Expert: Graham Thomas - 9/19/2006

Question
Hi Graham!  A little background- I am getting ready to finalize a divorce from my husband after being seperated for a year.  I live in Richmond, Virginia in the United States right now.  I feel the need for a complete change and want to do something new and exciting.
I would like to move to England for a year.  I was thinking London because it is big, but I really am open to going anywhere as long as the primary language is English.
I am 27 years old, love good food and wine, culture and music.
I have a couple of different ideas:
1.  Go to grad school overseas- a degree in Art History or Music History would be of most interest to me.
2.  Go to professional cooking school
3.  Just move there and find a job.

Where would you suggest I move?  How hard is it to get a job?  What kind of housing should I look for?  What would be an average cost per month to live comfortably?  Which of the three ideas I have from above would be the best in your opinion?

Thank you for any and all information!  I really appreciate it!

Sincerely,

Courtney Allen

Answer
Dear Courtney

Big decisions!

It would certainly be easier to get in here if you come as a student of some kind - unless you have British working status then you will not be able to work legally.

London is very expensive so I would say you would need to allow at least £400.00 a month for a room in a shared house. A one bed apartment would be around £1000.00 or so

Hope that helps

Graham