How to Move to London from the US: Your Comprehensive Guide
Moving across states is one thing; crossing the Atlantic to set up shop in the iconic city of London is another ball game! Whether you’re lured by the historic charm, the pulsating arts scene, or a new job opportunity, moving from the US to London is both exhilarating and challenging. At Schumacher Cargo, we’ve been moving people overseas for over 40 years.
Here’s our 10-step guide on “How to Move to London from the US” and make it a smooth transition.
1. Understand Why London?
First and foremost, be clear about why you’re making the move. Is it for work? Study? Or the undeniable allure of the city? Knowing your ‘why’ can guide your preparations and decisions. It is a big move, so you want to be sure you are clear on your decision to move to London. You want to save your time and money.
2. Visa and Immigration
Moving to London is more complex than buying a plane ticket. The UK has specific visa requirements based on your purpose:
- Work: Usually, you’d need a job offer from a UK employer who has extended the offer.
- Study: Securing a spot at a UK university or educational institution is the first step.
- Family: If you have family in the UK, you might qualify for a family visa.
- Investors, business, and special talent visas are also available for those who meet the criteria.
Do thorough research or consult an immigration lawyer to understand what’s best for your situation.
3. Finding a Place to Live in London
London is vast, with each borough offering a unique living experience. Research different neighborhoods to find one that aligns with your lifestyle and budget. Websites like Rightmove and Zoopla can give you an idea of the property market.
4. Managing Your Finances for Your Move
London is expensive, and you’ll need to budget wisely. Before moving:
- Open a UK bank account. Some banks allow international applications.
- Get an idea of the conversion rate and how your savings and earnings will translate in pounds (£).
- Consider hiring an international tax consultant to understand how double taxation works and how you can minimize your tax burden.
5. Healthcare
The UK offers free healthcare through the National Health Service (NHS). Once you’re a resident, register with a local GP (General Practitioner) to access these services.
6. Moving Your Belongings to London
Contact Schumacher Cargo at 800-599-0190 and speak to a London moving specialist, or you can get a moving quote through our online form. Decide whether you’ll ship or store most of your belongings in the US. Remember, UK homes might be smaller than you’re used to, so decluttering can be an excellent place to start when shipping your belongings to London.
7. Culture and Social Integration
Yes, both the US and the UK speak English. Still, you’ll quickly discover that British English sometimes feels like a different language! Immerse yourself:
- Watch British TV shows.
- Join local clubs or groups based on your hobbies.
- Attend community events to meet locals and fellow expats.
8. Work and School Transitions
If you’re moving for work, your employer will guide your transition. For students, universities typically offer orientation programs. For those seeking jobs, networking is crucial. LinkedIn and local job agencies can be excellent resources.
9. Embrace the London Lifestyle
London is brimming with history, culture, and diversity. Embrace the lifestyle:
Explore the city’s iconic landmarks. Dive into its food scene – from fish and chips to international cuisines. Utilize public transport. The Underground (or the Tube) will likely become your best friend! 10. Stay Connected
Being away from home can be challenging. Schedule regular calls with loved ones back in the US. Consider using apps like Skype, Zoom, or WhatsApp to stay connected.
Moving from the US to London is undoubtedly a significant transition. Still, it can be an adventure of a lifetime with the proper steps. As you embark on this new journey, remember to enjoy the process, be patient with yourself, and savor every moment of your London story.
A yacht is associated with a lavish lifestyle of independence and limitless adventure. The vast ocean tempts with the allure of exciting destinations and matchless experiences. Europe is a destination that yacht owners can’t miss. Let’s look at Europe’s most famous yacht travel spots.
The Allure of European Waters
Europe’s coastline is a treasure trove of stunning vistas, rich history, and diverse cultures. Let’s explore top European yacht destinations, from the turquoise Mediterranean to rugged North Sea beauty.
1. French Riviera, France: Known for its glamour and sophistication, the French Riviera is a prime destination for yacht owners. Monaco, Cannes, and Saint Tropez are hotspots where you can rub shoulders with the world’s elite. The French Riviera is full of luxurious yachts that line the harbor and the chic boutiques and cafes that line the streets. The best time to visit the French Riviera is in the summer when the weather is warm and sunny, but if you want to avoid crowds, try May or September.
2. Amalfi Coast, Italy: This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its dramatic cliffs, crystal clear waters, and charming coastal towns. The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast would be during the summer months when it’s warm and sunny. Try staying in May or September to avoid the crowds. Yacht owners will love the chance to anchor in secluded coves and bays while enjoying the beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea.
3. Island of Hvar, Croatia: With its medieval architecture, vibrant nightlife, and beautiful beaches, Hvar is a gem in the Adriatic Sea. The island of Hvar is a stunning destination that yacht owners should consider visiting. As with the previous destination, summer is the best time to visit, but if you want to avoid the crowds, try the shoulder months.
4. Balearic Islands, Spain: Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca offer a mix of tranquil coves, stunning beaches, and lively parties. The Balearic Islands are busiest in July and August, but the weather is still warm and sunny in May and June, making it a great time to visit without the crowds.
5. Aegean Sea, Greece: The Greek Islands, including Santorini and Mykonos, are a paradise for history buffs, food lovers, and sun-worshipers alike. When planning a yacht trip to the Aegean Sea, the best time to visit would be during the summer, perfect for enjoying the crystal-clear waters and exploring the various islands and ports. Just remember, the summer is also the busiest time of year.
Transporting Your Yacht to Europe
Now that your wanderlust is piqued, let’s discuss how Schumacher Cargo can help you transport your yacht to Europe.
A Legacy of Trust
With over 40 years in the industry, we’ve established ourselves as one of the most trusted international shipping companies. Our dedication to safety, professionalism, and customer satisfaction has made us the go-to choice for yacht owners worldwide.
Comprehensive Services
We offer a suite of comprehensive services for yacht transportation. This includes pick-up, cradle construction, ocean freight, insurance, customs clearance, and delivery to the final destination.
Legalities and Documentation
Navigating through the complexities of international shipping laws and regulations can be daunting. At Schumacher Cargo, our experienced team will handle all the paperwork, ensuring a seamless and stress-free process.
Cost of Transportation
The cost of shipping a yacht across the Atlantic depends on various factors, such as the size of the vessel, the chosen shipping method (Roll-On/Roll-Off or Lift-On/Lift-Off), and the final destination. We provide transparent and competitive pricing with the assurance of no hidden costs.
Set Sail with Schumacher Cargo
Your European adventure awaits, and we’re here to make it happen. At Schumacher Cargo, we understand the value you place on your yacht. We handle every vessel with the utmost care, ensuring it arrives at its destination in pristine condition.
Whether you’re setting sail for the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera, the Greek islands’ historical allure, or the Balearic Islands’ vibrant energy, we’re your trusted partner for transatlantic yacht transportation.
Start your European yachting adventure today with Schumacher Cargo. Your dream destinations are just a sail away! Get a quote for transporting your yacht to Europe.
Closing out the holiday season is New Year’s Eve. The whole world celebrates the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new year together, despite the diverse array of holidays that came just a few weeks earlier. When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, the world celebrates in anticipation of what the new year will bring. Check out some of the interesting New Year’s Eve traditions around the world.
The world doesn’t celebrate all at once because, well, time zones. The first countries to celebrate the new year are Samoa, Tonga, and the small island of Kiritimati (Christmas Island), which is part of Kiribati. The last countries to celebrate the new year are American Samoa and Baker Island, part of the United States. While Samoa and American Samoa are only about 100 miles apart, they are 25 hours apart timewise. When it is 12 p.m. local time in American Samoa, it is 1 p.m. of the next day in Samoa, local time.
How Other Countries Celebrate New Year’s Eve Traditions
Typically in the United States, New Year’s traditions include crowds gathering to watch the famous Times Square Ball drop, whether right in the heart of New York City or on television in the comfort of home. When the clock strikes midnight, couples kiss to ensure another year of love, and communities send fireworks into the sky in celebration.
This holiday is celebrated across the world, so each country has its own customs for ringing in the new year. Check out how these 10 countries celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Spain’s New Year Celebration
The Spanish New Year’s Eve tradition is to eat 12 green grapes at the stroke of midnight. The grapes are eaten at each dong of the bell, one at a time. Las doce uvas de la suerte (“the 12 lucky grapes”) each symbolize the months of the year, and they are supposed to bring good luck.
Denmark’s New Year Celebration
The Danish don’t fret if a plate chips during the year. They save these for New Year’s Eve to then smash against the homes of friends and family to banish bad spirits. When Demark celebrates their New Year you can guarantee it’ll be a smash.
Finland’s New Year Celebration
In this Nordic country, people predict what the upcoming year will look like by casting molten tin into a small container of water. Whatever shape the tin takes when it hardens is what the new year will bring. Shapes resembling a heart or ring mean a wedding, a ship predicts lots of traveling, and a pig means there will be plenty of food available.
Scotland’s New Year Celebration
During the New Year’s Eve celebration of Hogmanay, the Scottish practice “first-footing.” The first person to cross the threshold of a home in the new year is to carry with them a gift for good luck.
Greece‘s New Year Celebration
Traditionally, an onion hangs on the front door of homes on New Year’s Eve as a symbol of rebirth. The next morning on New Year’s Day, parents will wake their children by tapping them on the head with an onion.
Colombia’s New Year Celebration
For those with a never-ending taste for adventure, Colombians will carry an empty suitcase around the block at midnight in hopes of a travel-filled new year. Hopefully the next year, they have a suitcase full of clothes.
Ecuador’s New Year Celebration
In Ecuador, they celebrate the New Year by burning paper-filled scarecrows and and photographs from the last year at midnight. This tradition brings in good fortune by scaring off bad spirits.
Brazil’s New Year Celebration
In Brazil, you need to consider your entire outfit for the evening. Whatever color your underwear is symbolizes what the new year will bring. Popular colors are red (love), yellow (money), green (luck), and white (peace).
Philippines’s New Year Celebration
In the Philippines, it’s not just a random occurrence for the confetti to be in the shape of a circle. Round shapes represent coins, symbolizing prosperity for the next year. People will wear polka dots and eat round fruits at midnight. The Philippines keep their New Year’s traditions round to make the most money they can for the next year.
Japan’s New Year Celebration
In alignment with Buddhist beliefs, the new year is literally rung in through ringing bells in the temples 108 times. This number represents human desires and suffering, and ringing a bell 108 times cleanses oneself.
China’s New Year Celebration
Some countries have a completely different New Years entirely. China’s New Year’s Eve traditions comes during the beginning of the lunar calendar and is a 15 day celebration with many people off the entire time.
Russia’s New Year Celebration
Russia’s New Year Eve tradition is to make a wish in their drinks. To start this tradition, they write their wishes on a piece of paper then light it on fire. Let the ashes fall into their drinks and you consume it with the ashes to make the wishes come true.
Czech Republic’s New Year Celebration
The Czech Republic’s New Year Eve tradition resolves around apples. They’ll all have apples ready to split in half on the New Year, with the shape inside showing what type of future year will happen.
Thinking about cleaning your slate and starting the new year in a new country? Contact the moving specialists today to get a free quote for household goods shipping. From all of us here at Schumacher Cargo Logistics, we wish you a happy new year!
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We prepared some of the best gift ideas for someone moving to another country. The soon-to-be expats in your life will really appreciate any of the gifts here. For many people moving overseas is a big change in their lives, so a gift can really help during this process. With this in mind, these gifts for expats are sure to bring a smile whenever they are thinking about home.
Moving Away Gifts for Expats
Before they can become an expat, they need to first move out of their home. In this case, a gift that functions during their move is a great way to go. This way the gift will get use as they are in the process of moving away.
Luggage
A new luggage might be the right gift for expats this year so they can bring all their favorite goods with them overseas. Just make sure its durable for the long travels. There are a ton of different sizes such as carry-on or check in that you can choose to supplement their traveling situations.
Gifts that Help Expats While they Move
The expat in your life will need to travel to their new home. A gift that helps while they are travelling could be the difference between comfort and a screaming baby for 12 hours.
Headphones
Headphones may prove the perfect gift for the traveling expat. International flights are often over 10 hours long, and a good pair of headphones really makes these bearable. Now and days there are all types of options for noise canceling or wireless that they may not have yet.
Gifts for People Living Overseas
It helps to be prepared for the changes in a new country. A gift that sets up the transition overseas can be great for easing them into their new life.
Power Adaptors
In the event that your expat is moving with electronic items, a power adapter is a definite necessity. In order to actually use these items, you need to be able to plug them in. An adapter is sure to be a welcome addition in any expats bag because of this. There are small travel adaptors that don’t take up too much space.
Measuring Devices For American Expats
One of the best gifts for expats that love to cook are measuring cups and spoons that have both imperial and metric are invaluable. Many times expats love this gift because they get overseas and realize they have a completely different measuring system. Recipes they bring with them may have one measurement and recipes they get over there may have the other.
Here is one set of measuring spoons that have both styles of measurements.
Weather Specific Gifts
Depending on where they move, a gift for the local area’s weather is appropriate. A nice coat or umbrella is a great gift for people traveling to cold or rainy areas. Whereas sunglasses would be a great gift for a sunny country.
Gifting Expats Local Experiences Before They Leave
One of the most common things an expat will feel is nostalgia for their old home. Send them off with some moments only found in their area.
A great gift before they travel is taking them to their favorite places around town. Places like their favorite restaurant or local amusement parks are destinations they may miss abroad. Pick up a souvenir or two so they have something to bring with them as well.
Gift Cards Overseas
Although gift cards are usually a easy purchase, buying gift cards for expats presents a new opportunity. As your loved one moves away, the stores they are used to shopping at may not be there. By taking time to find shops near them, you can ease their transition with gift cards to these new stores. Not to mention the small size allows expats to carry more essentials while they are traveling.
If none of these gifts seem right for the expat in your life, you can always help their move out with some items on our Essential Things to Pack When Moving list.
Start your international move today with Schumacher Cargo Logistics!
It’s music festival season. And here in our little hometown known as Los Angeles, we happen to host some of the best music festivals in the country, maybe even the world. One that’s especially hot on the local radar is Arroyo Seco Weekend. Its inaugural event was held in 2017, so this will be the second year of the festival held at the Brookside Golf Course at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The team behind the festival, Goldenvoice, is the same group that puts on Coachella and Stagecoach, so you know it’s up to snuff.
What makes Arroyo Seco stand out is that, instead of camping out in the desert with a bunch of other strangers, there are no overnights allowed on the golf course; attendees go home and rest up in their own beds. The food scene is also a hit, featuring some of Pasadena’s and Los Angeles’ best local chefs, and paired up with craft beer and wine.
This year’s top headliners are Neil Young & Promise of the Real, Jack White, Kings of Leon, and Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters. The 2017 event had Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Mumford and Sons, Weezer, and Alabama Shakes at the helm.
General Information for Arroyo Seco Weekend 2018
- What: Three stages of live music featuring top headliners and emerging artists, with local food and drink available on-site
- When: June 23-24, 2018; rain or shine; venue opens at noon each day
- Where: The Brookside Golf Course at the Rose Bowl, 1133 Rosemont Ave, Pasadena, California 91103
- Website: www.arroyosecoweekend.com
- Single day tickets start at $149
- Full weekend passes start at $249
- All ages welcome; children ages 10 and under are free
- General car and bike parking is free; preferred parking passes are available for purchase
- The festival is also accessible via LA’s Metro Rail
Other Attractions in Pasadena
There’s something for everyone in this city. You’ll find world renowned music and art, one-of-a-kind shopping experiences, and entertainment for all ages.
- Old Pasadena: Pasadena’s original business district is now home to amazing shopping and dining opportunities. The historic Route 66 runs through the middle of this area, and folks will camp out along Colorado Boulevard for the Rose Parade every year.
- Kidspace Children’s Museum: This family-friendly and kid-oriented museum is located right next to the Rose Bowl, and it features plenty of hands-on exhibits and activities to help kids learn about arts and science.
- Norton Simon Museum: This art museum hosts an impressive collection of work done by Rembrandt, Monet and Renoir, among others. There is also a sculpture garden outside, decorated with trees, water features and gardens.
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory: This NASA lab was responsible for the Mars Pathfinder and Spirit rover’s mission to Mars, and it currently operates NASA’s Deep Space Network. About once a week, the lab is open to the public for guided tours of the facility. Tours are free, but they book up three weeks in advance so get your tickets now.
- Looking for more things to do in Los Angeles? Check out our post on the top five things to do in L.A.
Food and Drink at Arroyo Seco Weekend 2018
Forget about street vendors and deep fried fair food; Arroyo Seco is also a gathering of some of the best food and drink companies in the Los Angeles area. Take a look at who’s dishing it up this year.
Ship with Schumacher This Summer
If you’re ready to move to Los Angeles to be part of great events like this, Schumacher Cargo Logistics can help you through all the steps of your international relocation to the US today. Our corporate office is located in Los Angeles, and we have over 40 years of offering our customers the best shipping rates. Our team is ready to help move your items abroad and to the United States.