GLOBAL PATHWAYS
ISSUE
NO. 01
•
JUNE
2017
LONDON
LIVE & WORK IN
THINGS TO DO
RELOCATING TO
LONDON
IN THE CITY
LONDON
Guide to everyday life and business
Discover places to explore, attractions and more
A month-by-month relocation guide
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CONTENTS Page 3
LONDON
A guide to life and business in London Page 4
SEE THE CITY
Take a trip up the Shard and see London's wonders Page 5
CAREER TRACK
Is London the right choice for your career? Page 6 & 7
THINGS TO DO
Start your London adventure with this list of things to do Page 8
RELOCATION
The helpful timeline you need to relocate to London Page 9
HOLIDAY!
Places/ countries to visit near London
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LONDON Arguably one of the best cities in the world – London is certainly the most multicultural. With a population of close to 9 million people, there are over 300 languages spoken in the UK's Capital, originating from every corner of our planet. Home to The Queen and her family, countless theatres and art galleries, a social/nightlife scene that is unparalleled and a vast expanse of cuisines in over 45,000 restaurants and pubs. As British poet and author Samuel Johnson once said; ‘To be tired of London, is to be tired of Life!’ London is full of famous landmarks and beautiful parks to explore. You can spend the weekend gazing at monuments such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, or having a picnic in Hyde Park, Green Park or Richmond Park – where you can watch herds of wild deer roam around. You can stroll along the Thames and visit a free museum (Natural History Museum, British Museum, Science Museum and more). There are a range of art galleries (the Saatchi Gallery is one of my favourites, and is free!) and plenty of theatre or dance performances to watch. There is never “nothing to do” in London!
It is often considered an expensive city to visit and to live in, but it is actually reasonably priced compared to cities such as New York, Paris and Geneva. London is listed 68th most expensive city on the Cost of Living Index. In central London (known as Zone 1) the rent can be high, putting London as the 18th most expensive city on the Rent Index, but the outer Zones of the city have more affordable rent prices, so it can cater for any budget. One of the world's leading business hubs, work experience here is invaluable from a career perspective. Nobody will doubt your capabilities if you have good London experience, in whatever your field of consulting. In the business environment, punctuality is important; it is polite to call or email in advance if you are running late. Meetings often start with a brief personal chat (typically/stereo-typically about the weather) before getting down to business. It is important to remain polite and professional in meetings – and be aware of your posture – crossed arms or slouching in your chair could indicate lack of interest in the subject at hand.
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SEE THE CITY FROM A HIGHER
PERSPECTIVE VISIT THE TOP OF THE SHARD FOR BREATH-TAKING VIEWS ACROSS LONDON
The Shard is the tallest building in the UK, fourth tallest in Europe. It is a 95-story high skyscraper, with extraordinary 360° views of London. With the View from the Shard experience, you have access to three different viewing platforms. First is Level 68, which features the Cloudscape (an educational section about different cloud formations) and the Sky Boutique - the highest shop in London! Further up is Level 69, which features 360° viewing across the whole city. Lastly is Level 72, the highest level that is open to the pubic, which is partially open air. You can also see the view from the Shard online, as they display a live feed on their website of the view west, east and north. You can even select time lapses to see the days play out beautifully on your computer screen. Just visit the gallery on their website and select your preferred viewing direction.
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CAREER TRACK 75%
...of the Top 500 global companies are based in London
The approximate amount of tech start-ups that are created each month in the city is...
1000 London’s economy is 9%
£39k
...is the average salary in
larger than that of Paris,
London. The average salary of
Europe’s second-largest
the whole of the UK is just over
urban economy, and 41%
£27k.
larger than third-ranked Moscow.
London's foreign exchange turnover each day is...
$1.9T As you can see from the graph to the left, Financial Services is London's biggest industry. It is the largest financial exporter in the world; home to banks, brokers, pension funds, private equity firms, insurance companies and more. There is also the Bank of England, the 2nd oldest central bank in the world, and the European Banking Authority (although this is expected to move following Brexit). On the ‘Global Financial Centres Index’, London maintains its 1st place position.
GLOBAL PATHWAYS We specialise in Finance and Accounting careers. *Data source: cityoflondon.gov.uk - Photo credit: agencycentral.co.uk*
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THINGS TO DO One of the most popular attractions is the Tower of London. The historic castle was founded in 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England and was used as a prison from 1100 until 1952, although that was not its original purpose. The fortress consists of a complex of several buildings, including the White Tower (which gives the entire castle its name), surrounded by two concentric rings of defensive walls. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the tower underwent expansions ordered by King Richard the Lionheart, Henry III and then Edward I. There is a wealth of history to learn about, including daring prisoner escapes, Queen Anne Boleyn’s beheading and saving the Crown Jewels from a fire, so it is well worth a visit! For Shakespeare fans, there is the Shakespeare’s Globe. It stands a few hundred yards from the original Globe Theatre, and was reconstructed by Sam Wanamaker after his first London visit in 1949. It opened to the public in 1997, with its first performance of Henry V. There are regular Shakespearian plays performed there, along with tours and an exhibition about Shakespeare’s life and work.
Britain is also the home of Harry Potter. London is currently the only place in the world with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in theatre, and there is also the immensely popular Harry Potter Studio Tour, where fans can walk amongst the sets, costumes and props used in the films. At the Studio Tour, you can wave a wand, ride a broomstick, stroll down Diagon Alley, explore the forbidden forest (a new addition) and even drink butterbeer! There are also other iconic places for Harry Potter fans to visit, there are walking tours to see all the filming locations based in London including King’s Cross station, Alnwick Castle in Northumberland (the REAL Hogwarts of the first two movies!) or The Elephant House – where JK Rowling wrote some parts of the novels. Speaking of walking tours, we also have them for Jack the Ripper, the notorious gangster twins The Krays, Historic Pubs, a Grim Reaper tour of spooky sites, Food and many other fascinating aspects of London life and history.
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Museums & Art Galleries British Museum National Gallery V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum Natural History Museum The Royal Air Force Museum London Imperial War Museum National Portrait Gallery British Library Museum of London Tate Britain Charles Dickens Museum Tate Modern Saatchi Gallery Cutty Sark Science Museum House of MinaLima The Sherlock Holmes Museum Events RHS Chelsea Flower Show – May Pride London – June Virgin Money London Marathon – April Wimbledon – June/ July Notting Hill Carnival – August Trooping the Colour – June BST Festival – July Royal Ascot – June
Parks & Nature St. James' Park Hyde Park Regent's Park Kensington Gardens Greenwich Park Buckingham Palace Thames River St. Katharine Docks Green Park Battersea Park ZSL London Zoo Sea Life London Aquarium Crystal Palace Park The Roof Gardens Theatre Shows Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Les Miserables The Lion King The Book of Mormon War Horse Phantom of The Opera Jersey Boys Kinky Boots Matilda the Musical Billy Elliot The Musical Wicked the Musical Mamma Mia Stomp Miss Saigon
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Sights & Landmarks Tower of London Big Ben Churchill War Rooms Tower Bridge Houses of Parliament Westminster Abbey Royal Albert Hall Up at The O2 The London Eye Sky Garden St. Paul's Cathedral Westminster Covent Garden Shakespeare's Globe Theatre The View from The Shard Buckingham Palace Trafalgar Square HMS Belfast Shopping Oxford Street Covent Garden Borough Market Camden Market Harrods Columbia Road Flower Market Westfield London Hamleys Toy Store Selfridges The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 3/4
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RELOCATION 6 Months Before The first step is to start thinking about locations. We can help you choose the best countries based on what is important to you: work/life balance, culture, lifestyle, standard of living, family/education, climate… If you decide London is the place for you, we can help you find and shortlist exciting job opportunities in the city! Then it’s time to start interview prep and research into your new location (this magazine is a good start!)
5 Months Before
We assist you in negotiating your job offer(s). After you sign the dotted line, it’s time to apply for your Visa.
3/4 Months Before Once you receive your Visa, you can resign from your job (based on European 3-month notice period) and set the start date for your new role. It’s also a good time to start looking for flights, you might be able to bag a good deal!
2 Weeks Before
Begin packing – start with the least used items in your home, for example, items in your attic, garage and storage areas. Call internet, phone and utilities services to arrange the home being disconnected after you move. Notify your bank, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, etc, that you are moving to a new country.
Moving Day! Double check your home to make sure everything is packed and nothing has been overlooked. Get on the plane and go!
ENJOY!
1/2 Months Before
Research potential areas to call home and properties/schools. Take actions towards handing in your property notice, selling or renting out your current home. Start collecting packing supplies: boxes, tape, bubble wrap/ tissue paper, labels. Also think about what you are going to do with all your belongings – what you’l l ship to your new place, put in storage, bin or sell.
1 Week Before
Start packing a suitcase of ‘essential items’ to take with you on the plane. Just in case the shipping gets delayed (due to unforeseen circumstances), it is a good idea to take things that would be a hassle to buy when you touch down: include your everyday clothes, any important documents, medications and toiletries.
Settling In Start by setting up a new bank account, finding temporary accommodation, sorting your mobile phone and registering with the local authorities. Then spend some time familiarising yourself with your new city, and find your new home.
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NEED A BREAK?
HOLIDAY!
Living in London grants you easy access to some perfect holiday destinations: If you want somewhere a short drive away, consider Brighton (2-3 hours), Windsor (1 hour) or Dover (2-3 hours). They are also easily accessible by train (which is even faster). Brighton boasts quirky shops, a pebble beach and the pier. In Windsor you can visit Windsor Castle, play at Legoland or hop on a riverboat tour. Dover is known for it's beautiful White Cliffs, and is also home to Dover Castle. If you are looking for locations a bit further away from London, you can reach almost every corner of the UK without trouble. Cornwall is 5-6 hours by train, Manchester is only 2-3 hours by train (or an hour if you'd rather fly), and you can reach the major cities of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by car, train or plane. Even Paris is only 2-3 hours by EuroStar, with tickets as low as £29 each way. There are a variety of good airports close to London, so there are plenty of short-haul and long-haul holiday destinations to choose from. If you are looking for some European sun, try Spain, Italy or Greece. Flights to Spain are usually about 2 hours long (unless you choose a Canary Island, they are over 4 hours away) and are usually cheap, it's not hard to find a bargain. Italy is about 2-3 hours away, and Greece is 3-4 hours.
“I’VE BEEN WALKING ABOUT LONDON FOR THE LAST THIRTY YEARS, AND I FIND SOMETHING FRESH IN IT EVERY DAY.” WALTER
BESANT
Issue 02 will be released September 2017. Visit www.global-pathways.co.uk to download for free, or email
[email protected] to request your free pdf copy
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