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Posts Tagged ‘relocation uk’

Vive le Train Across the Channel – Your UK Relocation

Monday July 23rd, 2012

 

Traveling to Paris after a UK relocation (Photo credit: www.FranceHouseHunt.com)

I’ve written before about the conveniences of the London Underground and Overground as public transport if you’re making a UK relocation. Yet as I sit here now, typing within the quaint confines of a Montmartre flat rental as the colorful street bustles below and the pristine white Sacre Coeur basilica looms above, I marvel that I’m only a couple hours’ distance from my London apartment. You see, a UK relocation can be just as much about other international cities as it is about London, and it’s thanks to les trains that visiting Paris in particular is so easy!

Why Fly?

A UK relocation makes traveling to other countries tremendously simple and affordable, yet even the feasibility of a mere weekend getaway gets taxing when constantly commuting to/from England’s various airports. Example: a 35-minute long Amsterdam-to-London flight still managed to take 7 hours door-to-door. Meh. After enough weekends like that to follow my UK relocation, I’ve become quite taken with rail travel. It’s not as cheap within England as I’d like it to be, but trains have nonetheless made for fast enough stress-free trips to areas like Cornwall, Devon, Durham, York, Brighton, and Southampton. Commuting to a London train station is just a tube ride away versus paying more for an express overground train to an airport outside the city limits. Better yet, you don’t have to keep lugging your bags through security and to a gate where you have to sit and wait some more. And unlike driving, you can just relax and enjoy the countryside smoothly whirring by rather than obtain a UK driver’s license (which you need after the first year of your UK relocation) and deal with driving a rented stick-shift on both the opposite side of the car and road.

But perhaps one of the best parts of a UK relocation is that you can take the train from London’s St. Pancras rail station directly to Paris’s Gare du Nord! Eurostar fares will vary depending on the time of day and day of the week, but, in general, if you avoid bank holidays and weekends when other Londoners like to travel, flexibility in schedule is the key to inexpensive travel. My husband and I, for example, have put off a Paris trip way too long, so we decided to make a week of it so we could depart mid-week versus on the weekend, scoring fares under £70 apiece (whereas at Easter they were going for closer to £200). Et voila! Two and a half hours later, we were here! The Eurostar is best known for its transit to Paris, but did you know that it also goes direct to Brussels, Lille, Ski, Avignon, and Disneyland Paris? Connections to dozens of other European cities are also available.

Granted, you do have to go through security before boarding the Eurostar train; it’s an international commute, after all, so have your passport on hand as well. This process, however, was a lot quicker on a weekday morning than it was at about the same time for my flight out of Chicago O’Hare the other week. And once you’re at Gare du Nord, the metro is right there for getting to your first Paris destination straightaway.

The Tube of Paris

Once your UK relocation finally gets you accustomed to calling the “subway” the “tube,” in Paris it’s time to meet the “metro.” I have to say, I actually think Paris is easier to navigate via public transport than London, just when I thought London couldn’t get any easier. Sure, the Paris metro and RER (which is more of an express train extending to the suburbs) maps might look like a complicated web-work, but it’s because there are more stops between destinations, which could be good and bad: bad in that it’s, well, more stops you have to make while en route, but good because no matter where you are above ground, there’s inevitably a metro station closer by than perhaps a tube station would be. And even when having to stop in transit, the stations fly by in no time. We’ve been taking the metro everywhere without hesitation, and there are city maps inside and out of every station for super convenient reference—something London finally has, too, to make Olympics tourism and, consequently, your UK relocation much easier.

More Metro Merits!

More words of advice for when your London residency brings you to gay Paree: buy the Paris Visite travel pass! One pass will provide you unlimited travel on the metro, RER, and Transilien SNCF trains as well as Paris buses. Its cost depends on which zones (Paris-only 1-3 zones and/or all zones including Versailles and Disneyland Paris) and # of days (1,2,3, or 5) you choose. It further offers price reductions on a number of Paris sites, like 20% off l’Arc de Triomphe or Disneyland Paris—kids at heart, we totally took advantage of the latter! After all this time, I finally learned that, yes, Mickey parle français…

Getting to watch the Tour de France finish in Paris yesterday in time to watch the Olympics in London next week is one of many aspects of living here that continually have us pinching ourselves. So, all aboard! Your UK relocation is about to lay the tracks for expanding your cultural boundaries.

 

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Moving to London from US? Chicago and NYC Neighborhood Equivalents

Saturday June 30th, 2012

If you’re moving from the US, when you don’t know London neighborhoods well, how will you know where to live? After moving from the US ourselves, my husband’s and my frame of reference worked in terms of Chicago and New York, so I thought I’d share what I consider to be some American equivalents of popular neighborhoods for those of you also moving from the US.

If you like Chicago’s ____, you’ll love London’s____

Shout-out to my Chi-town peeps! Even if you aren’t moving from the US city of Chicago itself, if you have any familiarity with it, this can still be your guide. Okay, so…

If you like Chicago’s Lincoln Park and Lakeview, you’ll love London’s South Kensington and Chelsea. A lot of neighbourhoods in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, really, draw a similar demographic—young, urban professionals moving from the USand elsewhere who need something middle-of-the-road and affordable yet are willing to pay a little more for a little posh. Trendy shops, restaurants, and clubs abound, and pretty Victorian houses and leafy streets also give this area the somewhat more residential and polished aesthetic that LP Trixies (*hee*) are accustomed to and may still want when moving from the US. Another similarity is their easy access to the City, green space, and water (i.e., if London’s Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park could be Chicago’s Lincoln Park, the River Thames is Lake Michigan).

Falling within the Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, the neighborhood of Notting Hill is also similar to these Chicago locales, though it and its nearby Ladbroke Grove are also reminiscent of the Belmont Street area of north Lakeview, getting more into Boy’s Town and Wrigleyville with a relatively young, gentrified atmosphere yet artistic and maybe still a little sketchy in parts. Yet also like Roscoe Village (or further north around Irving Park) in a way, those moving to London from the US will also find some quiet, family-friendly residential streets.

Moving further along that side of the spectrum is north London’s trendy Islington and Angel area. This neighbourhood retains its relatively alternative, gritty urban feel yet has certainly become increasingly gentrified, particularly along the major restaurant/club/pub strip just outside Angel tube station. If you’re moving from the US Midwest, the closest Chicago comparison in my estimation is the likewise increasingly yuppified yet arty (and in some spots dodgy) Bucktown and Wicker Park.

And to swing in the totally opposite direction, for truly upscale posh, expats moving from the US who like Chicago’s affluent Gold Coast will love London’s ritzy Mayfair, Belgravia, and Knightsbridge neighborhoods.

If you like New York City’s ____, you’ll love London’s____

As many folks moving to London from the US come from the east coast, let’s review some NYC London neighbourhood equivalents as well. Regarding the areas mentioned above, for the same basic reasons already discussed, South Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill, and Ladbroke Grove (and other neighborhoods thereabouts) are arguably similar to Manhattan’s SoHo and Upper West Side. North London’s Islington/Angel area is akin to New York’s Greenwich and West Village, and NYC’s wealthy Upper East Side would equate to Mayfair, Belgravia, and Knightsbridge—perhaps Marylebone as well.

Going further, Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood is somewhat similar to Marylebone if you’re moving from the US and seeking variety in boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. Though whereas Marylebone is rather affluent, Clerkenwell and Farringdon are somewhat rougher around the edges yet still thriving with art, cuisine, and nightlife, so could make for equivalents to NYC’s Chelsea/West Village as well.

Venturing into the bustle of London’s Soho and Piccadilly Circus area recalls New York’s Midtown and Times Square—Oxford and Regent Streets are a shopping mecca akin to 5th and Madison Avenues (and Michigan Avenue in Chicago, for that matter). And as a desirable residential area dominated by educational and other renowned institutions, Manhattan’s Morningside Heights (home of Columbia University) bears a similarity to Greenwich (home of the Royal Naval College, Maritime Museum, and National Observatory).

Where other New York City boroughs go, Brooklyn is like London south of the Thames, not so cosmopolitan or convenient a commute yet where people go for more space for the money (a draw for young families). And like some New Yorkers will similarly cross the Hudson to Hoboken, New  Jersey to afford more for less, the fairly industrial east London has up-and-coming pockets that are drawing more upscale demographics to invest in housing there. Dodgy east London ’hoods like Hackney and Shoreditch, though—along with outskirt areas like Croyden or Wembley in the south and northwest—might be a little more like Queens or the Bronx. There admittedly isn’t a huge number of expats moving to London from the US that settle in those areas.

Comparing Big Apples to Oranges

Granted, it’s difference that makes an international relocation worthwhile, and in a lot of ways just can’t be compared to other cities. Nonetheless, there’s no shame in trying to seek out a little of what you already know, so hopefully the above comparisons help if you’re moving to from the US.

 

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Moving to London: London Leaders

Monday May 28th, 2012

Moving to London involves a lot of planning and research. And while your immediate relocation needs will involve sorting out employment, finding the right London apartment and neighborhood for you, and perhaps getting children situated in new schools if you’re moving to London with a family, the best bit is learning more about London itself.

England is a proud nation that continues to make history with big events coming up like the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and summer Olympics, and this British history is something the locals are proud to share with newcomers. My Sunday series here exploring the biographies of Britain’s monarchs is a little preview for you, then, if you’re moving to London and want the gist of its rich royal past.

Moving to London – William & Mary’s Successor

Last Sunday, we briefly reviewed the joint reign of King William III and Queen Mary II. As they had no children, next in line to succeed is Mary’s sister and (King James II‘s daughter) Anne. As Queen Anne was born prior to James II’s conversion to Catholicism, her succession complies with Parliament’s Settlement Act of 1701. She isn’t into antagonizing Parliament anyway, but she does attend most cabinet meetings to hold her Catholic-born half-brother, James, at bay.

Moving to London – Unification and Separation

Queen Anne’s reign seems to be characterized by simultaneous coming together and breaking apart. The most significant event to transpire is the Act of Union in 1707, whereby Scotland joined England to form Great Britain—Anne is therefore the first monarch of Great Britain, with a shared Parliament, flag, and denomination of money though Scotland retains its religious, legal, and educational systems.

As for the divides moving into London and the kingdom at large, Anne’s reign sees two political parties officially develop and diverge: the Whigs and the Tories. Their opposition and fight for control over Parliament and the Queen’s favor tears Anne in two directions, as does the matter of her own heir, which pits her against her own half-brother. Anne is further embroiled in conflict when a close and long-held friendship with Sarah Churchill (wife of the Duke of Marlborough, who led England to several military victories during the War of the Spanish Succession, which began months into Anne’s reign) turns publicly sour. It seems Sarah is too confident in her position as the Queen’s favorite and becomes too big for her britches—in addition to growing overbearing with Anne, she criticizes her in public.

Moving to London – Talk to the Hand, Sarah

As a means of gaining more influence with the Queen, the Tories plant Abigail Hill into her household to win favor over Sarah. Ultimately, tensions between Anne and Sarah do indeed escalate to the point where the Queen dismisses the Duke of Marlborough of his services despite his impressive record and shuns Sarah for her new BFF, Abigail.

And so, Anne has allowed herself to be influenced by favorites and ministers, and though she’d hoped to rule over a balanced government, the Whigs and Tories alternate in dominance, the Tories winning out by the end of her reign…sort of. When Anne dies in 1714—the last monarch of the Stuart line—her named successor is Protestant prince George of Hanover, the Whig’s pick.

Who knew this could be so educational, right? Join me next week, fellow amateur historians, for more rockin’ on with the royals.

Related sightseeing: the Queen’s Closet at Kensington Palace, where Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill had a huge cat-fight pivotal to going their separate ways.

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Moving to London: The Leaders

Sunday May 20th, 2012

Moving to London is more than moving house—it’s moving into a new culture with its own accumulation of history. I cannot even imagine what history lessons must be like here when I think of the millennia and monarchs to be covered versus the couple centuries of US history we were taught. From a homework standpoint, I’m very grateful for that, but as a lifelong learner I’m keen to expand my knowledge of other nations, which is why you get to delight in my mini-History 101 lessons here. :)

If you’re moving to London like I did myself a few years ago, come learn along with me…

Moving to London – Make Way for the House of Orange and Stuart

If you’re researching moving to London and chanced upon my post last week, we saw the overthrow of King James II. He had become uncooperative with Parliament and messed about with private property and historic rights, not to mention converted to Catholicism and posed a threat to the national religion. Enter William III and Mary II. Mary is the daughter of James II and his first wife, born Protestant and thereby Parliament’s preferred choice to James’s younger, Catholic-born son. Though twelve years younger than William, she married him pursuant to foreign policy under Charles II‘s rule. Both grandchildren of Charles I, William and Mary are not only husband and wife but also first cousins. William’s Orange line of the family in the Netherlands does not have the same hereditary rights, but, on Mary’s insistence, in 1689 he is crowned King of England alongside her, the new Queen of England.

Moving to London – A Joint Monarchy

It wasn’t Parliament’s original intention to coronate both William III and Mary II; they really only want Mary. Mary by this point, though, is willingly subservient to her husband—though he’d repulsed her when the arranged marriage first came about, she’s grown to love him and kicks up her wifely duties in response to a long-term affair he held with one of her ladies in waiting. So the good wifey gets her husband a crown, but Parliament ends up effectively getting its way anyway: moving to London‘s palaces doesn’t make William an altogether permanent resident; he is more interested in military campaigns on the continent, leaving Mary to rule as regent in England, where she shares a mutual adoration with its people.

Moving to London – The Bill of Rights and Beyond

Originally called the “Declaration of Rights,” the Bill of Rights outlines Parliament’s grievances with James and new terms limiting the power of the monarchy and enhancing that of Parliament going forward, which William and Mary agree to in the spirit of preventing sovereign abuse of taxation, legislation, and religion. The Toleration Act of 1689 grants Protestant non-conformists the freedom to worship, but the same does not apply to Catholics; Catholics are also barred from ascending the throne to follow assertions of other Parliamentary rights (like forbidding wars without its consent) established by the Settlement Act of 1701. This last measure was in response to William’s costly conquests on the Continent in his “Grand Alliance” against France.

Mary II ultimately dies of smallpox in 1694, leaving William bereaved and ruling alone until 1702, when he himself dies after falling off a horse. They were childless, so join me next Sunday to find out who succeeds to the throne if you’re moving to London and eager to learn more about its substantial history.

Related sightseeing if you’re moving to London: Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace, where the monarchs resided (the latter is where William fatally fell of his horse), and Westminster Abbey where they were coronated.

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James II, King of England

Sunday January 1st, 2012

Hello there, Weekend Warriors! Continuing with our British history lessons on Britain’s monarchs (if you’re relocating to London and wanting to learn more about it), today we meet the successor of King Charles II: James II.

Like his brother Charles, James II was exiled to France when Cromwell took over as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth in Britain. When Charles II returned to restore the monarchy, James likewise came back and was ultimately named Charles II’s heir to the throne. This had initially met with resistance given James II’s Catholic faith, but Charles II’s efforts in his later years to secure his brother’s position were not in vain: as James takes to the throne in 1685, he inherits a Tory-dominated Parliament and strong executive office. You might recall from my last Weekend Warrior Sunday post that King Charles II did indeed have sons; the reason his brother James is now king is because none of Charles’s sons were born to his wife. Ah, such technicalities…

As a result, early in King James II‘s reign, he faces resistance from one of his illegitimate nephews vying for the throne, the Duke of Monmouth. This Protestant rebellion is squashed after the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, and Judge Jeffries presides over the “Bloody Assizes” in doling out punishment in the form of execution, torture, or slavery; the Duke of Monmouth himself is beheaded gruesomely. It’s only a matter of time, though, before King James II meets more resistance, and from within his government at that. His appointments of Catholics in high places is looked on with disfavor, and he loses his Tory support. Doh!

Join me next week to see how this King of England fares through the rest of his reign as opposition stacks against him. And as you wage your own battle against the London property market in implementing your international relocation to London, enlist the services of the London Relocation agency to make sure all runs in your favor.

 

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Charles II

Sunday December 4th, 2011

It’s that crazy time again, Weekend Warriors, when we delve into British history as part of your cultural prep for your upcoming international relocation to London. Last week, we introduced King Charles II, whose father Charles I had been kicked to the curb by those seeking commonwealth versus monarchical rule, which had paved the way for Oliver Cromwell to become Lord Protector. Well, now that both Charles I and Oliver are dead, and Oliver’s son Richard has in turn been kicked to the curb to restore the monarchy, it’s the latest episode of “Charles II in Charge.” (Huh, this is the last place I’d ever think I could make a Scott Baio reference…)

Anyway. Last we saw, Charles II‘s reign was seein’ some tough times: plague, fire, and defeat in war. This Second Anglo-Dutch War had been instigated by the British capture of New Amsterdam—in the New World—from the Dutch in 1664. In 1665, New Amsterdam was reincorporated as New York under British law. Nonetheless, in ultimately losing to the Dutch in 1667, Charles II now seeks an alliance with France against them, securing a secret treaty with King Louis XIV in 1670. In doing so, Charles II agrees to support the French against the Dutch in the Third Anglo-Dutch War of 1672-1674 as well as promises to restore England as a state of Catholicism. In return, France pays subsidies to him, which he’s in need of given Parliament’s current domination of government, thus, tight hold on the king’s purse strings.

Anti-Catholicism is on the rise again in England, however, and it’s an issue that the Whig party uses to undermine the king. In addition to his perhaps not-so-secret alliance with France, Charles II has bred plenty of illegitimate children, but he has none with his actual wife, so his closest heir is his Catholic brother James. Parliament tries in vain to pass an exclusion bill that would prevent Catholics from holding public office, and Charles II spends his remaining years defending his brother’s right to the throne and winning the support of the Tory party. Tensions between the king and Parliament are further heightened by his attempts at becoming a sole ruler—which he does become after dissolving Parliament in 1681. A few years later, Charles II suffers a stroke and subsequent complications; he converts to Catholicism on his death bed in 1685.

Well, whatever your religious or political views, your London Relocation agent will make sure no tensions arise during your London apartment search; London rent prices could figuratively cause a stroke, so London Relocation will negotiate that down for you and keep you in charge of the process, not the London lettings agents or landlords. (How’s that for a none-too-subtle plug?)

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King Charles II

Sunday November 27th, 2011

Hey there, Weekend Warriors! It’s another Sunday round-up of the monarchs that have shaped London, England’s history, a bit of cultural food-for-thought as you prepare your international relocation to London. Last week, we saw the restoration of the monarchy after two “terms” of Commonwealth rule under Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard Cromwell. Today, we’ll meet King Charles II, who finally assumes his rightful seat on the throne long after his father Charles I had been executed to make way for Commonwealth rule.

If you recall, civil war broke out in England under Charles I‘s reign, at which time Charles II was only twelve. Nonetheless, at age fourteen Charles II was already appointed as nominal commander in chief in western England. As tensions surrounding his father’s monarchical rule culminated, young Charles II was forced into exile on the European continent. It was in 1650, the year after his father’s execution, that Charles II struck a deal with the Scots to become King of Scotland, and he invaded England under this authority yet was defeated by Oliver Cromwell in 1651.

Having retreated back into exile, it is not until 1660 that Charles II is now invited to return to us in England and be crowned as King. King Charles II is rather lenient on those responsible for his father’s execution back in 1649—less than ten of the conspirators are executed. He also must exude a great degree of political tolerance considering that, though the citizenry is elated to have a monarch again, Parliament now assumes most of the control. Thus paves the way for a modern concept of government as the civil war factions that had emerged during Charles I’s reign ultimately evolve into political parties (the Cavaliers ultimately become the Tory Party and the Roundheads the Whig Party). Charles II’s tolerance extends into religious affairs as well, partially because of his own Catholic leanings.

King Charles II has a doozy of a first few years of rule. Contrary to the “Great” part of the nicknames given to a couple of them, the major events that transpire are really quite awful. 1665 is the Great Plague, and 1666 is the Great Fire. Then in 1667, England loses its war against the Dutch. See what I mean?

Join me next Sunday for the continuation of our exploration of King Charles II’s reign. And in the meantime, breath easy knowing that your London Relocation agent will ensure you reign victorious over what could otherwise be a dreaded London apartment search! It’ll be a great experience for you, and by “great,” I really mean it this time! No verbal irony. ;)

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London Leaders – Oliver Cromwell

Sunday November 20th, 2011

If you’re moving to London, it’s in the spirit of an international relocation to broaden your historical and cultural knowledge. That’s why we run our weekly Weekend Warrior Sunday series here, so you can already get acquainted with Britain’s past monarchs as  you prepare for your London move. Last week, we finished reviewing the Commonwealth rule of Oliver Cromwell, England’s Lord Protector in place of the traditional monarchy. Dying of illness, Cromwell named his son Richard Cromwell as his heir.

Richard is actually Oliver’s third son, but the deaths of his older brothers have made him next in line. Previously a gentleman farmer, he inherits his father’s role as Chancellor of Oxford University and, thus introduced into public life, proceeds to become a member of the Council of State as well as House of Lords. Becoming Lord Protector of the Realm in 1658, Richard faces opposition from military leaders, and government structure fluctuates as pressures are placed on him. A Rump Parliament is reestablished in place of the Protectorate, then dissolved, then reinstated yet again—General Monck has led the charge on this and also reopens Parliament’s doors to members who had been driven out a decade earlier.

Monarchy is restored as the former (executed) King Charles I‘s son, Charles II, is invited to assume the throne as king in 1660, forcing Richard to abdicate. He settles for a long while in France under an assumed name. Whereas it sends Richard away, the restoration of the monarchy shockingly brings the deceased Oliver Cromwell back into the picture. In 1661, a mob raids Westminster Abbey to exhume Oliver Cromwell’s remains. Though Cromwell had lost his life to natural causes, his body is now hanged in Tyburn and decapitated as a symbolic posthumous execution. His head is mounted on a stake in front of Parliament while his body is tossed into an unmarked grave.

As for Richard, when permitted to reenter England without consequence in 1680, he continues to live a quiet, humble life of anonymity. He dies at the age of eighty-five in 1712.

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Relocation to London – If Earl’s Court Builds it, They Will Come

Tuesday November 15th, 2011

A relocation to is fraught with endless questions, not least of which is where to live! As you talk your Relocation agent through your apartment requirements and preferences, he or she will likewise discuss with you the numerous neighborhood options at your disposal. London is a huge city, so there’s truly something here for everyone.

That doesn’t make the task any easier, however; sometimes having too much choice gets overwhelming. What does make it easier is the neighborhood guide Relocation will be making available on its new website (launching soon!) as well as the expertise of the Relocation company’s relocation agents. They’ll supplement any and all info offered here on the website and exhaust any remaining questions you may have.

At any rate, while I happen to be in the neighborhood mindset, I thought I’d share some recent news on one in particular located in the popular west side. While recent years have brought major monetary investment to the east side, which arguably needs it most (especially with the 2012 Olympics on the horizon), west London’s popularity has created growing demand as well. One pocket where developers see potential is Earl’s Court. Right now, just outside both the Earl’s Court and West Brompton tube stations is the massive Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre, home to popular annual conferences and exhibitions like the London Book Fair, the Great British Beer Festival, (until this year) the Brit Awards for music, and home, baby, video game, and auto shows and the like. It’s a popular venue that sees a lot of traffic all through the year, but, rather sadly, it’s scheduled to meet its demise after it hosts volleyball for London’s 2012 Olympic Games. The plan is to construct additional residential space on this site (along with a new primary school, daycare, playgrounds, and health facilities), as well as create a new high street that will offer residents plenty of fashion, food, and entertainment options. The overall 77-acre area will become more pedestrian friendly and render Earl’s Court a new community and cultural hub.

This extensive project will play out in phases over the next decade or so, as detailed and updated on MyEarlsCourt.com. TimeOut even offers a preview already of what Earl’s Court will look like in 2030: http://www.myearlscourt.com/the-future/time-out-2030/.

So it’s not exactly happening tomorrow, but the project phases have been timed in such a way that provides minimal disruption to current residents if you’re moving to London in the near future. It’s also an indication of what’s up-and-coming for an already great area if you intend to stay for the long haul and/or are perhaps looking to make an investment in a neighborhood sure to prosper.

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International Relocation – Moving Forward yet Looking Back

Tuesday November 15th, 2011

The London Relocation agency assists anyone moving to London, even if it’s just a move within the UK or the city itself. However, London Relocation agents find that most often their clientele consists of expats like themselves, those making an international relocation from numerous countries around the globe. Expatriotism is a common trend as technology increasingly shrinks our world and makes it easier for people to work from anywhere in the world; it has resulted in a more global mindset that has larger  numbers considering what life would be like in an another country and culture, not only desiring to visit a new destination but actually live there.

When I first made the relocation to London myself, I very much missed home, and my global curiosity had already been sufficiently satisfied through annual world travels. To put it bluntly, I didn’t particularly feel the need to actually live somewhere else so long as I made the time and money to allow me to visit to my heart’s content. So when it came to actually moving to London, I had mixed feelings.

But, being a literature-lover, I tried to fancy the romance of it when I considered how some of my favorite authors like  F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were American expatriates. By that time, WWI had introduced many young Americans to nations overseas as they volunteered their efforts, and the experience left them with a restlessness back home; they’d experienced the cruel realities of war but also an indulgent freedom that contrasted with more seemingly stifling expectations among family and peers in American society. So, many returned and left constraints like Prohibition and practical careers behind to frolic in Europe’s playground and cultivate their artistic sensibilities. Even Europe must have seemed so exotic back then, before people were able to hop a commercial flight overseas almost as easily as hail a taxi on the street.

I happen to be reading about the 1920s right now, which is what brings this all fresh to mind right now. The world has changed so drastically since then that international relocation or travel is really not so “foreign,” per se, and expats communities have expanded far beyond merely the artistic and/or rich “elite.” Nonetheless, I’m constantly blogging here about the changes such a move does entail, and it’s surely no less a mind-opening experience today as it was back then. Furthermore, I came upon this passage in my book, Lucy Moore’s Anything Goes, about the sentiments of many 1920s American expats that are not all too different from my own:

“The more insightful among them recognized that, paradoxically, living abroad made it possible to look more clearly at the United States, to better judge and comment on what they had left behind. Their time away actually intensified their Americanness, rather than diluting it, and this became a powerful inspiration for many. Then, too, returning Americans found that they like being back home—that the familiar had charms more potent than they remembered.”

Just some food for thought as you make your own international relocation to London. You’ll see that it’s almost as much about reflecting on where you’re moving from as it is learning about where you’re moving to.

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Oliver Cromwell: London Leaders

Sunday November 13th, 2011

We’re back with another installment of our Weekend Warrior Sunday series in case you’re making an international relocation to London and as interested in learning its past as you are finding that ideal London apartment. Last weekend, we learned how Oliver Cromwell came to help overthrow the monarchy and himself become not King but Lord Protector over the land.

In the time leading to when Cromwell adopts this title in 1657, he has made certain strides. He has put an end to wars against Portugal and Holland by 1654, and, by 1658, his alliance with France leads to victory over Spain at the Battle of the Dunes. From a religious standpoint, he has established Puritanism, restructured the Church, and readmitted Jews into his territory, overall demonstrating a higher level of religious tolerance than the nation has previously seen.

With the good always seems to come the bad, however. The wars against the Dutch were costly, as is maintaining a standard army in general—let’s face it: financially, the government at this point is strapped. With the ineffectiveness of the different Parliaments formed during this period of England’s history, it seems the Commonwealth is not proving as successful a solution as hoped. Inconsistencies have emerged as Cromwell tries to please everyone and as a result satisfies no one; some aspects of the “new” constitution are therefore perhaps not as progressive as hoped as government struggles to reconcile implementation of the new with the old. As historian Lacey Baldwin Smith put it (far better than I):

“When Commons was purged out of existence by a military force of its own creation, the country learned a profound, if bitter, lesson: Parliament could no more exist without the crown than the crown without Parliament. The ancient constitution had never been King and Parliament but King in Parliament; when one element of that mystical nion was destroyed, the other ultimately perished.”

At any rate, Oliver Cromwell dies in 1658, leaving his son Richard to succeed him. Ah, but it wouldn’t be proper British history if there isn’t a morbid spin on this tale…we’ll delve into that chronologically next week as we see how Richard Cromwell’s reign goes. In the meantime, let’s just say, “posthumous execution.” Bleh.

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Relocation UK – Get in the Holiday Spirit with Boutique de Noel

Wednesday November 9th, 2011

If you’ve just made your relocation to London, ’tis the season to start shopping and giving! Junior League of London is hosting its annual Boutique de Noel fundraiser this week on the evening 9 November and all-day 10 November.  Over 125 vendors will be there selling products ranging from women’s and men’s clothing, home decor, art and photographs, handbags and jewellery to children’s clothing and toys, bath and body goods, doggie gifts, fashions and beds, cashmere and tweed products, and food and drink.

Their invite follows below:


It’s all hands on deck as we approach JLL’s biggest fundraiser, our 32nd annual Boutique de Noel Christmas shopping event.

Be sure to come along and take advantage of all the high quality vendors, music, Father Christmas photo sessions, Winter Wonderland, outstanding auction items, refreshments and a whole lot of festive fun!

Things you need to know

Please invite your friends, partners, family members and colleagues. You can share the eInvite here.

Tickets are available to purchase from our eStore.

Pre-registration for the Live and Silent Auction on Wednesday night is available and highly recommended. Avoid the queues and get your bidder number assigned ahead of time! Simply fill out the Auction Pre-Registration Form.

Purchase tickets to our fantastic Winter Wonderland and Father Christmas photo session at our eStore. Tickets are £20 for one child and £10 per additional child. You can choose your timeslot via our online booking form.

If you can’t make the event or you would like to give your friends an opportunity to donate Boutique de Noel please visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/BoutiquedeNoel2011.

With your help we can make Boutique de Noel 2011 great for everyone!

It’s a festive time to be moving to London, so if you’re here already, do try to attend this great event for a great cause—proceeds go toward various charities that JLL supports in and around London. If you haven’t made your international relocation yet, never fear; there’s always plenty in store for the holidays and all-year-round, for that matter, when you move to London!

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London Leaders – Oliver Cromwell

Sunday November 6th, 2011

If you think planning an international relocation to London is tumultuous, so is London’s history. Last weekend, our Weekend Warrior Sunday series bid adieu to King Charles I as Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army crush the monarchy.With Charles I duly executed, Cromwell tries to gain conservative support by squashing radical rebellion throughout the UK, including uprisings in Ireland, during which a huge percentage of indigenous Irishmen are massacred. Scottish supporters of Charles I’s son, Charles II, are likewise suppressed, which brings an end to civil war. The year prior to the King’s execution, the Long Parliament had been reduced to a “Rump” Parliament when over one hundred members were forced out by Cromwell’s army and even more so refused to take their seats out of opposition to the army’s action. In the years to follow, the Rump Parliament has dismantled much of the existing government structure and rules England along with an executive Council of State. By 1653, however, Cromwell dissolves this Rump Parliament due to its ineffectiveness over time. He summons a new Parliament, which proves just as useless, so by 1655, Cromwell decides to shed Parliament altogether and rule on his own just as Charles I had done. He is offered the crown in 1657, but he refuses it. Rather than become “King,” he takes on the title of “Lord Protector.” Join us next Sunday to see how England’s Lord Protector fares as the monarchy isessentially restored in all but name.

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Relocation to London – Top 10 British Films For This Week’s Holidays

Monday October 31st, 2011

If you’re moving to London and following this blog, you might recall that the other week I mentioned compiling a list of recommended Halloween movies set in London or elsewhere in England (see “Relocation to London UK – Top 5 Halloween in London Posts“). I myself had almost forgotten, so am getting this in under the wire… Anyway, if you’re planning your London move and trying to imagine what life will be like walking its streets, don’t worry, they’re not as horrific as what’s depicted below (not that the London property market isn’t terrifying at times…). This is just for a bit of fun as you prepare to live in the historic and atmospheric UK that lends itself so well as the haunting backdrop to all sorts of spooky lore.

Happy Halloween – enjoy!

  1. An American Werewolf in London – 1980s film classic set in UK locations like London’s Earls Court, Hampstead Heath, London Zoo in Regent’s Park, and Piccadilly Circus.
  2. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – While this Victorian Gothic tale was not literally filmed there, the infamous barber shop and Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop are supposed to be on London’s Fleet Street, just down a ways from St. Paul’s Cathedral near the Royal Courts of Justice and darling little Twinings tea shop (the original founded at the beginning of the 18th century).
  3. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Again, this one was filmed in a studio, but the tale takes place in Yorkshire and London, England.
  4. 28 Days Later – Okay, now we’re back on the actual streets of the UK. This intense zombie flick was filmed at various locations such as London’s Canary Wharf, Haymarket, Bank, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Bloomsbury, Notting Hill, and Isle of Dogs as well as England’s Manchester, Salisbury, the Lake District, and Cornwall.
  5. Shaun of the Dead – Like some comedy with your horror? This zombie-fest starring Simon Pegg will have you laughing and “Ew!”-ing like mad as the characters run for their lives through London locations like Crouch End, East and North Finchley, Hampstead, Park Royal, New Barnet, and New Cross.
  6. The Others – One of my absolute favorites that leaves most of the fright to your imagination, this WWII-period ghost story is set in the dark rooms and corridors of an English stately home in Jersey, Channel Islands.
  7. Village of the Damned – The 1960 original of this classically creepy story of an English village impregnated with fast-growing, blond-haired and glowing-eyed children was filmed in Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire, England.
  8. Bedknobs and Broomsticks – This one’s for the kiddies: A Walt Disney tale of magic set during WWII Britain and starring Angela Landsbury, this movie was partially filmed on location in Dorset, England; though the rest was filmed in a studio, the film does depict the streets of London as the characters are evacuated from the city to the country during the London Blitz and make a return excursion to it.
  9. Harry Potter – Here’s another child-friendly pick containing magical witchcraft. This series has been filmed all over the UK, including Oxfordshire, Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, Middlesex, and London’s King’s Cross, St. Pancras, Regent’s Park, Holburn, Southwark, Westminster, and on and on and on…
  10. V for Vendetta – Lest we forget that this week begins with Halloween but ends with Guy Fawkes Day, here’s a dystopian film that will surely make you remember, remember, the 5th of November (see “Relocation to London – London Firework Displays for November’s Bonfire Night” for firework celebrations in London this weekend and “Move to London and Live its History” as well as “Weekend Warrior Sunday: London Leaders” for historical background). This movie was filmed at London’s Trafalgar Square, Strand, Holburn, City, and Clerkenwell as well as Hertfordshire, England. The culminating scene of Parliament is luckily just “movie magic” and not the real deal…

And there you have it. By no means the end-all, be-all list, but a good start. If you really want to get into British horror, there’s a comprehensive list of such films by year at www.britishhorrorfilms.co.uk. In the meantime, what should NOT be frightening you right now is your move; trust in your Relocation agent, who will get you moved into your new apartment quickly and smoothly. No surprises lurking in the shadows, no menace hovering over your head, only screams of sheer delight. :)

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Weekend Warrior Sunday: London Leaders

Sunday October 30th, 2011

 

The trial of Charles I, King of England – London Relocation Services – Image via Wikipedia

Welcome back, Weekend Warriors-o-mine, and thanks for taking a break from your international relocation preparations to get your weekly dose of British history. It’s good to know some background on your new country if you’re moving to London, no? Two Sundays ago, I’d introduced King Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and we had left him in a bit of a bind.

Well, it only gets worse for him. He’s been ruling on his own for about a decade now after dissing Parliament and the nobility. He’s made mistakes before, but the real doozy is when he tries to enforce a new prayer book on the Scots. They aren’t having it. Rebellion ensues, and Charles I‘s 11 years of personal rule end when he has no choice but to summon Parliament for the funds necessary to fight. Yet, due to disagreement over adequate funding, Charles tries to arrest five members of Parliament. The disputes over supremacy come to a head in 1642 when Charles I raises the royal standard against Parliament in Nottingham in 1642, and civil war breaks out.

Two factions emerge: the Cavaliers, in support of the monarchy, and the Roundheads, in support of Parliament. The Cavaliers are backed financially by peasantry and Episcopalian nobility, whereas the Roundheads are backed by Puritanical tradesmen and the growing middle class—and from the more prosperous provinces, no less, so they have a significant advantage in terms of funding and population. Oliver Cromwell leads the charge of the New Model Army on behalf of the Roundheads, and they defeat the Cavaliers handily in 1645. Charles I surrenders to the Scots the following year and is handed over to Parliament, but he then escapes to the Isle of Wight, which sparks a “Second Civil War”; this lasts less than a year, brought to an end by another Cromwell victory.

Cromwell and fellow radical members of Parliament feel peace will never exist so long as the King lives, so Charles is tried for treason in 1648 and executed in 1649. England is now on its way to becoming a republic… Join me next time, and good luck with your London relocation planning in the meantime!

Related London sightseeing: The Banqueting House on Whitehall in London, where King Charles I was executed on 30 January 1649.

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