The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
Okay, time to bring on home this lengthy series about British English versus American English to aid your international relocation to London. I’ve been emphasizing every day since last week that there is quite a bit of terminology that differs between the two English languages, and while this hasn’t been an exhaustive list by any means, it’s hopefully been a comprehensive enough one to get you started on your way to fluency. Yesterday, I listed words related to transportation, and, similarly, every day has been devoted to a specific category. Today, however, we’re left with a smorgasbord of randomness…basically, a miscellany of odds-n-ends from my glossary that didn’t logically fit in anywhere else. Well, there might be no rhyme or reason to ‘em, but they have a home here:
[American English = British English]
Money
bill (as in currency) = bank note
check (as in at a restaurant) = bill
check (as in form of payment) = cheque
installment plan = hire purchase
Mail mail = post
package = parcel
ship (as in for delivery) = dispatch
Miscellaneous Verbs
call/phone (as a verb) = ring up
call collect = reverse charges
run (as in for public office) = stand
stand in line/line up = queue
Miscellaneous Nouns
dump = tip (as in “My flat is a tip!” )
legal/national holiday = bank holiday
line = queue
shot (as in injection) = jab
vacation = holiday
General Grammar
period (as in punctuation) = full-stop
zee (as in the letter Z) = zed
zero = nought
Once thing is for sure: there’s nothing lost in translation when it comes to our London Relocation agency. We’re upfront and call it as we see it, spelling out the London property market as clearly as possible for your understanding. Our particular London relocation company will find you your ideal London apartment rental in only one day to save you time for figuring out all the other ins-and-outs of London—like what the locals call the things you see and the places you go. If you’re moving to London, you can call us whatever you want, but do call us.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
Moving to London UK from abroad is quite the journey, and I’m not just talking geographic distance. Once you’ve made your international relocation and assimilate to your new environs, you’ll find that you’ll go a long way indeed in terms of your world perspective. A stepping stone toward this is understanding different cultures and languages, so all last week and the beginning of this week I’ve been getting you started on an easy one: British English. I’ve blogged before in my “Speaking the Queen’s English” posts about how this vocabulary differs from American English, and while yesterday I addressed people and places, today we’ll cover the transportation that will get us around to them:
[American English = British English]
Roadways, etc.
curb = kerb
detour = diversion
divided highway = dual carriageway
freeway = motorway
overpass = flyover
parking lot = car park
pass (as in passing a slower vehicle) = overtake
sidewalk = pavement/footpath
stop light/traffic signal = traffic light
Car Parts/Supplies
fender = wing/mudguard
gas = petrol
gas station = filling station
gear shift = gear lever
hood = bonnet
license plate = number plate
muffler = silencer
odometer = mileometer
oil pan = sump
rear-view mirror = wing mirror
top = roof/hood
trunk = boot
windshield = windscreen
Vehicles
motorbike = moped
motorcycle = motorbike
moving van = removal van
sedan = saloon car
station wagon = estate car
trailer/camper/mobile home/RV = caravan
trailer truck = articulated lorry
truck = lorry
Public Transport
one-way ticket = single ticket
round-trip ticket = return ticket
pedway = subway
subway = tube/underground
schedule = timetable
London Relocation’s services include a hired car to transport you around your portfolio of London apartments with ease, and your London Relocation agent will ensure you know what public transport links (e.g., bus, tube line) are located near the flat you ultimately choose. However you choose to get about town, be safe and mind the different direction of traffic!
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
An international relocation from America will teach you much about diverse cultures. Moving to London in particular will expose you to more than you probably realize, as many perceive the UK as being very similar to the US. That’s true, but only to an extent, and among the many differences (which we’re constantly blogging about here) is language. That’s right, British English varies from American English, so we’re back this week to continue reviewing some terminology that could help for your London move. Last Friday we covered sundries, the little miscellaneous things you’ll need at the office or in your London apartment rental. Today, let’s step outside our London apartments and get to know some of the folks out there and places we can go:
[American English = British English]
Professions druggist = chemist
janitor = caretaker/porter
lawyer/attorney = solicitor
mailman = postman
policeman = bobby
president (of a business) = chairman
principal = headmaster/mistress
realtor = estate agent/negotiator
sales clerk = shop assistant
scab (derogatory for strikebreaker) = blackleg
prostitute/tramp = tart
Theatre aisle = gangway balcony = gallery
first balcony = upper circle
mezzanine = dress circle
orchestra seats = stalls
movie theatre = cinema
Other Locations candy store = sweet shop/confectioner
downtown = city centre
doctor’s office = surgery
drugstore/pharmacy = chemist’s shop
gas station = filling station
hardware store = ironmonger
jail = gaol
liquor store = off license
news stand = newsagent
wharf/pier = quay (pronounced ‘key’)
zip code = postal code
London Relocation’s services are devoted to situating you close to where you want to be, be it near work, nightlife, the arts, necessities, etc. As you’re viewing your London apartments for rent with us, please do ask our London Relocation agents to point out any differences in terminology for the people and places you see along the way.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
When making a relocation to London from the US, you’ll see (and hear) that British English can often differ from American English. Differences in spelling, pronunciation, and terminology can pose a challenge to expats moving to London. To supplement earlier posts I’ve written on how to “speak the Queen’s English,” I’ve been blogging all week on British English and will continue after our Weekend Warrior Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday, we scanned our grocery list for standard foods, and today we’ll delve into some other items you might purchase while out at the shops. This is the type of stuff you’ll go to Ryman, Boots, and Homebase (the Office Max, Walgreens/Duane Reade, and Home Depot of London) for:
[American English = British English]
Office
adhesive tape = sticking plaster
eraser = rubber (slang for ‘condom’ would be ‘wellie’ instead)
rubber cement = cow gum
scotch tape = sellotape
scratch pad = scribbling pad/block
planner (for scheduling) = diary
thumb tack = drawing pin
white-out = tipp-ex
The London Relocation agency only searches for London apartments that are close to amenities, so you’ll surely have the necessary shops nearby to fulfill your home and office needs. Moving to London for an international relocation is an adjustment where knowing where to shop is concerned, so be sure to ask our London Relocation agents to point you in the right direction.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
A relocation to London from America entails an education in learning British English. My past posts on “speaking the Queen’s English” (found under the “London Language Barriers” category) include grocery items, and the list below should be more exhaustive. Yesterday we talked about vocabulary relating to children, so whether you have young mouths to feed or just your own, now you’ll know what to look for in the grocery aisles:
Breakfast/Brunch (miscellaneous)
cream of wheat = semolina
crèpe = pancake
pancake/flapjack = American/Scottish pancake (‘flapjacks’ are more like granola bars with oats & syrup)
oatmeal = porridge
Beverage
with or without cream (as for coffee) = black or white
straight = neat
Other Grocery-Related
can = tin
cart = trolley
Our London Relocation agents will find you a London apartment rental with plenty of cabinet space for these groceries, though I can’t promise you’ll find a fridge much bigger than the average ones that come in a London flat (see my earlier post, “What to Expect in a London Flat: Crouching Tenant, Hidden Dishwasher,” for more description of a typical London apartment kitchen). May this whet your appetite for your international relocation.
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
Making an international relocation to London from the US has enough challenges; one that many Americans don’t anticipate, though, is having to learn another language—they take it for granted that the UK is English-speaking. While you’ll get along just fine (really! Don’t worry!), it’s worthwhile to brush up on your British English knowledge so it shows that you’re at least trying. I’ve written posts before about how to “speak the Queen’s English” (category: “London Language Barriers”), and I’m dedicating all this week and part of next to more of these British English terms. Yesterday we focused on clothing, and today we’ll cover some useful terms if you’re moving to London with a family:
Toys/Games jump rope = skipping rope
paddle (as in ping-pong) = bat
roller coaster = big dipper
sled = sledge
slingshot = catapult
soccer = football
tic-tac-toe = noughts and crosses
School
grade = class/form
grade school/elementary school = primary school
middle school + high school = secondary school
preschool – kindergarten = nursery (age 3) – reception (age 4) – Year 1 (age 5)
principal = headmaster/mistress
private school = public school
public school = state school
recess (as at school) = break
semester = term (3 per year versus 2)
9th grade/freshman (age 14) = Year 10
10th grade/sophomore (age 15) = Year 11
11th grade/junior (age 16) = Year 12/Lower Sixth Form
12th grade/senior (age 17) = Year 13/Upper Sixth Form (Years 12 & 13 also called ‘A Levels’)
Our London Relocation agency can help you find an ideal London apartment or house to rent if you’re relocating your family to London, UK. We can also assist you with a school search if your children are of that age; what school they attend can greatly determine what London neighborhood you’ll want to live in. Contact our London Relocation agents if these services can be of use!
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
Moving to London from America requires learning another language: British English. Yesterday’s post kicked off my series on how to speak like a local after an international relocation to London, to supplement my previous posts on “speaking the Queen’s English” (found under our “London Language Barriers” category). Yesterday touched on some property lingo for when you rent London apartments, and today will delve into what you’ll be storing inside that flat:
Accessories
barrette = hairslide
garters/garter belt = suspenders/suspender belt
purse = handbag
rhinestone = diamonté
suspenders = braces
Clothing-Related
clothes pin = clothes peg
collar button = collar stud
collar stay = collar stiffener
cuffs (as in at the bottom of trousers) = turn-ups
custom made = bespoke
snaps = press studs
tag = label
thread = cotton
Our London Relocation agents will help you find sufficient closet space for all those clothes when you enlist their London relocation services for the grand flat-hunt. For some vocabulary that will relate more to the wee ones that are perhaps moving to London and into that apartment rental with you, be sure to check out my post tomorrow!
The US and UK are divided by a common language - Relocation UK - London Relocation Services
When making a relocation to London from the US, you may have already realized through your research that British English is not always the same as American English. There are spelling and pronunciation differences, to be certain (like using “s” instead of “z” or saying “vitt-amin” instead of “vie-tamin”), but there is also an entirely different lexicon that can pose a challenge to expats moving to London. I’ve written previous posts addressing how to “speak the Queen’s English” that can be found under our “London Language Barriers” category and will be devoting this week and part of next to a lengthier series of British English terms. Let’s start with one set of vocabulary that relates to your upcoming London move:
[American English = British English]
Interior Space (Unit) bathroom = toilet (if it doesn’t, indeed, have a bathtub in it)
living room = sitting room/lounge/drawing room/reception area
pantry = larder
Interior Space (Building)
lobby = foyer
first floor = ground floor
second floor = first floor
Furnishings/Fixtures/Utilities
antenna = aerial
baseboard = skirting board
cabinet/closet (with shelving) = cupboard
closet (for hanging clothes) = wardrobe
faucet = tap
garbage/trash can = dustbin/bin
housewares = hardware
hutch = Welsh dresser
outlet/socket = power point
stove = cooker
valence = pelmet
wall to wall carpeting = fitted carpeting
water heater (electric) = immersion heater
water heater (gas) = geyser
weather stripping = draught excluder
Chores doing the dishes = washing up garbage/trash = rubbish
monkey wrench = spanner
vacuum (as noun and verb) = hoover
Property (miscellaneous) apartment = flat
apartment hotel = service flats
duplex = semi-detached
lease/rent = let
realtor = estate agent
sub-division = housing estate
zip code = postal code
You’ll surely hear some of these terms during your international relocation to London as you search for and settle into your London apartment rental. If you need any additional help “translating” the London property market, please do call on our London Relocation agents!
Moving to London & Traveling to York. Image via Wikipedia
Author: Colleen
If you’re relocating to London soon or have already made your London move, you’re just in time for the spring bank holidays that make this season oh-so much fun! London expats and locals alike are particularly brimming with excitement over April. This is because the royal wedding on the 29th is adding another 4-day weekend right after the Easter one, so a lot of folks are taking a mere three days off of work to take a mega holiday of 11 days!
My husband and I are not doing the super-vacation, but we’ve definitely filled our weekend plates this season with getaways. I recently wrote about our trip to Val d’Isère, France, which was the weekend before last. So this past weekend we explored right here in the UK: good ol’ York. Just a couple hours’ train ride away via London’s King’s Cross station (using the East Coast train services), York is a positively easy weekend excursion.
Whereas York gave its name to New York, the name “York” itself derives from “Jorvik,” dubbed by the Vikings that settled there. During my first visit to York nearly thirteen years ago, I had visited the Jorvik Viking Centre, which I recommend as a way to learn more of this history. Other York must-sees are The Shambles (perhaps England’s most famous street of shops and restaurants…it could easily be Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley), York Minster (an awe-inspiring Gothic cathedral housing what I believe is the largest stained glass window in the UK, if not Europe), and Clifford’s Tower (originally built by William the Conqueror and rebuilt by King Henry III—standing atop its hill, it offers a lovely panoramic view of Yorkshire). And any local resident that you ask for sightseeing tips will tell you to take a walk along the fortress wall surrounding the village. At this time of year, the wall’s perimeter is adorned by lush green grass and sunny daffodils; absolutely beautiful.
We’re already hankering to re-visit York to do a bit more of the above, as the purpose of this particular weekend was actually to attend the Festival of Writing hosted at the University of York. Um, just go ahead and strike that campus off your list of must-sees. Let’s just say it’s more contemporary than what the usual traveler wants out of York…and the geese are territorial, sheesh! In any case, I had a positive experience at the festival, learning gobs about the writing craft and the publishing industry, and getting to speak one-to-one with historical fiction author Emma Darwin, who also so happens to be the great-great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin. Ahh, England…I love ya. My six degrees of separation are so much cooler since moving here.
At any rate, we renegades did play hookey in the evenings to go play in central York, eating a marvelous dinner at the Blue Bicycle and digesting it over a pint at the Red Lion pub on Saturday. Sunday delivered us back to the Shambles in daylight, where we roamed the adjacent streets and soaked up the view of York Minster from La Vecchia Scuola restaurant’s rear conservatory (the 300-year-old building has been converted from an old girl’s school).
We love our London apartment and the city itself, but sometimes it’s just nice to step out into the countryside and absorb all the United Kingdom has to offer. York, England is yet another possibility of many for the weekend adventures to follow your London relocation!
Renting a London apartment. Image by canonsnapper via Flickr
Author: Colleen
If you’re moving to London and looking into renting a London apartment, my previous posts have addressed the state of today’s London property market (see “Renting London Apartments: The Current DL on LDN” Part 1 and Part 2). As promised, in this post I’ll address how you can best keep your head above water as you paddle through this super-competitive rental whirlpool of low supply, high demand, and gazumping.
Renting Your London Apartment
This is not a sales pitch; it is a reality. If you’re new to London and unfamiliar with its environment, you as an expat will have the best chance of uncovering a larger supply of properties at your price-point if you enlist the assistance of a London relocation agent. Such service providers will educate you on the local real estate dynamic and exploit their vast lettings agency contacts to exhaust the market in compiling available properties on any given day. And as I’ll explain below, timing is of the essence, so having a relocation guide on your side will help you still be able to make a sound, informed decision in a short amount of time.
Regardless if you enlist a third party to help or strike out on your own, you’re going to want to act fast. You’ll think you’re being schmoozed when an agent encourages you to make a snap decision soon after your initial viewing, and, believe me, I’m the first to want to call these shysters out on giving the hard sell. But even I now understand that, in London, it’s warranted—let’s not kid ourselves that if we hold out to make a second viewing (and then take our sweet time after that to mull it over) that the property of interest will still be there. Remember from my first post: supply is low, demand is high. If you don’t bid on a property, someone else will.
And if you do bid on a property, someone else still will, so be the first to put your money where your mouth is, literally. The best way to avoid getting gazumped is to be ready to pay your holding deposit right away (though there’s no set industry standard, this typically equates to six-weeks’ rent. If you’re a student or otherwise perceived as a financial risk, this deposit may be upped to three-to-six months’ worth). You will also want to offer as close to the asking price as possible and not make many stipulations. Sadly, you don’t have the upper hand in this situation, so you have less negotiating power to be a stickler when it comes to lower rent and what furnishings/improvements to demand…which gives me cause to reiterate my advice on hiring a relocation agent who will endeavor to help you leverage this situation in your best interests to the best of your ability.
Remember that compromise is key, so if you keep holding out for that elusive, “perfect” London flat that ticks every single one of your boxes, I can almost guarantee you’ll lose your chance of getting that near-perfect one that meets as many of your requirements as you can reasonably expect. As I’ll be addressing this Saturday in my “Weekend Warrior Saturday: What You Can Do Today to Prep for Your London Move” post, you should have a clear ranking of priorities in mind to help you more quickly decide what you want most and what you can live without when you’re faced with the inevitable trade-offs across London apartments at your price-point and desired location. No one is immune.
The Silver Lining?
It does appear that incentives are improving for prospective buyers to “buy to let,” which would result in a gradual increase of private London apartments available for rent. If London can see an influx of supply in rental housing, then demand should taper off a bit in relation and hopefully at least minimize the growth in rent prices if we can’t see an absolute decrease in them. It also means more perdy London apartments for you to look at and consider for yourself when you make your London relocation.
Renting in London. Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Author: Colleen
If you’re relocating to London and starting to research how to find a London apartment, my previous post addressed the current state of affairs with London property (see “Renting London Apartments: The Current DL on LDN (Part 1)“). Given the high demand for (and low supply of) London apartments these days, a couple other trends have become prevalent within the London rental market.
“Gazumping”
One unfortunate trend in the London apartment rental market that I didn’t address last time is the “gazumping” phenomenon. If you’re not familiar with the term, its concept is a really, really lousy thing that London landlords do to take advantage of the supply-demand situation I outlined in my other post. Let’s say you’ve searched and searched and have finally found your ideal London apartment; the landlord has verbally accepted the offer that the London lettings agent has put forth on your behalf. Already, those long-held dreams of moving to London are reaching fruition, and you’re fantasizing about what your London life will be like with this lovely property as your base…this glorious flat that has everything you want, in the perfect location, for a rent price you can swing, and in which you can already visualize how well all your stuff will fit. Tra-la-la, life is grand.
Hours later (or maybe not even until the next day), when it comes time for the landlord to sign the lease he/she’s already agreed to, oh wait, they’ve since received a higher bid and will be going with another tenant. Are you familiar with the acronym “S.O.L.”? Well, that’s you in this situation. This is when Ashton Kutcher jumps out of the woodwork and shouts, “You’ve been gazumped!”
Sealed Bidding
Traditionally a practice applied to property sales, sealed bidding is becoming more common for renting London property as well. Generally, a sealed bid involves interested buyers/renters putting forth an offer by a certain deadline (literally in a sealed envelope), and then all bids are opened and reviewed at a designated time to evaluate the winner of the property auction—i.e., whoever is deemed to have offered the best price in conjunction with wherewithal to proceed with the transaction quickly and smoothly (a.k.a. “proceedability”).
Join me in my next and last post of this miniseries to learn how you can up your proceedability and overcome all these obstacles in your quest for the ideal London apartment for your London move.
If you’re planning your move to London, after procuring a job and visa, your next critical task is to find a flat to let in London. My esteemed London Relocation colleague Mat Paramor (our Head of Corporate Services—he’s the guy you want to talk to if you need to transfer your company’s employees to London!) has passed on the latest London property market trends and statistics, so I thought I’d distill the gist of it down for you to enhance your grasp on the current climate here.
London Apartment Supply
As of last summer, London encountered a serious shortage in available apartments for rent due to a few factors:
1) Landlords have increasingly opted to sell rather than let their London flats;
2) The increase in required mortgage deposits has discouraged renters from becoming buyers, so a generally older demographic that would have been looking to purchase a home have remained within the rental pool; and,
3) As the rental market becomes increasingly competitive, there’s less turnover in tenancy as renters renew their leases rather than take their chances in that atmosphere.
This shortage is particularly noted in the London neighborhoods consistently favored by expats: Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill, and Hampstead.
London Apartment Rent
How does this impact you if you’re relocating to London and need to rent a London flat? Time now for an Econ 101 lesson: Supply & Demand and their impact on Price. The impact of scarcity in supply is clear as far as being more limited in your options at your price level. It also means expectations of where to set that price level may need to adjust:
If you’re not familiar with the economic concept of supply and demand, I’ll break it down. Basically, when supply of a product decreases, the demand for it increases. So if there are fewer available London apartments out there, that many more people will be clamoring over each one of them. This makes it very easy for landlords to then place a premium on their property for rent, to take advantage of the increase in demand. If people out there will pay it, why not charge it, right? Now, generally, as the price of a product increases, demand for that product goes down—who wants to pay more for something, you know? So the graph at the left shows us the theoretical state of equilibrium when price is aligned with the demand for a product as well as the available supply of it.
I’ve now manipulated the graph above to produce this next one, which shows how the market seeks out a new level of equilibrium when that Supply line is shifted to the left (to reflect the decreased quantity of available properties in London) and Demand concurrently shifts to the right (to reflect the increasing number of tenants looking to rent in London). As you see, those two lines now intersect at a higher price-point.
The London lettings agencies with whom we collaborate are forecasting average rent increases of 7-8% in prime London locations for 2011 over last year (whereas sales are predicted to rise only about 1% in price). Stick around for my follow-up post on what you can do to conquer this market and rent a London apartment that you’ll love to live in after your London UK move.
As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series, relocating to London translates into more life experience than just dwelling in a new London apartmentand city. Among the infinite variety of options to explore with the UK as your base, skiing is one recreational activity that Europeans are crazy about. It seems no one here doesn’t ski…except lame ol’ me, of course. So, while in my previous post I spoke to what makes Alpine skiing such a rush for expert skiers like my husband, today I want to share how such trips make for a desirable getaway for even those who don’t ski.
Planning a ski trip after a London move
Ski Trips for the Non-Skier
Now even as a non-skier, I have willingly and excitedly accompanied my husband on two of his ski trips (this last one to Val d’Isère included) as it can still be a wonderful experience at the bottom of the slopes, too. Simply strolling around town and taking in the fresh mountain air, charming Alpine architecture, and dynamic scenery and is sheer bliss for a gal like me. I can only imagine how phenomenal the view is from the top of one of those peaks, but it sure is still perdy from where I usually stand in lower altitude.
If I were more of a shopper, I’d probably love the apparel and jewelry shops all over these ski towns. As it is, I prefer the bookstores or supermarche, epicerie, boucherie, boulangerie, et patisserie for purchasing food items like regional wine, sausages, breads, and pastries for snacking on in the comforts of wherever we’re lodging (this last weekend was a rented condo shared with friends). For eating out, during the day I happily parked myself at a salon de thé of choice for savory crèpes while I read and wrote at my perfect, peaceful leisure.
And just because you don’t ski doesn’t mean you can’t partake in après-ski!! What more fun could it possibly be after a relaxing day of solitude to then join the ski crowd for cocktails when they’re feeling their most jubilant (and exhausted) after surviving a satisfying day on the slopes? Getting to be a part of the grand après-ski tradition of ski culture is a fun way to not feel left out, and, after that, there’s still amazing dinner to be had! In the last few days, we have eaten more bread and cheese than this bread-and-cheese-lovin’ gal could have ever dreamed of…when traveling anywhere in Europe, it is essential to try the regional cuisine, and, in this case, fondue and raclette were the menu items du jour! These ridiculously delicious dishes are a heart-attack-and-a-half of gooey, melted cheese. Raclette itself can be served in a couple different ways, either via a fondue-like tabletop grill on which potatoes are boiled and within which slices of cheese are melted (mixed with rich, sliced meats) or what we had—another type of tabletop grill on which a quarter wheel of cheese was mounted and melted, leaving it to cascade onto our awaiting plates to join our meat and potatoes. I had fondue and raclette on either side of me at the dinner table, which heated me to sweating…and then the fondue burner set our tablecloth on fire! Dinner has never been so exciting.
A Note on Traveling From London, UK
The abundance of flight options on discount airlines makes travel to these continental Europe ski towns quite easy. However, airports in more major cities nearby may still be quite a few kilometers from your destination resort, so unless you’re going to go by helicopter from there (hey, it’s not like isn’t an actual option!), you’ll want to arrange a rental car or take a bus. In the case of Val d’Isère, flying in from London can leave you with two options: flying through Geneva, Switzerland or Chambéry, France. Chambéry is your closest option (about a couple hours’ drive), though will offer less choice in flights. Geneva can be closer to three hours, which still isn’t too bad at all.
For our purposes, we ended up flying EasyJet from London’s Gatwick Airport to Geneva, Switzerland, meeting friends there who we then drove with in a rental car to Val d’Isère. We then drove to Chambéry Airport yesterday to catch a return flight on British Airways (way nicer plane! So spacious and comfortable, and checking in and getting to the gate was a cinch given the tiny airport), which flew into London City Airport. Logistically, it’s what worked best for us, so keep in mind when you make your plans that it’s always worthwhile to explore all options and mix-n-match them as necessary to save money, time, or whatever your needs.
Learn to Ski in London!
And here’s a quick London tip for my fellow non-skiers out there: If you’re keen to learn how to ski, you don’t even have to wait for a ski trip to take lessons! Just over an hour outside of London is Xscape in Milton Keynes, which houses three indoor ski slopes, one which is used for skiing lessons. Just one of the many fun possibilities to ponder as you prepare to relocate to London!
Moving to London is a tricky undertaking, and you’ll find that for many aspects of it, seeing is believing. This is especially the case where London apartment rentals are concerned, as you’d be ill-advised to rent a London apartment solely through the internet—online property scams are rampant, and London flats can look a lot crappier in person than through the wonders of photography.
Likewise, it can be difficult to know what you’re getting into as you research London relocation agents and/or lettings agencies. You need to ensure that they’re the real deal and truly have your best interests in mind. You need to have your expectations established realistically as to what the London flat search will entail and the people that will help you do it.
That’s why London Relocation Ltd. is adamant about making ourselves as accessible to you as possible. We want you to know who we are, what our process is, and why we’re the best property-search solution for you. There should be no question marks about what our agency can do for you versus tackling the London property market on your own.
That’s why we’re upfront about our service on our website and offer so many ways to interact with you through our social networking efforts in addition to responding to your call or internet enquiry via our web-form.
That’s why we make our promise and guarantee to find your London flat so clear on our site.
That’s why we constantly update our client testimonials on our site as well, so you can hear it from their mouths, not just ours.
That’s why we show you how our process works through our video presentation on our website as well as YouTube.
And that’s why we’re proud to now also show you some of our client testimonials on video! Seeing is believing, so see their faces, hear their experiences, and believe that our promise to find you your ideal London apartment in the timeliest of manners is true:
Relocating to London means so much more than merely living in a new London apartmentand city; it’s your ticket to the world! There’s any range of experiences to be had with the UK as your base (and discount airlines at your disposal), and one realm in particular is skiing.
Skiing in France after a London relocation
I’ll say it because my husband is too modest to—he is an amazing skier. I haven’t had the opportunity to see this for myself as I’m a loser who has never gone skiing (and probably never will, so leave me alone!), but our friends keep telling me. He’s had plenty of experience since childhood on slopes all over the United States and Canada, so living in the UK allows him to take it to the next level in continental Europe. So far since moving to London, he’s skied at Les Deux Alpes, Davos, and another ski resort town in the French Alps that I’m totally blanking on…and as of this last weekend, he has conquered Val D’Isère.
Skiiing in Europe vs. the US
When it comes to skiing in Europe, what my husband particularly loves are the greater number and variety of ski runs at a given resort. One can take the lifts up and over to ski down the pistes of adjacent resorts as well! The engineering of the lifts is also more advanced, sometimes including features such as conveyors that move you forward slowly as the chair approaches so you can get onto it with greater ease.
Undoubtedly, though, his favorite aspect is off-piste skiing, which is allowed far more liberally on the Continent. It’s at your own risk. Guides are available, however, to help you navigate this more treacherous terrain, testing out conditions in advance to troubleshoot and help you pass safely. They also set you up with the proper equipment, like beacons and airbags in the case of an avalanche—the former are tracking devices that help rescuers find your location, and the latter are rafts of sorts rolled in a backpack that you can then inflate with the pull of a string.
If your ski gear is too much to pack and ship over during your move to London (it’s probably one of the easier items to cut from the packing list if you’re only going to ski once or twice a year), renting it on-site is easy and not too expensive. My husband has his ski boots, helmet, and apparel here in London, but rents the rest, so if a skier of his caliber is satisfied with rented equipment, you likely will be, too—it’s a great way to keep up with the latest designs, after all. One thing you can be assured of is that Europe is always up to date with the latest in ski and safety technology.
Making the Most of Living in London by Traveling Outside it!
Once you’ve relocated to the UK and explored all the many, many flats to let in London, you’ll want to treat yourself to a side excursion outside of the city, and skiing is the ideal trip during the winter and early spring. It’s very common for Europeans to go on a ski holiday for at least an entire week (often from Saturday-to-Saturday), but the proximity of these slopes to London makes it just as easy to squeeze it in over a weekend as well if you’re pinched for time and money. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post, in which I share how to enjoy a European ski weekend even if you don’t ski!
Yesterday, I listed words related to transportation, and, similarly, every day has been devoted to a specific category. Today, however, we’re left with a smorgasbord of randomness…basically, a miscellany of odds-n-ends from my glossary that didn’t logically fit in anywhere else. Well, there might be no rhyme or reason to ‘em, but they have a home here:
