Top 6 Things Expats Wish They Knew Before Moving to the UK: A Complete Guide

It's been five years now since I relocated to the UK. It's always tough when you move to a new place; learning the culture, language, and environment is a whole new experience. 
 
Every other expat move here came with a dream of a better lifestyle. When it comes to the UK, the first thing you have to deal with is its unpredictable weather.  
There are lots of things you can only learn when you come here. But the one thing you should not forget is to book the Manchester airport cheap parking, which will add such an amazing experience to your travel. Comapre the cheap airport parking deals by Ezybook.co.uk for your convenient travel.

Moving forward in this short guide, I will share my personal experience, which I wish I had known before moving to the UK, but I will be more than happy to share it with you guys who are looking forward to moving to the UK.  

1- National Health Service 

When you enter any country, you first need to look at the health care system. The UK National Health Service is one of the best in the world. 
 
You don’t need to pay any cash for the treatment. This is funded by taxes. But it is based on the urgency; if it is life-threatening, then you will get immediate care, else you have to wait for weeks or months. In that case, you can use private health insurance, which is quite expensive.  

2- Weather Condition 

You know what, I didn’t realise that weather conditions can shape your daily life schedule until I came to the UK. The weather is so unpredictable that you won’t realize it until you move here. 
On a winter day, daylight hours are extremely short, and you will feel like it's time in the afternoon.  
 
Moreover, rain is very common and unexpected; you have to keep an umbrella and a rain jacket with you, and if you are planning for a long day, it is highly recommended to check the weather forecast.

3- Cost of living  

I know many of you heard that the UK is quite expensive. It is true not only that London but also other cities in the UK can slowly drain your wallet. There are expenses like monthly rent, groceries and utility bills, transportation, and not only that, there is a kind of tax which is council tax. 
 
From a cost-of-living perspective, the UK is expensive, but the best part is that you can enjoy one of the world’s best lifestyle environments.  

4- A world-class public Transportation 

The United Kingdom has one of the best public transportation systems in the world. You will see buses, trains, and trams in major cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham. This transportation has an amazing network, and it connects nearly every major city and town.  
 
So, what does it mean? It means that you don’t really need to have a car; you can rely on public transport to get around anywhere in the city and across the city. It will save you fuel costs and all the costs coming for having a car.  
 
But trains are often delayed in the UK due to bad weather, and there are limited bus services in the rural areas. Moreover, the ticket costs are skyrocketing in the UK, so I recommend you have a railcard or Oyster card.

5- Renting Issues 

Looking for a rental property in the United Kingdom is not an easy job. The competition is very high. In the popular areas like universities, transportation areas, and central cities, the flats can be rented out within hours of being listed.  
 
In case you already know that London is one of the most expensive cities, you have to pay at least 1200 pounds for a flat for one month. The prices are not much lower in other cities like Manchester and Edinburgh; here, you still have to pay 900 pounds.  

6- Work Culture 

At first, you may think that the UK might seem all business, suits, and a solid work ethic. But it is not a fact at all; rather, the UK has the best work culture, where you will get the time to relax and maintain a good work-life balance.  
 
There are tea breaks where you can interact with the people. The working hours seem flexible. As a full-time worker in the UK, you can get 28 days of paid leave per year.  

Final Thoughts 

It was some quick tips for people who are planning to come to the UK. It's a fact that here you can get the best facilities and an excellent living standard. But you need to get aware of the cost of living, the national health care system, and transportation and renting issues. With some planning, you can surely overcome those obstacles. 
 
 Making friends in the UK seems difficult at first sight, but you can make a real difference by joining local clubs, volunteering work, or even chatting with neighbours.