Things to Consider When Moving to The UK

Lmatthewli88 on 08/04/2016 - 10:42

Hi everyone

My girlfriend and I are thinking about moving to the UK to live for a couple years before we come back to Australia to settle down and produce spawn. We aren't planning on going until mid-2017 but I want to be as prepared as possible before heading out there. It definitely does not help that 2016 will be a big year with wedding planning and a new job amongst other things.

I am an accountant by trade (CA) and was hoping to land some contracting accounting work while I'm over there. She is a registered pharmacist and was hoping to work at a pharmaceutical company while there. She can't work as a pharmacist in the UK as it will require 12 months study followed by a 12 months internship so she's willing to halt her career for the time being and spend some time in the industry side of the business. We are both in our mid 20's if that makes any difference to things.

What are things we will need to consider and plan for before we hop over there? We have done some very high level research and plan to do a lot more. I am definitely keen to make sure we have as many bases covered as possible before we go though.

tl;dr My girlfriend and I want to live in the UK for a couple years. What do we need to consider?

Travel

Comments

        • banana365 on 10/04/2016 - 11:17
          +1

          Make sure you put antifreeze in the windscreen washers in winter!

          No don't! I know what you're getting at, but use screen wash that comes with a bit of alcohol in it. The antifreeze you put in your radiator header tank will stuff up your paintwork.

        • logictom on 10/04/2016 - 16:30

          @banana365: Haha yeah sorry, not antifreeze, like you say screenwash with anti-freezing agents in it

    • thebryceman on 09/04/2016 - 22:02
      +1

      If you live there for more than 12 months you legally need to "exchange" your Aussie license for a UK one. Be careful they don't take your Aussie one though…the DVLA took ours and we had to pay for replacements once back in Oz.

      • Franconian on 13/04/2016 - 17:29

        It's a policy/requirement for them to take your Aussie licence. No way around it.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2016 - 14:25
    +5

    As mentioned before, the best thing you can do is set up a HSBC account before you go. It can be a pain in the arse when you get there. Remember you have no credit history over there, so it could be a while before you get a credit card.

  • mskeggs on 08/04/2016 - 14:25
    +7

    We did this 15 years ago. Very happy memories and our first kid was born in the UK. We lived in Cambridge (actually a quaint village next door) and it was great. Close to Stanstead for cheap flights to the continent.
    We did a few holidays where we took our car to France, and lots of weekends away all over.

    If I went back I would be tempted to look at Edinburgh, which I reckon is a great city for size/facilities. Maybe a northern city like Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle.

    Things that surprised me were the high cost of train fares, meat and Australian wine (Rawson's Retreat is premium red!).
    The NHS is tremendous, staple foods (think flour, baked beans etc.) is cheaper than here. The options for cultural life are much greater, and of course, there is oodles of history.
    I read this book: https://booko.com.au/9781845283728/Live-and-Work-in-the-UK and found it reasonably useful for navigating things like the UK tax/visa/healthcare systems.

  • raytriplej on 08/04/2016 - 14:42
    +1

    Also Vodafone has the best coverage there - unbelievable when you consider how crap it is here - but true.

    • virhlpool on 10/04/2016 - 17:58

      I have used Voda in Sydney and Adelaide and it's been good so far. Where is their coverage bad? In outskirts?

      • raytriplej on 12/04/2016 - 09:44

        Cairns - Far North Qld

      • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2016 - 13:28

        Gold Coast, Brisbane

    • kryzak260 on 10/04/2016 - 23:39
      +1

      EE has the better reception over here. EE have coverage (and prices unfortunately) like Telstra, with Vodafone and 3 being similar levels to Optus at home.

  • Iangh on 08/04/2016 - 21:10
    +4

    http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

    The UK OzBargain. The forums are hard-core.

    • tomsco on 08/04/2016 - 21:40
      +3

      Plus hot uk deals.

    • matthewli88 on 09/04/2016 - 07:51

      This was one of my legitimate concerns about moving there. I don't know what I'd do with the majority of my day without OzBargain. Probably procrastinate like the rest of the plebs.

  • altomic on 08/04/2016 - 21:50
    +5

    Undies are called pants.
    pants are called trousers.

    • whodidthat on 09/04/2016 - 14:45
      +1

      Thongs are, well, not to put on your feet.

      • banana365 on 10/04/2016 - 11:19
        +4

        Don't listen to him! You make your own fashion choices!

        • whodidthat on 10/04/2016 - 21:09
          +1

          Could be interesting a guy asking for thongs to wear on his feet over in UK.
          I'd like a video of it.

    • mangoss on 10/04/2016 - 22:03

      This.

      The number of times I asked a sales assistant to help me "find appropriate work pants" and got funny looks…. :P

      • altomic on 10/04/2016 - 22:32
        +1

        Same, I found this out the hard way. when I was working for R M Williams on Oxford St and a customer came out of the changing room after trying on some trousers.

        Me - "nice pants",
        him - weirded out stare.

  • fozzie on 08/04/2016 - 22:33

    You will have a ball. I lived 18 years in the UK. Only thing more expensive is transport and meat. Most of other things are cheaper. For yourself just sign up with an agency, much more work especially in London than here. My husband who's a partly qualified accountant has never been without a job, not even one day!
    Clothes'shoes are cheaper than here also better quality, so if i were you I'd go just with minimal clothes and shop there. Weather is shocking, very gray but for 2 years you'll be fine.

    • virhlpool on 10/04/2016 - 18:00

      Great insights. Why is Aystralia so expensive when it comes to clothes and shoes if they aren't manufactured here anyway?

      • fozzie on 10/04/2016 - 20:36
        +1

        No idea, but if you like sports clothes Sportdirect is your place. I still buy from there and get it shipped over :)

      • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2016 - 13:29

        Business overheads, taxes, high wages, unions, high profits.

  • gimli on 08/04/2016 - 22:34

    No afl mate

  • anonymous01 on 09/04/2016 - 01:13
    +2

    Make it a habbit to call it Football, not Soccer.

  • x2r9ypbj on 09/04/2016 - 08:37
    -3

    CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE SPEAK COR BLIMY
    THERMAL UNDERWEAR
    SLIPPERS
    PIPE
    WARM BEER
    COLD AND WET
    SNOW
    NO SUN
    NO AUSSIE RULES
    OUTSIDE BBQ NO
    THAT'S THE UK(HAVE A GOOD TIME) ME HARTIES

    • banana365 on 10/04/2016 - 11:21
      +2

      They do have outdoor barbecues. Well, the cooking is done outdoor but the eating is done whilst standing at the window looking out at the rain.

      (pretty much like Perth right now)

  • ozeebee on 09/04/2016 - 08:38
    +10

    Hi OP, my fiance and I were in your position last year. I'm posting from London now (still check ozb everyday :))

    We moved to London last year after considering it for ages. 9 months into our adventure, we wonder why we ever hesitated. Literally having the best time of our lives.

    It will all depend on your own preferences, but here are some that we personally found useful:

    1. Mobile phone we found 3 to be the best value. Its £20 a month includes unlimited data (really helpful before you have home internet connection). Best yet if you plan to travel as they have their "feel at home feature" which means its free roaming in 17 countries including data allowance.

    2. Definitely getting a bank account can be a nightmare. You need an address to open a bank acc, but need a bank acc to get a place to live. We used a friend's address for bank correspondence until we got our own place.

    3. We used the services of Global Career Links. It's basically a company that helps people migrate to the UK. They set up meetings with multiple recruiters, accountant and most importantly with a bank manager who opened our account on the spot (just remember the UK address). Best bit is that it doesn't cost you anything. They make their cut from when the recruiters place you into a role. PM me if would like me to get you in touch with them, it really set us up in our early days.

    4. Assuming you'll want to do contract work through a company as it is the most tax efficient way. Setting up a company can be quite tedious, its a lot of paperwork and does take time so start this as soon as you arrive. Opening a business bank account can be a worse nightmare than a personal one. I hear HSBC has one of the easiest procedures to open.

    5. My girlfriend is also an accountant (CPA), she says if you're after the $$ then financial services are the way to go. If you have any accounting experience within banking in Australia, you'll find something relatively easily.

    6. Check out aussienomad.com.au. Its sooooo long but very comprehensie and covers every single thing you need to know about relocating to London.

    7. Check out hotukdeals.co.uk. Its pommy ozb and its on steroids. You'll know what I mean :)

    Hope this helps, good luck!

    • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2016 - 20:03

      Hey ozeebee,

      Im trying to PM you but I dont think you have private message switched on :)

      • ozeebee on 09/04/2016 - 23:29

        Whoops, activated now.

    • virhlpool on 10/04/2016 - 18:03
      +1

      Which visa did you take? Is there any provision if someone is 30+?

      • ozeebee on 11/04/2016 - 18:27

        We're both on the Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa.

        Unfortunately it is only valid for 18-30 year old. I believe as long as the visa is approved before you turn 31 then it is still ok. Allow up to 3 months for the visa application to go through.

        The Tier 5 visa allows you to work and reside in the UK, just as a normal UK citizen would in most instances. There are some restrictions in regards to work but I think it is mainly if you are a doctor etc. (I would check this online)

        If you are over 31, unfortunately this wouldn't be an option. I believe the only recourse you may have is find a job/company that is willing to sponsor you on a working visa. Otherwise there is also a visa for business owners. But I would double check all these information as I only had a brief look into this, when we were previously thinking of prolonging our stay.

  • ozeebee on 09/04/2016 - 08:44

    Sorry also forgot the budgeting side. We always wanted to live in London so rent costs an arm and a leg. And without credit rating, we had to pay 6 months in advance, plus bond, plus leasing charges (yes the tenant pays leasing fees here!). Luckily we anticipated this so we had saved up beforehand.

    Also unlike Aus, commonly water bills and council rates are the responsibilities of the tenant. Water isn't too bad, but our council rates is £1,000 a year so it hurts!

    • raiyani on 12/04/2016 - 09:00

      The leasing fees are dependent on the landlord, Luckily, all mine have been paid by the land lord.
      Quite often you will find an "All inclusive" rental property which includes council tax and all utilities, it might be easier for you if you don't have any idea where to start looking for utilities providers. An all inclusive will help you with forecasting expenditure rather than being hit with an expensive heating bill (which you will definitely use in the UK).

  • donkey12 on 09/04/2016 - 09:38
    +1

    I'm Aussie and lived in the UK for 10 years. If want to live outside of London but commute, you NEED to factor in the train costs. Commuting is expensive and getting from one side of London to the other on the tube takes roughly 40-50 minutes, so take that into consideration vs the cheaper rent outside of London.

    There's a thing called the TV licence in the UK. We didn't know about it until the inspector rocked up to our door!

    • retiredfeline on 09/04/2016 - 09:47

      What about the fish license? And the cat detector van? :)

    • mangoss on 09/04/2016 - 14:04
      +1

      Forgot about the TV licence. It was quite a shock that you had to pay to watch the tele! One of the things no-one tells you about until you're there.

      • virhlpool on 10/04/2016 - 18:07

        How much a month for TV licence? I supposed it's in addition to the monthly dish charges (unless one just watches free channels)?

        • whodidthat on 10/04/2016 - 21:11
          +1

          It costs £145.50 for a colour and £49.00 for a black and white TV licence.

          In December 2008 a basic Sky TV package would set you back £17 a month, while a basic Virgin TV package cost £11 a month.

          Now to get the same channels costs you £30 and £18 respectively. That's £156 more a year for Sky and £84 more a year for Virgin.

        • virhlpool on 10/04/2016 - 23:09

          @whodidthat: And then, in addition to the channels package, you pay TV licence.. is it? That's a pain in such technology era!

        • whodidthat on 10/04/2016 - 23:18
          +1

          @virhlpool: Yes.

          The licence pays for BBC, not ITV, Channel 4, etc., but you can't say you don't or won't watch BBC. If you have a TV, you have to pay.
          Then, if you want Sky, you pay more.

  • darkchoc on 09/04/2016 - 10:20
    +1

    Mid twenties… You'll want to live in or around a thriving suburb of London as transport is easy e.g. Hammersmith, Sheppard's bush, Fulham, clapham, Ealing, chiswick, Richmond. These suburbs are not cheap but are convenient to get to work! Might want to consider house sharing to reduce costs and live in a decent place.

    But base everything around where you will get a job. Try recruiters early on and it would be ideal to have one or both of you with a job lined up to cover living expenses.

    London is absolutely the place to be in your twenties. Amazing culture, a transport hub, lots of work in financial services, way to get from A to B, food, drinks, social life. You will drink more, sleep less and be extremely social!

    Same can be said for Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh in some ways. It's cheaper living there. But it's colder and greyer the further north you go.

    If I were going back to London in my mid twenties, I'd definitely house share to get a good location rather than pay heaps for a crappy one bed/studio flat out be pushed out to outer suburbia.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2016 - 11:28
    +1

    A visa would be a good start. Don't assume you can just swan over there and get a job. The rules are the same for us going over there as them coming over here.
    Also London is not the UK or vice-versa. I don't get those who do to the UK and spend their entire time in London. There is a lot to see in the UK and London is no way representative of the UK.

  • cicada001 on 09/04/2016 - 15:56

    London is a fantastic city but it's very expensive - if you decide to go regional - agree with the comments of being near a good airport - also check the national rail website because they often have really cheap fares - you just need to keep an eye on them - eg it might cost anywhere between 8 quid and 120 - good luck - you'll have a ball

  • AussieDolphin on 09/04/2016 - 17:04

    Haven't read all the replies but what passports do you both hold? I lived in the UK for 10 years before moving 'down under' 6 years ago.

    If there is anything you would specifically like to know just ask.

    Following your thread as I am thinking about returning to do a 1 - 2year teaching stint over there. I will graduate with my degree next year however, my situation is very complicated.

    Good luck with it all.

  • nrg2010 on 09/04/2016 - 17:13
    +3

    I'm originally from London, good news is there is no threat of skin cancer or heat stroke. You get to experience real weather not just endless blue sky everyday, like is typical of here.

    If the greyness gets you, just jet over to Europe, enjoy wine in some province and enjoy some time with your lover in some rustic chateau, c'est bon.

    Also forget heading "norf" past Watford they are generally unwashed heathen and have strange accents, not like us cockneys. If London is too wanky (because it can be) try the west country like Devon or Cornwall. On my last visit I found a little village,nestled in the middle of knowwhere called Tipton St.John. Expecting a chat with a local I was met with "G'day mate" from the bar lady who was a native of Wollongong.

    Also the west county has some good surf breaks, the moors, clotted cream,scrumpy, cool stone circles, crazy pagan rituals and cornish pasties (I didn't even mention Tintagel)……….. Happy travels…

    • [Deactivated] on 11/04/2016 - 12:26
      +1

      Please do not post inaccurate information.
      15,000 UK residents develop malignant skin cancer per year and over 2,000 of them die.
      The temperature during the summer can reach over 30 degrees and people die of heat related illness ever year.
      In 2013 over 700 people died during a heatwave.
      Your comments regarding travel north of Watford are plainly ridiculous. You need to get out more.

      • whodidthat on 11/04/2016 - 14:43

        Ninjastud, the "Watford" comment is common in UK, a lot of southerners don't know where anything is north of Watford. Yet northerners know their way around. ;)

        Funny thing happened to my father, when he worked in London. One smart alec passed a similar "Watford" comment saying he'd never heard of Middlesbrough, etc., so my dad told him to look up. There, on the steel girder of the building, it said "Dorman Long, Middlesbrough".

      • nrg2010 on 11/04/2016 - 19:11
        +1

        My sincere apologies if you have lost someone in London who has passed from skin cancer or heatstroke. I was juxtaposing the Australian summer experience to the typical London summer periods. I consider cancer and heat waves as serious business, it was a light hearted comment in a bargain shopping forum. I should of finished off the sentence as "…no threat of skin cancer or heat stroke to those who are used to dealing with Australia's harsh conditions".

        Indeed it is of great concern the people who have died from heatwaves, and will continue to do so in an enhanced greenhouse scenario. Australia's own expereince of the 2009 southeastern Australian heatwave claimed many more lives than the ensuing (and tragic) events of Black Saturday yet was widely unreported. However, the OPs are in their 20's , the statistics indicate that those most vulnerable to heatwaves are the old and very young and those living in poverty.

        Based on the assumption that the OP's are outside the risk groups and that they are used to Australia's harsh conditions, I would suggest they have the diligence to navigate their way through the extremes of a British summer. That's not to say that they may not get heat stroke at Glastonbury as they have neglected to drink because they are " buzzin their nuts off" in some three day dance trance.

        Similar goes for skin cancer, Australian's demostrate a far higher degree of sun smartness that the average pommie. Who, on some years would struggle to know where in the sky the sun is meant to be. You've only got to go down to Bondi to see the evidence, it is not uncommon to see armies of bright red (sunburnt) poms being caught up in rips.

        As for comments on "norf" of Watford, do a wiki search before you make a twat of yourself, cos "your talking bollocks" (wiki that as well). It's as colloquialism, as much as the great Aussie westy,banana bender and bludger.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/04/2016 - 08:22

          I think that you are the one making a twat of yourself.
          I was born in the UK and spent the first half of my life there.
          I also contracted skin cancer there.
          I am familiar with the colloquialisms used by the less well educated southerners, (English and Australian)

  • goosegog on 09/04/2016 - 17:17
    +1

    Reading ( the town) is also a great hub for work & industry. A friends daughter & husband are coming towards the end of spending a year there working - he is also an accountant - but they can't wait to get back home to Aus. He also has a paid for rented house in Reading through his Aussie based accountantcy firm that he has secured this year long transfer through.
    However, having been born & brought up there ( around the Southampton, Poole & Salisbury areas ) Hubby& I could not ever consider being there again for any length of time. We came to W.A. In 1988 & have never looked back.The quality of life we enjoy here far outweighs any monetary savings that you may gain in the U.K. + although we may have problems with some particular groups of people with different views on life- it is far worse & more violent there.
    The weather is terrible most of the year & often doesn't even get light until 11am. Peoples attitudes are far more negative & introverted - your outgoing Aussie,bright personality runs the risk of becoming stifled from all the negativity around you.
    Yes the history is great to see & the countryside is beautiful ( but then it would be with all that rain). Advise your partner to use plenty of moisturiser - inside the home your skin will dehydrate through the constant use of central heating & outside it will dehydrate through constant wind burn & cold.
    Apart from that have a great time & come back home safely.

  • thebryceman on 09/04/2016 - 22:17
    +3

    Having lived there for five years, DONT WORRY ABOUT THE WEATHER…just dress appropriately, go out and do stuff anyway otherwise you will miss out. As other's have mentioned, keep your eyes on http://www.hotukdeals.com, http://www.holidaypirates.com and if you do your purchases and travel through https://www.topcashback.co.uk/home you can get a fortune back - i got over £500 back last year just clicking through.

    Three are excellent bang-for-buck as a phone network and their Feel at home bonus is excellent.
    EE definitely have the best 4G coverage and their latest plan is fantastic - wish we could get it here!
    http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/unlimited-mins-unlimited-tex…

    If travelling around the UK have a look at http://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/home.html the hotels are very clean and comfy and you can often get deals for £29 a night and occasionally even £19 a night! We had five nights in Scotland for £100 by just finding the ones with deals and matching our itinerary to that.

    Finally, Ryanair have really changed their customer service in the last two years and are now really good - just follow their rules and enjoy the bargain airfares and exotic places.

    Have fun!

  • conan2000 on 09/04/2016 - 23:40

    One of the best tips I can give is organise a bank account before you go. It was much harder opening an account there than anywhere else I have lived as they required utility bills in my name before they would let me open an account.

    One of the easier options is maybe open an account here with HSBC and get them to open one for you in the UK before you move. Not sure if other banks offer similar services or not, but definitely recommend doing this before you go!

    • retiredfeline on 09/04/2016 - 23:43

      Do they still require another customer to "recommend" you? I was there ages ago and thought it a quaint custom.

      • conan2000 on 10/04/2016 - 09:07

        Never heard of that, I joined HSBC a couple of years ago as my company at the time had corporate deals with them. They are okay, I definitely have a few annoyances with their service (internet banking is terrible), but worth joining if moving overseas, just to ease the process of opening foreign bank accounts.

        Once you get there and get other proof of address etc to open somewhere else, then there are probably better options.

  • spacemansam on 10/04/2016 - 00:22
    +1

    Hello,

    I'm living in London now, it's a great place to be with a lot of things happening all the time. I'm a physio but a lot of my friends are accountants who have said that it usually takes between 1-2 months for them to get a job and they all are under at least 3-4 recruiters. Most of them got in touch with their recruiters prior to arriving in the UK

    I wrote a blog about tips for moving to London, I hope it helps a bit
    https://poonannsontour.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/the-ultimate…

    Feel free to ask me anything!

    Good luck!

    • NoMoneyNoHoney on 11/04/2016 - 18:21

      Hey, nice blog! I'm also going down the Limited Company route, and was hoping to start the process of opening my bank account (before I even arrive to the UK). Does this mean I should be applying for a Business Banking Account rather than just a regular person transaction account? Which step comes first? Do I register a Limited Company or get a bank account first? Thanks!

      • spacemansam on 11/04/2016 - 22:15
        +1

        Thank you! Yes you will have to open up a Personal and Business Banking Account. When you get paid it goes into the Business account, then you have to transfer your own salary into the Personal account.

        You will have to register your limited company with Companies House first though - that cost me £300 to set up with an accountant. Once you have your company registered you will have a rego number which you will then have to bring to the bank with all the other documentation which will then allow you to open up the business account. Definitely book an appointment with an accountant, it will make life a lot easier. Hope that helps and let me know if you need anything else :)

  • DealsOnWheels on 10/04/2016 - 00:39

    You should try living in different parts of the UK for 6 months at a time if you can - regions are very different including the people with loads to see and do. I would chose the South of England as the best place to live - fantastic countryside, best weather, more jobs and plenty to do. So many people moaning here about the weather- get over it - it is at least predictable there and on south coast the weather is fine. In the winter you need heating but centrally heated houses are comfy and will most likely be double glazed and wont cost an arm and a leg to run.
    Yes there is a tv license there to pay for BBC just like you pay taxes here to fund the ABC. You wont need an accountant each year to fill in personal annual tax returns as they have tax codes calculated so you pay the right amount of tax so accountants over there are doing real accounting ;-). If you have mullet - get a haircut before you go :-).
    As for banks at least when I lived there the accounts are simple unlike here one account should cover all your needs and should have no usage/ monthly fees, often you can get credit cards that dont charge fees but will give you rewards to have them. So much is cheaper in the UK than here now with exception of petrol and transport which is expensive. Not many people drive 4L V6's unless they have their own refinery. You can get cheap flights to travel around Europe too. If you are going to a BBQ there dont be surprised that most bbqs are about the size of a bucket.

  • psyren89 on 10/04/2016 - 01:45

    Be sure to take up some form of exercise or get a gym membership. One thing that people tend to gloss over is the weather (staying inside all the time because outside is balls), in combination with the food culture (fish and chips in front of the telly, take out every night, etc.) will make you quite fat if you don't watch yourself.

    • jenkemjunkie on 10/04/2016 - 12:04
      +1

      it's called the heathrow injection mate!!!

  • gasman70 on 10/04/2016 - 04:07
    +1

    Cardiff and Bristol are worth considering.

  • Ghogger on 10/04/2016 - 05:19
    +3

    My question would be - why the UK? I recently moved to Berlin and the cost of living is wonderfully low, the people are nice and the city is great :)
    Don't be afraid of the language, most people speak English here and you might learn some German along the way!

    • jenkemjunkie on 10/04/2016 - 12:04

      good luck finding proffessional a job whilst your german is dismal

      • Ghogger on 10/04/2016 - 21:13
        +3

        It's actually not that difficult, many of the offices have switched their working language to English for a number of reasons, notwithstanding international customers and employees. Many of my German friends are even working in english speaking offices.. I think this is quite unique to Berlin though and is not representative of many European capital cities.

        I guess I just wanted to express my confusion as to why many Australian move to the UK.. I don't see the appeal.

        • virhlpool on 10/04/2016 - 23:12
          +1

          I guess I just wanted to express my confusion as to why many Australian move to the UK.. I don't see the appeal.

          Truly said. If I had to move abroad, I would rather opt for the US for better career opportunities and cheaper cost of living and probably even better weather depending on which state it is.

        • jenkemjunkie on 15/04/2016 - 07:25

          Well if that's the case then Germany would probably be a good option. The only thing dismal is how I spelt 'professional' haha

          Also I have lived in the UK and I hated it

  • Iangh on 10/04/2016 - 09:04
    +4

    I'd like to echo the comments about not staying in London. Try Birmingham (2nd city), Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds in England. Glasgow or Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast. You will find people with very different accents, all very proud of their home. And the further away from London you get I will guarantee you two things: it's cheaper and people are friendlier.

    Definitely live near a regional airport with cheap flights to Europe. http://flightchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/ It's a 4 hour flight to Turkey, 1hr to Paris, 2hrs to Madrid, etc. Treat yourselves to a romantic long weekend abroad every now and then. Fortunately, a lot of Europeans speak English.

    • whodidthat on 10/04/2016 - 17:42

      Hear, hear

    • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2016 - 13:22

      Spot on

  • lainey13 on 10/04/2016 - 11:37

    I did this from 2008-2010, alone. So glad I did, but wouldn't be in a hurry to go back!
    I paid a moving service to open a bank account for me and it was easy. Go before you're 26 so you can take advantage of all the 'youth' deals and fares. Get a youth card before you go so you can get discounts. It is hard living in London but honestly… London is where its at. Even now there are things I still never got around to doing or seeing in London simply because there is so much to see and do. The links to other cities are the best. The other cities really don't compare… and depending on your visa it was hard to get a job outside of London (wasn't looking at casual low paid jobs). Yes it is expensive but the experience made up for it, I wasn't there to make money! In the end I did bring back a few thousand pounds though. Expect to pay at least 700 pounds a month for a really teeny studio in London, it is probably even more nowadays… cheaper to share house but oh the horror stories you may have! Anyway have fun… feel free to ask more questions.

    Oh yes one more tip, when you buy a one way ticket, some airlines will give you extra kilos if you call up and say you're moving. Korean airlines gave me an extra 10, but a few airlines now offer 30kg as standard anyway. But it doesn't hurt to ask!

  • Ion on 10/04/2016 - 13:56

    Find a place to stay can be really hard.

    There is great variation in price depending on area- from £800 per month to many thousands of pounds- so you'll have to familiarise yourself with London's geography to search effectively (London is huge). And good places rent fast so it's probably wise to find a hotel, hostel, B&B or friend's sofa for a few initial weeks while you search. Expect to pay hundreds of pounds in fees to agents, a month's rent up front, and usually, an additional returnable deposit equivalent to a month's rent.

  • Scrooge McDuck on 10/04/2016 - 21:32

    In the UK, 27/28 is considered late not mid twenties.

  • starspawn on 11/04/2016 - 11:09

    I lived in Manchester for 2 years and loved it.

    Preferred it over living in London, as it's around 3 million people compared to 10 million in London - a lot less hectic.

    Everywhere is relatively close to get to for visits anyhow.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/04/2016 - 12:27

      Manchester is a great city, but you need to be aware that certain districts are too dangerous to visit.

      • robb2002 on 11/04/2016 - 23:33

        Manchester has 3 million people? Since when? Do you mean the county of Greater Manchester which the city of Manchester is a part of or just Manchester as in the city?

        • [Deactivated] on 12/04/2016 - 08:24

          Well the district I was born in for a start.
          How much detail do you want? Is there a reason for your question?

        • robb2002 on 12/04/2016 - 21:41

          @Ninjastud: Nope, was just merely wondering whether you meant the city of Manchester or Greater Manchester that was all :)

        • jenkemjunkie on 15/04/2016 - 07:31
          +1

          @Ninjastud:

          He was just being a typical insufferable ozbargainer

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 11/04/2016 - 11:40

    Don't settle in Birmingham

  • blackfrancis75 on 11/04/2016 - 13:27
    +1

    Practice using the term 'alright' as both a question and an answer, several times a day in your workplace.

    "Alright?"
    "Alright. Alright?"
    "Alright"

    • ozeebee on 11/04/2016 - 19:13

      Ha! this is so true.

      However it's more "You right?"

    • whodidthat on 12/04/2016 - 17:38

      As well as "hiya"

      • King Tightarse on 12/04/2016 - 18:45

        Oh yeah right, THAT! So f-ing annoying.
        Hiya hiya hiya in the pub.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/04/2016 - 13:26

      In Yorkshire you may hear the greeting 'now then'. It's meant to be friendly, but it doesn't sound it at first.
      Some areas of Yorkshire will also call you 'love', or 'old love', whether you are male or female.
      That sounds really odd when you first hear it, but whatever you do, don't make a joke about him being of an alternative sexual persuasion.
      They don't take too well to that.

      • whodidthat on 19/04/2016 - 22:03

        eeeh bah gum, does ya belly touch ya bum.

  • Iangh on 11/04/2016 - 14:05

    You can say alright instead of how do.

  • bteezy on 11/04/2016 - 18:38

    Just moved over to London a week ago.
    One thing that hasn't been mentioned is your choice of wallet - the Pound and Euro notes are very wide.
    If you were using a slimline wallet for our $AUD, you will find that they protrude and as they are made of paper, they will eventually deteriorate.

  • Ricey79 on 11/04/2016 - 20:09
    +2

    It rains more in Sydney that it does in London
    http://www.weather-guide.com/Weather-Comparison/London-Sydne…
    You get great summers in London, but then gloomy winters when all you can do is go to the pub, fun times :)

    • [Deactivated] on 11/04/2016 - 21:14
      +2

      And Londom pubs are incredible. Much better than these poncy bars we have in Aus!

  • Plug on 11/04/2016 - 20:15

    Make sure you have a doner kebab with chilli sauce. Fabulous food.

    • noramando on 12/04/2016 - 15:18

      I think hot chips with curry sauce is sensation then wash it with a pint of bitter.

  • igreen on 11/04/2016 - 23:26

    If you do not have an American express credit card in Australia. Please open one ASAP. Since they can look up for payment history and issue one in the new country immediately. It was a saviour when I relocated for a short term to the US. furthermore, it helped me to build a credit history. They are also good to increase the credit limit after some time. My initial limit was $5k without a zero annual fee card. Cash is king when you are moving to a new country.

  • gstfree on 12/04/2016 - 06:56

    Don't forget sort out your aus income tax return.

  • raiyani on 12/04/2016 - 09:31

    I'm originally from the UK (20+ years in Newcastle, 2 years in Manchester and 4 years in London) and moved to Melbourne. My girlfriend is from Melbourne and spent 2 years in London on the youth mobility Visa, that's how we met.

    I would recommend opening up a CitiBank Plus account whilst in Australia (no annual or joining fee), they have no fees for overseas transactions, cash withdrawals and overseas bank transfers, this way you don't need to take too much cash and they offer great rates too.

    I would recommend London, just because of your age range, I love London even though it can be hectic and busy but the job opportunities are higher, a lot more events and things to see and do. London also offers a great hub to travel to other parts of Europe, if you live outside of London, quite often you will be paying for transit to and from London when travelling overseas.

    You can find great deals on the Eurostar train to travel to Paris, Munich etc which departs from London St Pancras train station.

    London rent is way more expensive than outside but if you're patient you can find somewhere nice, I would recommend finding a place near a tube station (or by mid 2017 the crossrail which is the high speed train to the city from the suburbs). The tube will generally be your main mode of transport as driving is slow and expensive, there's a running joke that some parking meters make more per hour than some mcdonalds employees.

    If you're driving, be aware of the congestion charge when driving in/through zone 1 check points.

    If you're heading in winter, invest in some good boots/shoes, snow may look nice, but you'll hate it when it turns to muddy slush and ice, warm clothes for winter, you will not regret it, the further north you are, the colder it will get.

    Ensure you have enough savings to wait out several months if you want to be selective about jobs, London can be expensive, I find the prices similar to Melbourne (other than rent), Fruit and Veg are way cheaper in the UK but meat and fish are more expensive.

    If you want somewhere outside of London, I would recommend Manchester, it feels a lot more like Melbourne in terms of hustle and bustle and rent is a lot more reasonable.

    If you have any questions or want info, just PM me.

  • raytriplej on 12/04/2016 - 09:53

    Also we used our Australian credit card that accrued Qantas frequent flyer points when campervanning around Europe. The exchange rate for normal day to day costs bumped our frequent flyer points up and we flew home buisness class and made the most of the extra luggage allowance

    Slightly annoying making payments but with internet banking today (compared to 10yrs ago) it shouldn't be too much of a drama.

  • cockneylondoner on 12/04/2016 - 10:23

    Very interesting comments and for the most part good advice. Like everything else, investigation and planning before you leave is of paramount importance.
    Being a Londoner I am, of course, biased when I say that I think the place is terrific (as well as other parts of the UK of course) and I was pleased to have read of others memorable experiences gained from their stay here.

    May I, matthewli88, be one of the first to welcome you and your lady should you decide to spend some time with us in the UK and trust that you'll find your experience rewarding and mixed with plenty of happy memories.

  • noramando on 12/04/2016 - 10:50

    Love UK. Have you ever consider West Sussex or East Sussex? The weather is relatively better than the North of London. I lived there for almost 10 years and I missed the history and adventure. My ex have been living in Coventry for more than 30 years. East End and West End are close to London just like Parramatta to Sydney CBD. Very multicultural and flamboyant. UK is a great place for all ages. I want to return to UK but my wife prefer Sydney. She hates the cold and wet weather. In England there is a say, "Don't blink or the sun would be gone". Miss the good old days.

    • cockneylondoner on 12/04/2016 - 19:50

      A better saying we have is: If you can see the headland it's going to rain, if you can't see it, it is raining.- lol

      And the most popular word on our weather forecasts is 'changeable'. Unlike some places we can have all four seasons in one day so you'll never be spoilt for choice (or being caught out if you don't know what you're doing)!!

      Still my Aussie girlfriend, who spends 6 months of the year here and is fortunate enough to have dual Australian/UK nationality, loves the place.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join