Archive for the ‘London’ Category

Although the British and Americans share the same language (well sort of) and to some extent American culture is broadly based on Anglo-Saxon traditions, nonetheless Americans may be in for a bit of shock when they move to London.  At times you will need to tread carefully if you are to avoid making some obvious social mistakes (or gaffs as they are colloquially called here) when you move to London.   So here are a few insights to the British way of thinking that you need to understand to make your new life in London a success. Read the rest of this entry »

Usually when an US expat is thinking of moving to London their main concern as far as property goes is the location and price.  And while these are undoubtedly important considerations, there are a few idiosyncrasies about British property that Americans moving to London need to bear in mind.  Generally these foibles are due to the age of the housing stock in London, much of which is Victorian…and can be even earlier.  So, here is a list of five things to bear in mind when moving to London and house hunting. Read the rest of this entry »

As the cost of living in the UK spirals upward some US expats moving to London may wonder if they can really afford living abroad here and maintain their current standard of living.   Of course this will depend on their pay and relocation package (assuming they are moving to London as part of an intra-company transfer).  Some of the expenses that need to be factored into a budget once you start living abroad are rent, transportation, food, as well as your tax liability. Read the rest of this entry »

This summer a friend of mine (a US expat that has been living in London for a few years now) decided to get her British driving licence.  I think her husband had finally grown tired of being the only one to fetch and carry their two sons to weekend soccer practice and various play-dates and birthday parties spread across town.   You see, he does a reverse commute, so when he first planned their move to London he decided that the family would live in town and he would drive to the suburbs for work.   You can only drive for a year on a US licence once you move to London; after this, you’ll need to get a British one.  So, for twelve month he drove using his American licence, after this he got his British driving licence. Read the rest of this entry »

For the sixth month in a row rents in prime living locations in London have risen, with rental prices for the end of August 2011 up nearly 25 percent more than their 2010 equivalent.  Even in less fashionable parts of the capital rents are climbing with the average increase of around 14.5 percent on last year’s prices. Read the rest of this entry »

Often US expats moving to London find getting a place at the right school for their children the most difficult part of their relocation.  Certainly those of us living in London find it a challenge to get our children in to the school of our choice, so it is no wonder that many Americans moving here find this a real headache.  Read the rest of this entry »

If you are moving to London in the near future you may be worried how safe it is to live here, given the riots and looting seen in the city last week.   Read the rest of this entry »

For Americans in London, becoming accustomed to British customer service (or a lack of it) can be irksome.  Whether it is surly sales assistants or poor service through the customer service call centers, the general lack of respect for customers can be trying for Americans in London. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are a US expat that is new to town and have just started living in London, you may be wondering what type of special events are on in the capital this summer.  Well the answer is that there are plenty of special event to tickle the fancy of any American in London.  US expats that are lucky enough to be here this month will find that there are numerous special events and cultural activities, which will entertain both the young and old. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are moving to London soon as part of a US expat relocation package, you may find that you will continue to be paid in dollars, even though your day-to-day costs will be in British sterling.   Although being paid this way may make good financial sense as far as taxes and financial planning go, on the other hand you may encounter a few problems that can affect your expat finances.  Obviously, this arrangement leaves your expat finances at the mercy of fluctuation in the exchange rate.  It also means that you won’t be creating a British credit history. Read the rest of this entry »