A Guide to Living in London

1. LIVING IN LONDON A COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE

2. INTRODUCTION This is commonly the number one thing people look for when they plan on moving, you have to know that you’ll be able to afford it. So instead of producing a guide on commercial air conditioning we are going to discuss the benefits of living in the UK’s capitol. Whether you are hoping to take advantage of a very commercial landscape or you just fancy the fast lane in a cultural hub – there is plenty you can learn about London before taking the plunge. One of the first things you’ll notice about London is the prices are higher than almost anywhere in the country for example a cinema ticket on average would cost you no more than £10 however in big city it’ll cost you between £10 & £14 pounds that’s just an average viewing, the prices for 3D, IMAX or IMAX 3D are increasingly higher. However, London has a lot to offer to anyone who visits or lives there, the houses and apartments are outstanding, a number of apartment buildings now have fully fitted air conditioning systems but as you would expect these apartments are more expensive. The career opportunities are very varied. There are naturally lots of commercial interests in property, restaurants, hotels, banks, and retail stores. The summer weather in London can see lows and highs averaging 18°c and often in to the low 20s. In the most recent years London has experienced several heatwaves with temperatures above 30°c. This is the number one reason why so many buildings are looking into air conditioningin London. Accommodation in London varies in price just like anywhere else in the world, the cost of renting in London for an average price of a one-bedroom property outside the city centre costs around £1,150 per month, which rises to around £1,700 when you move inward. A big thing you’ll be looking at when looking for accommodation if you have children is schools, try to wrap your head around the amount of schools and which you should have your children go to. There is no way for us to make this any easier for you as the number of schools is extensive and everlasting, every parent wants their children to go to the best school to have the greatest possible opportunities but where do you start. The best and quickest way to find which school A Guide to Living In London: A Commercial Landscape 1

3. is top rated in your area is to look online at Ofsted reports and to visit these schools and ask questions. Which leads us onto internet services. London offer a wide range of different internet services, including a variety of connections; dial up, ADSL, cable etc. The majority of broadband deals have a download speed of at least 8 Mb, rates and pricing schemes vary from one provider to the next, but usually run between the £20 - £70 range per month. Providers are; - Sky – Offer speeds up to 24 Mb - BT Broadband - TalkTalk - Virgin Media – Offers the fastest broadband, with speeds of 50 Mb on its cable network - Orange - Vodafone - O2 – Offers speeds of 24 Mb - 3 - Calico UK Internet Service - Abel Internet - Broadband Bundles - BE – Offers speeds of 24 Mb - PlusNet Being such a big city, London has many Wi-Fi hotspots available to the public for mobile devices, laptops and tablets. Internet Cafes are available throughout London; costs vary on average from £1.50 - £5.00 per hour. Printing, scanning and other services will cost an additional fee, some cafes cater more to one specific use such as; gaming and webcam services. You are expected to make a purchase before you use the Wi-Fi, you can consistently get free internet access and Wi-Fi from libraries which have PCs for public use. A Guide to Living In London: A Commercial Landscape 2

4. ENTERTAINMENT - Gyms - Leisure centres - Sailing clubs - Fencing clubs - Cycling centres - Sports centres - Indoor climbing facility - Bowling - Pole Dancing Studios - Parkour and Freerunning Clubs - Snowboarding and Skiing The number of health and fitness venues really is mind-blowing! Just browse what is near you and get involved in local training sessions to meet people and keep trim. There are many more facilitiesavailable. If you are wanting to stay fit and healthy then there are a variety of gyms available in London. For a gym membership that is open for use 24 hours a day it would cost on average £13.99 which is good, considering the facilities that will be available for you to use. London is also the city of big events, such as, the New Year’s Eve firework display and Wimbledon. On average the city hosts four big events set in the calendar for each month, meaning there is something going on for everyone throughout the year whether you like classical concerts or rock festivals, theatre ensembles or street dance spectacles. London is a city of culture and huge character. A Guide to Living In London: A Commercial Landscape 3

5. The events allow people from around the world to come and see the sights of London, whether it’s to meet up with family and friends or to simply have a few days away. One of the biggest events that has taken place in London each year is the New Year’s firework display where thousands of people from around the globe come to see the spectacle that is put on. On average 250,000 people attend the key viewing areas by the river Thames to view the magnificent display carried out on New Year’s Eve. On average they use about 12,000 fireworks to make the display as amazing as they do, costing around £1.8 – £2 million pounds. Another big event is the tennis matches which are held at Wimbledon. In 2015, the prize was £26.75 million! Wimbledon ground can hold 39,000 people; however, it has been known that during the championships thousands of people waited outside the stadium to find out who the winner was. The amazing event brings the entire country together to help support and cheer for the players. TRANSPORT Navigating London is a difficult task for anyone, yes London has the underground, over 20,000 taxis and busses that run every day. The London underground (also known as The Tube) is known worldwide for being the number one way for people to travel around London. The underground is considered the oldest rapid transit system incorporating an underground railway. The network has expanded to eleven lines and in 2014/15 carried 1.305 billion passengers making the London underground the 11thbusiest metro system. The underground serves 270 stations, 250 miles of tracks within London, it’s extremely busy since it’s the easiest and fastest way to get around the city, for a single adult it would cost you on average £5.00, a child would cost on average £3.00. London’s famous red busses are also a quick, convenient and cheap mode of transport for the city. With over 700 routes, there are plenty of sightseeing opportunities when travelling. A A Guide to Living In London: A Commercial Landscape 4

6. single bus fare costs as little as £1.50, with an average of 1.8 billion people travels on busses each year in London. Another popular way to travel around London is the famous black cabs which are great for travelling short distances. The cabs in London focus on their customer’s comfort and safety, these vehicles and their drivers have earned their reputation by being the very best. Each driver is required to undergo a test of his/her knowledge of London which can take a few years to learn correctly. TOP PLACES TO VISIT There are also some massive draws for residents and tourists which is what makes London such a commercial hot property. The heritage, political and cultural foundations make it a great city to invest in and also visit – as you will see! - The Houses of Parliament, which is officially known as the Palace of Westminster was designed by the architects Charles Barry and Augustus. The building was built after a fire in 1834 which originally destroyed most of the palace. The construction of the 1,100 rooms were complete, however the building has required constant maintenance. The Houses of Parliament are recognised as one of the world’s most iconic buildings with millions of tourists each year. Visits and tours are available regularly. - Buckingham Palace is the London residence and workplace of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, the palace is often the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, although the palace is decorated and furnished with priceless works of art that form the Royal Collection. The palace is an immense part of British history and any who visits London or lives there should take some pictures of the outstanding structure. A Guide to Living In London: A Commercial Landscape 5

7. - The National Gallery is a hugely popular area for thousands of people, it is located at Trafalgar Square and has a vast space filled with Western European paintings from the 13thto the 19thcenturies, works by the best such as; Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Botticelli, Constable, Renoir, Titian and Stubbs. The entry to the building is free, but if you wish to visit every exhibit the charge is £12.00 for an adult and £6.00 for teens aged between 12-18. - The London Eye is a major feature of London’s skyline with 32 capsules, each one holding 25 people. The breath taking experience allows you to see 55 of London’s most famous landmarks all in just 30 minutes. To climb aboard you have to pay a fee of £20.70 per ticket for an adult and £14.00 per ticket for children, children under the age of 4 ride for free and discounts are available for groups. - You could take a tour around one of the world’s most famous buildings, the Tower of London. Discover the priceless Crown Jewels, stand where famous heads have rolled and storm the battlements with swords, armour and much more. Entrance to this historic building is £22.00per ticket for an adult and £10.00 per child. The Tower is a must see for anyone who loves history and has a thirst for knowledge. - At Madame Tussauds you can see life size wax replicas of some of the most famous faces including Benedict Cumberbatch, Johnny Depp, Usain Bolt, David Beckham, The Queen, William and Kate and many more. The museum is always adding new models, allowing you to take incredible pictures with your favourite stars. Entrance is £31.00 per ticket for adult and £25.00 per ticket for children. - The Elizabeth Tower commonly known as Big Ben which holds the second largest four faced chiming clock in the world. It was completed in 1858 and celebrated its 157th birthday in April. Big Ben is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world and is A Guide to Living In London: A Commercial Landscape 6

8. often used for scenes in films. So don’t forget to stop by and take a picture with this major piece of history. - If you are fancying something a bit adventurous and perhaps scary then the London Dungeons is the right place for you, or is it? The fantastic tourist attraction recreates various gory and macabre historical events. The cast, props and special effects turns this attraction into a truly unique experience. The Dungeon is operated by Merlin Entertainment and features 18 shows, 20 actors and 3 rides, each visitor is taken on a journey through thousands of years of history where they meet actors performing as some of London’s most infamous characters including Jack the Ripper and Sweeney Todd. If you are brave enough, then this experience costs only £19.95 when bought online. - If you are after something a bit more educational then London have some of the best and biggest museums, including the National Maritime Museum, which is known as the Queen’s House art gallery. This gallery allows you to discover what life was like aboard the legendary 18thcentury ship. The entry fee to visit this magnificent ship is £13.50 per adult and £7.00 per child. Another extremely popular place to visit in London is the British Museum. The exhibits show work from prehistoric to modern times, including the Rosetta Stone and the Ancient Egyptian collection. Entrance to this museum is free however, some exhibits may require a small fee. The Science museum is a great place to experience science first hand with 15,000 objects on display including the world’s famous objects, the Apollo 10 command capsule and Stephenson’s Rocket. It is free to enter this museum however, if you are wanting to visit the IMAX 3D cinema, simulators and other special exhibits you will have to pay a small fee. A Guide to Living In London: A Commercial Landscape 7

9. Our last suggestion is the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is the world’s greatest museum for art and design. Representing more than 3,000 years of human creativity including some of the greatest pieces of art and design in history. The entrance to the museum is free but for certain exhibitions and events you will be required to pay a fee. To conclude, even though London is expensive there are so many different things for you to do, you will definitely always be busy! So if this article has made you want to explore the city of London then jump on a train and of you go. Or maybe, this information has made you want to move to London, if so, make sure you do your research and last of all... Enjoy! We invite you to make the most of a brilliant city and of course if you are ever in need of air conditioning in London then All Seasons are the people to call: 0808 278 3354 www.beattheheat.co.uk All Seasons Climate Control Ltd - Unit 5 Prospect Business Park Loughton Essex IG10 3TR sales@allseasonscc.co.uk A Guide to Living In London: A Commercial Landscape 8