Living and working in the UK

A Place to Live Life to the Full

People who come to the UK to work find life here a rewarding and invigorating experience. Residents enjoy a high standard of living, education and recreation.

A British education is highly regarded around the world. Teaching standards and student results are good. Our universities and other higher education institutions have an enviable international reputation.

The UK’s publicly funded health system aims to provide free care for all who need it, alongside a flourishing private sector. And with low rates of personal taxation you and your employees will have the resources to enjoy all that British life has to offer.

The country has a rich and varied heritage, which includes 25 entries on the World Heritage List of sites of importance. These range from famous architectural landmarks to prehistoric stone circles; from outstandingly beautiful cities to significant industrial age sites.

The UK’s tradition of creativity began thousands of years ago and now extends into the most modern artistic media, with award winning films, television programmes and stage musicals. There are also plenty of opportunities to witness the UK’s excellence in the older arts such as theatre, opera and ballet – not just in London but in superb venues the length and breadth of the country.

Some facts may be surprising at first glance. In the UK, visiting a public library is more popular than going to the cinema, and more people visit museums than go to theme parks and pop concerts. The surprise lessens when you consider the quality of the UK’s cultural resources.

The Natural History Museum alone has 70 million specimens, while the British Museum is famous around the world. One of the latest additions to the UK’s numerous art galleries is the hugely popular Tate Modern. The prestigious collections of the British Library are a massive draw not just for scholars but for anyone with an enquiring mind.

The country’s tradition of architectural excellence runs unbroken from medieval castles to pioneering modern business buildings. There are 370,000 listed buildings, 19,000 scheduled monuments and 8,000 conservation areas in England alone.

UK residents like to exercise their bodies as well as their minds, and sports activities are widely available for all levels of participant. Local authorities run a range of affordable facilities, while private sector clubs and gyms are growing all the time. There are numerous golf courses throughout the UK.

For a less strenuous way to recharge your batteries, you can follow the example of the millions of locals holiday in the UK. Varied landscapes, from spectacular mountains and lakes to gently rolling hills, and from picturesque forests to sandy beaches, are all within easy reach. With a huge range of activities, from walking, climbing and water sports to canal boat trips and visits to castles, stately homes, nature reserves and theme parks, the UK has something for all tastes and interests.

This publication will tell you about some of the practical aspects of living in the UK.