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Expat Pets – Moving to London with a Dog (Part 2)

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Author: Colleen

Continuing on with our series if you’re relocating to London with a pet, here are a few additional tidbits my dog-owning friend had to share with me about pet ownership after a London move. Yesterday, we talked about London’s overall pet-friendliness, so today let’s get more specific about rewarding your pet with a pleasant London experience for making that international relocation with you:

Where are your favorite places for walking your dog?

I LOVE Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park for our dog—there are always other dogs and people out and about and loads of squirrels to chase. AND the Honest Sausage snack bar is, of course, a personal favourite of our furry friend.

Battersea Park is another great place for dogs—ours heads out with his buddies to BP a few days a week. AND on the weekends, Richmond Park is doggie heaven with acres and acres of trails, open space and swimming opportunities for our four legged friends. All off leash—but you do have to be mindful of the deer and the horses in the park, so it’s wise to know that your dog is good with recall. Regent’s Park, Hampstead Heath, and Primrose Hill also all have large leash-free areas.

What if you aren’t home to walk the dog?

For those people who work at an office and don’t want their pet home alone all day, there are a number of dog walkers and doggy day care options in and around the city. A good place to start in finding a walker is through your vet—who may have an approved list of dog walkers in the area—or from other pet owners in your local park.

Speaking of vets, how can expats go about finding a good one for their pet?

A good vet is a MUST, and I highly recommend our vet, Dr. Peter Culpin at Pets Naturally in Notting Hill. Cannot say enough wonderful things about him—gentle, kind, sweet, and incredibly knowledgeable about pets large and small: www.petsnaturally.co.uk. He is one in a million.

I hear, though, there is also one near Marble Arch that is good as well, and another expat friend who recently got a dog just found the local vet in her neighborhood, which is a privately owned chain of three locations in north London: St. John’s Wood, Primrose Hill, and Finchley. They’re called Hamilton Veterinary Clinics: www.hamiltonvets.com. There is another bigger chain called Village Vet (www.villagevet.co.uk). University of Cambridge apparently also has a cutting edge animal hospital for serious pet illnesses.

Like healthcare for humans in the UK, your experience is largely dependent on whether or not you find a good doctor or not. So do the research, ask around, and take referrals seriously. I received referrals from two people who did not know each other for the same vet and took that very seriously. I would also suggest getting insurance, which is offered by many companies; I got mine through Tesco.

Well, this is all very valuable information to know if your London relocation involves a pet, and we’ll follow up tomorrow with more. Meanwhile, if you have questions about the logistics of actually moving a pet overseas, don’t hesitate to ask any of our London Relocation company staff—they’re highly knowledgeable on all aspects of an international relocation, for humans and animals alike!

Expat Pets – Moving to London with a Dog (Part 1) (londonrelocationservices.com)

Tags: Battersea Park, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Hampstead Heath, international relocation, Kensington Gardens, london relocation agents, london relocation companies, London Relocation Services, moving company, Moving to London, office relocation London, Pet relocation, Primrose Hill, relocation company, relocation in london, relocation jobs London, Relocation service, relocation to london, relocation uk, Richmond Park
Posted in Americans Moving to London, Relocating to UK: Visas, Banking, & Other Logisitical Issues | 1 Comment »

Living In London – London In-Depth By Area – North London Part III

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Living In London – London In-Depth By Area – North London Part III- Image via Wikipedia

If you’re moving to London, one of the first things you’ll realize about the city is that your entire life will be governed for the most part by which area you live in. You’ll need to establish what you needs are before you begin living in London to give you a good idea of where you should live. For the next couple of weeks I’m going to delve a little deeper into the amenities and services as well as the average prices in the more popular residential areas and what they can off the international Londoner.

North London – St. John’s Wood

This is one of the more expensive suburbs in London, with rentals ranging from £1000 per week for a studio apartment to £10,000 per week for a luxury four bedroom home on one of the better streets. It’s popular with expats and a few celebs. The proximity to central London is an excellent reason to choose a London rental in this neighborhood.

Transport: Located northwest of central London, the tube station is called St. John’s Wood which is found on the Jubilee Line of the London Underground. A trip into the very centre of London is going to take you about ten minutes so it’s great for commuters if you need to be centrally located. There is a 24 hour bus service into Oxford (number 189) or to Victoria (number 82) during the day.

Council Information: St. John’s Wood falls under the Council Borough of Westminster and you can expect your annual council taxes to range from £500 to about £1400.

Shopping: There is a Tesco metro and Tesco Express in St. John’s Wood, but Marks and Spencer’s or Waitrose are located outside of this suburb. Great news though – you can have your groceries delivered right to your kitchen counter from many of the large grocery stores.

Doctors: You can find NHS doctors at The Abbey Medical Centre and St. John’s Wood Medical Surgery.

Other Amenities: You’re close to Regents Park and Primrose Hill and there is an excellent public library on Circus Road – the St. John’s Wood Library. There are a several excellent restaurants and bars in the suburb and you’ll have problem finding a local watering hole. The international mix of residents has meant that there are a number of very good state schools and public schools in the area.

Tags: american expats in london, Jubilee Line, living in London, London, london apartments, London flats, London Living, london move, london moving, London Relocation, London Underground, Moving to London, moving to london england from canada, Moving to London from US, north london, Primrose Hill, Regent's Park, relocating to London, relocating to london england, Tesco, things to know about london, Transport Salaried Staffs Association, understanding british history for a london move, Waitrose
Posted in Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation Guest Bloggers, London Transportation, Moving to London: Tips & Culture, Shopping in London Places | No Comments »

Living in London – Out and About

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Living in London – Out and About- Image via Wikipedia

Author: Belinda

London is considered to be one of the best and most beautiful capital cities in the world. Given the history and the advanced engineered structure of the city, even Julius Caesar wanted to relocate to London in 55 BC, its small wonder that people from all over the world are attracted to it.

There are various tales from the pages of history about the city of London and it is a centre point of tourist’s attraction as it has almost 2000 years of history. Every time you visit London, you will find something new, rewarding and interesting that will inspire you to visit London sights repeatedly. There are beautiful streets, various museums and historical monuments in London that are to be seen. Young or old, first time visitor or seasoned Londoner: the city has a new treasure for you to discover every day.

London is also a paradise and a world-class destination for food-lovers having multi-storied restaurants, marvelous pubs and bars along with nightclubs that provide wholesome entertainment. The choices are staggering but there really is something to suit all tastes. The Lord Mayor building which is situated next to the Hay Galleria is an architect’s wonder. The building is in the shape of a golf ball and you are able to view the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge from the top.

Hampstead is another mesmerizing place located in North London, with its lush greenery it is a peaceful and relaxed spot to visit in London. Belsize Park and Primrose Hill are far-flung from the hustle and bustle of the city and have become a visitor’s paradise. Many historical monuments as well as breathtaking view sites are found in Hampstead and one should not miss this area when getting out and about.

London is continually changing every day and you will never want for something to do, somewhere to go and some place to see. Living in London is like living in the world’s biggest playground, so get out of your new London rental and discover your world.

Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, Belsize Park, canadians moving to london, fun facts about london england, Hampstead, Julius Caesar, London, london apartments, london facts, London Living, london move, london moving, London relocation specialist, Lord Mayor, move to London, Moving to London, moving to london england from canada, Moving to London from US, north london, Primrose Hill, Tower Bridge, west london
Posted in Living in London, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation Guest Bloggers, Moving to London: London Sightseeing, Moving to London: Tips & Culture, Moving to London: Weekend Excursions, Rent in London: London Apartment Tips | No Comments »

London Bundle: Parks & Recreation Ramble

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

The weather is SO gorgeous outside, my recommended day-touring on a day like this would be to head North. Catch the Northern Line to either Archway or Highgate tube stations and catch the afternoon tour at Highgate Cemetery. You can tour the East cemetery on your own for £3, seeing notable graves such as that of Karl Marx, then partake in the guided tour of the cemetery’s atmospherically overgrown West cemetery, also the resting place of reputable people such as the Rossetti family. Under the shade of the immense trees (a few of which are Redwoods from America’s West coast), you’ll meander through the lush vegetation and look on the chipped and eroded outcroppings of Victorian-style gravestones; perhaps the most unexpected part of this tour is the “Egyptian Avenue,” crypts fashioned after ancient Egyptian burials, which was the vogue thing to do in 19th-century England, evidently.

From Highgate Cemetery, you are in walking distance of the nearly 800 green acres of Hampstead Heath. Tour this immense park at your leisure, hiking the hills, sitting by the duck ponds, or even swimming in the designated human ponds A great pub located just outside the Northwest edge of the heath is the Spaniards Inn, where you don’t yet have to forego the outdoors when you seat yourself in the sunshine of their beergarden. Otherwise, make your way to the high street for any assortment of sidewalk cafes and boutiques. From here, you can hop the tube at either Hampstead or Belsize Park stations.

Depending on how your day is progressing, you can close it out here or perhaps take advantage of the extended summer daylight hours and make your way to the darling village of Primrose Hill (via tube to Chalk Farm or walking) for dinner and to watch the sunset from Primrose Hill itself, which, like Hampstead Heath, offers an outstanding city view.

This is a trek that not many tourists make, but when you actually move to London, make a point to explore these serene, residential Northern villages.

Tags: Hampstead, Hampstead Heath, Highgate, Highgate Cemetery, London Relocation, move to London, Moving to London, north london, Primrose Hill, relocating to London, relocation services
Posted in Miniseries: London Bundles, Moving to London: London Sightseeing, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | 4 Comments »

London Locations: Parks & Gardens

Friday, February 12th, 2010

copyright: Marcia Salviato

Last year, British Airways’s High Life magazine listed 999 things to do in London to give us that perfect excuse to visit England’s capital. The periodical then asked its readers to submit their ideas for the 1,000^th reason to come to London. Below are a few snippets of what people suggested that will offer you FREE and original, off-the-beaten-path ways to appreciate the parks and gardens here:

The winning suggestion: “The smell of roses at Queen Mary’s Rose Garden in Regent’s Park is a wonderful starting point for anyone’s quest.”

“Visit Carlyle’s House in Cheyne Row and feed the tame blackbirds in the garden.”

“Visit Primrose Hill at dawn. As the sun rises over Canary Wharf and illuminates the skyline from St. Paul’s, The Eye, and stretching back to Crystal Palace, this ranks as one of the best views in the whole world. The last 400 years of the history of London in one simple vista.”

“Hire a deckchair in Green Park. Whether you choose to doze in the sunshine or read a book in the dappled shade, it’s the perfect way to escape the hectic pace of London life.”

“The garden in the middle of the Victoria and Albert Museum is an oasis of calm and beauty. Free (well, a donation) entry and a wonderful place to visit.”

“Hide away from the hustle and bustle of the city at Postman’s Park, a stone’s throw from the Barbican.’

If you’re moving to London, you’ll eventually be eager to side-step the tourist trail and discover these hidden nooks on your own. Once the relocation specialists at London Relocation Ltd. assist you with your London home search, you’ll be ready to explore and surely discover your own list of 1,000 things to do here!

Tags: Green Park, london relocation agent, London Relocation Services, Primrose Hill, property finder london, Regent's Park, Victoria and Albert
Posted in London Recreation, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | 2 Comments »

Lunchtime with London Relocation Ltd.

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

This afternoon, I’d just like to give a little shout-out to Mota’s Bakery, located at 8 Ferdinand St. in Primrose Hill, London. Mota’s specialty is organic deli foods such as sandwiches, salads, and cakes, and they have hot meal offerings as well for takeaway or delivery. I have a particularly soft spot for this place thanks to Jeremy, our Sandwich Man who delivers unto us a basket full of sandwich varieties every day, right here in our office. Jeremy is an absolute pleasure–he always remembers to bring my favorites, and his baguette sandwiches are only £2.50, about half the price I’d been paying in the neighbourhood at the posh delis on Westbourne Grove and off Portobello Road. My usuals are ham and emmental, cheddar and tomato, and the much-coveted brie and green grapes (all of which are offered on white or brown bread); yeah, I go pretty simple, but there are amazing spicy chicken sandwiches to be had that my colleagues have enjoyed. I’m realizing I could go on to elaborate and embellish to my heart’s content, but I think the simplicity in Mota’s organics foods and its service ought to speak for itself.