Thread: Has anybody returned to the UK lately? Any advice?

Hi all,

Im new to the site.

We're thinking about returning to UK from Aus, possibly in late 2013 / early 2014. We will have been away for 7/8 years & will be bringing back a 2 yo. Whilst we're looking forward to moving back for friends, family & cultural reasons; there is a little trepidation based upon the doom & gloom economy. Plus a little concern about quality of life for a young family, seeing as we didn't have one before.

Has anybody recently returned who could give us some advice or feedback? Are things really that bad? Have you had any good/bad experiences? Any tips on what it's worth bringing back or selling?

Will probably head to commuter belt for London as we lived there before, albeit a very different lifestyle than now. I work in the building industry and ex-colleagues say that things aren't great, but there is work (where I am at the moment, Brisbane, isn't exactly a booming economy either!).

Also, We are thinking about bringing back sofas, tv, fridge, appliances, kids stuff, table & chairs etc. Selling car, beds, other furniture. Good idea or bad?

Any advice or tips would be greatly received. Thanks.

a lad i know who was very big at one time on a sister site went back during the usual bleak weather conditions , hard to pick a good time i hear right now and he said , his words , he was sick of visiting people , sitting around drinking tea and too cold to do anything .......after two weeks he couldnt wait to get back .......BUT ,it would be great to see family again for me and to visit my old haunts ....hope it goes well for you pal

Good luck with your return! Lots do it and are happy with their decision! Others ping pom as they can't settle back in the uk! If you're going back with a two year old then the family will be thrilled, I'm sure!

I think timing will take an important role in how well settle back in. THis winter has been the coldest for 50 years and would add to the stress of moving.
The work situation in London for anyone in the building industry is good, I or any one I know in the game are working constantly and have been since returning 2 years ago.
I personally wouldn't bring back furniture, its easy to sell second hand stuff in Australia and with the cost of shipping with the cheap prices here it just wouldn't make sense.

Originally Posted by AldoMcG

Hi all,

Im new to the site.

We're thinking about returning to UK from Aus, possibly in late 2013 / early 2014. We will have been away for 7/8 years & will be bringing back a 2 yo. Whilst we're looking forward to moving back for friends, family & cultural reasons; there is a little trepidation based upon the doom & gloom economy. Plus a little concern about quality of life for a young family, seeing as we didn't have one before.

Has anybody recently returned who could give us some advice or feedback? Are things really that bad? Have you had any good/bad experiences? Any tips on what it's worth bringing back or selling?

Will probably head to commuter belt for London as we lived there before, albeit a very different lifestyle than now. I work in the building industry and ex-colleagues say that things aren't great, but there is work (where I am at the moment, Brisbane, isn't exactly a booming economy either!).

Also, We are thinking about bringing back sofas, tv, fridge, appliances, kids stuff, table & chairs etc. Selling car, beds, other furniture. Good idea or bad?

Any advice or tips would be greatly received. Thanks.

Well! If you are shipping personal effects, you are better off to do it door to door to avoid any hassle.

if you wish to be around London, Kent area such as Bromley is still near London borough and only 1 bus away to South London ie Croydon which I will not recommend to you, so as East London it's is pretty crowded because there are lots of immigrant who tend to do their studies and of course Home Office is based in Croydon. North London ie Walthamstow or beyond would be ideal for a family with small children but its a bit far from Centre of London. Also West would be another area for your family ie around Kingston etc. it is also near Heathrow.

Originally Posted by AldoMcG

Hi all,

Im new to the site.

We're thinking about returning to UK from Aus, possibly in late 2013 / early 2014. We will have been away for 7/8 years & will be bringing back a 2 yo. Whilst we're looking forward to moving back for friends, family & cultural reasons; there is a little trepidation based upon the doom & gloom economy. Plus a little concern about quality of life for a young family, seeing as we didn't have one before.

Has anybody recently returned who could give us some advice or feedback? Are things really that bad? Have you had any good/bad experiences? Any tips on what it's worth bringing back or selling?

Will probably head to commuter belt for London as we lived there before, albeit a very different lifestyle than now. I work in the building industry and ex-colleagues say that things aren't great, but there is work (where I am at the moment, Brisbane, isn't exactly a booming economy either!).

Also, We are thinking about bringing back sofas, tv, fridge, appliances, kids stuff, table & chairs etc. Selling car, beds, other furniture. Good idea or bad?

Any advice or tips would be greatly received. Thanks.

Hi AldoMcG

I work in the building industry as a Site Manager for a large company in London, and I can tell you first hand that London has picked up a lot and I get contacted by agencies a few times a month requiring mangers for projects. Though some of the big company's are doing better than others , big volume resi builders are doing well


I have to correct about someone mentioning Walthamstow as in North London, its not it comes underneath East London E17 ,.I come from East London and wouldn't recommend to bring up a young family there. Hope you done your home work on house prices in and around London , it aint cheap mate' but if you've got the dough you can afford it , love to of moved to south west Essex great country side and close to London
We live now up in Cambridgeshire for cheaper houses but have to suffer a pig of a commute to get back into London , and I'm on a project in Greenwich as well, LAME,

Sorry to hear about OZ we was looking to go to Perth but was taken of the skills list in July, and now we are seriously looking into Canada (Vancouver) instead , more of a chance to land a decent role. Give us a shout if you need any info about work , London ,etc and I will be happy to let you know .

All the best

Hi AldoMcg

Are you still looking to relocate back to uk?