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Posts Tagged ‘relocating to UK’

Relocating to London – Eating Out – The Celebrity Chef Culture

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Relocating to London – Eating Out – The Celebrity Chef Culture - Image via Flickr

Author: Belinda

Moving to London is like moving into a melting pot of culture and cuisine. London is the home of the celebrity chef and this unique manifestation was born and bred in London with the rise to fame of chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Gary Rhodes and Gordon Ramsay. There is no better way to experience the ultimate dining experience than by having an evening out at a celebrity chef restaurant in London. Londoners love eating out, and even more than the actual dining experience, they love reviewing the latest restaurants and bars with the aplomb of seasoned critics. Talking about who has been where recently and which celebrity was there is a massive deal for Londoners. You might as well take the plunge and experience some of the best celeb restaurants in the city as a part of your immersion process into life in London.

Jamie Oliver – The Naked Chef

This youthful and exuberant chef has made home cooking into an art, but Jamie has not let his celebrity go to his head. As part of his passion for food, Jamie has created a restaurant that trains young people in the business of running a restaurant. This endeavour has resulted in the restaurant ‘15’, which gives some of the profits to charity, so you will be able to give back while enjoying a great night out. Booking is essential, some months in advance even, so be prepared for a bit of a wait to get a table!

Gordon Ramsay – The ‘F-word’

A celebrity chef that made the ‘f’ word fashionable has created a culinary experience beyond compare with ‘Maze’. Gordon Ramsay has a number of restaurants throughout London and if you’re looking for a night out that you will always remember then you should try his restaurant at Claridges Hotel, which is one of the most fashionable and yet traditional hotels in London. You will have to wait months to get a booking at Maze, so book before you move to London, or well in advance if you want to treat visiting friends and relatives.

There is so much to be said for the way that these celebrity chefs have taken British cuisine into the public eye. Not only have they made it accessible to the public through their numerous books and television shows, they have raised the standard of cuisine around the city and that is always a good thing. If you are looking for something a little less fancy and perhaps more budget conscious then you will find excellent restaurants in all areas of London. There are even chains of popular American eateries if you are feeling a little homesick for a Mc’D’s cheeseburger and fries.

Tags: canadians moving to london uk, Celebrity chef, Claridge's, Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, London, London Relocation, London Relocation Services, Moving to London, relocating to London, relocating to UK, Restaurant
Posted in London Food & Beverage, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | 1 Comment »

Relocating to UK: London Sightseeing-the House of Wax Madame Tussauds

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Relocating to UK: London Sightseeing-the House of Wax Madame Tussauds - Image via Wikipedia

Author: Belinda

Playing tourist while you get settled after a move to London is a great way to experience everything that the city has to offer. It will give you a sense of being a part of this vibrant city as well as giving you some much needed insight and experience of getting around. London is one of the world’s premier tourist destinations and if you are going to live in this beautiful city, then exploring it as a tourist is a great way to start.

Madame Tussauds

It does not matter if you have just made the move to London, or have been there a while, if you have not spent some time with Madame Tussaud, then you have not experienced London. Madame Tussaud was an artist who started creating lifelike was sculptures in 1777, and the museum opened in 1884 in its present location and has been enthralling people from all over the world since then. Wander through the history of Great Britain. King’s and Queen’s of all the Royal houses of Europe, as well as a historical tour of all of the great events that have happened through the ages. The horror chamber is a truly frightening experience, and it is extremely lifelike. The modern displays are a tribute to every celebrity or celebrity wannabee that ever had their 15 minutes of fame. Just be careful not to ask directions from any of the door attendants or guards, they won’t answer. They’re made of wax! Madame Tussauds is open every day of the year and they have great special offers for groups and families.

The London Dungeons

Take a trip into the darkest recesses of British history, with the re enactment of some of the most horrific scenes of torture from the Middle Ages right up until the present day. The London Dungeon is fund beneath London Bridge Railway station and is one of the most realistic immersion experiences you will ever have. Learn about Jack the Rippers and other chilling tales of murder and mayhem that have taken place throughout British history. Professional actors and movie like special effects, help to create an atmosphere of chilling reality. It is not for the faint hearted, but great if you are looking to explore the darker side of British history. One word of warning: The smell from the dungeons is extremely authentic, so do not be put off by the stench of decay and rot that assails your senses as you enter the London Dungeon. Avoid the long queues to get in by booking online through the London Dungeon website

There is so much to do and see in London that it can be fun to spend the first weeks of your London relocation taking in all of the tourist attractions as you get to grips with your recent move to London.

Tags: Americans moving to London, London Relocation, Moving to London, moving to London England, relocating to London, relocating to UK
Posted in Moving to London: London Sightseeing | No Comments »

Weekend Warrior Sunday: London Leaders

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Author: Colleen

As promised in my previous post, whereas Weekend Warrior Saturdays will entail practical moving tips for your London relocation, Weekend Warrior Sundays will share a tidbit in history on the significant people who have made London what it is today (this is how I’ll run with it for a while, at least ).

To start from antiquity, what those who aren’t yet living in London may not realize is that the ancient Romans once settled here. Indeed, let us go back to when Julius Caesar’s army invades England in 55 BC – the Romans land at Kent and journey north until they hit the Thames River at modern-day Southwark. There is only a small tribe living in the area at this time, but when the Romans return nearly a century later, there is a larger settlement there utilizing it as a mercantile port. In 43 AD, the Emporor Claudius invades Britain and establishes its capital city on the north bank of the Thames, naming it Londinium. The city prospers to a population of 50,000 by the 3rd century, yet by the 5th century, the Roman Empire has fallen. Londinium is consequently left abandoned to the Saxons.

Just a little something to consider as you plan to relocate to the UK – it isn’t all about Shakespeare and Henry VIII in these here parts. England has an ancient history that is still present to the eye, with roads that still follow the paths established by the Romans and outcroppings of ruins here and there – in London, you can see remnants of a Roman wall that delineated the city’s boundary immediately outside Tower Hill tube station and scattered between the city centre’s corporate offices!

Tags: american moving to london, colleen, london home search, London Relocation Services, London rentals, Londonium, Moving to London, moving to London from U.S., relocating to London, relocating to UK, Roman occupation of London
Posted in London, England History, Moving to London: Tips & Culture, Sunday History Lessons | 2 Comments »

London Locals: Art Imitating Life – a London Expat’s Relocation Experience

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Photo credit (rights reserved): Charlene LamAuthor: Colleen

Author: Colleen

Just a quick heads-up that if you happen to be moving to London this week or are already here, artist Charlene Lam is exhibiting her “Someday…Longing in London” artwork as of yesterday through August 15th.

From the press release:

“SOMEDAY … Longing in London is the first UK solo exhibition of New York-London designer and artist Charlene Lam. Inspired by her transition from East Coast to East London, the show is an exploration and celebration of cities and longing.

Emphasizing the use of materials sourced locally from the streets of London, the show features installations, collections of found objects, and limited-edition prints, as well as a collaborative piece collecting the ‘someday’s of Londoners.”

From the artist herself:

“During the show, I’ll be working on a collaborative artwork, collecting the longings of Londoners from Twitter, web postings, and visitors to the show. Please stop by, say hi, contribute your ‘someday’ and share your favorite London tips!“

Charlene is also a Londonista at our London Living social networking site, where she has this to add:

“Hello, Londonistas! A quick hello from Clerkenwell and East London. I’m looking forward to meeting some of you this week at my show, SOMEDAY … Longing in London (details on events page). I’ve been in the UK 11 months, and the works in the exhibition are very much about my transition from NYC to London. The curiosities of expat living were very much on my mind as I was setting up yesterday — how paint colors take on sudden importance when you’re an accidental housewife, the joy of puzzling out what they call oatmeal, etc. Hope to meet you in person this week or over coffee sometime!”

What a sweet gal . Can’t wait to meet her myself at the exhibit!

The details:
Weekdays noon-6pm
Open late Thursday 12 Aug, with refreshments and treats 5-8pm
Saturday and Sunday, noon-4pm
There is also a Snack & Stitch weekdays from 3-5pm (see website)

The beautiful thing about art is that this showcase encompasses the spirit of not just one American expat in London’s experience with relocating to the UK, but something for all of us London expats to share, so be a part of it!

Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, Canadians and Americans in the UK, Charlene Lam, colleen, London Expat, London Living, London Relocation, Longing in London, moving to london from america, moving to London from New York, Moving to London from US, relocating to UK
Posted in London Recreation, Moving to London: Tips & Culture | No Comments »