Tips for a Pain-Free Move from Provence to the UK
It has long been known that there are many British expats now making France their home, so there is a ton of advice out there on how to adjust to a totally new way of life when moving across the channel. However, what happens when a resident of Provence finds it necessary to move to the UK? Do a quick internet search on moving to the UK from France and you’ll soon see that most articles bring you from the UK to France. Sadly, that doesn’t help you if you find that your family or work necessitate a move back to England. So, what should you know and what should you do?
Getting Around in the UK
Yes, the UK does have a public transport system where buses and trains run regularly all hours of the day and night, 365 days a year. But, what happens when you need to drive in the UK? Since Brexit, many expats from Provence are asking if their EU licence will still be good for that three-year period or will they need to get a UK driving licence in twelve months like expats from non-European countries.
Until that information becomes clear, it is recommended that you study for a licence, beginning with the written theory portion that is mandatory prior to the practical driving test. You can get all the practice you need for the theory test on sites like TopTests.co.uk, which has a selection of mock theory tests. Once you’ve passed the theory test, you are ready to get your practical driving hours in. Mind you don’t get confused because you are a left-side driver, not RHS as you are accustomed to!
How to Avoid Boring British Cuisine
Although our British neighbours won’t like to hear this, British food is notoriously boring. They don’t readily go in for lovely sauces like we have in Provence with all the rich sauces and desserts we are so famous for. Rather, you’ll likely get tons of places where you can get fish and chips, bangers and mash along with a sampling of cheeses that can’t live up to our famed Camembert, Brie, comté, Roquefort, and Boursin. Yes, you can find it there, but you are more likely to get a variety of sharp cheddars, which cannot match our cheeses for the delicious sauces and fondues we delight in.
Even so, the one thing you will learn about the UK is that they never apologise for their menu. Instead, they are open to cafés and restaurants of all kinds from every ethnic cuisine around the globe. Feel like a good American hamburger tonight? You’ll find American foods from McDonald’s or your local steak house that offers an amazing assortment of American dishes. Whether you want Italian, French, Chinese, Indian, or even an Aussie steak, you will find ethnic foods in almost every big city throughout the UK, so don’t despair just yet.
There you have just a couple of tips on making the move as easy as possible. You won’t find advice here on finding the best relocating company or where to find a flat to your liking, but you will find that food and travel are two things that most relocating advisors seem to gloss over. Looking to relocate to the UK from Provence? Find your favourite foods on Google and, by all means, learn to drive like a lefty! That’s what you need to survive the move.
Not from the UK so this isn’t much help for me.
Awesome! I would love love love to win!
interesting tips
I Would love to live there! Like your tips. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to win!
Would love to visit some day.
Very interesting advice.
Great article, thanks for the advice.
i would love to visit the UK
Maybe these will help me one day if I ever go to the UK! Thanks!
I don’t have any plans to head to that side of the pond, but I sure love cheese. And reminders of where certain cheeses came from and how that leads to the local sauces are always nice.
This may be a double comment….my first one didn’t show up so I apologize if it’s here twice. Wonderful article! I would love to see Europe, bbut it’s impossible now. I was in Canada once for 4 hours.. my one “trip abroad”.
Really these are amazing tips.
My daughter & her family lived in London for a year because of her husband’s job. She said basically the same thing about the food. Her family (with 4 kids) ate mostly at the fast food places like McDonald’s, Subway, etc. Plus she said it rained a lot and was gloomy most of the time. Needless to say, they couldn’t wait to get back to the US!
I’d love to visit the UK….probably never will, but I can dream
I want some UK cheese! 🙂
I would love to visit the UK. So different from So. Calif.
This was so interesting. I enjoyed this article. Thank you so much for sharing
Good to know but will not be moving. May visit one day.
Interesting read.
Very interesting. I guess we were lucky when we visited as we never had boring food.
Not a very relevant article for myself.
Great article, I loved it. I’ve been to Wales a few years ago
Interesting tips if I ever make it to the UK to visit.
I have no desire to move to the IK but would like to visit some day. The article was an enjoyable read.
Even though the likelihood of me moving to another country is virtually nil, I have wondered what it would take as far as the move and the adjusting to a new country. I can’t even imagine driving on the “wrong” side of the road, but I’m sure that would come with time.
Very interesting article and helpful tips. Although I don’t intend to move to the UK I surely love gaining knowledge. I think I will go ahead and try this theory test. Why not right?!
Thank you for sharing. This sounds interesting.
It’s hard to call British food boring, I would reather said not healthy. But there also a bunch of reallt great dishes from Scotland and Ireland
Would love to visit some day. This is alot of great information!
Good to know these tips incase i visit the country one day.
It’s very interesting information.
I think this is very interesting information. I don’t think I would have trouble with the move.
Moving is a difficult thing from within the same country let alone across borders… We moved with a 40 foot container on the seas and it was a challenge but we carried on.. you can do most anything if you want to….
very interesting!
About 20+ years ago, I went to London to help set up an office for a company I was working for. They offered me a job to stay and get everything set up and train new employees. We looked for houses to rent/Let. It is beautiful there, the food was good if you could find a few places. We feel in love with a health food restaurant and went there a lot in the two weeks we were there. We decided against the move, so I just helped train while I was there. These are good tips. Thanks for sharing. I’m sure there is a lot of questions due to Brexit. I hope they get it all straightened out, I know their economy does rely on tourism.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful tips.
intresting never been out of the USA & Canada area.
Great tips
Thank you – I visited several years ago and would love to take my current family there – I think they would love it. We never could figure out why people from UK did not like hamburgers, then we discovered Wimpy’s Burger and quickly discovered – not the same! Thanks for the tips!
Our traveling days are behind us,so thanks for the visual trip!
never been to the UK, but if I ever do make it would love to try all the different cheese
I will take the variety cuisines and the boring. I’ll take anyone else’s boring who doesn’t want it too. Just saying.
Thanks for the tips.
I would love to visit there some day. I like that they have great public transportation. Thank you so much for sharing
Visiting there is on my bucket list. Great tips.
I wouldn’t mind visiting the UK. It would make for a great vacation.
If our country keeps going the way it is I may be moving from the US to the UK.
A very interesting article.
That bread looks great and I’d love to cruise in that beautiful car!
Awesome
Great article even though I am in the U.S
Never been so it doesn’t apply to me but I have friends there!
I didn’t realize you lived in Europe? I think if was ever in the UK, I would just use taxis and public transportation.
These are some great tips. I really appreciate you sharing this article and information. God Bless
It would be so wonderful to live in either place. They both have so much to offer! Maybe some day I’ll get to visit…
Thank you very much for sharing.
“Avoid boring british food” LOL
I like that they have a great public transportation there. I have never visited there. Thank you for sharing
Two beautiful places. I would love to live in either one! Enjoy your new home.
When we went to Europe, we found out that there is a train that goes through the European Union. We visited six countries! It was fun and educational!! It was great eaten all the other wonderful cuisine!!
I guess the picture shows tasty cheese. I thought at first it was tasty bread.
Thanks for the tips.
Marilyn
I have always wanted to visit the UK!
Beautiful bread photo!
I clicked thru the first link hope that is what I am supposed to do.
Thanks for the info. I plan to do more traveling out the country once all the kids are a little older.
I would love to Win! 🙂
Ready for a trip across the pond
Moving is always hard….but a move that involves moving to another country is exciting…
Not from the UK but this is a cool article.
these are some great tip. new places are hard.
Thank you for sharing.
The only “foreign” country I’ve ever been to was Canada, and until I get a passport, I can’t even go back there. I always have so many furbabies to care for, and am involved in animal rescue, so going on an extended trip just isn’t in the cards for me (not to mention that vet bills and other expenses keep me too broke to be able to afford to travel anyway). I would love to visit the UK. I’d be interested in trying some of the cafe and pubs you mention.
Good advice!
not living in UK and this is just for the Popcorn Factory giveaway.
Hmm.. Boring British Cuisine Really? Fish & Chips? Popovers? English Pudding?
Thank you for sharing!
Good to know and do
This is a definitely a destination on the bucket list ! Thanks for the information.
Interesting tips
Great tips 🙂
Very interesting thanks for sharing.
interesting
I love London but I don’t know if I could ever get accustomed to driving on the left side of the road.
never been there but it must be nice
I would love to live anywhere except America right now. Everything is in shambles and so sad.
Good tips but I’ve never been to France or the UK although I would love to visit one day. The cheese in that photo, however, looks delicious and now I’ve got a craving for cheese 🙂
This is great info it would also be great to win
Very interesting
Very informative post, thanks for sharing! My dad just recently went to the UK, but it was only for a visit and not to move.
Wonderful! Wish all the best for you, I would love to be there to. thanks for sharing.
I’m not moving, but thanks.
We are moving at the end of the month, but it will be still in Oregon, so I didn’t find anything too applicable to our move in this article, but I wouldn’t mind visiting the UK some day.
Thanks for the advice. This is a trip I hope to take someday.
Nice write up. I’m a gimp, so, not so much walking for me.
Very interesting…would love to visit the UK
Absolutely beautiful! Would live their in a heartbeat! Thank you for the tips!
Great tips
say cheese!
I took one of these tests, and I didn’t do well at all.
Thank you
Thank you! Very interesting!
Helpful information. I really like sauces and flavorful food.
Thanks