Moving House

Five Places in the UK to “Emigrate” To

Now that the Uk is no longer a part of the EU, moving abroad to a european country has become a lot trickier for UK citizens. It’s a terrible shame because we’re so restricted, but at the same time, it’s given us a lot more impetus to look at some of the more beautiful places right here in the UK, as an alternative to emigrating to Europe. With this in mind, we thought we’d take a fun look at some of the most beautiful places in the UK as Europe-alternatative “emigrating” spots!

Bishop Aukland, County Durham

Places in the UK: Bishop Aukland

Bishop Aukland is a market town in County Durham which is steeped in history and has some beautiful churches and buildings, dating back for hundreds of years. It’s located 12 miles  northwest of Darlington and 12 miles southwest of Durham, so it’s ideally placed to give you a slice of village life, while putting you in a good position to commute if you need to. If you need a removals company in Darlington, there are plenty to choose from!

Stackpole, Pembrokeshire

Places in the UK: Barafundle Bay

The pretty little village of Stackpole is a few miles south of Pembroke, in between Freshwater East and Bosherston. The village has some pretty cottages and an Inn (The Stackpole Inn) but is better known for the Stackpole Estate, Stackpole Quay and Barafundle Beach nearby. Barafundle Bay is nestled between cliffs and is reminiscent of a secluded bay on a Greek island.

Lavenham, Suffolk

Places in the UK: Lavenham, Suffolk

Lavenham, located in the heart of the stunning Suffolk countryside, is considered to be Britain’s best preserved medieval village and one of Suffolk’s most important wool towns.  Medieval charm can be found at every turn with timber framed buildings lining the narrow streets and lanes leading up to the impressive market place. These days, Lavenham is a thriving village with a strong community spirit and boasts a wealth of independent boutique shops, galleries  and fantastic restaurants.

Port Sunlight, Merseyside

Port Sunlight

Port Sunlight is a bit of a socialists dream, with the village originally being built in the late 1800’s by the Lever Brothers to accomodate worked in their soap-making business. Its Arts and Crafts cottages are surrounded by paths winding through fields and woodland. Port Sunlight Museum details the village’s history, and the neoclassical Lady Lever Art Gallery showcases 19th-century decorative arts. The whole place is a stunning little slice of history and it’s somewhere I’d love to live myself.

Kingsbarns, St. Andrews

Kingsbarns Beach

One of my friends, Katy, went to St. Andrews University, and during her second year she shared a cottage with her friend Michelle in a tiny village called Kingsbarns, just outside of St. Andrews. The village itself is absolutely tiny, but it’s right on the coast and boasts some of the most stunning natural scenery I’ve ever seen. The beaches have that natural, windswept feeling of a beach which isn’t overrun by people all year round and I’d happily live there.

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Common Problems when Moving Home in London

Common Problems when Moving Home in London

Photo by Tetyana Kovyrina from Pexels

There is no doubt that for many people in London is the greatest city in the world living anywhere else is absolutely out of the question. While the house prices are some of the highest in the country, if not the world, many people are drawn to London because of its desirable living areas, good schools And access to a whole range of amenities. That doesn’t mean, however, that the actual act of moving house between two London properties simple, so we’ve put together a list of some of the things that you should bear in mind on moving day if you live in London, or indeed any big city.

Parking

If you’re a London native or have lived there for awhile you know that one of the biggest nightmares in writing is the parking situation. As well as needing to make sure you’ve got somewhere to park your car if you have one you’re moving van he’s going to need space to start to load and unload and if you don’t choose wisely this could leave you with a hefty parking fine. Do a recce of your new area to work out where the best place is going to be to stop and it might stand you in good stead to even speak to your new neighbours and warn them that you’re going to be taking up space on the street on that particular day.

Traffic

Depending on where in London you’re moving to, parking could be the least of your worries if you can’t even get there in the first place, thanks to the heavy London traffic. Moving outside of rush-hour times is a good place to start with tackling the traffic, as well as keeping an eye on one of the many map apps that are available which will show you what the traffic levels are like in a specific place at a specific time. Choosing a moving firm who are specialists in moving in and around London, like M25 Group, means that you will have an expert helping you with your move. Many people who moved to London from somewhere else make the mistake of hiring a moving company from their original hometown instead of one from London’

Cost

Just like everything else in London, moving is an expensive business. Whether you’re renting or buying a property you’ve probably spent a small fortune already on just acquiring your new home. Once you factor in The costs associated with actually taking your belongings from point a to point B there’s a good chance that your wallet will contain nothing but moss! Make sure you shop around before employing the services of a moving company as there are plenty of businesses out there who charge top dollar without actually providing the services to justify their prices.

Measurements

Unless you’re moving to one of the lovely leafy suburbs on the outskirts of London you’re probably going to find that space is an issue in many different ways. One of the things that a lot of people forget to do before they move house is measure their furniture and appliances to make sure that not only will they work in the rooms in the new property but they’ll fit through doors up stairways through gate and generally be able to be put in the new property at all. Make sure you take a tape measure with you and get measurements for everything including door which and even the angle of any new stairwells.

Family · Home · Kids

Moving With Kids: 5 Tips To Make It Easier And Less Stressful

Moving With Kids: 5 Tips To Make It Easier And Less StressfulMoving can be quite challenging and having your kids with you during this time can make the transition all the more difficult. Children feel safe at a home where they grew up in. They also feel comfortable with the neighborhood, school, and friends they already know. While moving can bring about a lot of excitement to kids, it can also bring out anxiety.

While it’s impossible to eliminate all the challenges you’ll have to face when moving with your children, there are tips that can assist you in making it easier and less stressful.

 

1. Inform Your Kids About The Move Early On

It’s essential that you inform them about the move in advance. You can have a family meeting to announce it. Whether moving is already kind of a regular occurrence or not for your family, it is still a big deal for everyoneespecially your kids. It’s guaranteed that you’ll get some reactions from everyone, but you can offer them pizza or any other food to help them stay calm during the announcement.

Having the meeting sooner than later is a good thing to do. Why? Because it can assist you in explaining to your children why are you moving and other details about the move. Taking the time to inform and talk to your kids about the move can help address the anxieties, frustrations, and concerns they have about the move. It can also help you reassure your children that everything is going to be alright.

2. Hire A Moving Company

If you want the move to be smooth and easy, you should consider hiring a moving company. Things can get very messy on moving day and it’s going to be more challenging for you if you have kids. But if you hire a moving company that can help you out, you’ll find it very convenient.

If you need to dispose of waste and old furniture before moving out, you can hire waste removal companies that can collect all kinds of rubbish for you. This even includes large appliances, toxic wastes, and yard wastes that must be removed before moving. You can visit https://www.dirtcheaprubbishremoval.com.au/ to see what a waste removal service can do for you.

3. Get Your Kids Involved

Involving all your children in the moving process is very beneficial. It can empower them and help prevent making them feel like they’re helpless. As you create a moving-to-do-list, make sure that you have tasks for your kids that they can easily handle. Even a small moving task such as packing their toys can make a big difference from their perspective.

Kids love to help out. Rather than telling them that they are too young to help on moving day, your children will love to hear that you have prepared some tasks for them! If your kids are old enough, you can have them help you pack, arrange toys, or pickup boxes.

You might want to give each of your child separate tasks such as packing up and cleaning the rooms, packing boxes, or takingcare of their younger siblings. These things will help keep them engaged and involved with the whole process.

4. Visit The New Place You’re Moving To

If you can, you should visit the new place you’re moving to along with your kids before the big day. A visit like this can give them an idea of the new place and make it familiar instead of being a mystery for them.

Before you make a visit, be sure to grab a copy of the local newspaper to find out about any kid-friendly activities that may be happening during your scheduled visit. Taking a look at the local kid’s playground or recreational center can help reassure your kids about the new place. They will start thinking that the new neighborhood is not so bad after all.

5. Have A Positive Mindset

On moving day, your mood could also affect your kids. So, if you’re cheerful and excited, they’ll also feel the same way. But if you’re too stressed and frustrated because things are not going according to plan, expect your kids to feel the same way too.

Final Thoughts

If you’re relocating with kids, the tips above can help you make the whole process easier and less stressful not just for them, but yours as well. Taking the time to prepare your children and hiring a moving company to help you out can make a lot of difference when you’re moving with kids.

Family · Home

4 Qualities to Look for In a Moving Company


Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

If you are moving into a new house, you wouldn’t be able to move all your stuff without hiring a moving company. Movers exist so that you can transfer all your belongings from your old place to the new one safely and without any inconvenience. A good moving company wouldn’t let your stress about anything and will take over the moving process so that you can sit back and focus on more important things. However, when it comes to hiring a moving company, the process is a bit tricky. There are plenty of movers out there, and choosing the one that is best suitable for the job can be complicated. That is why it is highly recommended that you do plenty of research before hiring a property clearance expert:

Excellent Reviews

The first thing you should look for in a moving company is good reviews. If the company is rated well by its customers and people have shared their good experiences openly, then you shouldn’t hesitate to give it a try. Luckily, we live in a modern world where you can access reviews for any business online. To read the reviews about companies you have shortlisted, you can simply go to their website or check their social media pages. Also, you must not just check the overall rating; you should also read the detailed reviews to get an idea of the kinds of services they provide. If the majority of the reviews are positive, then you can move on to the next step.

Experience

This is something most people don’t even pay attention to when they are hiring a mover, but that is not how it should be. A good moving company also has plenty of experience in the field and are experts at what they do. A mover that has been active for several years would have definitely learned a lot from their mistakes and would have improved their services over time. They know what things to avoid and how to handle tricky situations when they are faced with one. Your belongings are always safer with an experienced mover compared to a moving company that is just getting started.

Licensed and Insured

Another important thing you must keep in mind before hiring a moving company is whether they are licensed or not. A company that is not licensed is not legally allowed to move your possessions from one place to another. They might be cheaper than the other moving companies, but all they will do is cause trouble for you. Make sure that the company you are hiring is licensed but the relevant authorities and has a trained team of staff working for them. Apart from that, a good mover also has excellent insurance coverage, which can pay for the damages in case of an accident. You must never go for a company that doesn’t have insurance coverage because if anything gets damaged during the process, you won’t get any compensation.

No Hidden Rates

Another quality of a great moving company is that they have no hidden rates and will tell you upfront how much they charge. There are plenty of movers out there who only tell you about the hourly rate they charge, and when it comes to billing, they will add all sorts of extra charges in the receipt. So, it is highly recommended that you go for a company who are upfront about their extra charges and are not fooling you in any way.

Family · Home

What to Do When Moving Your Family Internationally

What to Do When Moving Your Family InternationallyImage sourced from Pixabay. CC0 License

In a lot of families there comes the need to move. Spouses get job promotions, family members need extra care and attention, or a dream of living in a certain location has the potential to become a reality. The biggest change in some of these scenarios is that you have to move to a foreign country. Especially if you work in business and finance, it is quite common to constantly move around the globe. If that is the case for you and your family, here are four things to keep in mind if you are moving internationally.

Culture

Your children are going to go to a different school in what is going to feel like a different world. Not only may there be a language barrier that is going to separate them from their new friends, but the culture is also going to be different. Married couples have different customs as you go around the world and so do schools. Before you move, research your new location and what their customs are so that when your family arrives they will be able to assimilate into the new culture and not cause any unwanted problems.

Visas

Make sure you have all the documents and visas you need to enter the country and stay there. UK Spouse Visa Specialists will be able to tell you exactly which documents you’ll need. If you are going back home to care for a loved one or to simply be closer to your family, make sure your spouse is taken care of legally. Your children may have the citizenship of your country because you are their parent, but if your spouse is a citizen of another country make sure they have their spouse visa. This will avoid them only having a limited amount of time in the country and being forced to leave. When all of your papers are in order, your move will be more smooth.

Cuisine

How lucky are you that you are going to get to discover some of the best food in the world? You may think it’s great, but your kids may not. Before making your big move, try learning how to cook some of the local cuisine of your new country. By making it at home and showing your kids the ingredients, they may be more inclined to try something new. As they get used to the new food, when they arrive at their new location, they will already know what to expect and will be able to have the diet they need or want without any trial and error.

Keep Tradition Alive

Just because you are moving to a new place doesn’t mean you have to give up your culture. Before leaving, enjoy some of the customs and traditions of your home country. Having pride in where you come from and how you celebrate will be a great way to keep those traditions alive in your new country. By having your family connected to their roots it may not seem too scary to pick up and move to a place that is completely unknown.