Intro (moving to London soon!)

[earlgreyhot]

Hi...I'm a regular on CEP but wanted to say hello here! 

We are a family of 4 (me, DH, 6yo DS, 2yo DD) moving to London in January. I was over there last week researching neighborhoods and both DH and I loved Angel/Islington...it's a good commute for my DH and found the area really cute. Found a little primary school by a canal with a good rating and plan on making that our starting point for finding a flat (we will get about a month of temporary housing plus a real estate agent to help us).

The biggest stress is school/preschool for the kids. My DH's company is generous, but not enough that they will pay for private school so we'll have to rely on state schools. Then I'd like to find something for me to do part-time (I'll have a work visa), even though I have absolutely no idea what I would do. 

The formal process is just getting started so I will probably have lots of questions...and I am always open to advice and stuff so please share if you have any!

[gigem]

Congrats and welcome to the expats club, and good luck!

[earlgreyhot]

Oct 18, 2016 9:57:10 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

The Angel/Islington area is really cute, good choice! If it weren't so far from our jobs, I would consider living there. I have no advice on schools, sorry. Definitely find things to do to occupy yourself or else London can feel very isolating. You'll have the benefit of meeting other parents, doing playdates, etc. though.

Happy to try to help with advice as you come up with questions. There are also a couple of private Facebook groups you might find useful: American Expats in London and American Expats in the UK. Good luck with the move!

Thanks...

DC is feeling very isolating for me right now so am looking forward to a fresh start. I know in the beginning I'll be into exploring and learning the city. 

How long have you been in London? 

[mrsukyankee]

Hi. RockNVoll is a lovely and fun person so it's definitely not her. It does have a lot to do with being an adult (harder to make new friends) as well as just growing up differently (Brits tend to already have a 'group' and don't stray much). I have been here 12 years and have a variety of friends, from Brits to Aussies to Americans, but it's tough work and as we're all so busy, I really only have one friend that I just hang out with all the time. Some of it comes down to location too - it's a pain to get places even if they are only 3 miles away.

I agree - Angel/Islington is one of the places I'd LOVE to live. You'll like it.

We'll have to have a pub gathering once you get here! RockNVoll and I will get on that!

[cottoncandy]

I moved back to the US almost 2 years ago, but I wanted to chime in on he friend part. I actually met most of my friends at the gym in my neighborhood. I went to the same classes each week and would talk to people before and after. I also met a good friend at a restaurant bc her son who was the same age as mine was screaming and we bonded over that:-) Overall, I loved living in London and can't wait to bring my son back to show him where he was born!

[gigem]

Ditto pp, my best friend is someone i randomly met 4yrs ago at my gym while on expat in a small town in southwest france... ended up with had other friends in common but my first encouter with her was at step class!

[Cicero]

That is exciting! I must admit to being slightly jealous. London is at the top of my list location wise and we had been planning on moving there when our current phase of life is over but an EU passport isn't going to help with that anymore so yeah, not going to happen.

I can't say for London specifically but IME having small kids helps a lot with making friends. its been far easier to meet people this go round than it has been on the last one because we didn't have kids the last go round.

[mrsukyankee]

Oct 23, 2016 0:53:37 GMT -5 Cicero said:

That is exciting! I must admit to being slightly jealous. London is at the top of my list location wise and we had been planning on moving there when our current phase of life is over but an EU passport isn't going to help with that anymore so yeah, not going to happen.

I can't say for London specifically but IME having small kids helps a lot with making friends. its been far easier to meet people this go round than it has been on the last one because we didn't have kids the last go round.

We're still hoping Brexit won't happen now that the banks are threatening to leave!  Hope you can still make it.