When moving to a new country, everything that was familiar & that you took for granted is now foreign and it can take time to find some of those similar (or new!) things local to where you've moved. Everyone who currently lives there may take for granted that they are common knowledge. Today, I'm specifically thinking apps & websites. Most of the big, international companies either have apps that work internationally or they have local versions (ex: Amazon, Uber, Groupon, etc.) But what about those UK specific ones that you've discovered since living there that you now "can't live without" or that you find really helpful?
I was wondering if we could start a list of UK specific apps/websites that you would give someone new to the country to help them get started.
For instance, since joining UK Yankee, I started a list for myself of sites that others have shared that I thought would be useful for when I get over there. Here are some of the ones I found and I thought maybe the rest of you could share some of the MUST HAVES that you have found over the years.
Apps:
WhatsApp - (Also for desktop) Great way to stay in touch with family around the world via your smartphone or computer.
Transferwise (Also for desktop) - From what I've heard, one of the most affordable ways to transfer money internationally.
Websites:
Train/Rail-Commutefrom (
www.commutefrom.com) - Helps you decide where to buy a house around London. It tells you which stations are within your preferred commute time of the central London station nearest to your work. It also tells you information like the average house prices, crime rates, and schools in the area.
Trainline (
www.thetrainline.com/season-tickets) - See what it would cost for you to buy train tickets from areas you are looking to live
National Rail map showing all routes & stations -
www.nationalrail.co.uk/nationalrailoperatorsmap.pdf House Sales/Rentals-
Rightmove -
www.rightmove.co.ukZoopla -
www.zoopla.co.ukGumtree -
www.gumtree.comOpenRent -
www.openrent.co.ukOnTheMarket -
www.onthemarket.comCity Info & Populations -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_districts_by_populationWikiVoyage (
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/United_Kingdom) - Great site that provides a ton of information on a country, counties, city/village level to help familiarize yourself with different areas
Electric/Gas/Energy-
MoneySavingExpert (
www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub) - Let's you compare your options for energy services to make sure you pick a company and get the best deal for yourself
Car buying-(There are obviously tons of local dealers but if you are just wanting to see what kinds of cars are out there and prices...)
CarGiant -
www.cargiant.co.ukArnoldClark Car Sales -
www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars?page=1Motors.co.uk -
www.motors.co.uk/search/carEvans Halshaw -
www.evanshalshaw.comAutoTrader -
www.autotrader.co.uk Motorpoint -
www.motorpoint.co.ukAutoExpress -
www.autoexpress.co.uk --- Auto Reviews (They also have lists of "Best of" for all the different types)
Car Insurance-
MoneyMaxim (
www.moneymaxim.co.uk/car-insurance-new-to-uk) - Article and comparison service for those who just moved to the UK
Money (
www.money.co.uk/car-insurance.htm) - Comparison sites
BIBA (
www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance) - Insurance broker
AVIVA (
www.aviva.co.uk/insurance/motor) - Insurance company
Admiral (
www.admiral.com/car-insurance) - Insurance company. A lot of people have posted they've gotten very good rates from them as a new-to-the-UK driver
Comparison Site -
MoneySuperMarket (
www.moneysupermarket.com) - Comparison site for Insurance, Money, Energy, Broadband, Mobile Phones, Travel, Credit Cards, etc.
Driving Theory Mock Tests -
https://toptests.co.ukPets (Dog sitters/walkers, insurance)-
Borrow My Doggy -
www.borrowmydoggy.com/home Dog Buddy - uk.dogbuddy.com/dog-walking
Grocery Stores:
ALDI -
www.aldi.co.ukLDIL -
www.lidl.co.ukWaitrose -
www.waitrose.comThe co-operative food - food.coop.co.uk
ASDA -
https://groceries.asda.com/cat/fresh-food-bakery/_/103099Tesco -
https://www.tesco.com/groceriesSainsbury's -
www.sainsburys.co.ukHome Improvement stores:
B&O -
www.diy.comWickes -
www.wickes.co.ukHomebase -
www.homebase.co.ukScrewFix -
www.screwfix.comHome & Electronics stores -
Argos -
www.argos.co.ukb&m -
www.bmstores.co.ukASDA -
www.asda.comTesco -
www.tesco.com ALDI -
www.aldi.co.ukSainsbury's -
www.sainsburys.co.uk Robert Dyas -
www.robertdyas.co.ukWilko -
www.wilko.comDunelm -
www.dunelm.com Other Cost-Saving Memberships/Clubs/etc.Movies:
Cineworld Unlimited or Odeon Limitless - Much like Moviepass or AMC A-List here in the US where membership allows you to go to unlimited (or a large number of) movies for a low price.
Food/Restaurants:TasteCard (
www.tastecard.co.uk/how-to-use-your-card) - Discounts on restaurants
What other day-to-day websites/apps/clubs do you recommend people bookmark for when they move?
