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: 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 [...]
