About UK

The United Kingdom is a land of opportunity to many. With a stable economy, world-class education system, varied employment prospects and an enviable lifestyle, it is one of the most sought after destinations for students and immigrants alike.
This feature attempts to throw light on some of the most common queries one may have regarding residing in and settling down in Great Britain.

UK Facts and Figures

Britain is officially titled the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. For simplicity sake it is referred to as "Britain". Its inhabitants, Britons, are the descendants of a mixture of Celts, Saxons, Romans, Vikings, French (Norman) and many other nationalities. Modern Britain is a multinational, multicoloured, multicultural and multilingual country. As with most countries in the world, there are many influences from outside Britain that make it the country what it is today.

Population and Area

The United Kingdom has 56.5 million people on its 242 910 square kilometres
England by itself has 47 million people on 130 423 square kilometers. Scotland has 5.1 million people on 78 133 square kilometers. Wales has 2.8 million people on 20 779 square kilometers and Northern Ireland has 1.6 million people on its 13 576 square kilometers

Britain is just less than 1000 km (about 600 miles) in length from the south coast of England to the extreme north of Scotland. It is just less than 500 km (around 300 miles) across at the widest point. The combined English and Welsh coastline is 14 549 kms (9 040 miles), but this includes islands taking up 5 214 kms (3 258 miles) of this figure. Scotland, including its islands has a coastline of 9 335 kms (5 800 miles). The most northerly point on the British mainland is Dunnet Head (some would say John-O-Groats), in Scotland and the most southerly point Lizard Point, Cornwall.

Official Languages

English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic

Religions

Church of England (Anglican), Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) and a host of others in smaller percentages but no less significant in stature. The UK has sizeable Moslem and Jewish communities.

The UK Weather

People the world over have a very negative impression of Britain's weather. In parts of the UK this perception is warranted. Many people think it rains every day in the UK and when it is not raining it is snowing. The variance in weather for such a small island is somewhat surprising. The facts make for interesting reading.

The average temperature range in the UK varies from 0 Celsius (32 Fahrenheit) in winter to 24 Celsius (75 Fahrenheit) in summer. Occasional winters see the daily high fall below freezing in places, while in some summers the daily high can reach the mid-30s Celsius. The warm Atlantic Gulfstream current coming up from the Caribbean tempers the northern climate to such an extent that the weather is less extreme than other cities at the same latitude. Continental Europe suffers much more severe winters compared to the UK.

Economy

• Measured in US Dollars, it is GNP is 1.4 trillion (1400 billion) and is the world's fourth largest economy.
• There are just over 28 million employed people in the UK.
• It has one of the most even distributions of wealth in the world.
• The economy is dominated by the services sector, which is more than two thirds of the economy.
• Financial services are the leading service industry.
• Unemployment is currently under 5% (August 2003).

Currency

The currency in the UK is the Pound sterling (£), with 100 pence (p) making up a Pound. Notes are in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50. Coins are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. Scotland also has its own notes that have the same monetary value and are accepted in England. They are not always well received south of the border though. Taking Scottish notes abroad will result in your receiving a lower exchange rate than for the equivalent Bank of England notes.

Accomodation

Hostels

Hostels are still largely the domain of young people on the tightest of budgets. Standards vary greatly with some being outright dumps and others being better than hotels. Rooms and facilities are basic. Rates vary accordingly, but just because a hostel may be charging more than its neighbor, it doesn't mean its any better. In fact, it may be the reverse because it knows its neighbor (competitor) may be fully booked. Make it a point to personally visit a room before making any commitment. Remember that people occupying a room tend to come and go, with some having reasons to steal to keep themselves going.

Hotels and B&Bs

If you've come over with a family, and sharing a flat or hostel isn't up your street, then you can either book into a hotel or Bed and Breakfast (B&B) for your first few nights. The hotel/B&B option is the more costly option, but you get what you pay for. You will have access to a better range of services and facilities. Most markedly you will have privacy. On average the rooms will be cleaner, better furnished and better equipped. Your possessions may be safer too. Breakfast will often be included in the rate, but may be very basic (toast and cereals) in cheaper establishments.

How to Decide Where to Live

Where you decide to live is dependent on your personal circumstance. It comes down to what you would accept, what you can afford, where you'd work, when you work, what transport you'd require and how long you'd want to stay. Your decision depends on whether you're single, a couple or a family with children. Deciding where to live is not an easy matter to deal with nor is it speedily resolved in most cases.

The Rental Market

It is easier and quicker to rent accommodation than it is to buy it. That does not mean it is easy though. It is just easier than buying. In the long term it is usually cheaper to buy than to rent. However, with very high property prices in the UK, it takes some time to earn a substantial amount of money locally before being able to buy your own property.

How to Find a Place to Live

There is no one way of finding a place to live that works everywhere all the time. The first thing you need to get is a street map of where you think you may live. For the city of London, go out and get a decent sized "A to Z of London". It is a small thick map book of all London's streets that has a Tube map on the back cover. It is about £5 and will save you time and hassle when looking for work and accommodation. Missing appointments is missing opportunities. This little map book will pay for itself several times over. Similar books are available for all the major towns and cities in the UK.

Buying Property

We will not go into much detail on buying property in the UK for a few reasons. Firstly, if you've just arrived in the country, no lender will do business with you for several years until you've established a credit record. Secondly, very few people arriving in the UK have sufficient money to put down as a deposit. Thirdly, it takes most people quite a lot of time to come to terms with their new lifestyle and surroundings before deciding where to buy a property.

Communications

Having means of communication is very important, especially in the first few days after your arrival. You may want to contact a few people after arrival to let them know that you landed safely. You may want to contact a few friends to meet up with them. You may want to start the hunt for a job or place to stay within hours after clearing Immigration control.

Telephone

The standard and quality of telecommunications in Britain is very high. The market is also very competitive, with a variety of options available that cater for any telephonic need. In essence, your choice boils down to trading off quality of service over price and finding an acceptable level.

Postal Services

The UK postal service is very good. Post offices are open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday and until 12pm on Saturday. Royal Mail offers two types of service: Letters sent First Class within the UK will be delivered the next business day (currently 27p). A Second Class letter can take up to 4 days. Airmail to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa takes approximately 4 to 8 days (surface mail takes 8 to 12 weeks!) and the cost is dependant on the weight involved.

The Internet

Having access to the Internet is a matter of life or death to some people. Others can get by without it. In the UK, it is a part of life, like it or not. In your first few days in the UK, having access to the Net can help you greatly. You will be able to make contact with agencies, whether for work or for accommodation. You will be able to write to friends and family. You can send the same message to several people at the same time, thus saving you valuable time.

Income Tax

All employees pay income tax, which is deducted automatically from your earnings by your employer. This is called PAYE (Pay As You Earn). Currently your first £4,615 (annualized) attracts no tax. Your next £1,960 is taxed at 10%, while earnings from £1,961 to £30,500 is taxed at 22%. Income above £30,501 is taxed at 40%. The average annual income for a working person is £23,000

Public Transport

The public transport system in the UK is very good. It may not be cheap in places, but at least it exists. Most people's existence would be much poorer without public transport. However, on a small crowded island like the UK, a disruption to the public transport network has a ripple effect. Short delays and overcrowding in rush hour is common.

London Buses

A London bus is a famous image the world over. Whilst enjoying the view of London's attractions, these buses will take you all over the capital. Most of the London buses are still red, but a few are painted in different colours. This is because bus routes are operated by a host of bus operating companies, some wanting to differentiate themselves by having a different colour.

Employment in UK

It ultimately boils down to gaining employment and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle in your adopted country. With this goal in mind, awareness of how the labor market works in the UK is very important.

The Way the Labour Market Works

The UK has a sophisticated labour market. More than a third of employees work on a contract basis, which can range from a few years to a few weeks in duration. Job security is something of a rarity in the modern British economy. This state of affairs exists to allow employers to easily shed staff in an economic downturn by not renewing contracts. However, with over 28 million jobs in existence in the UK today, most people should be able to find the right job for themselves.