Practical guides for housing, health, work and the authorities, and the local culture, with the key vocabulary in the language you are learning.
Practical guidance for settling in: housing, health, work, the authorities, everyday life and education.
Search on Rightmove, Zoopla and OpenRent, prepare your Right to Rent documents and references, and beware of scams and high deposits.
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Book a viewing, check damp, heating and safety certificates, ask about bills, and never pay before you have seen the property.
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Read the assured shorthold tenancy, check the deposit protection, notice periods and repairs, and know your rights against unfair eviction.
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Set up energy, water, broadband and the TV licence, register for council tax, read your meters and ask for help if bills are hard to pay.
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There is no central address registration. You prove your address with bills and letters, and register with a GP, the council and the electoral roll.
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The NHS is free at the point of use for residents. Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge with your visa and register with a GP to get your NHS number.
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Book a GP appointment by phone, online or NHS App, use NHS 111 for urgent advice, and know when to go to A&E.
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Use your local pharmacy for free advice, NHS prescriptions and Pharmacy First, and know which medicines you can buy without a prescription.
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Tell your employer, self-certify for seven days, get a fit note after that, and claim Statutory Sick Pay or company sick pay.
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Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies, 111 for urgent health advice, 101 for non-urgent police matters, and know how to describe where you are.
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Write a two-page CV and a tailored cover letter, use job boards, prove your right to work and prepare references.
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Research the employer, prepare STAR examples, arrive ten minutes early, ask questions and follow up with a thank-you email.
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Get a written statement of terms, know your minimum wage, holiday, notice and pension rights, and beware of zero-hours contracts.
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British communication is polite and indirect: soften requests, read between the lines, write clear emails and join the small talk.
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Use contactless or Oyster in London, book train tickets early, get a railcard, and convert your driving licence within the allowed time.
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Compare supermarkets, use loyalty cards, know sales seasons and your Consumer Rights Act protection for faulty goods and returns.
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Book ahead, order at the bar in pubs, tip about ten to twelve and a half percent if service is not included, and ask about allergens and halal.
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Choose between high street, digital and basic accounts, prepare ID and proof of address, and use Faster Payments and debit cards.
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Education is compulsory from 5 to 18 in England, apply to school via your council, and exams are GCSEs at 16 and A-levels at 18.
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Childcare is costly, but government-funded hours, Tax-Free Childcare and Child Benefit help. Register with a health visitor and check Ofsted.
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Take ESOL courses at colleges and community centres, choose IELTS or Cambridge for study or visas, and use free resources every day.
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How people communicate, work and celebrate, and what is polite.