Londoners......HELP Please!!
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free skin care · Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:03 am

Hi,

My husband and I live in Houston right now but it looks like we might be transferring to London in a month or less…it is happening extremely quickly and there is going to be little time to prepare. We are both SO excited to be moving to such a wonderful city.

I thought I would ask for some help and suggestions on the forum since you all are always so helpful when I have a question! And I have a million questions! Were is a good place to live with nice housing that is in the central part of London? Is there a central (or downtown) area in London? I am an accountant and he is in oil and gas so it would be best for us to live central rather than in a suburb so that we are close to work. Are there any good websites to help find a flat? Are there any websites just to give me information about the city? What should I expect? Any advice on the cultural differences and what I can do to make sure I don’t look like a moron? What kind of clothing (guessing I should live my shorts at home, right? And will need a heavy coat?)? What is the job market like for accountants? I am hoping that I can transfer with my company but not sure yet……so I may have to look for a job. Is it best to find a headhunter/recruiter in London or just search on websites? I know my CPA will not have any weight over there so maybe someone knows of a firm that is looking for employees that know about U.S. GAAP or have their CPA license. Oh, I am a wreck! I have never been to Europe and my family is all from Brasil so I have no idea what to expect!

Any advice at all would be very, very appreciated!

free skin care · Thu Oct 13, 2005 3:28 pm

Hi Shelley, first of all I have only been to London once and can't really answer you questions but would suggest that you both have at least 2/3 seperate vacations in London, to get a feel for. the place and tour around.
Forgive me if I am being obvious Embarassed

I am sure you will both be fine and with those jobs you will be snapped up Very Happy

free skin care · Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:39 pm

Thanks Rosebud! What do you mean have separate vacations in London? Once we move there or after we are already in London? I am hoping we will be able to visit before we move but I am not sure. My husband has to tell his company very soon if we are willing to go. His job is the reason we are moving but I am still looking for one. So scary and so fun at all once.

free skin care · Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:57 pm

Yes I meant visit first before you move there. So your husband has been offered a job in London?
Ooooo I'm really excited for you Very Happy

free skin care · Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:37 pm

Me too!! I found this other forum for Americans already living in the UK and it is really helping except that I am getting a bit nervous of how small minded some of them are (they seem to complain a lot). I lived in Brasil for a while so I am not totally new to living abroad but I am worried I will be lumped into the same category with the small minded ones.....but that is silly, isn't it?

Yes, my husband already has the job....now we just have to decide if this is what we want to do. That is why I have so many questions...I am not going to have much time to make a decision.

Rosebud where do you live in the UK?

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:04 am

Hey it's only natural to be a little worried especially as you've mentioned some are whiners.

I think it's a good idea to come and visit, perhaps look in to viewing some properties? but since your guy seems to be pressed for time...is there anything specific you want to ask? hopefully we can put your mind at ease?

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:42 am

You should be fine in London because there are already so many Americans in London. However I do not like it when they expect things to be like the States 'cos it isn't and I think it is a bit obnoxious for anyone to think another country should cater to their needs.

About where to live check outwww.findaproperty.co.uk this has the most listing for flats and houses ALL over the Greater London area and it is free to use. So you can sit and check through different areas and look at the houses and prices.

If you want to be an accountant here, and maybe work in the 'City' then you might want to live around there which is the East Central London (Old Street, Shoreditch, Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Clerkenwell etc). South London is cheaper than North. And East cheaper than West. I live in Covent Garden and if you want to live VERY central then choose areas around here but obviously you have crowds of tourists and lots of constant noise, (Soho, WC1/WC2/ Holborn, Fitzrovia, Mayfair, Bloomsbury etc)

I think my best advice though is find out where your husband is posted. And then research that area for prices etc.

Best of luck

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:45 am

yusufosman wrote:

South London is cheaper than North.

North London is generally considered the more desirable part of London to live in. I never really understood this myself. I lived in Wimbledon for a couple of years and I absolutely loved it there.
Rightmove is another good property site that should give you an idea of what you can get for your money. It helps if you know what part of London you are searching in though.
As others have mentioned, the best way to get a feel for London is to visit it and have a good look round the different parts.

You mentioned throwing your shorts away. I wouldn't do that quite yet. Smile

The summer can be quite hot and humid in London although maybe not as hot as you are used to in Houston. You might find that you need them July/August time. You will need a heavy coat for the winter though and make sure you have gloves, scarf etc too. Very Happy

London is a very strange place. There are so many different cultures in the city that it will be very hard for you to make yourself look a moron. You will find that you will probably meet very few 'real' Londoners when you are there. London seems to be full of people from all around the world. It always amuses me when on the Underground how little you hear people speaking in an English accent.

This may also be of some use - Expat Info. Haven't checked out the links myself but there may be something helpful in there.
This website may help you get an idea of what sort of jobs are around - E Financial Careers.

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:52 am

Yes on my one visit to London Embarassed

I too noticed I never once heard a London accent Laughing

I live in Lancashire, just North of Manchester, now I know to you Amemericans, looking at the map it seems not too far away but to us Brits it's miles away!!!! Laughing

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:23 am

I didn't mean to imply (if I even did) that North London is more desirable than South. In fact I think both have equally number of desirable/not so places.

Generally I wouldn't recommend any area other than you should go and check out any areas for yourself. All over London. This way not only are you getting to see lots of London but also you get a feel for each area, the people, the kinds of housing/amenities available. I onced lived just across the river opposite the Tate Modern. It was a great location and I loved the area but my closest supermarket was like 30+ mins away.

There is no point in finding a flat you like and then short time down the line you realise that the area is somewhere where you want to live! So spend some time/research and it'll be worth it! (And you'll learn a lot)

Yusuf

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:40 am

yusufosman wrote:

I didn't mean to imply (if I even did) that North London is more desirable than South. In fact I think both have equally number of desirable/not so places.

Don't worry, Yusuf. I wasn't implying that you thought North London was more desirable. You mentioned that North London is more expensive than the South and I was just explaining that North London is a more expensive area to buy property because it is considered more desirable. This is generally the case with the housing market in any part of the country. The more desirable locations can command higher prices.
I'm not sure why the North part is more desirable. I think it may have something to do with better transport links and facilities. South of the river doesn't have nearly as many Underground links as the North.

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:12 am

yusufosman wrote:

...I think it is a bit obnoxious for anyone to think another country should cater to their needs.

Didn't you know that Americans ARE obnoxious?! Very Happy

Yes, I am an obnoxious American too, but just don't ever call me a "Yank" or "Yankee" cuz them's fightin' words where I come from!

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:18 am

Toe wrote:

You mentioned throwing your shorts away. I wouldn't do that quite yet. Smile

The summer can be quite hot and humid in London although maybe not as hot as you are used to in Houston. You might find that you need them July/August time.

P.S. I’m curious what you Londoners consider to be “shorts” weather. Exactly how hot is “hot and humid” in July/August?

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:33 am

carekate wrote:

P.S. I’m curious what you Londoners consider to be “shorts” weather. Exactly how hot is “hot and humid” in July/August?

This will probably amuse those of you who live in really hot countries but some of us Brits will consider it to be hot anywhere between 23-30 Celsius (about 71-86 Fahrenheit). You see some people out and about in shorts when it is only about 20/21 Celsius too.
July/August the temperature probably ranges between 24-31 Celsius in London. It's very difficult to say exactly as the summer over here can be so unpredictable. Smile

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:43 am

You see people wearing shorts most the year round actually. This past week has been pretty grim for the most part, and I have seem quite a few bare legs around!

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:48 am

Toe wrote:

...but some of us Brits will consider it to be hot anywhere between 23-30 Celsius (about 71-86 Fahrenheit).

Actually, when it drops below 80 degrees, that’s when some of us start shivering: for example, a couple of weeks ago, it was 107 degrees F one day, and by the next day it was only 57 degrees F, and I swear all of us “hardy” Texans were talking about dragging our winter clothes out of storage because we were freezing our *sses off!! It was time for us to get the parkas out!

free skin care · Fri Oct 14, 2005 8:27 am

Shelley - Don't worry too much about the cultural differences.

When we had to move to France for a few years, I was absolutely dreading it. But if you're receptive to new experiences and willing to try "going native", you'll find it to be a truly wonderful experience, I'm sure.

I cried for a fortnight when we had to finally move back to England - I'd grown to love my new home so much!

Sorry, have only visited London on a few occasions, so don't have any info on living there, but it really is an amazing city. You'll find loads of interesting and exciting things to keep you occupied there.

Congratulations on becoming an honorary Brit! Hope you'll be really happy over here. Very Happy

free skin care · Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:56 pm

Thank you all for your replies! I am still doing a ton of research and getting more and more excited about moving.....of course my husband still has not made a decision so it is really up in the air, but keep your fingers crossed for me.......and feel free to call me a "yank" when and if I move to London! Will let you know if it happens.

Cheers!

free skin care · Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:36 pm

Quote:

think it is a bit obnoxious for anyone to think another country should cater to their needs.

The same way the Brits are so obnoxious over here in FL, they ask for fish and chips everywhere they go along with warm beer and tepid tea. Why do the Brits insist on having foreign holidays but demanding that places like Spain, Portugal and the other Mediterranian locals they descend on cater to their brand of fried or boiled food?

What is traditional British food? Is it the fish and chips shop run by an Indian or
Chinese or is it the Indian restaurant ran by an Oriental or is it the Italian Bistro run by Pakistanis?

free skin care · Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:40 pm

Shelley, I'm glad you're doing your research first before deciding on living there, my husband and I spent a lot of time in London, and it was a huge culture shock for us. Please visit the place first and check out the apartments or houses.

free skin care · Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:27 pm

I agree with Carrie if it hits 70 here were in sweaters and God forbid it hits 60 we just can't cope and grab our coats. But on the bright side we can handle the heat Razz

..Best of luck in London..and omg a month to pack move and change everything. Yikes

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