Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post from Colleen Wagner who works at London Relocation Ltd. – a London agency that specializes in relocating Americans (and anyone) to London. They’ll help you find a place to live, open bank accounts and provide advice on adjusting to life in the UK. Check out their website here. Thanks Colleen!
As an American-owned and operated relocation agency, we field a lot of enquiries from North Americans looking to make the big transatlantic move to the United Kingdom. A big part of the job is managing expectations, as, for as much as expatriates are seeking change in a new culture, it’s only that natural that they also seek a degree of familiarity with what they already know. We can’t perform architectural miracles that increase the square-footage and closet space of these predominantly Victorian-era buildings to meet modern American proportions; nonetheless, we can advise on which neighborhoods have a solid American demographic by virtue of other appealing factors. Generally, American expats dig London’s West side.
Notting Hill
Photo by - Danny Robinson
No joking, this neighborhood continues to be a draw for Americans because of the Hugh Grant film of same name. There is a comfort to coming to Notting Hill from abroad thanks to a ready familiarity with the charms of Portobello Road as it’s portrayed in the movie. Bedecked in antique shops, fashion boutiques, pubs, cafes, and street stalls overflowing with produce, this colorful strip contains all the quaint appeal that Americans expect from London.
The amenities don’t stop at Portobello, however; indeed, the entire area is dotted with day and night-life amidst quiet residential streets that provide a nice escape from the city-center bustle and is close to green space like Kensington Gardens. The neighborhood’s Westbourne Grove has been nicknamed “Rodeo Drive” by residents for its posh clothing shops, and, overall, residences are well-maintained to an American standard.
South Kensington
Even more central to London is the neighborhood of South Kensington, an affluent postcode that is home to a substantial American population. The area bears a similar aesthetic to trendy U.S. neighbourhoods like Lincoln Park in Chicago or New York’s SoHo or Upper West Side and, like Notting Hill, is a cornucopia of shopping and dining.
Gloucester Road is among many venue-lined roads and is home to one particular grocery store that has become a guilty pleasure (if not a staple) for many-an American expat: Partridges. For as many American brands (or decent-enough equivalents) that can be found in UK stores, there are many good ol’ standbys that are rare in these here parts, so it’s key to have an oasis of American goods to satisfy that occasional craving for pancakes and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese! And for more upscale shopping, South Kensington is only a few minutes’ walk from its opulent and pricier neighbor, Knightsbridge, which houses the likes of Harrods.
With the Victoria & Albert and Natural History museums, as well as concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington also provides a convenient dosage of British history and culture to immerse expats in their new country.
St. John’s Wood
Perhaps the most blatant draw to St. John’s Wood for Americans is the American School in London (ASL). The only American school located within the city of London itself, ASL’s American curriculum automatically attracts families relocating from the United States to provide children with continuity in their education.
Regardless if one’s child is not enrolled in ASL or one does not have children at all, the neighborhood has a ready network of Americans (the St. John’s Wood Women’s Club being one resource) and meets a high standard of living. It is certainly one of the more expensive areas to live (Paul McCartney lives there), with a gorgeous brass-fixtured Tube station and darling cafes and shops to wander around in a safe, quiet, and family-friendly environment.
Perhaps one of the more fun features of SJW is Lord’s cricket ground, the “Home of Cricket.” American sports enthusiasts can attend a match there and figure out first-hand whether cricket moves more slowly than baseball J
Islington
Now, this is not one of the more obvious choices for Americans, but I would be remiss not to mention Islington as a neighborhood of growing attraction. It has an edgy, artsy feel, yet could be tagged as “up-and-coming” with increasing gentrification (think Chicago’s Bucktown/Wicker Park or New York’s Greenwich/West Villages). The Islington /Angel area has a great social scene, commencing immediately along Upper Street just outside of Angel Tube station and ranging from super-casual pub to super-swank club.
In addition to the nightlife, this North London neighborhood’s closer proximity to the city center renders it desirable by expats wanting a shorter commute to work.
Moving to London
Regardless of where you decide to live in London, opportunities to network with other Americans abound. The expat community is spirited and open-minded, so you’ll be deeply enriched by the global experiences of others who have relocated like yourself.
While this empathy is great (and vital for some), a major part of the expat experience is also to cast off a bit of what you knew at home to take on the new challenges and joys of a different cultural environment. In this case, don’t worry that living in a popular American neighborhood will mean sheltering yourself from the international community—such couldn’t possibly happen in a city as diverse as London!
Cheers,
Colleen Wagner
Author Info - Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile with an obsession for Britain that borders on psychosis. He keeps Anglotopia running in his spare time, always dreaming of his next trip to England, wishing he lived there - specifically Dorset - and is always trying to figure out a way to move to England. It will happen one day. Keep up with him on Twitter here. Read more from this author
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia was started to get us back to the UK for a trip and it did that in 2009. Now, the goal is for Anglotopia to make our dream of living in the UK a reality.
No wonder Americans think London is expensive – these are all the most expensive parts!
OH GOD! THEY DON’T HAVE PANCAKES?!
Ha, Clare, you hit the nail on the head. It’s very difficult getting Americans out of their comfort zones
And Hannah, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but…British pancakes are closer to French crepes in thickness, which isn’t to say they aren’t delicious, just that they aren’t what we know and love. There are some efforts made out there, though, to offer American-style pancakes, just not very prevalent, and the only mixes I’ve seen are the ones imported from the States (God forbid I just make batter by scratch, but it’s the principle of the whole thing!). And another bit-o-trivia related to this topic: “flapjacks” here aren’t pancakes, they’re like thick, brownie-shaped/sized granola bars.
So, the “best” places if you want to throw yourself in with all other Americans. Ok, now I know where NOT to move.
Being an Anglophile is trying to find all the British pubs everywhere we go and not seeking out Americans. But who can argue with the West Side?
Re: St. Johns Wood, you forgot to mention the biggest draw to the area for any American: Panzer’s Deli! Well stocked with many North American cereals, candy, holiday treats, cookies, crackers, ingredients, etc., Panzer’s is one of the best places in London to satisfy your American cravings.
As someone who lives in Angel/N1, I think I’d be hardpressed to find someone who thinks of it as “up-and-coming” with the average house price is £500,000 ($720,000). However, I find this to be a good guide! It’s also worth noting that at first I didn’t think I’d miss American things and people when moving to the UK, but I certainly did after a while!
Diane – Ha! I hear ya on that one. You’d think the idea of moving into a new environment would be to embrace other cultures, but it never ceases to surprise how abundant expat networks are here so like can meet like…I suppose there’s security in it, and some folks are more so here for jobs or their spouse’s jobs, so want to recreate home as much as possible, much to the chagrin of the locals
Jack – That’s awesome! I didn’t know about that place, so will spread the word. Thanks!
Kat – Ouch, that’s London prices, isn’t it…rentals are getting higher in that area as well. I suppose by “up and coming” I meant more in terms of the gentrification–at least based on my Chicagoan perception because it reminds me so much Bucktown back home, but I’m interested to hear more of your take on it as a resident. It’s a cool neighborhood that I haven’t spent enough time in–any recommendations/advice we can pass on to prospects looking into it?