HAVE QUESTIONS? CALL US NOW Toll Free: 1-877-778-3487 Canadian Flag USA Flag
Direct: +44 (0) 20 7313 4580 UK Flag
14-16 Westbourne Grove, LDN W2 5RH UK
About London Relocation

CALL US AT 1-877-778-3487 USA/CAN
FROM UK +44 (0) 20 7313 4580

Or fill in the form below for immediate response!

Posts Tagged ‘Travel and Tourism’

Moving to London – Setting up Friends Who Visit from the States

Wednesday February 15th, 2012

Those Americans moving to London will be doing a fair amount of entertaining of family and friends from back home. To prepare for this onslaught of friends and family one should have a list a list of different types of accommodation to ensure there won’t be any unintended guests camping on their doorstep or – even worse – couch. While the idea of having people visit after moving and hosting cozy slumber parties may be inviting, apartments are small and don’t have the space for such sleepovers.

Hostels

Hostels are great for young people traveling on a very fixed budget.  After moving one can check out local hostels to get a first-hand check of their safety and location. One of the best hostels for young people is the London Eye Hostel.  This is one of hippest youth hostels and is known for its great parties. Mostly filled with Australians and South Africans, one’s visiting friends will be making new friends fast. It serves a great breakfast as part of the room rate and offers clean and comfortable accommodation for people traveling on a budget.

Bed and Breakfast

The London Bridge hotel offers a great place to stay for those serious about spending time visiting the most famous sites that the city has to offer. It has fantastic special offers throughout the year and is close to the West End Theatres, the financial heart of London – ‘The City’ as well as being a few minutes’ walk from the ‘tube’. Comfortable accommodation and great service make this a fantastic place to stay.  After moving one’s friends visiting can enjoy all the city has to offer from a lovely Bed and Breakfast.

Finding budget wise accommodations can be a challenge, because it is so dependent on which neighborhood one lives. The best option after moving and faced with helping visiting friends find accommodations is to settle them into a central location and then show them the sights and top tourist attractions from there. That will save a ton of trouble and housekeeping time.  Whether a hostel or small inn, almost every host can make their American guests happy during their stay.

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living in London – London’s Inner City Wildlife

Friday July 1st, 2011

Moving to London, and having taken in all the stereotypes of the city that culture has to offer, it’s likely that one thing you won’t associate with the city is animals. Yes, it’s a big city and it’s to be expected that a big city will have a zoo, but the city is sadly the victim of a stereotype that says that the only things that it probably has to offer are buildings, restaurants, theatre, rain and the Queen. There are other attractions, finding them while you explore your new home town is going to be one of the most exciting aspects of moving here. Take this then as additional education in Life. This is especially important if you’re moving with kids as there are few easier ways to educate your kids while showing them a good time than by taking them to the zoo.

An obvious first stop would be the appropriately named London Zoo. Here you’ll find a wide variety of animals, including lions, tigers, giant anteaters, spider-monkeys, gorillas, penguins, vultures, cobras and very scary Komodo Dragons. There’s also the option of visiting the baby-shelter where you can see the newborns (even a baby rhino), especially fascinating if you’ve brought your own little ones along.

Swing on over to the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo if you’re up for more wildlife hijinks. Like the London Zoo, you’ll can also adopt an animal if it takes your fancy. It’s the kind of place that promises a more face-to-face encounter with its furry residents, which include monkeys, chipmunks and meerkats.

If you’d like to complete your wildlife education after going to the zoo, drop in at the London Sealife Aquarium. The aquarium has a fascinating variety of creatures on display, with over five hundred species from all over the world. Bright orange clownfish, octopus, penguins and forty different kinds of shark are but a few of the animals you’ll see. They even have crocodiles.

So if you’re moving here, you’ll soon discover that this city offers so much more than you expected.

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living in London – The London Melting Pot

Monday June 20th, 2011

If you’ve just managed to complete your relocation to London, then you may have already noticed that one of the most exciting aspects of the city is the diverse mix of people and cultures. And not just when it comes to restaurants and the different styles of food they offer, although I don’t think that anyone could argue against the vast difference that the influx of Indians to the city has done for Fridays nights. No, just in terms of the enormous number of different cultural influences that the city experiences and how this must affect day to day living. In a day going to and from work you’re likely to come across a selection of people as diverse as Jamaicans, Ghanaians, Cypriots, South Africans, Australians and Americans. If you’re very lucky, you might even bump into a few English people.

This obviously has a great deal to do with the fact that London is a city that offers a great many things to a great deal of people. It’s a financial capital, it’s vastly attractive in terms of what it offers for arts, culture and entertainment and is a city that seems amazingly open to absorbing any number of people that visit it. Given that there are over forty four thousand Americans living in London, you shouldn’t struggle to find and meet people from back home. But what’s particularly appealing about London’s diversity, is the opportunity it offers you to expand your experiences with different cultures and peoples. With eighty thousand Jamaicans, sixty six thousand Kenyans, and nearly forty thousand Germans, it’s a wonderful chance to meet the kind of people you otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to get to know.

Better yet, it’s the kind of thing you could happily experience just around the corner from your place, while not making the effort or spending the money you’d have on spend on travelling. You can get to know people of different nationalities and backgrounds and not even have to leave the city. As such, relocation to London can also mean broadening your horizons like never before.

 

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living in London – A Visitor’s Guide to the City

Monday June 20th, 2011

As a London relocation company, we assist our clients with international relocation logistics like setting up a UK bank account, neighborhood orientations, and even school searches. We also like to think our relocation service  includes advising you on all the fun things to do and see here, which is why we touch on that frequently in our blog along with all the nuts and bolts of moving.

Adding to this *free!* service of ours this week will be a very special guest blogger. London Relocation’s own Anthony Gallo, winner of Re:locate Magazine‘s Rising Star in Relocation Award, is hosting his niece, so I’m pleased to introduce you to our newest guest blogger, Remy! A bright high school student on the verge of starting her senior year this fall, Remy will be providing you her perspectives on London as she tours all this grand city has to offer. This stuff isn’t limited to tourists, you know—when you’ve completed a relocation, you’ll want to explore it far and wide in the same way; it would be a royal shame not to! Remy’s point-of-view will also be valuable for those of you who may be relocating with a family that includes teenage children near her age, or if you’re a student moving to London to study abroad. She’ll provide the ins-and-outs of what meets her fancy here and maybe give you a heads-up on what’s okay to miss.

So join me in giving a warm welcome to Remy as she temporarily joins the London Relocation agency’s team, giving you a new window to peer through into the city as you plan your relocation to the UK.

Tags:

Comments Off

Living in London – Smile for the Camera!

Tuesday June 14th, 2011

One of my favorite things about living in London is catching the city I live in on the telly. And I don’t just mean EastEnders (though that’s fun too). I mean watching a movie and suddenly seeing a part of the city you visit quite regularly. Like watching ‘Mission Impossible’ and spotting Bankside located nearby to London’s Southwark Bridge. Or an unnervingly empty and desolate Piccadilly Circus in ‘28 Days Later’. It can be loads of fun playing ‘spot-the-location’ while sitting on your couch watching movies or amongst an audience at the cinema. Here are some of my favorite examples of London in the movies.

28 Days Later – Like I said, hugely unnerving. The part where Cillian Murphy runs around the city looking for someone, anyone, and not finding a soul gave me shivers given how I much I take it for granted the huge crowds I see in the city.

Notting Hill – Obvious choice this but, given the millions of people that have been inspired by this film to visit and move, it has to come into this list. It really does help to show off the city. For any true Londoner, the last bit with them tearing through city, fighting traffic is both funny and thrilling.

The Bourne Ultimatum – it’s doubtful that anyone has gone sprinting around Waterloo station quite as frantically as Matt Damon does in this film, but for anyone who’s experienced the mad crush of people in one of the busiest train stations in the world, this is fantastically exciting.

Shaun of the Dead – A favourite for film buffs in general and not just Londoners. North Londoners will probably spot Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Finsbury Park in the background.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – two words: Millennium Bridge.

I guess you could say that it’s not exactly a list of top class cinema (more crowd-pleasers, actually), but I think all these films help to show off the swinging city. There must be hundreds of films that could be added to this list, so maybe this blog needs a sequel. And who knows, spend enough time exploring, and you might spot yourself on the telly if you’re lucky.

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living in London – Home is Where the Heart is…

Tuesday June 14th, 2011

If you’re an American moving to London, one of the things that you’ll struggle to overcome is the feeling of homesickness that will sweep over you occasionally. It’s not enough to just will yourself to adapt or to focus on your work so that the aching feeling of being away from home will go away. Sometimes you’re just going to miss home and all that comes with it, like pancakes, BBQ, the 4th of July or having your family and friends over for the Super Bowl. It doesn’t matter either that you can make your own pancakes or buy them, that you could try getting a grill and some marinade and giving the BBQ a shot (weather withstanding), that London also has a 4th of July on its calendar (albeit, not with quite the same fanfare) or that the Super Bowl can be broadcast over in England as well (internet streaming helps in a big way in this case). An adage that I really have taken to heart is that it’s not just where you go, what you do, but what matters above all is who you’re with. You’re not alone while you’re living in London.

Turns out that there are over forty four thousand Americans staying in London. Not only that, but they get together pretty regularly and also have websites dedicated to that effect. It won’t be quite the same as walking in your mom’s front door for Thanksgiving Dinner, but spending an evening with people from back home can really help to ease the transition that comes with moving from one country to the next. You can meet with groups as diverse as students studying in London, families that have pulled up roots to move here, an American TV Nights group (no, seriously) and all other sorts. So even if you are struggling with the big move, it helps to understand that there are others that have been there before and may even be experiencing what you’re experiencing at the same time. You can tear your hair out about the problems of moving to a new country, or you can laugh about it with someone who shares your pain. Give it a shot. It’s like America, but in London.

Tags:

Comments Off

Living in London – The Big Move or The Big Easy?

Monday June 13th, 2011

Moving to London can be, as with moving to any new city, a daunting task. There’s the excitement that comes with moving to somewhere new, looking ahead to meeting new people, broadening the ol’ horizons. But then there’s also the worry of finding a suitable place to stay, the worry that you’ll struggle to adapt to your new home, having to figure things out so that you can do something as basic as go to the shops to get milk and sugar once you have moved into your new London apartment.

As with anything that comes with this much worry, the very best thing you can do is formulate a plan of attack, preparing in advance for whatever may lay down the road. No doubt, you’ll miss a few things and something might still pop up to spite your careful planning, but it’ll be far better than if you hadn’t planned at all.

I’m not about lay out a plan of attack that will suit your situation, because everyone has their own particular worries and concerns. But I am going to list a general inventory of things that should concern anyone intending on moving to London (or any city for that matter).

Where you’ll be staying – London is divided into dozens of areas. Decide what kind of area you want to stay in and investigate what home would suit your situation best.

Transport – you’ll need to get around, whether by train, tram, bus or your own steam. If you’ve found a home that suits your needs, consider how you’ll be getting to and from wherever you’ll need to go.

Do you have kids? – It’s the kind of thing that can add umpteen complications to an already complicated situation. Kids have needs, school not the least of them. If you’ve found an area that you want to move to, do you know if they have schools that can offer your kids what they need.

That’s just three points, but I think it’s already clear at this stage the kind of planning that needs to be put into moving to London. It all starts with doing as much research as you can…

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living in London – A Millennium And Counting…

Thursday June 9th, 2011

If you’re an American moving to London, one of the more fascinating aspects of your new home city will be the interesting history of the birth of London. It’s always an interesting thing to find out about the back-story of something, particularly when it’s as colorful as this one is.

Legend has it that London was built on the ground where Brutus of Troy defeated the giants Gog and Magog, the two guardians of the land. Even if it is just a myth, it is one that adds a fascinating bit of color to the city. And while it might just be legend, the two giants have been granted a range of hills just southeast of Cambridge named after them.

London was actually a town called Londinium, established by the Romans around AD 43. Between 190 and 225 AD, the Romans built a defensive wall around the landward side of the city and thus the foundations were formed. If it takes your fancy and you’d like to see what remains of the wall, pay a visit to Aldersgate, go from there to Moorgate; on to Wormwood Street and finish at Bishopsgate. This walk will take you along the path of the original structure and you’ll see the remains of the old London Wall. It really does give your imagination a workout when you consider that something that was built almost two thousand years ago can still exist among towering skyscrapers and rushing traffic.

And if you’d like to delve further into the history of your new home town, pay a visit to the Museum of London, which sits conveniently on the route I’ve just described. It has collections taking in the history from the Prehistoric era, the Roman era, the Saxons, the times of the Tudors and the Stuarts. The museum also has actual discoveries of items dating back to the times of cavemen, including axes and other tools used as well as the bones of a Mammoth.

You’re living here; in the very center of all the action now. You may as well learn a little about the city you’re calling home.

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living in London – Visa Freedom

Wednesday June 8th, 2011

Many people who are moving this year will be moving to a pre-arranged job. This means that your employer will take care of the visa details for you and your family. If you are going to be living in London with your partner or spouse it might be wise to check with your employer about making sure that they will be able to work for the duration of your stay. There is nothing worse than moving to a foreign country and not being able to get out and meet new people, find a job or open a bank account.

For those people moving to London without the cushion of guaranteed employment, or if you just feel like London is calling to you, then you may find it a little more difficult than you thought to get there. It’s always made easy in the movies; the character packs a backpack and gets on the next plane to Heathrow. In reality it’s quite a bit more complicated than that, and the last thing you want to happen is to be deported for not having the right paperwork, or not to be able to get a job when you arrive in London. Your pounds will soon run out and your dream of living in London could be over sooner than you think.

Visa Freedom.

As an American you may not find it as easy as you thought to find work in the city if you do not have the right paperwork. Citizens of the European Union and members of the Commonwealth will find it much easier to live and work. There are a number of different visas that you can apply for that will allow you to live and work in this magnificent city.

If at all possible, you need to apply for your visa before you leave home. It is an excruciating process to have to apply for visas while you are actually in the city that you want to be in. Have a look through our handy Visa Guide today for more information about the different types of visas and how to make your dreams of living in London come true.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

Tags:

Comments Off

Living In London – It’s All About You Part II

Monday May 30th, 2011

Finding the right place to live when you are moving to London is going to be your first step. It’s important to start thinking and researching before you make the move so you have a good idea of what you’re looking for when you touch down for your adventure. You need to establish what your needs are before you arrive. Not only will it narrow the search, but if you are using an agent to help you find your new rental, it will give them a better idea of what to show you.

Amenities

What do you really need close to your home? Are you moving with children? Schooling and community activities will be a huge factor in deciding where you are going to live. The further away from central London that you live, the greater your need for transport will be. If you’re single and like to party then you may love living on the busy and bustling High Street, but if you like your peace and quiet then you may want to choose a apartment that is slightly off the main streets. There is no absolute when you’re moving here, but it is important to figure out what YOU want before you arrive.

Singles need to pay particular attention to safety, especially if you’re female, and choosing an apartment close to work and in central  may be better than having to face a long tube rid home late at night. Just spend some time before you move to establish what you want out of your experience.

Many people choose to use a relocation service to help them get settled as fast as possible. It’s like having a friend on the ground before you leave home, and your relocation service will be able to narrow down the search based on your personal preferences so you do not waste time house hunting, but have the opportunity to get out and explore your new city.

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living In London – It’s All About You Part I

Monday May 30th, 2011

The most important part of your search for that perfect new rental is going to be your personal circumstances. You may be thrilled by the idea that you are moving to London, but the hunt for a neighborhood, will not just be determined by the fact that ‘everyone’ lives in Notting Hill! You cannot approach living here by looking at the neighborhood alone. A better way to start looking for your new home is to make a list of YOUR needs. It’ll narrow down the search substantially and you’ll be able to find a apartment that caters to all of your requirements.

Working It!

This is going to be the biggest factor in choosing an area and rental home when you are moving to London. Where you work is the first item you need to look at. If you have a job lined up before you move, you need to look at how long you are prepared to commute each day. An average amount of time spent on a one-way journey to work is about an hour. If you’re prepared to spend more time getting to and from work then you may be able to live further out of London and enjoy some of the countryside. If you can’t stand the idea of spending an hour on the tube each morning, then you may have to live close to your work so it’s only a short bus ride away.

Simply Social

If you already have friends here then you may want to live close to your social circle. This is quite important if you are an American moving to England. You’ll want to be able to mix with people from your own country and it might be easier, certainly at the beginning, to rent an apartment close to your countrymen. Remember that this is a massive city, and even if you do have friends living here, the sheer scale of the place might make it difficult to get together regularly. If you’re friends form back home are important to you then you should talk to them before you arrive about finding a new rental close to them.

 

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living In London – Three Reasons Why You’ll Love Living In London

Wednesday May 25th, 2011

Just in case you’re still deciding whether or not to move to London. I thought I’d give you five excellent reasons why London is one of the best places in the world to live. Moving to London will be one of the biggest adventures that you may ever have and whether you stay six months or six years you’re going to love it!

  1. Cultural Melting Pot: London is a city of travelers and many locals are not from London or even England. Living here will expose you to people from different countries, different cultures and a diverse range of interests. Meeting people from all over the world has to be one of the top reasons for spending time in this fantastic city. London is one of the most social cities in the world, so get out just as soon as you have moved in and meet the world!
  2. Culture Club: Not only is this a cultural melting pot, it is also one of the most important cities in the world if you are looking for a little culture in your life. Most of the museums and art galleries are free and the city of London is the art capital of Europe. From community theatre to the blazing lights of Shaftsbury Avenue in the West End, there is always theatre, music, and art that will thrill you, challenge you and give you a good dollop of culture.
  3. Sensational Shopping: If you have some cash to splash then this is a dream city. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can have some fun shopping. Oxford Street, Bond Street and Knightsbridge are the premier shopping destinations. This is where the well-to-do and the well-heeled come out to play. If you’re looking for something unusual and different, then head to the smaller markets and neighborhoods for your shopping experience.

You won’t be living here for long before you realize that you’re a part of one of the most vibrant cities in the entire world; now get out there and live in it!

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living In London – Three (More) Reasons Why Living In London is Great!

Wednesday May 25th, 2011

London is at the center of everything that it important in England and Europe today. For work or play, this remains one of the premier cities in the world.

  1. Working in London: If you get the chance to work, you’ll be exposed to a different work culture and a slightly different way of doing business. If you’re an American you’ll be able to gain international experience and be able to do business with people from all over the world. Working in the UK is like being part of the world’s biggest business network. With so many foreigners living and working locally you’re going to develop friends and business relationships that will last forever.
  2. Transport: You don’t need to own or drive a car when because the public transport system is one of the best in the world. Even when it goes wrong, it is still great! If you want to get out of the city and explore the rest of the country then you can rent a car for the day or for a holiday. Remember that while you may be, you are an hour away from the rest of Europe. Fancy a jaunt to Paris for the weekend? Chill out in Amsterdam for a while? Anything is possible!
  3. Celebration Central: If you love to party then your will love it here.  There are hundreds of festivals and celebrations throughout the year. Even if you just go for a look, it’s always nice to see the locals turn out to play and celebrate their heritage and history, as well as a great party.

If you’re moving here, you’ll be moving to the one of the most spectacular cities in the world. Get ready for the adventure today!

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living In London – Make Time; Take Time Out – Relaxing Time

Friday May 20th, 2011

You’re happily settled and living in London, and you’ve managed to save yourself quite a bit of time by having your groceries delivered, paying your bills online and doing the crossword on your commute. There are other tips and tricks to saving time while you’re living here, so that you’re free to get out of your new rental and explore the city.

Saving Time & Money

  • TV Time: If you’re an American moving to London then you’ll probably be a little shocked at the small number of channels when compared with television in the states! If you want to save time you can record your favorite shows without having to sit through an entire show. Sky Plus is a new addition to the Sky television network and you can choose your favorite shows and record them all ready for a Saturday afternoon of dedicated television viewing.
  • Eat Out or Take Away: Keep your local restaurants on speed dial! You can order online or by phone if you fancy a take out for an evening. If you do feel like going out and painting the town red though, you must always book in advance. Most London restaurants are full each night and you can wait for ages to get a table or a seat at the bar if you have not made a reservation. If you’re treating out of town guests to a celeb chef restaurant then you should book months in advance to ensure that you get a table. The turnaround time for a reservation is about two months!

Living here will give you the opportunity to get out and explore the city. Start with your local neighborhood and then venture further afield as you get acquainted with your surroundings and your new life. The joy of living in London is the absolutely wide variety of choice that is on offer. You’ll never get tired of this fascinating, sometime frustrating, and overwhelmingly beautiful city.

 

Tags:

Comments Off

Living In London – Make Time; Take Time Out – Home Time

Friday May 20th, 2011

Living in London means that you’re joining the population of one of the world’s busiest cities. Londoners are always in a rush to get somewhere, and even if they have nowhere to go, they are still in a rush. When you have moved into your new London apartment you’ll want to take time to enjoy your new home and neighborhood.

Saving Time & Money While You’re Living In London

  • Home Help: Some people may consider employing a cleaner or ‘char’ as they are sometimes known in the UK, as slightly extravagant. I think it’s a worthwhile investment and it will save you masses of time on cleaning your flat. The thing about dust is that it tends to mount up over time, no matter how tightly you shut the windows. Employing a cleaner once a week or even once a month will help save your weekends for more important items; like relaxing and exploring your new city. Make sure you check references before you hire a cleaning person; your best bet is to ask around your building or neighborhood for a good recommendation. Prices range from about £10 per hour for a minimum of two hours per day. Well worth it!
  • Online Shopping: Just do it! You can order your groceries online, pay for it and get it delivered right to your kitchen counter while you are living in London. The biggest advantage about shopping online is the amount of time you’ll save instead of having to trundle round the shops after work or on your precious weekend. Save your shopping time for browsing quirky markets and exploring the city. Having your groceries delivered means that you don’t have to lug them home on the tube or bus either. Nothing like carrying an armful of groceries on the tube during rush hour – try it once, and you’ll be converted to home delivery in an instant. Most of the big supermarket chains have online shopping and home delivery on their websites.

You need to start living here like a local, and that means saving as much time as possible so you can get out and enjoy everything that this great city has to offer.

 

Tags:

Comments Off

« Older Entries
  • Follow London Relocation Services on Twitter
  • Like us on Facebook
  • London Relocation Services on Linkedin
  • London Relocation Services on Google Plus
  • London Relocation Services RSS Feed
Our Wealth of Experience, Exclusively Yours

Copyright © 2013 London Relocation Services | All rights reserved. | Company Reg. Number 05765006 | VAT Reg. Number 104932240
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy