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Expat guide: London
This expat guide offers information and advice if you are moving to London. Click on the different tabs to find out about anything from tax rules and banking to education and cultural highlights.
You can also read our expat guide to the United Kingdom.
Download this guide as a pdfMoving to London
Few cities offer the grandeur and excitement of London. It shines with possibility in even the greyest weather, and offers opportunities for career development and personal discovery unmatched elsewhere. Expats moving to London encounter a multicultural, densely packed amalgam of people working feverishly against a backdrop of cutting edge technology and two millennia of history.
London might feel physically removed from Europe but is ideally placed to explore it, a proximity that is a key benefit of living here. London is also home to world class tourist attractions, magnificent architecture, incredible theatre, concerts and art, plus beautiful expansive inner-city parks for restive lunch breaks.
There is no denying that London is expensive – by some estimates the third most costly city in the world for expats, although the weakening pound is making the city cheaper for Europeans and Americans. The long English winters can be a trial for those hailing from warmer climates. Expats also face the challenge of London's public transport system. Rush hour commuting on the tube or bus system can be unpleasant and almost certainly malodorous, but you will get to where you need to go without recourse to a car.
London has a huge expat population. There are large, well established communities of Asians, South Africans and Australians, and a sizeable population of Americans and Caribbean immigrants. The result is a dynamic, energising environment that never ceases to surprise and always values people’s skills over their origins.
Shipping and removals
Costs will depend on the volume of goods and the length of time involved in shipping. Goods shipped from the USA and Canada will take around four weeks, with extra time added for customs clearance. Shipping pets to the UK is a lot easier than in the past thanks to the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Provided the animal has a veterinary certificate and all inoculations are up-to-date, they can be freely brought into the country without undergoing quarantine. See full details here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/index.htm
Air and sea freight:
www.excessbaggage.com
Freight company:
www.anglopacific.co.uk/index.htm
Sea freight:
www.shipit.co.uk
Pet shipping:
www.petrelocation.com
This content is provided by www.expatarrivals.com, copyright © 2009 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media nor Bupa International can be held liable for any errors or omissions, or any loss, damage, illness and/or injury that may occur as a result of this information.
Bupa International is not responsible for the content of external websites.
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