Anyone here live in the London area?

[amcalabrese]

I have found out that during the summer, I am being transfered to our London office. While my family and I are very excited by the move, we obviously have questions.

If anyone lives or lived, in or near London, any advice for a family of 4 (with two young sons)?

 

[KCtheMommy]

You are so LUCKY!

Ahhhhh, you’ll love it. The schools are EXCELLENT. The people are so kind and gracious.

I lived in England before my fabulous career of wife and mommy, and really really enjoyed it.

I’ll go nudge a forum friend who lives near London to come give you more advice.

 

[apricot_yogurt]

Ah KC, I guess you must have been wearing some rose-tinted spectacles when you visited. Of all places in the UK, Londoners are the rudest.

 

[lizaanne]

Congratulations! How exciting!!

I did enjoy London, though I prefer the country myself.

The biggest culture shock items (for me):

Not needing a car and walking or taking public transport everywhere

Clothes washers and dryers are about the size of a microwave, unless you are in a large home

EVERYTHING is SOOOOO expensive!!! I hope they are giving you a good salary!!!

Is this to be a temporary assignment, or will you be there for an extended period?

A really fantastic site to have some great conversations about culture and what to expect as an American living in the UK visit uk-yankee.com/ Before my husband decided to move here from England, I was planning to move there. This site was totally invaluable to me in understanding what to expect, and how to prepare for the move. Everything from how to pack up your household and ship it (your company will probably assist with this), to what sort of electronics you can take, and what to leave behind.

This will be a massive transition for your family, but will be exciting and fun if you are PREPARED and do your homework!!

Enjoy!!!

~Liza

 

[LilyM]

Sounds lovely. The closest I got to the country was Hampton Court (which is stunning), but I intend as soon as possible to go back and see more of Britain.

There’s so much to do and see apart from the usual touristy stuff.

I really enjoyed the British Museum and the National Gallery. Being a massive geek I could happily have just camped out at one or the other the whole time I was there. They’re both HUGE, so there’s no chance of running out of new stuff to look at!

Also got to go to a concert at the Albert Hall and a performance of *King Lear *at the rebuilt Globe Theatre (constructed roughly as it would’ve been in Shakespeare’s day - just make sure it’s not raining if you do go!). Again, great experiences even though at the Globe I didn’t have a great view of the stage (don’t get the really really cheapo tickets, splash out for a view).

 

[amcalabrese]

The ukyank site looks good. It is a two to three year stint (though to annoy my left wing friends, I say I will entend it if it looks like Obama will get reelected – JUST KIDDING!).

I took this job (and moved back to NY from Chicago) because it was a possibility. My wife and I talked about living in Europe even when we were dating, but with the kids ages, it seemed like it was either now or wait until the younger one entered college (in 15 years). So we decided now.

Obviously, the questions are many – city or suburbs, schools, do we bring the car (in answer to someone else’s comment, my wife and I have generally like the urban life and have lived in cities since starting work).

I even asked an apologist if s a cradle Catholic I can attend an Anglican Use Mass – I figure with the number of conversions, there are probably a lot of them there (having attended a high church Anglican wedding once, I must admit I fell in love the old Anglican service and have become very interested in their hymns).

Anyway, thanks for the advice and keep it coming.

 

[ora_pro_nobis]

I was born in London and have lived here all my life!

Welcome, Amcalabrese, I’m sure you and your family will have a great time here. There is much to see and do, some great areas to live in, and the Catholic schools tend to perform better than ordinary schools. There are some lovely Catholic churches too.

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

 

[lizaanne]

The ukyank site looks good. It is a two to three year stint …

You will find that site very helpful - just don’t venture into the general discussion areas, the members to tend to be a bit liberal, and being Catholic is not popular. But the rest of the practical discussions are very helpful, so don’t dismiss those in the process.

Two - three years is a good length of time!! Not too long, and it will go by SO fast, before you know it you will be coming back!

How exciting for you all - I’m sure it will be a wonderful time for your family!

Oh - and there ARE Catholic Churches, you just need to look for them.

Here is a good start: catholiclinks.org/paroquiasinglaterra.htm

~Liza

 

[LilyM]

The ukyank site looks good. It is a two to three year stint (though to annoy my left wing friends, I say I will entend it if it looks like Obama will get reelected – JUST KIDDING!).

I took this job (and moved back to NY from Chicago) because it was a possibility. My wife and I talked about living in Europe even when we were dating, but with the kids ages, it seemed like it was either now or wait until the younger one entered college (in 15 years). So we decided now.

Obviously, the questions are many – city or suburbs, schools, do we bring the car (in answer to someone else’s comment, my wife and I have generally like the urban life and have lived in cities since starting work).

I even asked an apologist if s a cradle Catholic I can attend an Anglican Use Mass – I figure with the number of conversions, there are probably a lot of them there (having attended a high church Anglican wedding once, I must admit I fell in love the old Anglican service and have become very interested in their hymns).

Anyway, thanks for the advice and keep it coming.

Oddly enough, as I understand it the Anglican Use isn’t actually used in the UK, but in the US.

But there are plenty of Catholic churches there, so you don’t have to worry.

 

[Sacred_Ground]

You are so LUCKY!

Ahhhhh, you’ll love it. The schools are EXCELLENT. The people are so kind and gracious.

I lived in England before my fabulous career of wife and mommy, and really really enjoyed it.

I’ll go nudge a forum friend who lives near London to come give you more advice.

Ah KC, I guess you must have been wearing some rose-tinted spectacles when you visited. Of all places in the UK, Londoners are the rudest.

This is definitely right KC - London is quite harsh, maybe a little like N.Y. - people in the North tend to be much much warmer than the South, so maybe that’s why your impression was a little more positive than if you had been in the South.

And, yeah, the schools in general are better than the states, but there are definitely some you would be better off avoiding - amcalabrese, if you want advice regarding specific schools in London, I can help you more if you like.

Obviously, the questions are many – city or suburbs, schools, do we bring the car (in answer to someone else’s comment, my wife and I have generally like the urban life and have lived in cities since starting work).

Anyway, thanks for the advice and keep it coming.

Everything in London is pretty tight in terms of space - you have to go a fair distance to get a semi-detached house at a reasonable cost. Fully detached is normally beyond most people’s budgets (I know, it’s crazy), at least in a reasonable area.

Don’t bring the car, if you can avoid it, you do NOT want to try parking in London with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car - you’ve normally got about 15 seconds to park before people start getting visibly annoyed!

In terms of urban life, London is pretty varied, but sometimes it’s kind of sad when 30% of what you hear is in languages you don’t understand. And people can be COLD in the South, really cold. No one will say ‘hi’ or ‘howdy’ in the street, ev-er.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom, there are some great Churches, great schools, great communities, and great people too - they’re just a little thin on the ground in London

If you need to, PM me for more info.

 

[KCtheMommy]

I’m sitting here cracking up over this thread. “Rose colored glasses?” Nope. I figured it out though.

And yes, I spent time in London too Andre. I lived in the North, but spent weeks in London.

SO why were people so nice to me in London if they are so rude to you? Might have been the fact I was a young, thin, American gal of 21. Who happens to be talkative and polite. Know what I mean? :tiphat:

Men talked to me everywhere I went. Stores. Museums. The bus. The tube.



So OP I defer to the people who are saying that Londoners can be rude. I was in a different time and space back then.

 

[Sacred_Ground]

I’m sitting here cracking up over this thread. “Rose colored glasses?” Nope. I figured it out though.

And yes, I spent time in London too Andre. I lived in the North, but spent weeks in London.

SO why were people so nice to me in London if they are so rude to you? Might have been the fact I was a young, thin, American gal of 21. Who happens to be talkative and polite. Know what I mean? :tiphat:

Men talked to me everywhere I went. Stores. Museums. The bus. The tube.



So OP I defer to the people who are saying that Londoners can be rude. I was in a different time and space back then.

It’s not necessarily rudeness, just sort of being cold in general.

My sister once collapsed in a train station and NO ONE bothered to help her (or even call an ambulance). She woke up 20 mins later, and realised that people had just been stepping over her

Or, for example, a bum gets on the train and starts making jokes about life/politics. I would crack up laughing, cause the guy is FUNNY!, but everyone else would be trying to look in the other direction (or biting their lip trying to hide a smile ).

It’s like, come on people, SMILE, laugh, ANYTHING, be HUMAN!

And being a young, slim, American gal who’s willing to talk to anyone is an unfair comparison!

 

[PJR]

I am only about 45 min from London and you can get a big HOWDY from just about everyone you meet around these here parts…OH, you’re not talking about London, KY? Nevermind

 

[petitfleur]

London is extreemly expensive!!! My IL’s live in the burbs and go on crazy shoppin jags when they come visit. I found them to be rude. It was wierd walking down the street an nobody made eye contact or smiled, or said “hi”. (I was thin and cute at the time myself )
Once while I took my DD to the park there was another lady there playing with her DD. I started talking to her and she said
“Oh, your from the COLONIES, I have been to Orlando once and did not much care for the COLONIES.”
I just politely smiled and thought…does she realize we WON that war?
Its also funny becuase many Brittish people have been to Florida and think all of America is like that.
The Irish I met while there were all lovely warm people!!!

 

[petitfleur]

Oh and I am still amazes at how we might speak the same language but I cant understand a word some people say!!!
Particularly some Scottish accents!!!

 

[LDNCatholic]

Ah KC, I guess you must have been wearing some rose-tinted spectacles when you visited. Of all places in the UK, Londoners are the rudest.

Oi! Take that back or I’ll gut you like a fish!!!

Londoners? Rude? The nerve…

 

[LDNCatholic]

I have found out that during the summer, I am being transfered to our London office. While my family and I are very excited by the move, we obviously have questions.

If anyone lives or lived, in or near London, any advice for a family of 4 (with two young sons)?

Where in London will you be?

 

[petitfleur]

Oi! You sound like my husband.
But the humor is top notch!!!

 

[lizaanne]

Oh and I am still amazes at how we might speak the same language but I cant understand a word some people say!!!
Particularly some Scottish accents!!!

Oh trust me, my husband is from England, and we definitely do not speak the same language at least half the time!!

We’ve been together for almost five years now and just this past week twice I had to ask him to repeat himself, and sometimes I’ll have to ask him to spell a word. And his accent isn’t that off the wall thick like some!

But I wouldn’t change hearing that voice next to me for anything in the world…

~Liza

 

[petitfleur]

My DH is from England too. It does get better After about 11 years