Posted by
purefit
18 yrs ago
Does anyone know how much an investment banker in London makes at the VP level. We're thinking of moving and don't know what to expect there? Also, how much is the utilities bill, not rent for a month for a couple?
Pls Help!
Thanks.
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Thanks Starlionblue2. What a cool name. I meant at the level of a managing director in say real estate and would the salary be inclusive of rent allowance? I thought the utilites in UK came to more in London than UK because of city council payment and heating...? How much would groceries be?
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I am sorry, I meant salary level in Investment Banking managing director position. I put some unnecessary details. Also, do you know if there are part-time jobs available say in the field of Human Resources?
Thanks!
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Thanks Starlionblue2. Do you miss UK? Do you think it is better than HK? I am upset about moving away, I think I love it here. HK is amazing, away from the rest of the world. Yeah, would you have an idea about the salary level in Investment Banking managing director position?
Thanks.
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I just moved to London at the end of August - my electricity bill was GBP55 for 2 months, my gas bill was GBP95 for 2 months (bear in mind I've had the heat on). I'm paying GBP1,800 for a 3 storey townhouse and my council tax is GBP160 per month. If you want to know the cost of groceries you can take a look at www.sainsburys.co.uk and www.waitrose.com.
Hope this helps.
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You know I haven't met anyone from London that has moved to HK and misses UK. Even the ppl I had met from London never are crazy about their own city. On the other hand ppl from HK genrally love it here. I wonder why that is so? Is London that miserable or is it very expensive?
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Ha ha, temp construction is funny.
Do you mean the significant quality of life improvement is due to the expat package or is it just because of moving to a city like HK?
What about the apts converted from old victorian houses in central london? There is must be some areas in central london that are better in design, layout, finish than others?
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Is south west London close to central London? Rent does sound expensive. I have heard though that grocery stores deliver for 2 GBP and it is easy to get chopped veggies etc. Is it true the crime rate has risen there of recent yrs? London sounds a little scary:(
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Must say that I'd swap our HK house for our London house in a heartbeat (and this one costs a lot more than we get in rental income from London). I would miss the sea views from here though. It can be grey and damp, but at least you have fire places and central heating in London.
The crime rate has increased dramatically in recent years. It was one of the major push factors in our decision to move to HK. It's important to maintain some perspective though - it's not exactly Johannesburg!
There is no shortage of Eastern Europeans looking for work as cleaners, nannies etc., so it's hardly as if you'd have to live without any help. Many people bring their helpers back to London (obviously paying them more than here), there is a growing community of Filipinas there.
I'm not British, but I love London. I am very happy in HK (I think that once you have your family with you and the right attitude, anyone can enjoy any city), but I would not be sorry to return to London in the morning. I miss the parks, the walks, the shops, the restaurants, the history of the place, the beautiful buildings, the theatres and museums, I really miss the Victorian houses that Starlionblue2 appears to hate, I miss the quality of the food in the supermarkets, I miss weekends in Paris etc., I miss so many little things that I took for granted for over a decade. Each to his own, I guess.
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Thanks guys. I was wondering if there is such a forum such as Asiaexpat where you can buy used stuff and get practical advice with others living in London. Mum, where did you live in London? Your experience sounds very different from Starlionblue2, which makes me think that you lived perhaps in more central London and a better place? Did you have heating problems and was your rent very high? Really, the crime situation had become so bad that you had to move to HK? Any bad incident? Do ppl feel a little unsafe in their apts/houses in central London? and how much do eastern europeans maids charge by the hr? I am trying to get as much info first hand as I can...
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I am surprised you had heating problems in south kensington. Isn't that one of the best areas to live in central London? I haven't even left yet and want to come back to Hk already. I think Hk is so amazing despite all the buzz missing. London has a lot more energy, more vibrant but Hk feels so safe and secure, even late at night in the MTR. I never feel unsafe in this city.
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The quality of housing varies, wherever you live. There is no fixed price per sf. Better finished and better designed houses cost more. Landlords will charge less for less well maintained buildings with older plumbing and so on.
One of the things that I love about some of our friend's places that because of a mixture of strict planning laws and a general afection for older buildings, they were beautifully restored. Those that were not listed were modernised so that the facades were left as they were (apart from a spot of painting and maintenance) and many had modern rear facing conservatories, open plan living areas etc.
I did not live more centrally than South Ken (apart from one stint in Mayfair). I lived in S. Ken, Fulham, Richmond and Barnes. I did, however, have to pay more than £340pw in all but my first flat.
The safety thing must be kept in perspective. There is a growing problem of disillusioned and unmotivated people (not just youths) 'taking out their frustrations' on others. Without going into the politics, it is resulting in a general lack of respect. I have only ever had my car broken into once, and that was my own fault for leaving my bag on show. However, it is not unusual for an unfortunate man to walk down the street and be beaten up by a gang of some description, sometimes for his phone or petty cash, sometimes for no reason at all. A friend of ours was riding home on his motorbike on Friday, and a teenager just threw a brick at him from somewhere on the Cromwell Road. one friend was held at gunpoint for her Rolex (in her car, also on the Cromwell Road as it happens). There was a spate of gunmen breaking into people's homes in SW London a couple of years ago, but I do not know anyone to whom this has happened. One friend bought a house in a decent area, only to find out that their next door neighbour was a drug dealer using his home as his HQ and they did move when they were woken by gunshots for the third time. All of that reads badly when typed in one paragraph, but it must be kept in perspective - bad thingshappen but not every day. As with anywhere, stick to where you know. Do not flaunt your wealth; just like elsewhere, anyone who goes cruising less prosperous neighbourhoods in a flashy convertible is asking for trouble. We absolutely did not move to HK just because ofthe crime, it was a push factor as the news stories were getting closer and closer to home. I was becomming neurotic about child safety as I did have close friends have lucky escapes with people trying to abduct their children in play centres.
HK is a safer city, but HK must be one of the safest cities in the world. London and NYC are proper world cities, and it is to be expected that there would be a certain amount of crime.
One of the great things about London is that it is made up of lots of little village type areas; each with their own shops, restaurants, sometimes theatres etc. You do not need to head to the West End half as often as you need to go to Central here for everyday things.
It's been a couple of years since I lived there, but at the time, we used to pay £7 per hour to our cleaning lady. I'm not sure how things have changed. We had apart-time nanny (English), I think we paid her about £10 per hour. It's worth bearing in mind that you do not need as much help in England. There are plenty of places that sell pretty decent pre-prepared meals (cooked in small batches and frozen like you would at home), so you do not have to cooke every meal from scratch. From a childcare point of view, stay-at-home Mums do not need live-in help to look after their children when they go to the gym etc. as most clubs have creches where the children can play under decent supervision for an hour or two at a time.
You will miss things about HK, but whenever you leave London you will miss things from there. Every city is what you make of it. If you do not have the money to spend zillions on rent/mortgage, why not get a nicer place in a slightly less central area instead of living somewhere grotty just to impress with your adddress. There are plenty of excellent restaurants without Michelin stars (and prices to match). Make the most of the fact that you can wake up in London and be in Paris/Rome/on the ski slopes etc. by lunch. Take your time doing your research on places to live (also check out Islington, Clapham, Notting Hill, Fulham, Putney, Hampstead, Chiswick - all still reasonably convenient). Enjoy!
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cd
18 yrs ago
I have been away from the UK for over 10 years, but it always surprises me how much the costs have gone up there, more so than here. There are many reasonably priced restaurants here where the quality of food is excellent, when we go back to the UK for the same money per head the food is very bog standard often icluding frozen veg. And while many foods especially imported things are very expensive here, a lot of things are cheaper. I disagree with starlionblue, I think meat is much cheaper here, especially chicken, I can feed my family of 7 a chciken meal here for 3-4 pounds, whereas in the UK it would cost that for 2. A couple of years ago when I was back I decided to compare some costs, broccoli in Sainsburys was 4 times the price than it was selling in wellcome at the time, and Yakults were 5 times the price. Even simple things like toilet paper is much cheaper here.
Rents are expensive, petrol is the same as here, council tax is expensive, child care is expensive.
Safety is an issue, as a parent of teens my kids have had far more freedom here than they would have got in the UK. Theres no way they would have been able to go out until the early hours.
The public transport system outside London is expensive and very few and far between. Last year a standard train ticket between Reading and Crewe was 90pounds, thats nearly $1,500.
My daughter has been living there for the past 3 months for uni, and whilst she's enjoying herself she reckons she would never live there after she graduates.
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London sounds more like a third world country from your experience. I can't believe it is so commonplace for such criminal acts to happen. Do most ppl have burglar alarms in their apt. Is there any area that is safer relatively in south west London? How is the police service there. I am kind of scared now to move there as my husband would be travelling a fair bit. I suppose our priority would be to get a nice place with a doorman and cut down on all other expenses, safety is so imp. I suppose bldgs with security person would be safer? Are these common incidents or does everyone from London have a story of being mobbed or some other similar story...? Are there any forums such as Asiaexpat for second hand stuff and discussions? You're so lucky Mumof2 to have the opportunity to come to Hk, I would love to live here forever. I wish I come back here whenI have children. Do you know anything about part time work in London, is it easy to get generally?
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Things that are better in London than HK: More cosmopolitan, more accepting of nationalities, architecture, building quality (not concrete boxes with no cavity wall), being able to drink water straight from a tap, food quality, food cost (especially for FRESH meat), 400 year old work of art buildings, nightlife, vibrancy and banking!
Things better in HK: Personal safety, transport system, cheap broadband and telcos, cheap utilities.
I like the following quote from above: My friend calls London the world's largest temporary construction. It's all a bit unfinished even when finished.
Seems a bit hypocritical seeing this from a city where construction is constant, where the same road is dug again and again. As someone else said "Hong Kong will be a nice city when they finish building it".
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It is good to know that some ppl from UK feel very strongly about their hometown. One more thing is it really safe to drink tap water in London. I've heard ppl have filter systems installed and also prefer non-tap water?
Do gyms charge money to keep babies in the cherubs?
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Thanks everyone for all the update. Also, has anyone heard anything about second clothing being really popular in London? I was kind of surprized about this article I read about how ppl buy lot of used clothes? There is some market there?Where do they get it from and isn't it kind of dirty?
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joga
18 yrs ago
I heard you get mugged FOR your 2nd hand clothes! I'm just being sarcastic but when my husband and I were transferred to the US a lot of people (the most emphatic being my grandmother) told us no sooner would we lace up our nike sneakers and we would be held at gunpoint for them. Well, we lived in the US for a few years and bravely wore nikes and as it turned out our fungafied gym shoes weren't quite the objects of desire everyone presumed they would be. I returned to Australia without a hair on my head harmed (my husband wasn't so fortunate but that's more about genes than crime) despite living in a city with a high crime rate. You need to keep things in perspective. You change your habits to suit the enviroment you live in and although the crime rate is low in HK, crime is not unheard of. You could be a victim anywhere. Good Luck.
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Ha ha. Thats funny. No it wasn't the Big Issue, what is that a local UK magazine? I read comments online. Are their any local London magazines that give you local tips where to but what and cheap easy deals like the dollarama here? Are their any forums such as Asiaexpat? How do ppl sell off their old furniture etc...or discuss good places to eat...? Thanks.
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Not moving to Baghdad! Hey, do you know if I should take my dehumidifiers from here or there is no need for them in London? Is summer really hot there? Would I need my fans from here? Also, do ppl have indoor plants in their houses in London or they don't survive because of lack of sunlight?
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I meant indoor plants not plants in general! Ofcourse, every country has plants!!!
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Are there any forums in London such as Asia expat where I can talk to others about getting around the city and any questions I may have? I am kind of scared about moving to UK and how to go about to find good doctors, hospitals, stores etc
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"Are there any forums in London such as Asia expat where I can talk to others about getting around the city and any questions I may have? I am kind of scared about moving to UK and how to go about to find good doctors, hospitals, stores etc"
I don't know about forums but there probably are a few. However if you are being transfered by your company they should (if they know what's good for them) arrange for ample cross cultural training and so forth. It makes you happy and productive much faster.
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By the way salaries in London ahve gone through the roof. Call a headhunter to get a better idea.
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I agree with the person who called for the end of paranoia! Some practical tips on living in London, centrally or not. I think my comments, hopefully objective, are well-founded having lived here for decades!
1. Be street safe and don't flash your worldly goods as there are opportunistic thieves and beggars around, esp in the West End. That even goes for mobile phones. Yes, relatively one of the smallest of items one may carry however there is a booming black market for stolen handsets. The law enforcement authorities and the network operators are working to make stolen phones redundant but criminals can still find a way to make them work.
2. Decent websites for 'new to London' people...
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/home.aspx
As well as Waitrose (top-end supermarket), Sainsbury (mass mid market), there's also Tesco. All these do home deliveries (next day) for a nominal charge.
Tesco = http://direct.tesco.com/
3. Socialising in London.
Check out http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/home/ This is a great site for planning night outs / activities. It also gives you a snapshot of the news and live issues in London. Crime is a real problem and on Thursday a 16-year-old was knifed to death in north London so you do need to appreciate that vigilance is your best friend some times. Like a few of the other members, exercise caution and a healthy does of common sense wherever you are or plan to go and you should be OK.
This is a good London-focused site :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/default.stm
4. Tap water is safe to drink and there have not been any reports (that I've heard about) of people falling ill owing to drinking it. I'm actually drinking a glass as I reply! Of course, ppl have preferences and spa / bottled water is an option however for health benefits tap water is without a doubt safe. This has been confirmed by consumer watchdogs and health authorities. I have never noticed any faint taste of chlorine at all.
5. Many private gyms do offer creche facilities and some of the better ones offer mother and baby classes.
6. Agree with the above member who says "your company should provide ample cross-cultural training". If you haven't already, check this out as normally it's a given as part of the relo package. I'm moving to Honky end of Jan and am about to embark on 2 days of training from bus + social entiquette to everyday living etc. I would recommend you take that bit seriously as your time in LDN will be more rewarding and richer. Again, it's what you make of your 'new home' and the attitude that you have that ultimately determines how good / bad your experience is going to be!
7. Accommodation - get yourself a decent relocation firm (if your company doesn't offer to help to find you a home). These do exist on the Net.
8. No need to bring humidifiers as LDN has a temperate climate. The summers can be madly hot (topping mid 30s Celsius) but they don't last that long before returning to late 20s - early 30s C. AC is worth having in the car, esp if you're sitting in LDN's traffic jams! But it isn't really a standard thing in homes. It's rare to see property details that explicitly mention AC.
9. Second-hand clothing is not a pre-requisite of LDN living however if you like the vintage look there are many good places to buy...try Portobello Market, Camden, Greenwich. The Brits generally don't have any qualms about wearing second-hand gear.
10. LDN does offer much but no doubt you will have to trade off with HK on some of your more pleasurable joys! The Tube is not as great as it used to be and it's expensive to travel compared to the MTR. It's also very crowded and the phrase 'packed like sardines' is spot on. Next week, the Tube will increase its fare again. This happens every year but you don't get to see the real benefits of faster, frequent, cleaner trains!
11. This is a real-life snapshot of life in LDN and don't be disillusioned that it's all 'world-class'. Yes, it is for banking and FS in the City / Canary Wharf and it has some of the best restaurants in the world however it does have some third-class offerings as mentioned above.
Good luck!
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"I'm moving to Honky end of Jan and am about to embark on 2 days of training from bus + social entiquette to everyday living etc."
Time well spent. We had 2 days before leaving of history, culture, etiquette, general relo stuff. Then 2 days here of shops, transportation, etc...
This is our 4th time relocating together (5th and 7th time total respectively) so we do have some experience. But it was still time very well spent.
"The summers can be madly hot (topping mid 30s Celsius) "
You're moving to HK. Just you wait. ;)
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"The summers can be madly hot (topping mid 30s Celsius) "
"...You're moving to HK. Just you wait. ;)..."
Haha! I've been to Singapore many times before and am used to taking three showers a day!!! So I am hoping that 'training' will hold me in good stead for HK! Can't wait, as I love heat - it's quite cold right now in Blighty!!!
Happy New Year!
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At least you know. ;) I love heat too. It's the endless perspiration I have issues with!
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Don't worry! I'll be doing what the locals do.....duck into the endless A/C shopping malls every few mins to cool off, then head out back onto the street again! Haha!
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HK is crazy hot and humid in summer, the only thing i'll not miss oabout honky is the summer heat and humidity. Otherwise hk is amazing, you're luck to move to such a great place as hk and i'll be stuck in miserable rainy london(: I am dreading my move to UK and will miss my maid loads! Everyone keeps telling me london has become filthy. Axpt where all have you lived if you have moved so many times?
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Don't worry too much. A move is what you make of it. As I said, you're hardly moving to Baghdad. London is a great city in many many ways. If you go in with a negative attitude it will be bad.
I must admit we would also miss our helper if we moved now. :(
"Everyone keeps telling me london has become filthy."
Yeah, just like the air in HK is always pristine. ;)
"Axpt where all have you lived if you have moved so many times?"
Grew up in Stockholm with lots of time spent in Italy. Southern California 2 years, then back in Sweden 4 years, then London 1 year, then Connecticut 3½ years. Now HK.
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Wow! that is quite a journey! What place have you liked the most and why? Did you like London more than Hk overall?
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"Wow! that is quite a journey! What place have you liked the most and why? Did you like London more than Hk overall?"
Not really. We like HK more overall than London. But we were sans kids and about 10 rungs lower on the corporate ladder then so it's a bit apples and oranges. HK has better climate from our point of view and we have a great helper.
We loved Southern California. Fantastic climate. Lived by the ocean in a nice town. Great dining out. Very relaxed atmosphere and most things are easy/convenient. We have often thought we would retire in Southern or Central California (on the coast).
We love our house and yard in Connecticut but must say it's not the place for us permanently. Very "tough" as in everyone is chasing their career.
We love HK because it is great for kids with a helper and 100 other kids in the apartment complex, playground and pool just outside and the beach very close, great schools. We also love the compactness of it and the scenery.
As you can see we still don't know where we'll settle down or what we really like. Likely we never will settle. My wife's aunt and her husband are 82 and 67 and still make major moves every few years!
The US West Coast is a strong contender though.
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Thanks for your reply axptguy 38. Why 38, are you 38? Interesting choice.
I was hoping if anyone would know a good hospital and gyna in Central London as I will be moving there sometime soon. Do you have to book way in advance for delivery at the hospital. Are there any hospitals as good as Matilda in central London? I will be totally new there and kind of worried about moving there while pregnant and finding a place to live, unpacking and settling down and to top it find good doctors in close proximity. I don't know how I'll raise a child after being spoilt like many in hk and having a helper? I wonder how young moms in London do it all on their own?
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There are great private hospitals, but we didn't have kids then so we don't know of any.
"Thanks for your reply axptguy 38. Why 38, are you 38? Interesting choice. "
I'm not. I'm 36. I just wanted a random number and 38 was the first one to pop into my head. I have been known by other names on this forum.
"I wonder how young moms in London do it all on their own?"
Total mystery. ;) Seriously though home delivery is your friend. And unlike in HK you can order lots of things online, from food to books to drills.
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Thanks axpt38, after chatting with you I feel a little less intimidated with Uk. Even though the size, the crime and the weather comes to haunt me on occasion. I feel so safe here in Hk, tucked away in an oasis and then London seems like the big bad wolf:) I wonder if we get a small place in central London, if we'll be able to avail the conveniences without roughing out the commute. Do they have any greek grocery stores that deliver would you know or maybe italian or indian ones that deliver home?
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"Do they have any greek grocery stores that deliver would you know or maybe italian or indian ones that deliver home?"
Carluccio's is a good place for most Italian stuff. There are several Carluccio's store/restaurants in London. http://www.carluccios.com/
I don't know of any Greek or Indian ones but I am 100% confident there are such places. London has a very large Indian community and a pretty big Greek one.
"The commute" is indeed a dog, but I am very anti-commute so...
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What a strange and varied set of questions you have asked purefit. Indeed you sound very much like you do not want to move from Hong Kong or to London.
My 2 cents worth on living in London - loved the place generally, weather fairly terrible except for July, August and September. Winters horrible and grey - 3pm darkness. Had a flat in East London which was only 6 mins on the DLR (overland train) to Bank station and my job in the City. Transport was therefore super easy for me and rents reasonable (from memory I was paying £275 a week for a one bedroom apartment with a doorman) and Canary Wharf so handy for shopping (food and clothes etc) and restaurants as well as West India Quay for restaurants etc. Jubilee line tube at Canary Wharf straight into Waterloo and Oxford St. I know that East London is not everyone's cup of tea (although I think it is very modern particularly around Canary Wharf) but the short commute sold it for me and convenience of shops etc. Also a newish apartment building with an Italian deli downstairs and Italian restaurant.
Agree with most of the above on food, utilities etc. Definately need to filter the tap water. Transport expensive in London particularly cabs.
Hong Kong has its good points but I would not be averse to a move back to London. Weekends are so much more interesting in London - shopping better, museums and galleries and just generally wandering around a cool old city with cool old stuff. I didn't feel any more unsafe there than in any big city (with the exception of Hong Kong).
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Eeeeks! I am just not sure about London and I guess you' re right about that I don't fancy moving, thats why rambling q's
In any case thanks for your two cents...i am of greek descent so wanted to know about the food...
canary wharf sounds interesting...wonder if it is one of the safer areas...
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Canary Wharf does get pretty desolate at night.
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Hi, I've been offline for a few days so here's a reply to a few responses....
Axptguy is correct - take a good attitude with you to the UK and you will be fine. But remember, the cultues are different between HK and England, so you will have to make adjustments or the old preverbial "culture shock" will kick in.
Q - "...I was hoping if anyone would know a good hospital and gyna in Central London as I will be moving there sometime soon. Do you have to book way in advance for delivery at the hospital. Are there any hospitals as good as Matilda in central London? I will be totally new there and kind of worried about moving there while pregnant and finding a place to live, unpacking and settling down and to top it find good doctors in close proximity. I don't know how I'll raise a child after being spoilt like many in hk and having a helper? I wonder how young moms in London do it all on their own?..."
A - Central London hospitals are generally good however can be overstretched owing to lack of resources etc. For that reason, you may also want to consider living a little bit further out of the centre where the demands on hospitals are relatively lighter. I would strongly recommend that you make arrangements to book in, as you will most probably have to be assigned a mid-wife to do the delivery. Have you registered to a GP yet? He/she will be able to recommend a gynac....many parents over here have child minders, nannies but beware of unlicenced people, and double-check references for your own peace of mind. and ask for recommendations from friends and colleagues if unsure. Best of luck!
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Thanks CheekyMonkey! Don't know about the monkey part but you're definitely not cheeky! I haven't registered to a GP in UK yet but will do once I hear of a good one. I wish I could afford a nanny in London but they are so expensive...at 10 GBP an hour, I think I'll have to skip. I am still trying to get a good attitude for UK but no matter how I see it, I am not thrilled. Atleast i'm not complaining but getting a good attitude when i know i'm leaving a better place like hk is a little difficult...
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Dear Purefit,
NP. Well, I'm well behaved here because I'm doing the serious stuff of giving hopefully, good advice. I can't be taken seriously if I'm cheeky with it!!!
I do understand where you are coming from. It's hard and as long as you get decent support from those qualified to give the advice, then you will be OK. I'm about to make my first overseas move by myself, and am managing the situation as best as I can by leaning on mates, work colleagues who have gone through what I'm going through now, and getting expert advice from the Firm. Fixing your attitude is key to making your LDN experience a pleasure!
My cultural counsellor told me yesterday in the first of my briefings - Be prepared for a life change and recognise that your body and emotions will differ to the ones you are currently experiencing. It is natural to go into a lull and feel neg, however the key action is what you do to make yourself feel positive quickly. My advice here is manage your stress - sounds like you have plenty on your plate as it is - so try to eliminate what you can. Don't do everything because there are things that aren't essential. Get advice on what is and isn't. And here's another bit of advice she gave me...Don't despair if you don't tick off everything on your to-do list. LDN is not a third world city (although it's debatable somewhere else!!). Once in town, things are possible, they make take a bit more time to sort but you will get through it.
So, I think in order of events, your plan could be:
1. Decide on an area in which you wish to live
2. Go to a website like www.upmystreet.co.uk to find best GP practices / dentists / schools etc and the ones that I mentioned previously
3. Simultaneously, register with the GP and discuss delivery options ie. best hospital, midwife, ante natal classes etc etc
4. I don't know the exact URL, but I think there is a governing body / association that enrols people / professionals to be members of childcare services, home help etc. It's worth talking to them as well as getting friends' recommendations
5. Build your LDN network asap and lean on each other for support, ideas, socials, etc etc
6. Don't ever do it by yourself. There are experts out there who can and will take the pressure off you!
7. Finally, another bit of advice given to me yesterday - you may have heard this before, so apologies if you have - take things that make you feel happy. You will inevitably want to turn to these when you are having those moments of homesickness and doubt or just plain unhappiness. These could be fave clothing, DVDs, CDs, teddy bear / toy. And don't forget fave foods and drink.
Hope I've been helpful.
Take care.
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Taps
18 yrs ago
UK still top the lists of the places we've lived in the past, Weybridge, Surrey to be exact.
Waitrose, I have fond memories of the dairy, clotted cream especially.
And the fab restaurants in London and all over UK we've been, yummy if you know where to go.
And countless friends we made, still in regular touch.
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Thanks guys for the help. I see you've changed your name to UKPR Monkey, haha. Yes, you have been of great help & support. Thank you!
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Any time! Remember, all overseas destinations are different in some way or form, and you may face challenges / things that you have never encountered before. The trick is how well you deal with things to make your life and time there a positive one. Stay positive! I wish you an enjoyable and enriching time in LDN!
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mrsl
18 yrs ago
purefit, you will love London if you give it a chance. One of the posters above outlined some of my favourite things; green parks, walks, quality food, a sense of history, some beautiful housing - basically a real world city. You will probably miss the sunshine and beaches (or at least I would). The houses are designed for the cold, so you'll feel a lot less miserable in a London winter than I feel right now trying to heat about 4000sq ft with plug in heaters.
As far as helpers are concerned, you could bring yours (if she'd like to move) and just pay her more. Alternatively there's no shortage of nannies (Eastern European or British). Personally, I was much happier having creches and neighbourhood babysitters than a helper for childcare. I found creches great to help the children socialise without me for 30 minutues to 2 hours at a time. I was separated from the children a lot less than I would be here for a trip to the gym (would arrive ready for a work-out, drop them at the creche, be in the gym 2 minutes later and pick them up immediately afterwards). No lost time driving to/from home etc. As a result I got much more exercise there.
Our experiences of the rising crime rate were similar to one of the posters above, but as she says, it must be kept in perspective. Another poster gave sensible tips on personal safety. While watching the news last night, I took heart that stabbings and shootings still make the news. There are many places around the world where they are so commonplace that nobody bothers to report them anymore. Bear in mind the HK and SG are unusually safe; if you apply that standard there are very few cities in which you could live.
The private schools are generally excellent and most of the state schools in 'professional' neighbourhoods would give some international schools in HK a real run for their money. If you are looking for a hopital like the Matilda for gynae/paediatric care, you might want to check out the Portland Hospital (http://www.theportlandhospital.com/). As with the Matilda, for emergency treatment or complications you should probably stick with the NHS. Many NHS hospitals also have private wings.
You and your family will have a wonderful time in London if you give it a fair try.
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Thanks, mrsl. You have some really good things to say. I wish and pray we grow to love London like you. Do you remember how much you paid your nannies/ helpers in UK? Is Portland Hospital as good as Matilda? Do you know if after delivery mid-wives come home to give babies a bath and help out? Is there a separate charge for that and which are the 'professional' neighborhoods that you refer to? Do you know of any private schools which are really good in the city and not like Eton reserved for the aristocracy.
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"Do you know if after delivery mid-wives come home to give babies a bath and help out? Is there a separate charge for that "
Probably not. But you can hire a doula separately.
"Do you know of any private schools which are really good in the city and not like Eton reserved for the aristocracy."
Eton is not reserved for the aristocracy. There are plenty of good schools. King's School Canterbury, St. Lawrence in RAmsgate to name two.
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mrsl
18 yrs ago
IMHO the Portland is much better than the Matilda, although there is no view (and there were a couple of horror stories about it a few years ago). For a natural delivery, you usually stay for about 3 or 4 days after the birth. The midwives, nursery nurses and nurses are there for you to answer any questions, help you with baths, nappy changes etc. They even allow siblings to help with the first bath etc., which was really sweet. After you are discharged, you can employ a private midwife, but to be honest, the NHS Health Visitor service (free) is excellent. They will visit you a few times at home untilboth you and they are happy that you no longer need them. They usually have free weekly clinics at your local GPs surgery to weigh the baby, answer questions etc.
As far as I remember, we paid £7 or £8 for cleaning per hour, a bit more for babysitting. Creches were about £3 or £4 per hour. It's been almost 2 years though, so rates may have increased.
There are lots of neighbourhoods with excellent local schools; Putney, Barnes, Chiswick, Hammersmith (especially for secondary), Kew and Richmond stand out (but we lived in SW London, so my knowledge of other areas was limited as I had no intention of making the children travel to primary school). Kingston is a bit further out, but has one of the best state schools in the country. I'm guessing that Fulham, Notting Hill, Kensington etc. have plenty of choice too. I would not have considered Eton either. It depends on how old your children are. For children 7+ you might consider a prep school that feeds into one of the more prestigious secondaries (St. Paul's, Latymer etc. are arguably much better schools than Eton and Harrow). Entry is exam based though, and can be tough.
Hope this helps.
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Thanks mrsl, you have given some excellent help! I am thinking West end to live. The only problem would be that Portland hospital is going to be a little further out as it close to Oxford so I'll have to take the tube to get there for the hospital and the doctors. I suppose that is the only time I would have to go out to Central otherwise each area tend to be pretty self sufficient with the high streets right? How do you get Creches, where do you find them and did you have a screening process for them or just asked for their ID thats all and if that is enough? I've heard some stories that some of them come from obscure backgrounds and can be HIV+ and so I was wondering if you've heard similar stuff. If not I could have a monthly plan with them to come everyday and maybe pay them monthly...don't know if they do that...
Do you know if there are any forums in UK like Asiaexpat where you can chat with others...discuss diff things. And if there are any monthly magazines delivered to your home like Dollarama that would have maid ads...
Lastly, if you know a name of a good gynae at the Portland Hospital pls let me know. I looked at their web site to get an idea of the hospital, it looks good but can't compare to Matilda as preg for the first time. I wonder how it will be better than Matilda because the ppl here feel it is the ultimate and even compare it to a five star hotel, again I wouldn't know.
Many Thanks!
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RRHK
18 yrs ago
Purefit - I am from London and currently in London but live in HK. I love both HK and London but they are different - both with good and bad aspects.
All my friends have given birth in regular hospitals in the UK - some in the private wings. A doctor friend always advised using the private wings of NHS hospitals, rather than a private hospital, in case you have complications as you will then need to go into the NHS system. This is the same for general health - most people visit an NHS hospital in an emergency but may seek private care for longer time problems or to jump waiting times if they have insurance. I don't know the Portland but pretty sure it is in Central London - maybe Oxford Street? That is in the West end. You may wish to look into NCT classes or the like to meet other pregnant women in your area and then have a support group of friends after the birth.
London is currently raining but its a fantastic city - you can find nannies to help you out, cleaners etc easily and lots of agencies. With regards to it being dirty - litter is a problem since litter bins are scarce due to terrorism - but the air quality is fantastic compared to HK! There is crime but I can honestly say one friend has been burgled (they were out of the house) but no-one has been mugged. You have to adjust your behaviour and keep your handbag glued to your side but you get used to it very quickly - you just become more streetwise than in HK - it turns into a way of life rather than something to be scared of.
There is nothing better than London on a crisp winters day in the parks or on a long summer evening - you just have to adjust your life to make the most of it. Get a subscription to "Time Out" Magazine to find out everything going on and enjoy it!
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Lime
18 yrs ago
I used to live in Bayswater and had all my five children at St Mary's hospital in Paddington. They were absolutely superb. It is a teaching hospital, very well equipped with top doctors and innovative.
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Thanks everyone! Has anyone had any experience with Au pairs in Uk? Do you have to pay them anything other than room and board provision? And how do you find Creches in your neighborhood?
Thanks!
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foxy
18 yrs ago
of course you have to pay them! would you work for nothing? i believe the current rate is around 50 to 60 gpb per week, for 5 hours per day, 5 days per week.
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yes, that i knew i meant anything for courses...
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Does anyone know what are the childbirth and hospital charges in UK for a private hospital and also for the private wing of NHS for similar services? Would the latter be slightly cheaper? Do most private insurances cover these costs because our plan would not include this benefit.
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Lime
18 yrs ago
I had all my children on the NHS. At St Mary's you can request a single room and get it if you are lucky. All the labour rooms are single , very roomy, comfortable and restfully decorated. When enquiring about private careI was advised that should an emergency arise during labour I would be tranferred to the NHS section as they had a greater range of resources. As I said before, St Mary's Hosp was superb in caring for my babies and myself. However that was quite a few years ago so I would arrange a visit and then decide.
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B_K
18 yrs ago
Purefit, my advice for moving to London is to not try to live your life like in HK. Some things are better in ldn, some better in hk. Just some examples: Do like living in a condo with swimming pool? forget about it. Do you like being able to eat cheap food on the street at any time? Forget about it. Would you like to get into your own car, drive out of the city and see beautiful scenery? Hey, London beat HK in this respect. Are you fed up with rudeness and shouting? In many people's opinion, london will beat HK here as well.
You need to figure out what's on offer in London and maximise your opportunities. If you just sit at home and think about the weather in HK, your life will be miserable.
I have lived in Brisbane, Perth, Singapore, Bangkok, Helsinki, Oslo, London... they all have something going for them, and something against them.
oh, I've drunk tap water for the past 3.5 years and have never noticed any chlorine taste or other strange taste.
As for crime, I am a big guy but have definitely felt unsafe a few times. There are some areas where I would not normally go after dark. but id doesn't bother me, there is no attraction for me there anywhere - there are so many places to go, why choose the sh*t places...
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Thanks B-K so much!!! Wud u know of any good hospitals in Central? Pls look at my privious request.
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purefit ,
We moved to London from Hk and also have a baby... Its a world of a difference here.
And though we have had our share of adjustment problems I realise that living and comparing the two cities is like comparing apples to oranges.
The NHS system in London is so far the only thing I have not cribbed about, they look after the baby and young mothers very well. Include them in activities and inform them regularly of the going ons.
Everything else is not comparable to HK.Your social life , work life ,eating out is absolutely different from HK.
come in with a open mind and accept and absorb the place. Also choose the area where you are going to live carefully.Its not like HK where whether you are living in Mid-levels or Dbay you have the same group of friends.
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B_K
18 yrs ago
I second kaybee... London is very large, geographically. About 2-2.5 hours by tube (MTR) from west to east. Your social life and circle of friends will to some extent be determined by where you live. I frequently find that I do not catch up with people simply because they live far away.
Find something you like about it... the theatres in West End are second to none in the world.
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mrsl
18 yrs ago
Purefit, in answer to your question, its cost about £10,000 to have a baby at the Portland (including consultations etc.). A C-Section would have cost a bit more. The other posters are correct when they say that in an emergency you would be moved to the NHS (St Mary's in the case of the Portland). Similarly in HK, if you have complications at the Matilda, you will most like end up at the QMH.
St. Mary's is probably the best NHS maternity hospital in Central London. It has a private wing called the Lindo Wing. In fact it is where I first started my maternity care with my eldest, I subsequently returned there for specialist consulations. I rapidly lost patience with the long waits etc. and geberally found the place quite dirty. As my pregnancies looked uncomplicated, we decided to switch hospitals.
I have had friends with similar experiences and some friends who work there say that it is because the nursing staff at the Lindo Wing resent people effectively writing cheques to jump the queue. I have another friend who could not complain about a single aspect of her experience there.
Should you decide to live in Kensington/Chelsea, the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is probably your best bet in the NHS (whether you go public or private).
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Thanks mrsl. You always seem to anwser any of my concerns spot on! It is great. Thank you!
I am still unsure about my living area but would you say that the NHS, Chelsea Westminster Hospital has good public & private wings? Would you happen to know if mid-wives are free and come to visit your home after delivery for sometime?
Also, in your opinion is this area Kensington/ Chelsea convenient and safe? With all the responsibilities, I am looking for convenience and ease foremost. Thanks.
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B_K
18 yrs ago
purefit,
Kensington/Chelsea is the most expensive and posh area in London. You will struggle to find a more safe area within the city centre. It is convenient and easy. You may also consider the Baker Street / Bond Street / Regents Park area. It is quite nearby.
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Thanks B_K, I just wrote to your other thread. But I have heard most of the bldgs in kensington too have really old set up and it woukd be hard to find something with a modern feel and apts there always overlook neighbors apts? Do most places in k/chelsea area have doormans or is that an alien concept there? Do you like Uk?
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Well, most buildings in Kensington and Chelsea are terraced houses, so deffo no "modern feel". However there are nicely redecorated modern homes to be found once you get behind the facade, as it were. There are some newer houses as well, but you're most likely to live in a traditional narrow terraced house.
Remember: Location, location, location.
Doormen aren't that common, but do exist. Labor costs are much higher than in HK or even the US, which decreases the frequency of doormen.
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B_K
18 yrs ago
The majority of buildigs in that area are 100-200 years old. Think old royal palace instead of modern penthouse. I don't personally know anyone living there due to the prices.
If you want modern appartments, that is not the place for you. Try canary wharf area. Just near the banking district. It is one of the very few areas with lots of modern tall towers.
London does not look like shanghai, singapore or hong kong - it has an old (grandeur, in some areas) feel to it, low 3-4 storey buildings, spread out over a huge area. The building I currently live in is 130 years old. There are very few tall buildings in the entire city (notable exception is canary wharf, mentioned above)
Do I like UK... i had to laugh to myself at that question... it's a good one... i came here voluntarily and I do try to see the positive in it. It is not my cup of tea, but I can easily see that it can appeal to a large number of people. It is much less superficial than HK/SG/SH, life and values are very different. If your main desire in life is to show off your handbag collection, I suspect you will not like it.
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My main desire by no means is to show off a handbag collection!!! Besides, I have heard ppl don't wear flashy labels in UK and also it is unsafe. I won't know.
I am surprised you find these asian cities superficial, I find UK very artificial. Why do they conserve the culture so much when the whole city is disfunctional! Everything is about maintaining appearances such as of bldgs and tube when they are archaic and have functionality problems!
Btw, do u live in central? I don't blame you for not loving Uk, I am not sure it is really my cup of tea either but in life we just go along. We all have diff likes/dsilikes.
Is it true though that everyone can look into each other's apts as they are so low?! I could not stop laughing at that!
And I can't believe you had to laugh at yourself about a simple q that whether u like UK or not? Clearly, your way of surviving is to laugh it off...why isn't Uk your cup of tea I wonder? Is it because they call their currency the GreatBP among other things!
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B_K
18 yrs ago
I wouldn't call it unsafe at all to wear flashy labels here. It would in some areas, but why spend a long time travelling to such places when there is nothing to see or do there. It's more that generally there is very little status and prestige attached to showing off labels here, and a great number of people will wonder why you bother to waste a lot of money on it. This does not apply to all groups of people of course, and I do believe it carries more prestige in the finance world.
Yes, there are lots of appartments where you can look straight into the ground floor, usually people's living room. I find it funny too and don't want to live like that. Obviously that only applies to some types of buildings and only the ground floor.
You might consider a change of lifestyle into living in a big house with garden instead. You can rent that just outside London for the same amount as you'll pay for an old apartment in the city. There are lots of expensive and nice areas where you will have nice neighbours, good area for kid to grow up, but a long commute to work place.
I must admit that I don't find the whole city dysfunctional, but I do think they could modernise more areas than they have done. However, I will leave this decision to the British, I am just a guest.
I live quite centrally but not right smack in the middle. I used to live right in the middle of it, at Marble Arch but found it too expensive for me. I did not want to continue to pay HK$20k for a 300squarefeet studio flat.
I can perhaps suggest the area Kew Gardens. It is just next to the botanical garden. Just to the southwest of the city. "nice people" live there and it has a nice character.
Perhaps as an alternative you would like Dartmouth Conservation Area. Look it up on google. It's fairly central, in the northwest, though not right in the city. Old but nice houses with gardens, and it is a great neighbourhood. "Nice people" live there as well, you don't need to worry about safety etc. And it is of course much cheaper than Kensington and slightly cheaper than Kew. I would prefer Kew though.
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Hi B_k is nhs is completely free? what about specialists like pediatrician and phsychiatry, optemetrist etc? is prescription also completely free? what about dentists? and if you get a private insurance on top of nhs do you have any advantage such as skipping ahead of the waitlist? also how much would delivery charges be in a private wing of a nhs hospital?
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