that your kids will be out and about discovering the neighborhood in no time at all.
Most of London is extremely safe and well managed. You will find that there is a great system of social activities for children in schools that encourage cultural diversity and interaction. London is also a city of travelers, so there are literally thousands of people from every country in the world to welcome you to the expat community.
Don’t hesitate to move your family to London if you get the opportunity. Living in London will be an experience that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.
Tags: England, living in London, London, London apartmen, london flat, Moving to London, Relocation (personal), Relocation service
Posted in Living in London | No Comments »
Monday, September 12th, 2011
Relocation to London: Preparing Your Children for Relocation to London- Part 4
We’ve discussed the London Pass, and that’s a great way to get them to see the sights and get integrated into the city and all its history. But it’s also important to take them to open markets and throughout the new London neighborhood where you’ll be living. Take them exploring so that they can become more familiar with where they are living in London. Now that this is home you want them to feel as comfortable in their new surroundings as possible, and that can only happen with repeated exposure to their surroundings.
In our last post in this series we discussed the importance of letting them keep in touch with friends back home through mediums such as Skype and via the internet. In the beginning this will be more prevalent and something you want to encourage and allow (even though the time difference may keep them up a bit later), until they meet their own new group of friends locally. Attending places and meet ups with other people who have relocation to London experience and if they have children gives you a built in way to meet people you and your children will feel comfortable around. It also gives them the opportunity to share with other expatriate kids their own age who have already acclimated after their relocation to London.
The key is to really put emphasis on keeping the lines of communication open between you and your teens throughout the entire relocation to London and afterwards while living in London. The settling in phase is the most important time and the time of the highest anxiety for them, new friends, new school, new home, new country, it can be very overwhelming for kids, so they will need more positive support than ever. Should your teen take the negative approach to all of it don’t be too surprised, this is just fear of the overwhelming unknown for them, your understanding and patience will be vital at this time for them.
You really need to focus on truly listening to your child. You don’t need to have all the answers or deduce solutions for all that they are feeling and facing, but you do need to listen and be supportive during this time. Regardless of their attitude keeping communication lines open between you is vital. The positive emotions of adventure and excitement during your relocation to London can easily be fear and anxiety, let them know this is normal and that you are experiencing these feelings somewhat yourself at times. Again, it’s about opening up and truly communicating with them so they will talk openly as possible, the overwhelming newness and the lack of support or acquaintances outside the family right now leaves them little choices but to lean on you. This can create anger that they feel they have no one, so be understanding and again, take them out places, get them out of the apartment and integrate them into your new London living as soon as possible. Keep letting them know that you know what a terrific person they are and that soon those they meet their own age will discover that as well.
While this may be a bit overwhelming for you as you have just experienced your own feelings and anxieties about your relocation to London keep your focus on empathy and not sympathy. Being supportive during this uneasy time for them is so important, they really need your support regardless of the fact that they won’t come out and ask for it directly. Remember, they are still teenagers and things still come out sideways most often. Don’t be too surprised if they are rebelling and experiencing a lot of mood swings, this is normal and you will want to prepare for it so you can keep your cool. Those are really just cries for help that you need to help them through the adjustment period.
A great outlet for them to do that is online support from other teens experiencing their own relocation. Ask your London relocation agent where there are family meeting places in the neighborhoods surrounding your London apartment. Many Americans moving to London end up living in just a few boroughs with others from the states. But for online support, have your teens check out sites like “Teenxpates.com” and “TCKid.com”, these are sites with great resources for teens by other teens, all who have experienced similar situations as your kids who have finished their relocation to London.
Tags: Americans moving to London, England, living in London, London, london apartment, london flat, London Living, London neighborhood, London Relocation, london relocation agent, london relocation agents, Relocation service, relocation to london
Posted in Relocation to London With Family | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
Royal Naval College.jpg - Image by sfquixote via Flickr
Head south of the river and leave your London apartment and really enjoy living in London this week, it’s the Greenwich Comedy Festival and it’s sure to delight and lighten the end of summer moods of Londoners everywhere. In its third year running the Greenwich Comedy Festival kicked off on the 5th and runs through this Sunday the 11th.
Tonight’s line up is absolutely certain to bring belly laughs (if you can understand what’s being said J ) Micky Flanagan, self-proclaimed Cockney geezer is going “out and out”. The south eastern Cockney comedian recently appeared on the Royal Variety Performance, Live At the Apollo, ad Have I Got News For You. The program boasts:
“Micky draws on his East End background as he ruthlessly deconstructs the Cockney myth with razor-sharp observational wit. Micky now comes to Greenwich fresh off the back of his sell out 60 date tour of some of the largest and most prestigious theatres around the country.”
You can just imagine how hilarious that will be, you can check on tickets for tonight, but likely with his last 60 shows selling out unless you have a seat you may be hard pressed to get one. The festival is offering 2 for 1 ticket to some of the other acts for this weekend’s shows, check here. The 2 for 1 is good only for Stephen Amos and Adam Buxton and the discount code to enter is: csg2011. Many of the shows are sold out, so if you do go, look for your London relocation agents there as a couple of us have tickets to some of the sold out acts. Living in London is a gas this week with all these huge talents in town, the acts are sure to set the place roaring with laughter each night the rest of this week.
You Americans moving to London take note for next year’s festival, but for those whose relocation to London is complete, leave that London apartment and get out and have a laugh!
Tags: Americans moving to London, England, Greenwich Comedy Festival, living in London, London, london apartment, london flat, london relocation agents, relocation to london
Posted in Relocation to London | No Comments »
Thursday, September 1st, 2011
Relocation to London: What Should I NOT Bring From My Country? - Image via Wikipedia
So in keeping with the new series of what you should bring when you are ready for your relocation to London, I thought it might be just as helpful to know what you should NOT bring with you if you are an American moving to London. Namely and this is a big one for a lot of people; all your furnishings. Now very much unlike what it is here in London, Brits don’t have the attachment to their beds that say American’s do. You won’t be finding any large four poster canopy beds taking up all the room in your London apartment. And recall that in London most apartments don’t have closets, so there will be a wardrobe to contend for square footage in your London flat bedroom, that is at least one wardrobe. But there will be something else to compete for floor space, a commode. You’re thinking “what??? A Commode in the bedroom??” While we here are thinking, “yeah and?”. That’s because a “commode” here in England is commonly known in America as a “dresser”. We’ll have to add that to one of Colleen’s lists 
But speaking of Colleen’s post, a couple months ago she mentioned a spot in Chelsea I’m checking out this weekend, Lots Auctions. Now because of the cost being so great with trying to move an entire household of furniture across the ocean most Americans moving to London don’t try to bring it all with them. So spots like Lots Auction houses are around the city and fill a perfect need, (like my need for a new couch). The nicest thing I find about LotsAuction.co.uk is that everything that’s for sale in that week’s auction on Sunday (holidays be damned, they auction every Sunday) is viewable online after 6 on Thursdays. Nearly 400+ items a week, with a constant complete turn over of their inventory each week you never know what you’ll find there. Why do I bring it up now on the relocation blog? Well because if you are an American moving to London and have already been sticker shocked into reality that you have to leave your beloved bed behind, isn’t it helpful to be able to shop online now and see what it will cost you to replace it all?
Now one of the nice things about using a London relocation agent is that you can also tell them that you want to only look at places that are furnished already. Though it is not the best of ideas to limit yourself in any way when looking for a London flat, you do have the option of telling your London relocation agent that you must be a stickler on this one item. Even if your planning on letting a furnished place you will still want to visit the website of Lots Auction house, who doesn’t need just that one thing to add to what they have already? Their auctions are on Sundays, and the showrooms are open in the evenings on Wednesdays, and during the days until the sale. Sunday’s at 1:00 begins the auctions on household furnishings such as beds, sofas, mirrors, both new contemporary designs as well as antiques. But the auction that starts at 4:00 is all the art work, and collectibles and higher priced collections and individual pieces. So used and new it’s a good price range mix. I looked today and saw the average prices on couches were 200-300 GBPs.
The entire point is that the site can be a good guide when planning your relocation to London. And as an American moving to London, unfortunately your bed will more than likely have to stay home 
Tags: american moving to london, England, London, london apartment, london flat, london relocation agent, Relocation service, relocation to london, South Kensington
Posted in Americans Moving to London | No Comments »
Friday, August 26th, 2011
In our first post in this series, “Preparing your kids to move abroad” we started to discuss what and why it is so difficult to move kids in pre-teen and teen years. At that age, kids whole world revolves around what their peers think and respond to. They have interests and activities outside the home, and the teen years provide the most socialization learning opportunities that they have ever had. This may be good for their friends, but certainly most of us, initially at least, have some overcoming to do.
Relocation UK: Preparing Your Teens for Moving to London Part 2
You’ve no doubt not been greeted with enthusiastic applause about the great adventure that relocation UK will bring to them and how excited they are to relocate to London where they know not a soul, but will be ready to adventurously meet new and exciting people? Yeah, I thought not. As we said and it really does bear repeating, this is a PROCESS you have to take your kid’s through as you prepare them for moving to London slowly over time, and in stages. So let’s get down to it.
Really how you begin is one of the most important parts, and it will be difficult because likely you are getting the drama that you’re ruining their lives and relocating your family just to make them miserable. So know they couldn’t feel more out of control and completely scared by the unknown. Remember, you are the one relocating to London for work, jobs in London, extended schooling, whatever the circumstances, the teens and children know it’s not about them it’s about one of their parents. So you have to accept they are completely at your whim and don’t have any ownership in the decision making process. This can feel as though they are being forced and that only adds fuel to the fire.
So the best thing you can do is to share some power with them. Get them INVOLVED making decisions. Now of course they aren’t going to embrace this and based on the level of your teens social life this may be harder than you anticipate. But again, know it’s a process, just keep presenting them with options of choices involved with the relocation to London and let them get involved in the process of deciding how you will be living in London.
Its human nature to accept the decisions and actions that follow that each of us have a hand in making, and it’s no different with children. As much of the decisions that they can have an instrumental part in making only then will they take ownership of that decision and the actions that support it. This is hard to do as a parent. It involves giving up some control and really taking into consideration your children’s input.
There are so many things that have to be done by mom when a family is relocating, let alone moving to London. But the opportunity is so great to share the world’s most covenant city with your children, you will be giving them the perspective very few are privileged to have at their young age. You ARE opening up the world for them and expanding their horizons beyond their own world and country to a one steeped in world history, cultural diversity, and brimming with life. But teens cannot see through our eyes, they won’t see those things, but those are the important decisions you are making for their lives, let them make as much of the smaller decisions for their own daily life once they get here.
The biggest part of children’s lives is their school. It takes up most of their waking hours a week, and most of their weeks every year. There are so many schools in London, from private to public and with all different diversities. All schools are happy to provide as much information as possible to really get a feel for each school academics and campus life. Get as much information as possible from as many schools as possible and leave them for your children to go through on their own. Inform them that you respect their right to have as much input into what they want from their new life after the relocation to London, and that you want them to be mature enough to evaluate the choices of schools and see what appeals to them as they will be spending their days there. Let them know that you are truly depending on their input as to what schools they like and that that will directly influence the neighborhoods your London relocation agent will show you.
London apartments and London flats now have many pictures that you can share with them that can be emailed to you by your London relocation services agent. Show them possibilities of what their new home could be. INVOLVE them completely in as much as at all possible. Do it consistently and without high pressure. Remember they have to feel safe enough and truly believe that you are going to let them help decide their own future life and living in London. Only the decisions they have a hand in making will they take ownership of. Therefor let them start small, leave the school thing in their lap for as much time as possible, and involve them with photos and information about neighborhoods, activities, things that interest them and any choices they can make will empower them to make more of them on their own. Start small and build and you’ll find this process begins to build steam and you’ll begin to notice changes for the positive slowly as you empower them to help decide how they will be living in London.
Tags: Adolescence, England, international relocation, jobs in London, living in London, London, london apartment, london flat, london relocation agent, london relocation services agent, Moving to London, relocate to london, Relocation (personal), Relocation service, relocation uk
Posted in Relocation to London With Family | No Comments »
Sunday, August 21st, 2011
Relocation to London- Seeing About London Apartment Rentals - Image via Wikipedia
One’s relocation to London is not fully complete until they have found the London flat, or London apartment that they are looking for and have signed a lease. If you are signing a lease for a few years dependent upon your new job in London, than you will want the help of the professional London relocation services company. It really is your best bet for the most efficient, expedient and hassle free move.
After all, you need no additional stress added to that of an international relocation. And finding a suitable London apartment when you don’t yet know your way around London or the differences in neighborhoods can be anxiety filled to say the least. This is just one more reason why you need to use the professionals of a London relocation services company, the market in London is just that competitive. If you don’t have a professional who is consistently immersed in the inventory available and the current market prices you could be led astray.
Due to the highly competitive nature of London rental apartments and the quick turnover of the market itself you may have to prepare yourself to make a quick decision on whether to take an available place or not. See many of the properties you may research and look at are individually owned and merely advertise either privately or through an estate agent. Knowing which estate agents that work with international relocations and their London relocation agents is important, and the quicker you’re able to make a commitment to something you have viewed the better.
Having an estate agent on your side who is experienced in the process of relocation to London from your home country could be the difference between a smooth transition and a bumpy road ahead. It might seem a bit more expensive to use London relocation agents but when you are still looking for a suitable flat three months after your arrival, you’d wish that you’d a professional from the start.
So having the assistance of a London relocation services company and a rental agent is going to be very helpful. A London relocation agent that knows the transition you will be making from your home country to relocation UK. You’re relocation agent will let you know that you have to have the first month’s rent ready in order to confirm your interest in a property. If you aren’t completely prepared with this you could easily miss out to the line of others behind you that also think the London rental you have found is perfect for them.
If you’re attempting to make these calculations early on yourself then there is something about London flats you have to realize before you start saving. London flats and London apartments are generally advertised by weekly rates not monthly rates. So you’ll need to take the amount advertised, multiply by 52 and divide by 12 to discover the monthly rent and the amount of the deposits you will be required to have.
Dealing with individual owners, or estate agents may be something you’re not prepared for. Having the chance to deal with professional London relocation agents is going to make that relocation to London a lot easier. Then you will be working with someone who speaks your language and is already familiar themselves with international relocation.
Tags: England, international relocation, job in London, London, london apartment, london flat, london relocation agent, London relocation services company, London rental apartments, Relocation service, relocation to london
Posted in London Relocation Agent | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
Relocation to London – The Big Move (How Your boxes Get to England) - Image by Justin Shearer via Flickr
The biggest advantage of hiring one of the professional London relocation agents is that you know that your precious possessions will get from A to B safely without going via the rest of the alphabet along the way.
Professional movers and London relocation services guarantee that you’ll be unpacking your object’s into your new London flat in a few days after arrival, and that includes signing the lease on your new London flat and opening a bank account.
While it might seem easy just to shove a couple of t-shirts in a backpack and head off for a holiday, when you’re making an international relocation there are a number or steps that will have to take place before you’re settled in London.
· Get professional movers in to pack your items. It may cost a bit more, but you’re assured that nothing will be broken en route to your new home.
· Your boxes will be taken to a storage facility in the US and be placed into crates and then transported to another facility and loaded into a container.
· Your container and crates and boxes (notice how complicated this is getting already?) will be taken to a dockyard to await shipment, by sea to the United Kingdom. Be aware that ships are not like airplanes with departures every hour. There may be quite a wait.
· Once your container, (and crates and boxes) have made their way across the ocean they will have to clear customs in England. If there are any problems, you will be contacted by the Customs officials at this point.
· As soon as your container has been unpacked, your UK movers will advise you of the date of delivery to your new London apartment.
This process can take a few weeks so to be really sure that you get settled as fast as possible, you will want to ship your belongings before you leave the States. The best way to make sure that you’re not living in a bare apartment for weeks waiting for a shipment is to ask your London relocation services to take care of the entire process.
Tags: international relocation, london apartment, london flat, London Relocation Services, relocation in london, relocation to london
Posted in Relocation to London | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
Author: Colleen
If you’re researching here for your London move, let me just say in advance that I’m not going to provide the answers here to whether to go public or private. Rather, I will first kindly direct you to previous posts about NHS such as:
Living in London – Health Care in the UK
Living in London – How to Call 911 in London
Living in London – Heathcare
I will next address the topic from the anecdotal expat perspective as well as the factors to consider as you make this decision for yourself. Inspiring this post is a question posed by one of our recent clients at last week’s London Relocation social event: should they keep their U.S. health insurance and obtain private insurance in the UK? The reason why I can’t answer this question is simply because it’s a matter of an individual’s financial ability to do so and frequency of medical attention. In an ideal scenario, I would say, “Yes, do both!” as it would ensure the utmost coverage both at home and abroad. What bursts that little bubble of idealism, however, is cost. Not everyone could afford to do this, nor would necessarily want to pay for it even if they could. If you have a medical condition that requires recurring doctor visits, I think what it really comes down to is which scenario is going to give you greatest peace of mind.
Expats moving to the UK may have an option through private insurance to elect “global” coverage. This comes at a steeper price, obviously, but would expand your medical peace of mind beyond the boundaries of the United Kingdom. My husband and I have private insurance through his UK employer, but we did not elect global coverage sheerly for the cost. This means, though, that we take our chances each time we visit home, which I do frequently enough to be nervous as to what would happen in an emergency. Sure, the U.S. hospitals/doctors will see me, but the upward potential of those costs without insurance is staggering. My backup is simply that I have doctor friends who could write me a prescription for an antibiotic if, say, my chronic sinusitis acts up and leads to infection. That’s something I’ve had enough experience with to self-diagnose, but I wouldn’t dare mess around with an unfamiliar illness or medication.
To tell the truth, however, even with private health insurance in the UK, neither my husband or I have really taken advantage of it in the last two years. Aside from dental care (which we have to pay out of pocket for in full, then mail a form in to later be reimbursed), we have only gone to NHS walk-in clinics when we’ve been sick. I know, shame on us…The hesitation, as it would be for any different city/town you move to whether domestically or internationally, is finding doctors we like and trust. We just haven’t put the legwork into it. Where NHS goes, though, on becoming a UK resident, you will be covered by NHS and assigned a specific GP (general physician) from the outset; you may select a different doctor if you prefer, as long he/she is located within the boundaries of where you pay your local taxes and that you notify NHS of the change.
Sure, I’ve heard the NHS horror stories among my expat friends…of inadequate examination and treatment, of long waits for appointments, of it being more reactive than proactive…of hospitals requiring you to bring your own towel and soap, of a severed finger put on ice for two days before it could be sewn back on, of going in with squeezing chest pain and being sent home with an aspirin (that last one was me). Yet I’ve also heard their horror stories of private practice…of misdiagnosed eye infections, of misdiagnosed cysts, of being refused a mammogram until the age of 40, and so forth. And I’ve also heard the success stories of friends who have given birth here in London (using private insurance) and one of my colleagues who has had successful surgery through the national healthcare and has used nothing but NHS in his decade living in London.
Bottom line: You’ll hear it all. Do I personally view healthcare standards as higher in the States vs. UK? Yes. Do I prefer to have private health insurance in the UK? Yes. But that’s just me. For every me you’ll find someone who’ll personally see it differently. So, you see, I can’t give you the answers; it’s not for anyone to tell you what to do, but for you to gauge your needs, your peace of mind, and to do your research to learn more about NHS, your employer’s private health insurance options, and others’ anecdotal perspectives of either prior to your London relocation.
Tags: Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, flats to let in london, General practitioner, Health care, Health insurance, London, london apartments, london flat, London Living, london move, London Relocation Services, Medicine, Moving to London, moving to London England, National Health Service, NHS, rent london apartments, United States
Posted in Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues | 1 Comment »
Saturday, March 5th, 2011
Moving to London – Finding Accomodation - Image by wallyg via Flickr
You’ve taken the leap and decided that you’re moving to London. Before you start looking at ads for accommodation, you should contemplate conducting research from people already living there and ask them to recommend affordable places in the area. The internet and advice from others might seem like the ideal solution but you are the best judge in determining which area would suit your needs. It is advisable to wait until you arrive to find accommodation. You can stay in short term accommodation; possibly a serviced apartment while searching for a suitable place.
You can also make use of the services of a relocation agent and arrange to come to London for short visit on a flat-hunting trip prior to moving to London. Since the relocation agent will be familiar with your needs and what London has to offer in terms of accommodation you can search for a place to live with ease. You will be able to see the neighbourhoods and get a sense of the surroundings to see if they are compare with your needs. You must ensure during the flat-hunting process that you take notes about which neighbourhoods, streets and buildings you like and the ones you might want to steer clear of as that can make a distinct difference in finding your new home.
If for example you are relocating from the United States be aware that London housing costs are significantly higher in comparison. You may find a flat costing £600 per week which is the equivalent of US$4000 per month including council tax and utilities. So ensure that you conduct effective research as there areas in London that are cheaper to live in but would still be considered expensive in US terms.
London accommodation caters for people with varied needs and backgrounds and thus offers an extensive assortment of flats which include studios, two bedroom flats to five/six bedrooms for your convenience. Finding accommodation in London can be pretty overwhelming and even though friends and the internet might mean well, your needs would be best served doing the groundwork yourself.
Tags: Apartment, flats to let in london, London, london flat, London flats, London Living, london move, London Relocation, London Relocation Services, London relocation specialist, move to London, Moving to London, Westminster Abbey
Posted in Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Saturday, March 5th, 2011
Moving to London – Removal Process- Image by DuvalGuillaume via Flickr
When it comes to moving large volumes or covering long distances, it is preferable to let professional movers in London take charge of the process. Moving to London can be as simple as making a phone call.
Here are some moving tips to help you prepare for your move:
Prepare your move 3 months in advance to have sufficient time sort through your belongings. Choose which goods you want to bring with you to London and which goods you want to leave behind, with a friend or in a storage unit. It is advisable to choose carefully which possessions you would like to bring with when relocating as you will find many of the same things available in the many London shops.
Choose the right moving company in London. Finding a good moving company is essential to any expatriation project. Independent regulatory bodies will help you find reliable moving companies; quality accreditations ISO 9002 will guarantee high standards of quality and service. Prevent the risk of breakage by making sure that your possessions are covered by insurance.
You can arrange luggage transportation yourself provided you know the size and weight of your luggage. When it comes to carrying excess luggage to London, it is best to employ the services of a professional carrier to have your personal effects directly sent to your new London rental. The professional carrier will manage the entire air or sea shipment of your belongings to London; handle paperwork and customs clearance; pack or supply packaging; and provide fully-comprehensive insurance. You will still need to prepare your luggage shipping to London by choosing the right container which could be in the form of travel trunks, suitcases, boxes, travel bags. You can decide if you want to drop the luggage off at your carrier or whether it should be picked up at home. When you arrive in London you will have the option of either collecting your luggage at the carrier counter or to have it delivered at your new home. This will also assist with lowering transportation and insurance costs.
Some people may decide to utilize the services of a relocation agent who will do everything to make sure that moving to London is hassle free. They can help you find a London apartment in a day, and sort out details like schools and other things before you arrive.
Tags: Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, london flat, London Living, london move, london moving, moving company, Moving Services, Moving to London, moving to London England, Transportation and Logistics
Posted in London Transportation | 1 Comment »
Friday, March 4th, 2011
Living in London – Weather Seasons- Image via Wikipedia
The United Kingdom is infamous for its wet weather conditions and since you will be living in London, you should be informed of what to expect. Londoners are known to regularly carry both sunglasses and an umbrella, but London weather is never so extreme as to detract from all the great things to do in the city. There are four seasons in the United Kingdom. i.e. from March to May is Spring; June to August is Summer; September to November is Autumn and December to February is Winter. So, if you are not used to these kind of weather conditions you should familiarise with the different weather changes to enable you to cope while settling into your new home.
In Spring, the countryside is normally in full bloom as the sunlight increases. London comes alive in the spring. Temperatures creep back up and the capital is bathed in glorious warm sunshine. There are spring showers in March and April and it is wise to bring a waterproof jacket with you. This is probably the most unpredictable time of year and hardest to dress for. The best advice is to select a range of winter and summer items and make sure you have at least one warm jumper with you.
Summer is a time for outings and holidays as the temperatures are hot most of the time. London is glorious in the summer. The capital is full of luscious parks and welcoming open spaces and there is a wealth of outdoor entertainment to enjoy, but be warned (again), the weather is always unpredictable at this time of year! Temperatures can skyrocket in summer but they can also remain temperate and pleasant. Pack for summer but make sure you bring a light jacket and a waterproof just in case it rains!
In Autumn you will see leaves begin to change colour, transforming England’s landscape into a pallet of beautiful colours. Winter time brings with it snow and frost, and the temperature can drop below freezing point but rarely drops much below. London is a magical place in winter as streets sparkle with fairy lights and the city is occasionally blanketed under layers of snow and ice. London is one of the warmest places in the country but it is still advisable to dress warmly with hats, scarves, gloves and boots. Talking about the weather is a national pastime and source of fascination. The climate is hugely unpredictable, oscillating between heavy rain and scorching sunshine within the space of minutes. Be prepared to expect all four seasons in one day and dress accordingly.
Tags: Americans moving to London, England, Flats in london, flats to let in london, London, london apartment, london flat, Moving to London, Moving to London from US, St. James Park
Posted in Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
Living in London- Health Care in the U.K. - Image via Wikipedia
When you are living in London, you will find some of the best hospitals and health care centres in the world. The National Health Service which provides free, quality medical care, is an excellent public health system. As soon as you have found a new London apartment, you need to register with NHS and locate the local NHS GP in your area by scheduling an appointment.
You will need to have your National Insurance number with you. Some doctors want to know you are registered to work in the country and that you will be there for an extended period of time – something an NI number will prove. Others won’t even care. Better to have it and be safe, than be turned away from the doctors when all you want is some antibiotics.
Now, in saying that – if you have not registered with a doctor and you are very ill, you can use one of the NHS walk-in centres. Medicine needs to be paid for, but pregnancy tests, the contraceptive pill, condoms, and other forms of contraception are free.
Many companies offer supplemental health care as a benefit, but some are cutting this out of their benefits plans. You are automatically covered under NHS, but for the first year of residency, you are limited to walk-ins and hospital emergency rooms. Once you live here for a year, you can register with a proper heath care facility and get a primary care physician, but until then, you have very limited choice of doctors and specialty care. This may be particularly important for your children.
Ensure that you catch up on all heath visits, tests, eye exams, dentist visits, etc. before you leave. The rules for tests are different here, so for instance, women get mammograms every 3 years, not every year. NHS does not really have the concept of an annual physical. Basically, you go to the doctor when you have something wrong with you. You are covered for annual physicals however, when you have the extra health insurance coverage. You can, of course, get a physical any time you wish, but you pay extra for it if you are not covered.
No one wants to get ill when they are far from home, but when you are living in London, you are living in a first world city and have access to the healthcare that goes along with that.
Tags: Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, flats to let in london, General practitioner, Health care, London, london apartments, london flat, London Living, london move, London Relocation Services, Medicine, Moving to London, moving to London England, National Health Service, United States
Posted in Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
Image by earthhopper via Flickr
Living in London is relatively safe but like any big city, you should be vigilant especially when you are around unknown areas or even travelling at night as there are unsafe and opportunistic situations that may occur. We may know and be aware of how to act in risky circumstances but sometimes we become negligent in public places. As a newcomer to London you should familiarise yourself with the steps you would need to take should an unpleasant incident take place.
The most common items that are likely to be stolen are bags, wallets and mobile phones as thieves tend to target congested areas. Always trust your intuition; it is there for a reason. There are many things that you can do to lessen the likelihood of your bag, wallet or mobile phone from being stolen. Women are likely targets in this regard and should therefore pay close attention to their surroundings.
Your bag should be in front of you at all times and if you are walking, the strap must be held firmly over your shoulder. If you are using a backpack, ensure that the bag is securely closed and when in an area full of activity should not be worn on your back. Be careful of any behaviour that might divert your attention, as theft could be committed in that instant. You must ensure to never leave your bag on the floor when you are sitting at a restaurant or cafe.
Mobile phones are also an easy target for thieves as they can be taken at any point, be it from your hand, from your bag or a table. Do not use your mobile phone plainly when walking in the street and in areas that are busy as thieves look out for people who are oblivious of their surroundings. Ensure that you are aware of your mobile phone’s important codes that can be used to bar your phone from being used in the event of theft.
By adopting sensible attitudes and conduct while you are living in London, you can avoid most of the dangers you may encounter and minimise your odds of experiencing crime before the unthinkable happens to you. Be on your guard.
Tags: Americans moving to London, living in London, London, london apartment, london apartments, london flat, london rental, Moving to London
Posted in Living in London | No Comments »
Monday, February 28th, 2011
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If you are living in London, then taking a taxi can be the fastest and most convenient way of traveling from a station to your London apartment, or for taking you home safely at night. If you share a cab with other people, it is not always more expensive than other types of public transport.
A licensed taxi, which is regulated by the local government, can be found at a taxi rank or can be hailed while on the road by raising your hand towards the driver. The taxi is not authorized to stop when carrying other passengers or in an unsafe position. They are also not allowed to stop on roads with red lines painted on the edge.
The other option is taking a minicab, which is a form of private hire car. It is a legitimate form of transport and must be licensed by local authorities. It looks from the outside like an ordinary unmarked car. Even though most companies are reliable and safe, one can never be too careful. One can be ordered by telephone, email or by visiting the office, the primary requirement being an advanced booking. A driver cannot make random stops; this will affect your personal risk and the vehicle insurance. Always ensure that you agree on a fee beforehand should a meter not be installed.
If you will be leaving the pub late, taking a long trip, attending a late night function or even traveling in the early hours of morning, it is advisable to book a minicab to ensure safe passage home. Your personal safety is important so do ensure that at all times you exhibit necessary caution. Getting from place to place while you are living in London need not be a challenge but it is firmly established that public transportation is by far the most economical. So when you are on the move around London remember that there are other ways to get you there faster.
Tags: Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london uk, London, london flat, london move, London Relocation Services, Mode of transport, Taxicab
Posted in Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »
Monday, February 21st, 2011
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Author: Belinda
There is a difference between strolling down Oxford Street on a Saturday morning looking for a place to splash your cash if you are a tourist and getting to grips with living in London, which will mean shopping in London, unless you are considering living in takeaways for the entire time that you are there. At some stage, you are going to have to take the plunge, leave your new London rental apartment, and brave the grocery store. It might take some getting used to, but after you have done it a few times you’ll be happily into the swing of things and calling it a supermarket instead of a store before you know it.
The Difference between Grocery stores and Supermarkets
It’s not just the name. You will find that there are a number of differences between grocery shopping in London and grocery shopping in the States and you would be wise to be prepared for some of them. If you are looking for a huge store or a mall then you are going to have to head out of central London and into the suburbs to find them. Most shopping in London is done in smaller stores and even the open-air markets, if you are looking for fresh food. One of the more pleasing differences is that many stores offer a grocery delivery service. They’ll even carry it into your house and put it on your kitchen table if you’re not around. The biggest factor governing the way people shop in London though is transport. People in London only buy as many groceries as they can carry home on the tube or bus. Lugging 10kg’s of rice on the train during rush hour is not fun, so people tend to only shop for a couple of days worth of groceries at any time.
If you are absolutely craving the American style mall experience then the biggest mall in London is Westfield (Tesco and Whole Foods offer huge groceries as well in Kensington), but after you have been living in London for a while you might just come to appreciate the personal service and community feel of your corner shop.
Tags: Kensington, living in London, london apartment, london flat, london rental, london stores, Moving to London, Oxford Street, shopping in london, where to shop in london
Posted in Living in London, London Food & Beverage, Moving to London: Tips & Culture, Shopping in London Places | No Comments »
