Living in the UK

Australian Direct Recruitment

Welcome to the UK!
Congratulations on your decision to live in the UK, you are certainly not alone and we hope your stay is a rewarding and life changing experience. Traditionally many Australians have viewed their overseas experience as a rite of passage and have successfully integrated into the UK culture, albeit for a relatively short period. The UK is the gateway to exploring the Northern hemisphere and a wealth of opportunity awaits you!

Similar to Australia the UK is currently experiencing strong economic growth. It has developed a reputation for its diverse and cosmopolitan lifestyle which attracts people from all over the world. The UK is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities and over 250 languages are spoken in London, making the capital the most linguistically diverse city in the world.

The UK is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities and over 250 languages are spoken in London, making the capital the most linguistically diverse city in the world.

First Things First...

Somewhere to stay,
having travelled half way round the world it’s always a good idea to organise some short term accommodation for your arrival in the UK. Arrange to stay with friends or use our Accommodation page links to help book something online prior to your arrival. More…

Something to eat,
you will recognise a host of household fast food restaurants plus a multitude of others.  For supermarket shopping simply supplement Coles and Woolworths for their UK equivalents:  Tesco, Asda, Safeway, Sainsbury's, Waitrose.
Check out UK food prices at Tesco

Money matters,
you will find a wealth of ATM machines located throughout the UK bank network. Visa and MasterCard services are widely accepted throughout the UK. The main UK banks: Co-operative Bank, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Barclays, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland. More…

Transport,
Public transport is at your fingertips on your arrival in London. The London Underground provides a network of links to the city. It will also enable you to access the major London overland railway stations that provide speedy services to the rest of the UK. More…

Pubs,
wherever you end up you will not be far from the local pub which provides a comfortable environment to relax with friends or meet the locals. fancyapint.com…

Facts & Figures about the UK...

Geography
The United Kingdom is an island situated in west northern Europe with a population over 60 million people. The capital is the busy city of London with more than 8 million inhabitants. One quarter of the population reside in the South East of the country.

Government and Political System
The UK is a democratic political union made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It has a constitutional monarchy headed by Queen Elizabeth II. The current Prime Minister is Gordon Brown who is head of the Labour party. The UK is a member of the European Union (EU) which is a political and economic community that guarantees the free movement of people, goods, services and capital.

Climate
The United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons but seldom drops below -10 °C or rises above 35 °C.

Currency
Although a member of the EU the UK retains its traditional local currency of the Pound Sterling (£) rather than the Euro.  Pounds and Pence.

Religion
The UK is predominantly a Christian country; all religions are represented and respected in a multicultural society. Churches, mosques, temples and synagogues are located in most major cities.

Sport
Major sports in the United Kingdom include: football (Soccer), rugby, cricket, tennis and golf. Both forms of rugby are national sports. Rugby League originates from and is generally played in the Northern England, whilst Rugby Union is played predominantly in Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Southern England.