Where to live in the UK...help requested

Just make sure its not in an 'ex local authority' block ,which were for social housing ..some have been sold off into the general market.

I have a couple of houses in N8 (Highgate area) ,but they are rented and maybe a bit too far from where you need to be.

Also don't be afraid to haggle a bit on the rent,you will have Council Tax etc to pay which can add up.

 

Its an area that is very popular with visitors from the Middle East (and Tony Bliar used to live there....) especially over to Edgware Road

Slightly north and west are good areas to eat/shop/etc

 

I used to live in Highgate, I wouldn’t wish London on anyone. Expensive, unfriendly, dirty. Don’t stay that close in for more then a year, then move out a bit and marvel at what you can get for the same money within an hour from London. I’m back in Scotland now and my 7 bedroom, 150 year old farmhouse with 2 acres and 3 car garage is worth the same as a 2 bed flat in Highgate. Madness. And the air is fresh and the water comes from a pure loch.

I get the pleasure of visiting London 2 or 3 times a month, I fly in, do the meetings and fly home.

 

No doubt a lot of peeps stuck in London working long hours to pay the huge mortgage would like to do a swap with you.Kind of vicious circle.

 

Well done. As Sixcarbs wrote, Bayswater is a 'money to spare' area.

I lived there for two decades, closer to Queensway than to Paddington and my park was Kensington Gardens, although the two parks being contiguous, are often thought of as one. I'm a trustee of the Friends of Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens and after you have settled in, if you enjoy using the these parks' facilities, may I invite you to join the parks' supporters' association, of which I'm a trustee? Small membership fee and lots of benefits from the concessionaires in and around the parks. Also, we're a charity which gives support to the parks http://www.friendshpkg.org.uk/

Two of my children were born in St Mary's, so I give it a thumbs up. One of its branches is the Western Eye Hospital, my regular haunt for years as I have ongoing eyesight problems. Afterthe larger and better-known Moorfield's Eye Hospital in east-central London, the Western is the second biggest.

From where you are, it's a pleasant stroll along the residential streets to the shopping mall that's Oxford Street; or you can go choose a parallel footpath in the Park. Sooner or later you'll come across Tony Blair's townhouse, unmistakable for the two armed police officers stationed outside (and one on the back entrance). As armed police are few and far between, these stand out.

 

1. Mobile phone. How long's a piece of string? You will get a different opinion from everyone. Coverage various from provider to provider depending where you are. I have friends who can't get coverage at home with their provider but I can. But in London you should be OK with all, just depends how often you travel elsewhere.
My personal preference is 3. Mainly because you get your contracted minutes and data in I think all European countries, plus many outside Europe. Don't know what others offer but I have been with 3 for about 8 years and am very happy with service and cost. There `re so many different plans it is hard to advise but I pay something like £25 a moth and get everything I need with 4G in most locations.

2. As long as you have a Visa card you should have no problem paying for things and withdrawing cash, the c cashpoint machines mostly with no charge but that is changing. Most supermarkets offer cash back when you purchase using a card, normal limit £50. You would find it much easier to pay utility bills with a direct debit from a UK account and normally there is a small discount for that. Shouldn't be too onerous to open a UK account just for that. My experience of having anything to do with USA bank accounts in UK is DON'T. Others may differ in their experience. Maybe you could use your wife's account. for that and transfer money into it when required.

3. Yes - you need a tax specialist. Unless there is one on here anything we may say is pure guesswork

Have fun and look forward to having you both here in the UK (though in fact I am currently touring North West Spain and Portugal in my 308GT4. The sun is shining in Zamora as I write this.

Francis

 

Mobile phone - Pick up a SIM card from GiffGaff which runs on the O2 network. This sim will fit into any unlocked handset and give you full services without a contract. Check out their website. I used to work in the industry and have used them for years now, excellent service, all controlled through their website.

Banking - you can open a UK bank account with just your USA passport in minutes using one of the new upstarts services such as Monzo. This will allow you to user control via a phone app and set up direct debit payments for utility bills etc. When you’re settled, there are a number of major banks such as HSBC and Barclays who offer ex-pat style accounts and services however you may not need them unless you settle here for the long terms and seek a UK mortgage or other borrowing facilities.

Tax - Always complex however if you only talking about tax on interest paid to a UK bank account then part of it is taxed at source and the rest, over a certain base amount, would require filing a UK tax return. The long reach of the IRS ensures that you’d be taxed as an American while in the UK anyway so it’s probably good that you’re not making too much into UK accounts anyway!

Hope that helps!

 

Agree GiffGaff are good. I use them for a couple off trackers/ No idea how they compare otherwise

 

Ah - my home country, though not for a long time/ Just remember, depending where you are thinking of going. It is a day to get to the central belt (Edinburgh/Glasgow) and another day before you get to the north. And when there the roads aren't exactly quick. But once you are there it really is God's country, whatever other places may claim!
You might need more than 3-4 days!

Francis
Francis

 

A couple of pictures from a hastily arranged owner’s club run on Saturday from Balmaha on the shores of Loch Lomond, over the Duke’s Pass, around Loch Lubnaig to lunch on Loch Achray. The FF is mine, the Pista and 812s are on my wish list!!

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Bit more cloud due here for the next few days with some rain and not much more than 65 F

 

I hope you guys enjoy your experience over here!

Lots and lots to do over here, and remember flights are cheap over here so travel in UK and Europe costs little!!! Even more places and things to do.

If you don’t like it at least you have somewhere stunning to go back to!!! Always wanted to go to Montana!

 

I'm already looking for the next spot.

 

Well if London is like Manchester this morning, it's a warm coat and hat you need 2°C (almost 36°F) seems a bit cold to what we have been used to. However it is October I guess.

Good luck!

 

Arizonaitalian, if you are in Kensington, I am around a mile from you in Hyde Park. PM me and let’s meet up for coffee. Welcome to the greatest city in the world (although I am writing this from a foreign land on a business trip)

 

Don’t do it, stay there, Ania will be able to fly back for visits!
Mate, on the tax, the Uk can’t tax you on interest and investment monies made in the US, effectively you are tax domiciled in the US, and on extended vacation as far as I can tell. Keep Paying the IRS, every month transfer spending money into your UK bank account you are setting up, and don’t worry. I don’t see why the Uk government is owed anything by you. Your partner is different of course, she needs to set up her tax status with the Uk, and pay tax, and then let the IRS know - is it a W8 form or something? So they understand that the money is already taxed and not being used in the US. Once you go home, there may be some kind of tax to bring in money to the US, I don’t know, but certainly not ongoing if it is not being brought back into the country

 

I used an agency several times ...Black Katz . if you are still looking for a place.

 

Would be a pleasure.

 

Did you rent directly from the Landlord.or Agent?