Welcome To The Blog
Food for thought if you're thinking of relocating to the UK... some helpful articles to help with the process if you want to go it alone
What Makes Britain Great #16
Afternoon tea, the most quintessential of English customs is, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively new tradition. Whilst the custom of drinking tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China and was popularised in England during the 1660s, it was not until the mid...
Council Tax – what’s it all about?
If you’re coming to the UK from abroad to live, you might what to know what Council Tax is and what it pays for. Here’s the low down:
What Makes Britain Great #15
Unlike in some other countries, in the UK, tipping in restaurants is usually ‘discretionary’. It is not necessary to tip at all if you are unhappy with the level of service you’ve received…
Conveyancing – 10 Steps to Success
Conveyancing is the legal process of buying and selling property. If you’re a first time buyer here in the UK, it can literally be like talking in a foreign language. Here are the 10 most important things you’ll need to know before you find a property and place an offer…
How to relocate your wardrobe in (stress-free) style
Packing up your things – it’s the most stressful part of preparing for your move. But this shouldn’t be a time-consuming or troubling affair; you should just be looking forward to settling into your new home. To help you avoid a complete meltdown, here are 4 steps to a seamless and stylish wardrobe relocation…
How Much?– a rough guide to UK living costs
Aside from personal expenditure, there are a number of additional costs which need to be taken into account before you can decide on how much you have to spend on renting/buying your new home…
What Makes Britain Great #14
A round of applause is the usual way we Brits demonstrate our approval for something or recognise an achievement, but dignity, civility and decorum are still important…
What Makes Britain Great #13
Social kissing is becoming increasingly popular in Britain, but it is by no means an accepted norm, and is therefore a potential minefield…
What Makes Britain Great #12
Us Brits can be just as warm and friendly as the next person, we just like to be civilised about it. There has to be a dignified distance between strangers, especially in public places. Visitors to our nation can take a while to understand this and some people just stand too close, without any idea how offensive we find it…
UK Customs Transfer of Residence (ToR)
HMRC have changed the way we import personal effects into the UK and in doing so made life that little bit harder. So, here’s what we know about it:
What Makes Britain Great #11
The very unpredictability of English weather always seems to take us by surprise: a few weeks of summer sunshine results in near-drought conditions and garden hose bans; a few days of heavy rainfall causes rivers to swell their banks and disastrous floods; a ‘cold snap’ can bring the country to a standstill…
Shopping in the UK – Supermarkets
There are a few supermarkets to choose from in the UK – all have a slightly different brand image and price band. Which of the major chains will suit you best?…
Shopping in the UK – Department Stores
If you are relocating to the UK and not sure where you’ll be able to purchase all those essential items you’ll need once you get here, you might want to head to one of our department stores…
What Makes Britain Great #10
Using the WC should be a fairly straight forward and simple exercise so why is the mention of it surrounded by so much social embarrassment? Find out what etiquette is appropriate here in the UK…
UK Education at a Glance
All children between the ages of five and sixteen are required by law to receive full time education, usually at school but they can be home educated instead…
What Makes Britain Great #9
There are many foods which are traditionally British: roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, pie and mash and of course the great English breakfast fry-up. Fish and chip shops serve all sorts of things these days – pies, sausages, burgers and even curry…
Using Public Transport To Get Around London
Using rail, road and river to get around London is easy if you know how, so here are the basics. Don’t worry, you’ll be using the tube like a Londoner in no time at all…
What Makes Britain Great #8
British pubs aren’t famous the world over for nothing! The ‘local’ (as we call it) is the backbone of social life throughout most of the country, serving pints of real ale, lager and cider alongside continental beers, wines and spirits…