I'm moving to London

[Peji911]

So, within the next few weeks, I will be moving to London, England to teach since the teaching landscape here in Canada and the US is pretty dry.

Is anyone from OS from London or have lived there before?

I am just curious as to what to expect. Teachers there don't make much (international teachers such as myself will even be making more than locals) so I want to budget my money well. Any ideas as to where I should look to live (possible real estate management companies that are trusted), top mobile phones companies there I should look into (I will be bringing my iPhone). Transportation is also something that concerns me. The Oyster card's (bus pass) rates are brutal and the Travel card is crazy expensive (over 1000 pounds a year). Is getting a scooter possibly cheaper? I owned one is Australia and it was cheap, but not sure how expensive getting one for London would be (with insurance) and if it's even worth it due to weather.

Pretty much, any info would be great. lol

[The GIGGAS]

Re: I'm moving to London

I've been there a grand total of once, but I remember the Tube being generally ok. You might want to try it for transportation.

[youvalss]

Re: I'm moving to London

From London, Ontarion to London, UK?

[Peji911]

Re: I'm moving to London

From London, Ontarion to London, UK?

Huh? Im not from London, ON but I am moving to London, GB. lol

[youvalss]

Re: I'm moving to London

Huh? Im not from London, ON but I am moving to London, GB. lol

LOL, gave it a shot I went to the UK (England, Scotland & Wales) in 1990 with my parents. Never lived there, though. London is considered an expensive place generally, but I don't really know the neighbourhoods. I guess you could live just outside the city.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: I'm moving to London

London is basically like Toronto, which is a cleaner version of NY. With London being even more cleaner then Toronto. Not that it dont have its share of bad neighborhoods, but ya know it is like any other major city, only way cleaner compared to american major cities.

Far as transportation...I prefer a car over anything. London isnt Austrailia that is for sure. They get as much snow as we do in North america and when it isnt snowing in London, it is raining LOL.

Over all they are pretty nice over there. Lots of stuff to do over there, so you wont get bored anytime soon thats for sure.

[PVarck31]

Re: I'm moving to London

London is basically like Toronto, which is a cleaner version of NY. With London being even more cleaner then Toronto. Not that it dont have its share of bad neighborhoods, but ya know it is like any other major city, only way cleaner compared to american major cities.

Far as transportation...I prefer a car over anything. London isnt Austrailia that is for sure. They get as much snow as we do in North america and when it isnt snowing in London, it is raining LOL.

Over all they are pretty nice over there. Lots of stuff to do over there, so you wont get bored anytime soon thats for sure.

Toronto is by far the cleanest city I have ever been to. If London is cleaner that's crazy.

[chia51]

Re: I'm moving to London

What part of London are you going to? London is overall huge with burroughs and all.

If you are going to be in the downtown area... or some what close to the downtown I would recommend using the tubes/underground (subway)... the oyster card is great as it automatically calculates the cheapest fare for when you travel.

The underground is fast, easy and overall its pretty cheap. £1000 for a year is a good deal and you may be able to get your job to pay the bill as a lot of jobs out here do.

London itself is like what others have said... its clean for a big city. The biggest difference from "American" cities and London is the international flavor of the people... a lot of Indian, Pakistani, African and Europeans in general.

Food is great (not English food) but food in general... Indian is huge over here as is Chinese, Turkish and of course Italian. A pub food menu (English food) is generally; fish and chips (fries) with mushy peas (mashed peas), an Indian curry, Bangers (sausage) and mash (mashed potatoes), lamb roast with mint sauce... that is the basic menu at an english pub. Food I wouldn't worry about too much as there is always a great selection in restaurants and the supermarkets have excellent selections as well (Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsburys) they are the three bigs out here. And don't forget the markets, probably the best bet for a weekly visit for local fruits and veg.

Waitrose is a supermarket that is a little more upscale than the other two... there food quality (fruits and veg) is untouched... its the only place I shop now. A little more pricey overall as well.

Tesco is the biggest brand supermarket as they are like a walmart/grocery store. They have everything from TVs to rasberries. Cheap, cheap, cheap... fruits and veg are good quality and beer is really cheap in large quantities.

Sainsbury's is a mix of the other two... don't really go here too often as the closest one to me is 15 minutes away.

Depending on your age and what you like to do after work hours... the pubs are a good place to hang to get the local vibe... the English love to drink and they can put a good number of pints down in a night. I don't know how they can do it so often but they do. Overall pubs are a good time to hit right after work for a pint of lager before the daily commute on the underground where you will have tube sex with the person next to you.

Tube sex is where you are constantly grinding on the person next to you riding the tube because it is soooooo packed that you minus well be in the club. Sometimes its good for you, other times not so much .

PM me if you got any specific questions about London or England in general. My wife is in the military and we live about 75 miles northeast of London (1hr drive) and I recently got out of the military and am the manager of the travel agency here on the base.

So here is to you on your new journey and hoping that you have a good time... I think you will.

Chris

[Peji911]

Re: I'm moving to London

Hey Chris, thanks for the great response.

I find it funny that you say 1000Pounds is cheap for a one year's travel card -- how expensive are cars and insurance down there for that to be considered cheap? lol

I was looking at mobile phone companies, and came across high scpeed internet. I think it was O2 that offered unlimited internet at like 20MBPS for like 17 pounds -- is that true? That is REALLY cheap.

Are phone calculations similar to Aus in that, if you have, let's say, 100minutes and 500SMS you only use up mins and SMS for outgoing or if someone calls you, you still get minutes deducted?

As for the English menu -- ya, prolly staying away from that except the fish and chips, lol.

I am just clearing things up with the agency Im working with but Im bound to have some questions soon enough. Biggest worry for me is getting an apartment as close to the school as possible, so I can cut down on the price of travel -- seems insane!

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: I'm moving to London

Internet throughout europe is way cheaper and faster then anything in north america. Mainly because of the cultural difference. In north america, companies view broadband internet as something to make the hugest profit off of. Where as in europe, companies view it as something that everybody needs and will benefit the nation as a whole. Big difference in way of thinking.

[FlyingFinn]

Re: I'm moving to London

1000 pounds for a years travel card seems cheap to me. I spend over $2000 a year in just gas for my car. When you add in insurance, repairs etc... it is probably around $4000 a year for my car and that doesn't include the car payment. Besides, I don't think I would want to deal with driving in London traffic (on the wrong side of the road mind you) or trying to find parking.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: I'm moving to London

You got more parking in London then you have in NY. Plus nobody traffic is worse then NY, LOL,

[sportsdude]

Re: I'm moving to London

Toronto is by far the cleanest city I have ever been to. If London is cleaner that's crazy.

not to take this off topic, but it's funny you guys are saying Toronto is the cleanest big city you've been to. I wouldn't know because the one time I went there, I think it was in 02 or 03, was when they had the trash strike. I remember driving through little Italy on my way to dinner and seeing mounds of garbage bags piled higher than the cars parked on the side of the street. Aside from that, I really enjoyed Toronto.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: I'm moving to London

If you thought that strike was something, it was very small compared to the strike in Chicago during the 80s or the strike in NY during the 90s or even the Gary strike they had last year. Trash piled so high you could have went skiing down it. Rat and sea gull heaven I tell ya.

But yeah Toronto is the cleaniest major city in north america.

[dopeboy206]

Re: I'm moving to London

Internet throughout europe is way cheaper and faster then anything in north america. Mainly because of the cultural difference. In north america, companies view broadband internet as something to make the hugest profit off of. Where as in europe, companies view it as something that everybody needs and will benefit the nation as a whole. Big difference in way of thinking.

Yeah man in Europe they getting like 50Mbps a download on average. Over here in America 50Mbps is a luxory.