As global connectivity increases, and the U.K. falls prone to the same decentralization affecting the rest of the world's major population centers, there seem to be an increasing number of reasons for even the most well-heeled professionals to live outside of the M25 (for non-U.K. residents, the motorway ring that forms a kind of informal 'boundary' enclosing London from the rest of the country).

London will remain the prime English stronghold of the financial and communications industries, but obviously not everyone is employed in these industries, and both are mobile enough to allow them to be represented elsewhere in the country. While it is far and away the most visited U.K. city - with Edinburgh coming in second - there are those for whom massive popularity is their cue to seek out something different. Expatriates with an eye to 'going native' in England may also enjoy the relative challenge of working and residing in a city with a slightly less international profile to it.   more ...

The English language, given its unparalleled distribution throughout the world, has become such a complex and syncretic beast that we can sometimes wonder if it might be better to classify some of its most esoteric variants as different languages altogether. From the intentionally un-grammatical constructions of Internet message boards to the Rasta argot of Jamaica (in which the phoneme "I" is substituted for other phonemes with disagreeable connotations), it is sometimes fascinating to see how far the language can be bent without breaking.

Even single deviations from a rule - such as the habit of some New Zealand residents to pronounce all vowel sounds like the "i" in "dig" - can dramatically alter the perception of the language as something familiar. Of course, one doesn't have to travel far from the historical birthplace of the English tongue to encounter a very non-standardized English that is at odds with the Queen's English of BBC broadcasters, or for distinct dialects that might be mutually unintelligible.   more ...

The cities, towns and villages differ greatly in the UK and those moving to the area have a large, personal decision to make based on their preferences, employment opportunities and the landscapes they prefer. The UK, on the whole, has it all on offer, from valleys and lakes to bustling cosmopolitan life.

Employment

The highest salaries on offer in the UK can be found in Kensington and Chelsea, the City of London, Westminster and Elmbridge in Surrey, although the cost of living and property prices in these areas are also much higher than other parts of the country. The City of London and other large cities in the UK, such as Birmingham and Manchester offer employment opportunities at senior levels, as these tend to be the hubs for business headquarters. Employment in the UK is highest in Ryedale in North Yorkshire and the Shetland Islands, where the rate is 86.1%, according to the fifth annual Quality of Life survey from the Halifax Building Society.   more ...

Among Brits, there exists a divide between London and the rest of Britain, possibly heightened by the recent Olympic Games and the media branding of ‘Planet London.’ The divide is not one of animosity, but simply of location, size and opportunity. Britain is well-known for being a diverse nation.

For this reason, London tends not to reflect British culture fully. Britain has a number of villages, towns and cities which vary dramatically, from the South Wales valleys and its beautiful countryside, to the lively urban life in the city of Birmingham in the Midlands.

About London

London (the city) has the eighth biggest economy in Europe, ranking above Sweden, Finland and Hungary (as whole countries). The capital of the UK is the world's most ethnically diverse population. While there are areas of deprivation, generally London holds a place on the world’s political and economic stage, which other areas of Britain cannot compare with.   more ...

With over fifteen million citizens residing in the London metro area, and with the second largest immigrant population behind New York City also residing here, it would seem that London is far better served for expatriate socializing opportunities than most cities in the world. Indeed, its non-indigenous population comprises some 50 different ethnic enclaves, and means that one can hear around 300 different languages being spoken within the city boundaries.

Pubs: the Original Social Network

In a widely read Guardian editorial attacking the nascent online newtworking culture, columnist Tom Hodgkinson claimed to "despise" Facebook, while wondering what was wrong with the traditional London networking forum, "the pub." Hodgkinson probably speaks for millions of Londoners who would prefer the ambience of their local watering hole to the routine checking of Facebook updates.   more ...