9 780956 826022 £ 20 ISL is a meeting point and great Living in the UK place for di erent Living in the UK nationalities. All the families feel welcome and happy to be part of this communi. Natalia, ISL Buddy Parent ISL London Natalia is a buddy parent volunteering as part of the Crossroads Transition Team to help new families feel welcomed into the school. International Schools need to oer more than an exceptional academic curriculum, they need to nurture the entire family in their new home. The award- winning Crossroads Transition Team ensures that no one is le behind in an international move. £ 20 London +44 (0) 20 8992 5823 Surrey +44 (0) 1483 750409 Qatar +974 4433 8600 An Essential Guide to the UK www.islschools.org ISBN 978-0-9568260-3-9 9 780956 826039 LIUK==3.indd 200 22.6.2016 11:47:25 THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN ENGLAND THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN ENGLAND LIUK==3.indd 202 22.6.2016 11:47:28 THE AMERICAN SCHOOL IN ENGLAND Living in the UK An Essential Guide to the UK Compiled by FOCUS © 15th edition June 2016 Every attempt was made to ensure the information contained in the publication is accurate and up to date. However, FOCUS wishes to point out that telephone numbers, websites and other details may change. FOCUS cannot accept financial responsibility for errors, omissions or changes in the information contained in this publication. We also do not intend these resources to be exhaustive; they are a starting point to your life in the UK. © FOCUS Information Services. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction or distribution in part or in the whole without express written consent from FOCUS Information Services. ISBN 978-0-9568260-3-9 LIUK==3.indd 1 22.6.2016 11:48:51 Letter from FOCUS We welcome you to the UK and hope that your experience here will be a suc- cessful one creating great memories for the years to come. Moving to a new country, or even returning to a country, can be burdened with the mundane of setting up a bank account, registering for council tax, getting a new driver’s licence or just the overall challenge of establishing a new network. FOCUS is here to make this transition, and beyond, as easy and enjoyable as possible. This 15th edition of FOCUS Living in the UK contains essential practical information with invaluable tips giving you direct insight from other expatriates living in the UK. Many FOCUS members have lived here for more than a decade and in doing so have learned how to best navigate the ups and downs of life in the UK. We wanted to share their advice and experiences in order to make your life here both positive and memorable. We have included a number of FOCUS sponsors in this guidebook. We re­ commend you mention FOCUS when contacting them as we have long standing relationships with these companies and they will be able to assist you. Each time we print a new edition of this guide we update the information to reflect the ever­changing landscape of the UK; but moreover, to reflect the needs and interests of our members. This guide provides an excellent starting point but is not exhaustive. For additional recommended resources and information please refer to the FOCUS website or contact our friendly team. We could not have put this together without the dedication of Paola Lon- gobardi, Nancy Dickinson and Alessandra Gnudi. Making it all come together is our talented graphic designer, Jan Dobes to whom we are grateful. The FOCUS Team About FOCUS FOCUS is a unique community for expats and international professionals living in the UK. Our multinational team provides an award winning service sharing their first­hand knowledge on all aspects of living and working here. Members gain access to personalised information, events and seminars. Operating as a non­profit organisation, we are proud to have been supporting expats for over 30 years. We hope to see you soon at our office in Central London! Follow Us via our social media channels. Find us @focus­info.org 13 Prince of Wales Terrace, London W8 5PG Tel: +44 (0) 20 7937 7799 Email: office@focus­info.org www.focus-info.org LIUK==3.indd 2 14.6.2016 12:14:35 Contents You in the UK ...................................................................... 5 Moving .................................................................................. 9 Housing ............................................................................. 18 Utilities ............................................................................... 35 Finance & Law ................................................................. 42 Healthcare ........................................................................ 52 Services .............................................................................. 69 Driving & Transportation .......................................... 75 Shopping .......................................................................... 89 Activities & Entertainment ..................................... 107 Travel & Day Trips ........................................................ 147 Children ........................................................................... 157 Pets .................................................................................... 168 Apps .................................................................................. 178 Emergency numbers ................................................. 186 LIUK==3.indd 3 14.6.2016 12:14:35 Membership Privileges • One-to-one orientation meeting • Unlimited support for 12 months • 3 Guide Books Living in the UK, Children in the UK, Working in the UK • Career Development Programme for spouses, including workshops and seminars • 6 Issues of FOCUS Magazine • 50+ seminars, social events and exclusive invitations • Central London Office • Access to recommended services via website, www.focus­info.org Not yet a member? Join Now! www.focus-info.org / [email protected] / +44 (0)20 7937 7799 LIUK==3.indd 4 14.6.2016 12:14:36 You in the UK You The Monarchy ............................................................6 Politics ........................................................................6 Climate & weather .....................................................6 British culture ............................................................7 British food traditions ..............................................8 Public holidays ..........................................................8 LIUK==3.indd 5 14.6.2016 12:14:36 You in the UK Understanding the landscape of the UK is an important first step when relo- cating. Often one of the first mistakes newly arrived expats make is incorrectly using the terms United Kingdom, Great Britain and England interchangeably. The United Kingdom consists of the entire island of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In fact, the official name of the country is the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.’ The United Kingdom is one of the founding members of the United Nations and sits on the United Nations Security Council. Great Britain, on the other hand, is made up of England, Scotland and Wales. Scotland and Wales are not independent countries but do have some autonomy from the United Kingdom with respect to internal governance. The English, Scottish and Welsh each have their own, unique national identity and therefore the Scots do not appreciate mistakenly be referred to as English and visa versa. The Monarchy The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. The monarch of the UK also serves as head of state of the Com- monwealth countries. The members of the Royal Family participate in many public engagements including the commemoration of historical events, holi- days and celebrations. They also sponsor and participate in numerous charita- ble, cultural and social activities in the UK and abroad. Politics The UK has a parliamentary government. The position of Prime Minister, the UK’s head of government, belongs to the Member of Parliament who obtains the majority of votes in the House of Commons. The Parliament of the UK, the ultimate legislative authority, has two houses: an elected House of Commons and an appointed House of Lords and any bill passed requires the consent of HM The Queen to become law. Parliament sessions are broadcast and can be quite informative as well as entertaining. The UK is currently a member of the European Union but has not adopted the euro as its currency. Climate & weather The British Isles have variable and unpredictable weather. You will need to get used to carrying an umbrella with you since rain invariably occurs when you least expect it. The UK generally enjoys milder winters and cooler summers than places of the same latitude in continental Europe. Discussing the weather is a national pastime and, depending on where you are from, may take some time to get used to. 6 FOCUS Living in the UK LIUK==3.indd 6 14.6.2016 12:14:36 British culture The British demonstrate a great deal of tolerance in everyday life. As a result everyone is welcome in Britain, but newcomers are expected to show an interest in Britain and attempt to understand and reproduce what is considered ‘normal’ behaviour. Here are a few FOCUS top tips: Humour The renowned British sense of humour is a vital element in all aspects of British life and culture. Humour, often in the form of self­deprecation or irony, is highly respected. When working with the British you must be able to take a joke! Indirectness The British are known for their politeness and courtesy therefore is it better to avoid direct statements