Section 2 | "Living in the UK"
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UK Nuances
Included In this Section
Postcodes
In the UK, there is often a priority given to postcodes; you will often have to put a postcode into search engines prior to being able to search; you will need to quote your postcode to pick up online orders etc.
Postcode Finder - Find an address | Royal Mail Group Ltd
Whereas Australian Postcodes will identify a suburb (sometimes multiple suburbs) and be in a four number format, UK Postcodes will identify individual streets (sometimes multiple Postcodes for one particular street!) and have six or seven characters.
UK Shopping
Online shopping is very common in the UK, and it is common for groceries to be delivered to a home address or to a designated pick up centre.
Trading Hours in the UK differ from Trading Hours in Australia. The UK Government differentiates small and large shops for trading purposes.
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Small shops in England and Wales can open any day or hour and there are no trading hours restrictions in Scotland.
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Large shops can only open on a Sunday for 6 consecutive hours between 1000 – 1800, must close on Easter Sunday and must close on Christmas Day.
Shopping for groceries in the UK can seem very expensive depending on where you shop.
According to Which?, Aldi was the cheapest supermarket in January 2024, charging £129.24 on average for a shopping list of 72 popular groceries. Lidl was close behind, at just over £3 more (£132.37).
Waitrose was the most expensive supermarket at £170.44
Average price for 72 items in January 2024:
UK Quirks and Differences
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UK Cling Film is not the same quality as Gladwrap back home! Amazon sells catering grade cling film which is better than what you can buy in the shops.
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Crossing in the road in London is not for the faint of heart – be careful and look both ways…
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Traffic lights not only count down (Green, Orange then Red) but up as well (Red, Orange then Green).
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In many parts of the UK, tap water contains high levels of limescale, often referred to as "hard water". Hard water leaves noticeable calcium residue on surfaces; it may require more soap to work up a good lather and can dry out your hair and skin. Also prepare to descale your kettle and showerhead regularly!
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Utility services are not disconnected at the end of each tenancy.
