Posts Tagged ‘London relocation specialist’
Friday May 20th, 2011
Living In London – Make Time; Take Time Out- Image via Wikipedia
If you’re moving to London in 2011 you’re in for a busy year. London is one of the biggest cities in the world and it is where business, tourism and life meet, often at a frenetic pace. Depending on where you are living in London, you may be facing a hefty commute every day to get to work and back again.
You’ll want to maximize your free time as much as possible when you have moved into your new London rental and saving time, so you have more spare time to explore you new city, should be a priority.
Saving Time & Money While You’re Living In London
- Online Bonus: If you’ve ever heard the expression “A stitch in time, saves nine” well a second online can save you time while you’re living in London. Try to do as much as you can in the way of bill paying and paperwork while you are online. You can organize most of your bills, including rent and utilities, to be paid monthly by debit order through your bank. If you prefer to check your bills before you pay them, then make sure that you are connected to online or internet banking. You don’t have to waste time standing in queues during your lunch hour or on a precious Saturday morning.
- Travel Time Savers: Use the time you spend on the tubes and trains to catch up on phone calls, read a book, do a cross word, or write a letter home to friends telling them how fabulous it is in London. In terms of commuter travel time you could be spending up to two hours a day getting to, and back from work. While day-dreaming is a perfectly acceptable occupation, you know you can find something better to do!
If you are moving to London from a small town in another country, you might find that the pace of London takes some getting used to. It’ll only take a few weeks before you feel the pace and pulse of your new home coursing through you. Welcome to the city!
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, 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, london relocation agent, London Relocation Services, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, moving to London England, moving to london from america, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, Relocation (personal), tips on living in london, Travel and Tourism
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Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Recreation, London Relocation Guest Bloggers, London Transportation, Moving to London: Tips & Culture, Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues, Shopping in London Places
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Thursday May 19th, 2011
Living In London – Back To Basics- Image via Wikipedia
If you’re an American moving to London, you’ll probably have heard how expensive it is to live in the city. It’s going to get complicated and you’ll never leave your new London apartment if you keep comparing prices and using a mental exchange rate each time you do the grocery shopping. You’ll be earning in pounds anyway, so comparing prices with grocery stores in America or Canada won’t be much use, and it’ll drive you barmy in the end.
If you’re about to embark on your adventure though, it might be wise to get a good idea of what the basics cost while you’re living in London.
Grocery Shopping
For a good price comparison, you can check out Sainsbury’s online. Not only will you be able to see the prices of most general goods, you’ll also be able to get them delivered. The cost of a grocery delivery from Sainsbury’s, right to your kitchen table, I might add, is about £3.50; if you spend over a certain amount it might even be free. A pint of milk, costs about 40p in London, which, depending on the daily rate of exchange is about 60 cents. (There are four pints in half a gallon!).
Travel
While you can’t really compare the public transport system in London with anywhere else in the world, you can save a lot of money while you’re living in London. You already know all about the Travelcard and the Oyster Card; get yourself one immediately. The savings you get from using an Oyster Card are immense. For a single bus journey, you’ll spend about £2 anywhere in London; with an Oyster card you’ll only pay £1.10
A Night Out
If you’re down to your local pub for a couple of pints and a meal, then each beer will set you back between £3 – £5 and a pub meal is about £5 – £6. If you’re up for something a bit more extravagant then a nightclub in the city can cost you anywhere between £15 – £30 depending on where you go.
While you may be comparing prices to ‘back home’ for a while, try rather to look for special offers and savings from grocery stores and other activities in pounds. After all, you’re a Londoner now!
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, England, flats to let in london, living in London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, Moving to London from US, Notting Hill, packing to move to London, relocating to London, tips on living in london
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Living in London, London Food & Beverage, London Neighborhoods, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, London Relocation Guest Bloggers, London Transportation, Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues, Shopping in London Places
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Wednesday May 18th, 2011
Living In London – London Here I Come! Three Months To GoLiving In London – London Here I Come! Three Months To Go- Image via Wikipedia
If you’re moving to London for a few years, don’t fool yourself into thinking you can just pack up and go. Planning your move to London is very important if you’re going to settle in quickly and enjoy the fact that you’re now living in one of the most fascinating and fabulous cities in the world. The biggest aspect of moving to London is paperwork. Getting it sorted before you arrive will make the entire process of moving to London much easier.
Count Down Checklist for Your Moving To London
Three months to go:
- You should start looking for places to stay while you’re living in London. You can do this yourself, or by speaking to people who have already have completed moving to London, but you may also consider using the services of a relocation agent to help you find a new London rental. Consider staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast establishment for the first few weeks that you’re living in London. It’ll give you the chance to get acquainted with where you’ll be working and where you want to live. On the ground recognizance, so to speak.
- Tax Tips: This is very important if you’re going to be an American moving to London for over a year. Make sure that you inform your local tax office that you’re moving to another country. Tax laws differ from country to country and you don’t want to be stuck with a hefty unpaid tax bill when you return home in three years. Make sure that your new employer is aware of the laws surrounding the taxation of foreigners who are working and living in London.
- Start researching what you take with you and what you will leave behind. Remember that London apartments are generally much smaller than the rest of the world, and if you’re and American moving to London you may want to consider NOT bringing any of you appliances and large furniture. I almost guarantee they will not fit in your new London rental, if you’re even able to get them up the stairs!
Planning your move to London systematically and ahead of time will ensure that your physical move to London goes off without a hitch.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, England, fun facts about london england, living in London, London, London flats, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, London Underground, Moving and Relocating, Moving to London, moving to London England, moving to london from america, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, rent london apartments, things to know about london, Travel and Tourism
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Living in London, London Neighborhoods, Moving to London: Tips & Culture, Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues
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Tuesday May 17th, 2011
Living In London – Make Like A Tourist!- Image via Wikipedia
You’re in a unique position; living in London. You get the chance to spend time visiting some of the world’s most famous tourist attractions and at the end of the day you get to go back to your cozy London apartment and know that you can do it all again tomorrow without having to catch a plane home again.
If you have just arrived in London then take the opportunity to explore the city and get to know your new home. If you looking for a tour with a touch of class then the Harrods Vintage Bus Tour is the perfect way to see the major sights in London and end you afternoon with a classic English High tea at one of the world’s most famous and elegant department stores: Harrods in Knightsbridge.
The Harrods Vintage Bus Tour is run a number of times per day and offers one of the most fascinating views of London from aboard the vintage bus branded in the distinctive green of the Harrods store. The tours starts at the iconic store in Knightsbridge and makes its way past Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, which is where Price William recently married Catherine Middleton in true English pomp and ceremony.
With a photo opportunity at the London Eye and a view of the Houses or Parliament across the River Thames, you will continue the bus tour past Number 10 Downing Street, which is the home of the prime Minister of England lives; trundle through Trafalgar Square, along Pall mall and through Piccadilly and the famous Ritz Hotel. The tour ends back at the Harrods store where you can have a light luncheon in one of the restaurants in the store or a classic and traditional English High Tea in the afternoon, which will include the ubiquitous Cucumber sandwiches!
In fact, the only thing you can do after taking tea, (one does not ‘have’ tea at Harrods, one ‘takes’ tea!) is to get some exercise by exploring the massive department store. Be aware that Harrods does have a strict dress code and shorts and sandals as well as sloganed t-shirts are not allowed.
Take time to make like a tourist when you are moving to London, once you’re into the hustle and bustle of living in London you might not get another chance.
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, flats to let in london, fun facts about london england, Harrods, learning about london england, living in London, London, London Eye, london facts, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, move to London, Moving to London, moving to London England, moving to london england from canada, moving to london from america, relocating to London, Ritz Hotel, River Thames, things to know about london, tips on living in london, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey
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Living in London, London Apartments: What to Expect in a London Flat, London Neighborhoods, London Neighborhoods, London Recreation, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Moving to London: London Sightseeing, Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues, Shopping in London Places
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Tuesday May 17th, 2011
Living In London – Number 10 vs. The White House- Image via Wikipedia
If you’re living in London, then you’re also living at the heart of British politics and the seat of the government. While many people consider the Houses of Parliament and Buildings at Westminster to be the headquarters of the government in England, there is another address that is just as important and is well worth a sightseeing visit if you are moving to London.
Number 10 Downing Street is the home of the Prime Minister, much like The White House is the home of the President of America. The scale and size though is remarkably different. While you cannot take a tour of the interior of this most fabled and famed seat of power in the history of the world. You can take a fascinating online peak of what happens behind the unremarkable black door that leads straight onto Downing Street.
Not only is it the home to the Prime Minister of the day, it is also the very heart and inner sanctum of the government of the day. While they are in office, the Prime minister and his family live in a private London apartment on the second floor of the residence which led Margaret Thatcher to comment that it was a little like “Living above the shop”. The cabinet meets every Tuesday to discuss affairs of state in the Cabinet Room. Number 10 is able to handle functions of up to 65 people in the State Dining Room, and an invitation to dine at Number 10 is highly sought after.
Due to the heightened security of recent years, it is not possible to walk up to the door, but in a typical display of restraint and tact there are usually only two bobbies, or policemen on duty outside of the door to Number 10. There are more though, you just won’t ever be able to see them.
One would have expected that the leader of one of the world’s greatest nations would have something bigger, grander and more fitting, but one of the first things you’ll learn when you’re living in London is that tradition is one of the binding facets of English life.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, fun facts about london england, living in London, London flats, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, moving to London advice, Moving to London from US, relocating to London, relocating to london england, relocation agents, things to know about london
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Tuesday May 17th, 2011
Living In London – London Transport Zones; Lines; Colors: CONFUSING! -Image via Wikipedia
As one of the thousands of Americans moving to London each year, the biggest part of adjusting to living in London is learning how to use the public transport. Having a private car in London is expensive and unnecessary. As soon as you have settled into your new London apartment you need to start learning how to make your way around the city using the tubes, trains and buses.
Transport Zones
The London transport network is divided into fare zones that spread out from the centre of the city to the outer edges of the suburbs. The central Zone is called Zone 1 and the furthest Zone is called Zone 6. The more zones that you travel in, the more you will have to pay to use the transport network. If you live in Zone 2, work in Zone 1 and only make the occasional trip out to Heathrow or other areas in Zone 6, then you should only get a Zone1 and 2 Travelcard, and purchase a Zone 6 Travelcard when you need it. If you purchase an all inclusive Zone Travelcard, you’ll be paying quite a lot more than you need to.
Lines and Routes
The London transport system is coded by name and by color. The easiest way to remember which line you need to travel on is to remember the color, but note that Londoners refer to the line by its name. For example; the Red Line is called the Central Line. It just makes it easier to understand in a hurry if you can easily identify who line and station you need to get on and off.
Reading the Map
The London Underground Map, in particular, is not to scale, so when you read it, you might find that you save more time with a five minute walk than by taking the tube to the closest station. The tube maps that you see are drawn schematically and do not represent distances in scale. In London it is sometimes quicker to walk!
Peak and Off Peak Times
Peak travel time for all forms of public transport is between 4:30 am and 9.30 am Monday – Friday. If you purchase a 7-day Travelcard loaded onto your Oyster Card you can travel at any time of the day and not pay any more.
Living in London for the first time can be confusing, but armed with your Underground Map and you’re A-Z street map, you’ll be right at home in no time at all.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, Central Line, List of stations in London fare zone 1, List of stations in London fare zone 2, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, london relocation agent, London Relocation Services, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, Moving to London from US, Oyster card, Public transport, relocating to London, relocating to london england, relocation agents, rent london apartments, things to know about london, Travelcard, tube map, understanding british history for a london move
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Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Neighborhoods, London Transportation, Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues
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Monday May 16th, 2011
Living In London – Heading Out Of Town- Image via Wikipedia
Living in London will give you loads of opportunities to explore the rest of England as well as your new city. If you’re looking for some interesting day-trips out of the city as a part of your immersion into English life and culture then you should take a trip to Stonehenge and the nearby city of Salisbury which has a magnificent cathedral that is well worth a visit.
If you want to get out of your London apartment for the day and head out of town, then you can hire a car or use public transport to reach the historic site of Stonehenge. It is only about 90 miles west of the city and you can be there in a couple of hours. The easiest way though is to book a guided tour of Stonehenge which will include your transport from London. It is not any more expensive that hiring a car or using public transport and you get the added advantage of being with a tour guide who really knows about the place.
Stonehenge is the site of myth and legend; no one knows for sure, how it was built, why it was built or even when it was built. If you’re taking a daytrip to Stonehenge while you living in London, you’d better do some research before you go! Stonehenge was not built at once. It is thought to have been constructed over decades by a Neolithic people nearly 5000 years ago. Dating the ‘stones’ though changes with each new report and analysis put forward. Everyone agrees on the fact that it is old!
The arrangement of the stones has a lot to do with the mystery and legend of the place. The summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge attract thousands of people to watch the sunrise over the ‘heel’ stone at the north-east point of the arrangement. Stonehenge plays further into the correlation between the sun and moon by having stone sets that match up with the number of days between the cycles of the full moon.
Stonehenge is not the only example of this type of structure and there are over 1000 ‘henges’ scattered across the British Isles. Seeing Stonehenge though, while you are living in London is an awe inspiring look at engineering and history as well as the myth and legend of the place.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Archaeology, British Isles, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, England, fun facts about london england, learning about london england, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, move to London, Moving to London, moving to London England, moving to london from america, Moving to London from US, Neolithic, relocating to London, relocating to london england, rent london, Social Sciences, Stonehenge
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Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Moving to London: Tips & Culture
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Monday May 16th, 2011
Living In London – The Old Bailey- Image via Flickr
While you’re living in London you only ever want to visit the ‘Old Bailey’ as a visitor to marvel and the history, architecture and the proceedings. If you’re attending the ‘Old Bailey’ on business, you’re probably in the dock for something pretty serious, and you need to get lawyered up as fast as possible! If however, you’re interested in learning more about the city of London and your new home town, then get out of your new London rental for the day and head down to the ‘Old Bailey’
The ‘Old Bailey’ is the name given to the Central Criminal Court in London; its nickname is derived from the street in which the main building was built. It is one of a number of buildings in London making up the highest criminal court in the country. If you’re an American moving to London then the Crown Court which is within the Central Criminal Court can be likened to the very highest criminal courts in America.
While the ‘Old Bailey’ is not a conventional tourist attraction, it is one of the most interesting places to visit when you are living in London. The building is built on the site of the ancient Newgate Gaol and has had a tradition in English law for hundreds of years. British courtrooms are much more formal than courts in other countries and traditional dress, which includes the traditional wig, is worn by all advocates, who appear before a judge who is robed. While it may seem at odds with modern times, and has no bearing on a modern legal system, there is actually a good reason as to why the uniform and traditional dress is still worn. In cases heard by a jury, it is not the antics of the lawyer or the dress of the lawyer that should have any bearing on the case at hand. If all court officers are dressed in the same manner there can be no grandstanding or theatrics.
One of the most fascinating aspects of visiting the ‘Old Bailey’ is the chance to watch a trial from one of the public galleries. Children under the age of fourteen are not permitted into the courts, but there is no charge for a visit to the ‘Old Bailey’ and it is another fascinating glimpse into traditional while you are living in London.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london uk, Criminal justice, Crown Court, Lambeth, learning about london england, living in London, London, London flats, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Magistrates' Court (England and Wales), Moving to London, moving to london from america, Old Bailey, relocating to London, Streatham, things to know about london, tips on living in london, United States
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Tuesday May 10th, 2011
Living In London – Harley Street Healthcare - Image via Wikipedia
If you’re feeling a little under the weather when you’re living in London, then Harley Street is the place to head to; if you’ve got the cash. Harley Street is found just west of London in the borough of Westminster. It is one of the many streets in London where the industry all revolves around a specific subject. The largest concentration of private doctors, medical specialists and surgeons is found in and around Harley Street. Today there are over 3000 healthcare professionals working in and around Harley Street and at the hospitals in the area.
This health care treatment comes at a cost and unless you have a good medical insurance scheme, then many of the consultation fees will seem exorbitant. It is however the home of some of the best specialists in London and England, and you can get an appointment through your local NHS doctor if you need specialist care.
While doctors may have been drawn to the area by the numbers of well to do homes and families living in the area it has become a centre of medical excellence and surgery in the heart of the busy city of London.
Private health care is extremely expensive in the United Kingdom and many people use the NHS provided by the government which is efficient and gives excellent health care. Bupa UK is one of the leading private health insurance companies and many people have a top-up scheme rather than full private health care.
Remember that private health care does not automatically mean that it is better when you’re living in London. For non-emergency care you’ll wait longer for an NHS appointment, but many of the top specialists in London are working in NHS hospitals. For emergency care, you won’t get any better facilities than the NHS hospitals, even if you do go private; there are often limits on the post operative treatment at private hospitals.
Tags: Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london uk, living in London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, moving to London advice, Moving to London from US, packing to move to London, relocating to London, relocation agents, things to know about london
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Monday May 9th, 2011
Living In London – River Rambles - Image via Flickr
If you’re living in London and looking for something a little different to do on a day out, then why not try a barge tour on the Grand Union Canal or the Regent’s canal. Little Venice and Maida Vale are found just west of the city centre and offer a tranquil residential area intersected by canals and waterways that offer great cruising and a perfect day out.
Part of the charm of living in London is being able to find a range of activities right in the heart of the city. The waterways and canals of this area were once busy transport routes to to the rest of England, but today offer a boaters paradise. The banks of the canals are dotted with country pubs and fabulous restaurants and eateries and you can hop on and off the barges that make their way up the meandering rivers.
If you have family and friends visiting you while you are living in London, then a day trip on one of the river barges is a real treat. The barges are beautifully decorated and painted in bright colors reminiscent of a bygone era when the rivers played such an important part in the development of the city.
The best time to visit the Grand Union Canal is in the spring months. In summer this area is quite crowded and you’ll have to book in advance to make sure you get a reservation at a restaurant or on one of the barge tours. In spring though, you can enjoy a perfect day out with plenty of sunshine and without the crowds; the area is undergoing massive development in the Paddington Arm which will be on the scales of the urban renewal projects of the docklands, so if you really want to enjoy and oasis of tranquility, mark this down on your list of things to do while living in London.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Boating, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, Canal, England, Grand Union Canal, living in London, London, london facts, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London Relocation Services, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, Recreation, Regents Canal, relocating to London
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Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Moving to London: London Sightseeing
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Sunday May 8th, 2011
Linger Longer in London – 1066 is just a number… - Image via Wikipedia
You don’t have to be a historian to delight in the fact that you’re going to be living in London and living in one of the most historic cities in the world. Learning about the history of London and England would be as dry as dust if you weren’t living on site! The history of this fascinating city and country cannot be explored from a chronological perspective. You need to get in there and examine different aspects of life, to really understand the history of your new country.
This series takes you on a fascinating tour of the best (and worst) of English history as it relates to the city of London. It’ll take you further than the guide books and reveal a rich tapestry of lives, people, and culture that have made Britain GREAT! It’ll draw you into the living history of the city and you can go to the sites, see the places and learn more about the city than a whistle stop tour of the big tourist attractions.
1066 Is Just A Number
The history of Britain does not start here but it’s an interesting story anyway. We’ll be delving deeper into the rich history of England in Roman times and the entire legend of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table era a little later in the series, but this part of English history has a great car chase scene…you know I’m kidding right? But there was a horse chase scene, I swear.
There was a King called Harold who got shot in his London Eye with an arrow, think of it as the story of William Tell with a big mistake and without apples. The arrow, eye gouging happened while he was defending Britain in the Battle of Hastings in 1066 against the Norman King called William the Conquerer, who not surprisingly won the battle. William was from France, and may have brought apples to London with him, but don’t mention the fact that England has been invaded, conquered, raped and pillaged several times by the French when you’re at a dinner party. You’ve been warned.
After William the Conquerer there were more kings, invaders, the French, battles, wars, even more kings, the church, battles, burnings, beheadings, a few more kings, inventions, lords, ladies, slightly more kings, Henry (who was another king and changed the world forever) a couple more kings, queens who may have been kings as well, the start of the British Empire on which the sun has still not set, and now Prince William who will be the first King of England to marry a commoner, plus the London Eye which has no arrows or apples but is a great day out! Everything comes full circle in history.
Trivial Pursuit Fact For Parties:
You don’t have to know anything about Henry the 8th other than the fact he went through wives faster than the drive through at McDonalds. You don’t have to know the names of his wives, or the fact that he pretty much invented the modern Church as we know it, just so he could take another wife. If you’re able to remember these words concerning the fate of his wives, and trot them out at the right time you’ll be hailed as a something of a history buff regarding Henry! “Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived” It even rhymes.
Next week we’ll be looking at the Great Fire of London; what was left standing, and how this fire changed the cityscape of London forever. I’ll try and include a beheading and a car chase scene for you.
Tags: Americans moving to London, Battle of Hastings, British Empire, England, England History, fun facts about london england, Great Fire of London, 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 England, relocating to London, William the Conqueror
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Friday May 6th, 2011
Living In London – London Neighborhoods – North London- Image via Flickr
If you’re moving to London and don’t want to be right in the city, then some of the suburbs on the edge of London offer great prices on London apartments for rent and a more small town feel; again you will find here many Canadians and numerous Americans moving to London in this area.
North London – Southgate
Southgate is quite a distance from central London and can be considered to be a small town itself. The town centre has everything you need in terms of services and amenities plus you are close enough to the city if you want to have a night out and far enough from the city not to feel as if you’re living in a shoebox. Prices for a London apartment in Southgate range from £700 per week for a small apartment to £1200 for a three bedroom London flat.
Council Information: Southgate falls under the Council Borough of Enfield with annual taxes ranging from £1000 – £3000.
Transport: despite being a way out of central London, Southgate has its own tube station on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground. You can ostensibly be in the city centre in just over half an hour depending on the time of day. There are buses into London and to the surrounding towns.
Shopping: Shopping in Southgate is like having a whole town centre right on your doorstep. There is a large Asda in Southgate, as well as other major grocery retailers like Tesco and Marks and Spencer’s. The nicest part of living in London in Southgate is the small town atmosphere that is somewhat distant from the bustle of London life. Southgate town centre is home to a number of excellent restaurants and bars.
Doctors: The Oakwood Medical Centre is close to Trent Park and there are a number of surgeries in the east Barnet and Whetstone neighborhood. Check with the NHS Direct website when you want to register with a local GP on arrival in Southgate.
Other Amenities: The Borough of Enfield has several fine schools and a number of other amenities and services. You can find cricket, rugby and football facilities in the town and Southgate even boasts its own amateur Symphony Orchestra! There are a number of parks and green areas in Enfield and Southgate and with Groveland’s Park and Trent Park offering perfect picnic spots and outdoor activities, making living in London always fun with many activities to enjoy.
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 specialist, London Underground, Moving to London, moving to london from america, Moving to London from US, NHS Direct, Piccadilly Line, relocating to London, relocating to london england, Trent Park
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Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Neighborhoods, Moving to London: London Sightseeing, Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues, Shopping in London Places
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Thursday May 5th, 2011
Living In London – Can You Speak Cockney?- Image via Wikipedia
Don’t think that just because your living in London that you can speak the lingo. There is a peculiar and fascinating dialect of the English language that has been used for hundreds of years in the East End of London. If you’re a Cockney, then you speak Cockney Rhyming Slang and you live in the East End. These days it’s not just natives who use Cockney rhyming slang, you’ll find that many different cultures have embraced this way of speaking and it is alive and thriving in many areas of East London.
Don’t be surprised when you’re first living in London if you really struggle to understand the English language. You’ll have to get your ear get attuned to the various accents and the way that English people speak. The only way to get into the heart of London and start understanding the way that the English speak English, is to get out of your new London rental and meet as many people as you can.
Cockney rhyming slang was developed as a type of Pidgin English so the people on the streets could talk without other people understanding what they meant. It did much for the solidarity of the east End of London which historically has been at odds with the rest of the city. In essence the way to speak Cockney rhyming slang is to figure out what you want to say and then find rhyming words which have no connection to what you want to say and say them instead! To make it even more confusing the two or more rhyming words are usually truncated and just one is used.
Some common Cockney rhyming slang words that have made it into main stream English:
The original phrase: Barn Owl; What you say: “Barney”; What you mean: Argument
The original phrase: Bottle and Glass; What you say: “Bottle”; What you mean: Arse
Barnet Fair: “Barnet”: Hair
Butcher’s Hook: “Butcher’s”: Look
And it goes on and on!
The most important aspect of living in London as a foreigner, or as an American moving to London is the opportunity to learn as much as possible about your new city and the culture, customs and community.
Tags: Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, East End of London, English people, learning about london england, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Moving to London, moving to london england from canada, moving to london from america, relocating to London
Posted in:
Living in London, London Language Barriers, Moving to London: Tips & Culture
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Wednesday April 27th, 2011
Author: Colleen
After moving to London from the US, I thought living in London would be excitement enough. At the time (in 2008), I didn’t expect that we’d still be living here for the London 2012 Olympics—now we realize that we will—and I certainly wasn’t considering the possibility of perhaps one of the grandest occasions that England can pull out of its historic repertoire of tradition. For today’s A to Z Blogging Challenge entry:
“W” is for WILLIAM’S WESTMINSTER WEDDING!
I’m finally sucking it up and writing about it. Why the seeming reluctance? Only because I know if you live in the United States, you’ve been choking on Royal Wedding coverage for months now already. The excitement has only really first caught on here in England, it seems, in the most recent weeks. I’m finally noticing special Royal Wedding shows on now, watching them, and able to enjoy them because it hasn’t been forced down my throat like a duck being prepped for foie gras.
Don’t get me wrong—it’s a huge deal here, but the Brits are taking it remarkably in stride, in my opinion. And why not? This is steeped in their history. These are people who are able to walk by their authentic Tudor buildings, thatched roofs, and castles without batting an eyelash while we American expats still ogle such sites with awe. The BBC news has actually been reporting on US reporting, in fact, having a good giggle at how over-done the coverage has been across the pond, but I like to think that beneath that obligatory patronization, they’re genuinely flattered that their former colonies that once spurned the British monarchy are now dazzled by it, romanticizing royalty to fairytale proportions because we have no equivalent. Washington DC is about as sexy as Parliament…government is government, so we’re at a draw there, but Royalty…we can’t match that, no matter how much Hollywood celebrities think they do. What one might not fully realize until traveling or relocating to London is that the monarchy here is a tremendous symbol: it’s tradition, culture, pomp and ceremony. It’s a continuity that bridges this nation so closely to its past and renders Kings and Queens something more tangible and now rather than merely relegating them to history books and bedtime stories. If there’s one thing Britain is, it’s proud of its history and tradition, and when you live in London even as an expat, you won’t help but feel the same.
So this all being said, American expats who have or are just moving to London as of this week are caught up in the thrill of being part of this momentous occasion (unless, of course, they’re being smart and taking advantage of the 11-day vacation that can be scored by taking a mere 3 days off work this week thanks to 2 consecutive 4-day bank holidays…). It’s one thing to tour palaces and cathedrals to gawk at their opulence as preserved artifacts and quite another to behold them as working institutions that are hosting something as grand as a modern-day Prince marrying his beloved Princess. I think it goes without saying that the public is very fond of Prince William and Kate because of their modernity and down-to-earth quality that doesn’t seem to seek out the limelight. We shall see what happens…how successfully they’re able to maintain a real if not entirely “normal” marriage and family given their status of life in the fishbowl.
Moving to London and seeing the Royal Wedding coverage from the other side of the lens.
I thought about this today as I took a stroll through St. James’s Park to Westminster, reveling in the luxury of anonymity that Kate, once an average schmo like the rest of us, will never be able to do again. At any rate, I stepped out today to see the media frenzy itself, the other side of the camera lens, and excitedly caught glimpse of Barbara Walters, as well as Nancy O’Dell from Entertainment Tonight. As the photo here shows, the media are camped out right in front of Buckingham Palace talking about God-knows-what to fill the time until THE Wedding Day. Friday. 29 April 2011. What will you be doing?
We’re as yet undecided whether we’ll duke it out with the crowds on-site at Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, just hang at a local venue televising the event, or a combination of the two. I’d originally intended to list out the options for viewing the Royal Wedding in London in this post, but who am I kidding—I’d just be directly copying out of Time Out London anyway, so why not just give you the link to scope out for yourself: Royal Wedding Events (www.timeout.com/london/feature/965/royal-wedding-events-in-london)
However you celebrate William and Kate’s royal wedding, whether here in London or internationally, make sure you celebrate indeed, as it’s an event uniting the world that will both honor tradition and usher in modernity. Speaking as one American expat that’s made the London relocation, it’s fascinating to be here as English tradition reinvents itself time and again.
Tags: Americans moving to London, british monarchy, Buckingham Palace, Kate Middleton, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, Monarchy of the United Kingdom, move to London, Moving to London, moving to London England, prince william and kate middleton, Prince William of Wales, relocating to London, Royal Wedding, Westminster Abbey, william and kate
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London, England History, Moving to London: London Sightseeing
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Wednesday April 27th, 2011
Living In London – Bowl Me Over!- Image via Flickr
No we’re not talking about cricket; we’re talking about bowling with skittles. This is a popular sport in England, and if you’re starting to feel pangs of homesickness for some all-American entertainment then you’ll be in for a blast when you spend and evening at the All Star Lanes which is found at the Whiteleys Shopping Centre in Bayswater, London. When you’re living in London and you want to get out of your new London rental and enjoy sport without getting wet, chilled to the bone, or dirty, then American style bowling can’t be beaten.
The All Star Lanes offer a complete experience and you can do more than just bowling. The entire experience is themed as an old style American bowling alley, and they host themed events and parties throughout the year. There is a diner attached to the alley and it’s as American as can be, with real catsup to boot! You can book a meal or even a private party through the venue and hold a karaoke evening as part of the fun. One of the great special offers is the Eat Drink Bowl evening where you get a two course meal, and fabulous cocktail and a game of bowling for £26 per person.
You’d be surprised at the amount of hidden treasures that London has on offer to guarantee you a good time when you’re here. You don’t have to spend every day traipsing round the historical monuments when you have centers like Whiteleys and the All Star Lanes to give you a unique and entertaining experience while you are living in London. The most important part of living in London is to get out of your new London rental and explore you neighborhood. Each suburb has multi-cultural gems within the leafy lanes and cobbled streets. If you’re living in Bayswater you’ll find a wealth of things to do and places to visit without leaving the suburb or hopping onto a train.
Tags: All Star Lanes, Americans moving to London, Bayswater, Bowling, England, Jason Statham, living in London, London, London Living, london move, london moving, London Relocation, London relocation specialist, move to London, Moving to London, moving to London England, relocating to London, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
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Living in London, London Relocation & What People Say About Us, Moving to London: London Sightseeing, Moving to London: Tips & Culture
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