England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom with a population of more than 55 million people.
If you are thinking of moving to England, this article is what you need. You will find 10 must-know pieces of advice to help you get the best experience of living in England.
We will share with you the pros and cons of living in England, the opportunities, the cost of living in England, the beautiful places you must visit in this country and many more.
1. Do A research About The Pros And Cons Of Living In England
To have the best experience living in England, you have to learn about the pros and cons first. This way, you’ll know how to deal with both the advantages and the downsides of living in this country.
Here are some pros and cons of living in England you should know.
The Advantages Of Living In England
National Health Service (NHS)
One of the best things about living in England is that most healthcare services are free. Therefore, it is crucial to find information about how to be eligible for the NHS services before moving to England.
If you are from overseas, remember to confirm with your employer or immigration staff when you start the relocation process. There will also be an immigration health surcharge to be eligible for free healthcare from the NHS.
England Is Generally Safe
England has CCTV cameras installed, and the police will patrol regularly to ensure its safety. Even though occurences of street harassment or violence are possible, the likelihood is relatively low.
You will feel safe roaming the town alone or taking a bus at night. In general, you can say that England is a pretty safe place.
Yummy Delicacies
England has local dishes that you must try when you live here. Each town may serve you a different delicacy, so it is always a pleasant experience to explore the culinary scene in England.
Some of the must-try food from England are as follows:
- an English breakfast;
- fish and chips;
- toad in the hole;
- steak and kidney pie;
- chicken tikka masala;
- shepherd’s pie; and
- beef wellington.
The Downsides Of Living In England
The Weather Is Gloomy And Grey
Basically, England experiences a decent amount of rain in a year, around 133 days. However, when it rains, the weather becomes gloomy and grey. The gloomy weather often affects the mood of the people.
The rain in England is usually light, so you can still do any outside activities. However, do remember to invest in an umbrella and raincoat if you plan to live in England.
The Pub Culture
Many countries have a pub culture, and so does England. The thing about England’s drinking habit is that it tends to be binge drinking. Sometimes, this binge drinking leads to a bar fight or street violence.
Therefore, you need to be careful when you decide to drink with colleagues or friends. It is crucial to watch your alcohol consumption since excessive alcohol can be bad for your liver and wallet.
Opening A UK Bank Account Is A Challenge For Expats
Another downside of living in England is the painful process of opening a bank account if you are not a British citizen.
First, you need to go to the bank with your visa, proof of tenancy, proof of enrollment in a school or a job, and identification. Then, the bank will assess your documents which can take several months in some cases.
If you pass the documents checking, then you can open a bank account. In contrast, if your documents are not enough, the bank will contact you to confirm and ask for more information.
2. Get Informed About The Housing Prices In England
The house price in England right now is around £285,000. It may experience an increase this year as more people look for houses.
If you want to find a house at a lower price, you need to search outside the city centre or live outside London. The property prices in London are among the most expensive in the UK.
3. Browse For Best Places To Live In England
This recommendation was compiled based on the happiness index in Great Britain. The list is based on a poll from 21,000 respondents across Britain.
Here are the three happiest places in the UK for your reference.
Hexham
The ultimate reason why people find Hexham a happy place is because of the reasonable housing prices. The average house price here is £297,088, and the average monthly rent is £842.
In addition, this town is known for its strong sense of community where people tend to help each other. There are also community events such as sports competitions you can participate in.
Richmond-upon-Thames, London
Richmond-upon-Thames is one of the non-hectic sides of London. It is an excellent place with rich culture, friendly people, great dining and shops, and galleries. Not to mention the beautiful Thames river with many rowers passing by. Living here will give you a more relaxing vibe.
This area is not too far from London city centre, making it the perfect place to live. However, Richmond-upon-Thames is also known as the posh area in London.
The average house price here is a whopping £1,196,892, and the average monthly rent is £3,235. If you can afford a place here, you will see why this area is named the happiest place in the UK.
Harrogate
Harrogate is a town in North Yorkshire, England, that is named the third happiest place in the UK. It offers reasonable housing prices. The average house price is £353,624, and the average monthly rent is £1,163.
In addition, there is a strong community bond in this town. This is evident from the results of a study that found that the residents felt reconnected with their community during the lockdown period.
If you move to England with family members, you will need a place like Harrogate where people look out for each other and create a happy vibe together.
4. Make A Budget Plan To Afford The Cost Of Living In England
The average living cost in England for a single person is £10,308 per year. A family of four often spends about £36,492 yearly. In smaller towns, the cost of living can be lower than these numbers.
England may not be a cheap place to live. However, you will be fine as long as you know how to plan your budget carefully.
Here are some of the local tips to save more money in England:
- buy your groceries and necessities online since it is easier to stick within budget when you are not directly going to the supermarket;
- review your subscriptions and cancel the ones that you do not need;
- learn about the benefits you can get in England and check if you can get council tax support or reduction.
5. Find Employment Before Starting Your Relocation Process
To proceed with your work visa, you need to have a full-time job first so that your employer will give you the document that states your employment in England.
Therefore, you need to start your job hunt before preparing for your relocation. You can find job opportunities online or from your local friends.
For your information, here is the list of the high-demand professions in England;
- programmers and software developers,
- cyber security specialists,
- graphic designers,
- health services and residential care, and
- architects.
6. Advance Your Career By Pursuing Higher Education
England is one of the excellent places to pursue higher education. It has some of the best universities globally, such as the University of Oxford and Imperial College London.
You are more likely to advance your career by getting a degree from reputable universities in England. Moreover, suppose you already have working or project experience related to the profession you pursue. In that case, you may get better opportunities in your career.
On average, the weekly rent is about £148 and £193 for a room and studio apartment, respectively. The prices can be higher in some cities like London, where the rent for a studio can reach £200 a week.
7. This Is How To Get Around England
The public transport systems in England are generally good. You will find various ways to get around, such as by bus, train, tram, or taxi.
The public transport system pretty much covers most routes. Especially if you live in England’s major cities, you can commute easily even without owning a car.
Besides that, many cities in England are walkable, especially in the city centre area. In fact, for towns like York and Bath, the best way to explore the central area is by walking.
8. The Best Places That Should Be In Your Pictures
England has beautiful places you can find easily. When you live in England, you will encounter big historical buildings with Victorian and Georgian architecture. These buildings not only look pretty in the pictures but also display the story of British culture.
In addition, this country is blessed with beautiful nature. You will enjoy visiting the beaches or hills in England.
- Below are some places in England that you should visit at least once;
- Thermae Bath Spa, Bath,
- Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset,
- Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire,
- The Lake District, and
- Dartmouth, Devon.
9. Maintain Work-Life Balance By Enjoying The City Attractions
If you live in England, you can balance work and leisure since there are many city attractions you can visit. The places that we recommend below are not only nice to see but also offer fun activities such as adventure and games.
- Alton Towers, Staffordshire
- Thorpe Park, Surrey
- Legoland Windsor, Berkshire
- Chessington World of Adventures, Greater London
- Flamingo Land, North Yorkshire
10. Things You Should Know Before Moving To England
Before you even start packing, make sure you do these things to make your relocation even more seamless. You can write the following tips to make your preparation easier.
Get The Correct Visa Type
If you are from overseas, you need to prepare the correct visa type to live in England. Below are the visa types that you can apply for according to your needs:
- Skilled Worker Visa for skilled workers with a job offer in the UK;
- Temporary Worker Visa for temporary work in the UK that less than 12 months;
- Youth Mobility Visa is a 2-year work permit for young people aged 18-20 from participating territories;
- Paid Permitted Engagement visa is a short-term entry for individuals invited to the UK as experts;
- Sportsperson Visa is a work permit for elite sports persons or qualified coaches;
- Minister of Religion Visa for religious workers;
- Intra-Company Transfer Visa for employees from multinational companies transferring to work in a UK branch;
- Business Visitor Visa for someone who travels to the UK for up to 6 months for business activities;
- Student Visitor Visa for students studying in the UK temporarily;
- Tourist Visa for a traveller who visits the UK for up to 6 months for leisure or other purposes;
- Adult Student Visa for a student studying in the UK;
- A two-year post-study work visa is a work permit for international students who have studied a bachelor’s or master’s course in the UK;
- Child Student Visa for children age 4-17 to study in the UK;
- Spouse Visa for spouses of British Citizens/settled persons;
- Fiancé Visa for fiancés of British Citizens/settled Persons;
- Unmarried Partner Visa for a long-term partner of British Citizens/settled persons;
- Adult Dependent Visa for foreign nationals requiring care from a UK relative;
- Child Dependent Visa for a child of a British citizen/settled person not living an independent life;
- Ancestry Visa for citizens of commonwealth countries with a British grandparent;
- Innovator Visa for international entrepreneurs with £50,000 to invest in a business in the UK;
- Investor Visa for international investors with at least £2 million to invest in UK businesses;
- Startup Visa for applicants with approved sponsors to start their first business in the UK; and
- Schengen Visa to travel throughout the Schengen area.
If you are not sure, you can ask your employer, school advisor, or immigration staff to help you out.
List Of Things To Prepare For Your Relocation
Write all the things you need for the relocation. To get you started, here are some things you can include in your list:
- things to do;
- documents;
- plane ticket;
- things to pack;
- things to sell or donate;
- budget (consider the exchange rate if your country does not use GBP); and
- important contacts.
You can track your relocation process easier by having this list at hand. Having a list will also reduce your stress because you do not need to remember everything to prepare for your relocation.
Find A Professional To Ship Your Belongings
Sanelo is a professional moving company that can ship your belongings to England from your home country. Engaging Sanelo means you won’t have to carry heavy luggage on your moving trip.
Our team will help you ensure the shipment process meets your needs. We will also assist you during the process, including managing the paperwork and immigration clearance.
Conclusion About Moving To England
England has many things to offer, starting from historical sites, beautiful scenery, affordable health care, happiest places to live, to opportunities in higher education and better careers.
Living in England does come with a high cost of living compared to other countries within the UK. However, there are ways you can cut down on your bills and save more money. If you move to a smaller town, you will enjoy lower living expenses.
Before you move to England, remember to prepare your relocation well. You need to apply for a visa, make a relocation list, and engage Sanelo to ship your belongings to England.
Want to find out more about moving to other parts of the UK? Check out these guides:
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving To England
Is England A Good Place To Live?
Basically, England is an excellent place to live. It has beautiful scenery, job and business opportunities, city amenities, healthcare, and security services for its residents.
Can An American Live In England?
You can travel and stay in England for 6 months as an American without a visa. If you plan to work or study, you need to apply for a visa before heading to England.
How Much Money Do You Need To Live Comfortably In England?
To live comfortably, you need to earn more than £30,000 annually. If you move with family members or to an expensive city like London, you may need to make more.
How Do I Engage Sanelo To Ship My Belongings To England?
Visit Sanelo’s official website to start a quote. If you need to consult your relocation needs before, don’t hesitate to contact us via phone or email.
To find out more about moving to cities in the UK, you can check out the following articles: