Archive for Living in London
Kew Gardens – Getting Back to Nature
Central London has its fair share of great parks, but sometimes it’s nice to get away from the city all together and enjoy nature a bit. Before I left for my two-month trip to Thailand, I visited Kew Gardens. Located just north of Richmond in Zone 3, it’s still well within the bounds of London [...]
Living in London: The Oyster Card Demystified
Oyster is a plastic smartcard you can use instead of paper tickets. You can put Travelcards, Bus & Tram Passes and pay as you go credit on it, which you use up as you travel. Money added to your card can be allocated to Pay-as-You-Go, or towards a Travel Pass, provided unlimited travel between [...]
Living in London: Getting a Bank Account and NI Number
Obtaining a bank account and National Insurance (NI) Number are important steps in establishing yourself in the UK. Bank accounts are much more difficult to get in England than in the US and typically require proof of residence and a job contract. An NI Number, which is similar to a US Social Security Number, typically [...]
Living in London: Perks of Working in The City of London
Working a regular 9-5 job 5 days a week slowly chips away at my soul, and sometimes I feel like a spineless nubbin whose only purpose in life is to press buttons on a keyboard. Every once in a while though, this feeling ebbs and is replaced by something resembling joy. The views outside my [...]
My London Staycation
I’ve been extremely busy the last few months. Working full-time and travelling during the little breaks in between has been a bit wearing on the soul, but a pleasure nonetheless. With my calendar filling up with a myriad of great events in London, I decided to take a few days off so I could truly [...]
Living in London: The Essential Gear
After a few months in London and about a month of regular commuting to and fro, I’d like to share some tips when it comes to packing for a day out in this fine city. First off, as a woman I like a nice purse. However, in order to make travel easy and comfortable, I [...]
Living in London: A 5-Month Retrospective
Part I In December of 2010, I arrived in England ready and willing to embrace it with naivete and enthusiasm. England, as it turns out, didn’t seem to feel the same way about me. At least not at first. Straight off a 12-hour flight from balmy Las Vegas, I schlepped my tired, weakened frame towards [...]
Living in London: Getting Your NHS Number
If you are planning on staying in the UK for a long period of time, it’s worth getting an NHS (National Health Service) number. This allows you access to the UK’s not-so-fine healthcare system, but it is handy if indeed you find yourself ill and in need of a doctor. When I first arrived in [...]
