Rayette

[Rayette]

I have a job interview in my country (US) next week for a position with an organization located in Hackney. I am told that the salary will be around 43,000 sterling annually. Is this a good salary for comfortable living? It's just me.!..I have lived in New York City and Washington, DC so I am use to big cities, however my preference is a suburb within 30-45 mins of the city. I currently reside in the suburbs where the average home prices are ($325,000-$600,000 US) so I would like to live in a nice, area if possible with the above UK income...I am socially active and would like to be near lots of activities, art/theater, museums, good restaruants, etc. It is important to me to live in a culturally diverse community where Black Americans are welcomed. I am open to taking public transportation, but I do plan to drive occasionally (I have a US license and will take lessons in the UK for a new license). I have been asked to make a two year commitment of employment so I would like to rent an apartment ( I am open to sharing). I have home in the US that I will be renting out during my stay in the UK so I can use a large portion of my UK salary towards rent although I prefer not to be completely broke as I would like to travel throughout EU during my stay there...I will receive relocation money for temporary accomodations (6-8 weeks), etc., therefore I will also need to stay at a Bed and Breakfast or the like until I secure an apartment....any suggestions regarding housing near the big city....
I'll be asking more questions soon, I am sure....Rayette

[jlms]

After several years commuting from the suburbs to my work in London I decided that I was wasting my time (2.5 hours every day) and money (almost £3000 each year for public transport, people that needed to drive to the local train station where paying even more once parking was factored in), specially since I wanted more arts, culture and an interesting social life.

Now I live in London, my commute was at some point 20 minutes each way, now it is 45, with the distinctive advantage that I can take tube (underground), train, bus or taxi to my place, when I lived in the suburbs the only option was train. A few times when they were problems in the line I found myself paying £100 for a taxi all the way home. Moneywise, I save £2000 a year, better spent exploring Europe.

But if you want the nice suburbs instead of the nitty gritty of London, then you should be fine, since the UK's countryside is really pleasant.

London is a very cosmopolitan place, so I really don't think you need to worry much about being accepted or not, I am Mexican and live bang in the middle of an area favoured strongly by Polish, West Africans and Somalies and have found no problems whatsoever. Most places out of London are very welcoming, but certainly there are less used to foreigners and one gets the occasional idiot, but nothing major in general.

The major mainline train station close to Hackney is "Stratford", others you may want to consider are "Kings Cross & St Pancras" and "Euston" , the first one gives you access to lots of nice places in the East of England, the others to places North of London.

You must check these websites in order to plan your commute:

English - Journey Planner - Transport for London for planing trips on London

http://www.thetrainline.co.uk to plan your commute from the suburbs.

And Wikipedia to learn moe about Hackney.

London Borough of Hackney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia about Hackney in general.

It would help your planning quite a bit if you know the address of your prspective office, that way you can get quite a precise estimate of your commuting time.

Unfortunately Hackney is not very well served with public transport, so it would take you a while to where most of the cultural life in London happens (Central and West London). As for social life areas close to Hackney are experiencing a revival of sorts which may be of interest.

As for your salary, I would say it is adequate, but be prepared for the inferior housing conditions in the UK when compared to the US. In general places in the UK are very small, people get a real shock on occasions when confronted with the tiny size of bedrooms in the UK, but in London in particular.

Good luck with everything.

[jlms]

After several years commuting from the suburbs to my work in London I decided that I was wasting my time (2.5 hours every day) and money (almost £3000 each year for public transport, people that needed to drive to the local train station where paying even more once parking was factored in), specially since I wanted more arts, culture and an interesting social life.

Now I live in London, my commute was at some point 20 minutes each way, now it is 45, with the distinctive advantage that I can take tube (underground), train, bus or taxi to my place, when I lived in the suburbs the only option was train. A few times when they were problems in the line I found myself paying £100 for a taxi all the way home. Moneywise, I save £2000 a year, better spent exploring Europe.

But if you want the nice suburbs instead of the nitty gritty of London, then you should be fine, since the UK's countryside is really pleasant.

London is a very cosmopolitan place, so I really don't think you need to worry much about being accepted or not, I am Mexican and live bang in the middle of an area favoured strongly by Polish, West Africans and Somalies and have found no problems whatsoever. Most places out of London are very welcoming, but certainly there are less used to foreigners and one gets the occasional idiot, but nothing major in general.

The major mainline train station close to Hackney is "Stratford", others you may want to consider are "Kings Cross & St Pancras" and "Euston" , the first one gives you access to lots of nice places in the East of England, the others to places North of London.

You must check these websites in order to plan your commute:

English - Journey Planner - Transport for London for planing trips on London

http://www.thetrainline.co.uk to plan your commute from the suburbs.

And Wikipedia to learn moe about Hackney.

London Borough of Hackney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia about Hackney in general.

It would help your planning quite a bit if you know the address of your prspective office, that way you can get quite a precise estimate of your commuting time.

Unfortunately Hackney is not very well served with public transport, so it would take you a while to where most of the cultural life in London happens (Central and West London). As for social life areas close to Hackney are experiencing a revival of sorts which may be of interest.

As for your salary, I would say it is adequate, but be prepared for the inferior housing conditions in the UK when compared to the US. In general places in the UK are very small, people get a real shock on occasions when confronted with the tiny size of bedrooms in the UK, but in London in particular.

Good luck with everything.