From my post in "A Singaporean in London", I noted that Singaporeans (me at least) tend to behave as if we're still in the tropics. Please don't commit the same mistakes as I did. I would advice the following:
Clothings
1) Leave your bermudas and sandals at home unless you plan to spend most of your time holidaying in the Carribeans. T-shirts, jeans and sneakers will probably be the lightest streetwear that you'll need.
The locals are seasoned creatures that can survive with bermudas at 20 deg celsius. Please don't even try.
In the (highly) unlikely event that you need some light clothes, Primark sells it cheaper than Singapore. Yep, the website is nothing great, at least you can be sure you aren't paying for advertising.
2) Bring along a number of light sweaters, turtlenecks (for ladies) and thermalwear, thick socks, gloves and caps. But do so only if you have them in the first place. There's really no need to specially purchase them (unless they're on discount). Like I said, you can always count on Primark.
3) Don't bring your entire wardrobe over. You probably won't wear it anyway. Wearing a Giordano around London is not exactly the most fashionable thing to do. You'll be better off bring some comfort food instead. In London, H&M stocks fashionable streetwear at affordable prices.
Besides, if you're returning to Singapore for a visit, there's no need to lug the clothes back together with you again.
Online shopping
Online shopping is huge in London simply because it's so convenient and low delivery costs due to high demand. Below are some websites that I've used and found to be rather fine.
1) Ebay
You have to see it to believe it. Ebay so popular here that it advertises regularly on major newspapers and magazines. Due to a large vintage and second market here, Britons are just crazy about it. But take note, Britons are known to put in their bids only at the very last minute. So do watch that item tightly!
2) Argos
You can get anything that you need to furnish your apartment from this website. If you're shopping online, you can either opt for self collection or home delivery. Home delivery can be arranged on Mon-Sat for 5 pounds per delivery regardless of how many items there are. But do prepared to stay at home for the entire day waiting (read post). Self collection at any Argos outlet is free. Location of outlets can be found on the website itself. Or if you fancy, you can visit any outlet to browse through its many catalogues and make your purchase there and then.
3) Lovefilm
Watching movies at a cinema is way to expensive. Back in S'pore, we can catch a weekend movie for S$9.50. Over in London, the average price for a movie ticket is around 9-10 pounds. That's a whopping S$27-30! So Londoners figure out that it's cheaper to get a DVD rental membership. The system's simple, just sign up and indicate what dvds that you like. It'll be sent to you within 2 days. You'll just send it back in the enclosed envelope after you're done with it. The process repeats all over again. But one thing to note. In the event that Royal Mail staff decided to go on strike (again), please hang on to your discs. You wouldn't want it to be somehow unaccounted for.
Electrical and other household appliances
1) Get an efficient heater. You need it for Spring, Autumn and Winter. It can be purchased at Argos for 15 pounds (at the time of writing). Anything that provides up to 2kW will do just fine.
2) Get a small standing fan. You might need it during Summer. Most accomodation in London is not built airtight. Thus it'll be cold during the cold months and hot during the warmer months. That can be purchased from Argos as well.
3) If you're a person who cannot do without your Thai fragrance rice, you will be sorely disappointed at the range of rice cookers here. The cheaper ones (below 10 pounds) sold at Argos doesn't come with fuzzy logic. i.e. it'll tend to boil over.
But I wouldn't advice shipping over your beloved rice cooker from Singapore (unless you absolutely have to). Learn to eat bread instead. Come on, they're supposedly healthier anyway... or at least the wholewheat version.
4) No need to worry about the electrical plugs. UK functions with the same 3 pin (240V) plug that we have back home.
5) Please sign up with Skype (unless there's no need for you to call any Singaporean mobile or fixed line numbers). I find that they're the most reliable program with the most consistent voice quality. You can read about it over here.
6) The tap water in London taste chalky (pls read this post) due to the high calcium carbonate content in it. Boiling alone will not remove the taste; it'll only cause scales to form in your boiler. To remove the taste, you can use water filters, which can be found in Argos or Woolworth. It should not cost more than 20 pounds. One that holds 3.2 litre should be sufficient for a couple.
Currencies/Monies
1) With your HSBC account properly set up, getting the the currency from cash machines in London should not be a problem. Just bring over 100-150 pounds in cash with you should suffice for the first day. Most probably, you'll be using 50 pounds note. Please don't be offended if the local handling your note checks it against the light. People don't normally see a 50 pound note in daily life (like we don't for 100 dollar bills back home), 10 and 20 pounds note is the norm.
2) The coins are ultra heavy (as compared to the Singaporean ones). I would advice you to bring along a coin pouch and refrain from dropping them into your pocket else you'll have a hole in your pocket pretty soon (no pun intended).
Medication
1) If need be, bring along some panadol but leave your medicine cabinet behind. Normal ailments can be easily treated with Nurofen, the non drowsy cure-all medication that is popular with Britons. If that doesn't work, you'll probably be better off in the hospital. It easily be obtained at Boots.
2) Having said that, you may need to bring along any special medication that you might need for specific ailments, allergy or conditions. Visiting the local GP here is far from the 30min wait back home; you need to make an appointment and waiting time can go up to 2 weeks in some cases for NHS doctors.
Clothings
1) Leave your bermudas and sandals at home unless you plan to spend most of your time holidaying in the Carribeans. T-shirts, jeans and sneakers will probably be the lightest streetwear that you'll need.
The locals are seasoned creatures that can survive with bermudas at 20 deg celsius. Please don't even try.
In the (highly) unlikely event that you need some light clothes, Primark sells it cheaper than Singapore. Yep, the website is nothing great, at least you can be sure you aren't paying for advertising.
2) Bring along a number of light sweaters, turtlenecks (for ladies) and thermalwear, thick socks, gloves and caps. But do so only if you have them in the first place. There's really no need to specially purchase them (unless they're on discount). Like I said, you can always count on Primark.
3) Don't bring your entire wardrobe over. You probably won't wear it anyway. Wearing a Giordano around London is not exactly the most fashionable thing to do. You'll be better off bring some comfort food instead. In London, H&M stocks fashionable streetwear at affordable prices.
Besides, if you're returning to Singapore for a visit, there's no need to lug the clothes back together with you again.
Online shopping
Online shopping is huge in London simply because it's so convenient and low delivery costs due to high demand. Below are some websites that I've used and found to be rather fine.
1) Ebay
You have to see it to believe it. Ebay so popular here that it advertises regularly on major newspapers and magazines. Due to a large vintage and second market here, Britons are just crazy about it. But take note, Britons are known to put in their bids only at the very last minute. So do watch that item tightly!
2) Argos
You can get anything that you need to furnish your apartment from this website. If you're shopping online, you can either opt for self collection or home delivery. Home delivery can be arranged on Mon-Sat for 5 pounds per delivery regardless of how many items there are. But do prepared to stay at home for the entire day waiting (read post). Self collection at any Argos outlet is free. Location of outlets can be found on the website itself. Or if you fancy, you can visit any outlet to browse through its many catalogues and make your purchase there and then.
3) Lovefilm
Watching movies at a cinema is way to expensive. Back in S'pore, we can catch a weekend movie for S$9.50. Over in London, the average price for a movie ticket is around 9-10 pounds. That's a whopping S$27-30! So Londoners figure out that it's cheaper to get a DVD rental membership. The system's simple, just sign up and indicate what dvds that you like. It'll be sent to you within 2 days. You'll just send it back in the enclosed envelope after you're done with it. The process repeats all over again. But one thing to note. In the event that Royal Mail staff decided to go on strike (again), please hang on to your discs. You wouldn't want it to be somehow unaccounted for.
Electrical and other household appliances
1) Get an efficient heater. You need it for Spring, Autumn and Winter. It can be purchased at Argos for 15 pounds (at the time of writing). Anything that provides up to 2kW will do just fine.
2) Get a small standing fan. You might need it during Summer. Most accomodation in London is not built airtight. Thus it'll be cold during the cold months and hot during the warmer months. That can be purchased from Argos as well.
3) If you're a person who cannot do without your Thai fragrance rice, you will be sorely disappointed at the range of rice cookers here. The cheaper ones (below 10 pounds) sold at Argos doesn't come with fuzzy logic. i.e. it'll tend to boil over.
But I wouldn't advice shipping over your beloved rice cooker from Singapore (unless you absolutely have to). Learn to eat bread instead. Come on, they're supposedly healthier anyway... or at least the wholewheat version.
4) No need to worry about the electrical plugs. UK functions with the same 3 pin (240V) plug that we have back home.
5) Please sign up with Skype (unless there's no need for you to call any Singaporean mobile or fixed line numbers). I find that they're the most reliable program with the most consistent voice quality. You can read about it over here.
6) The tap water in London taste chalky (pls read this post) due to the high calcium carbonate content in it. Boiling alone will not remove the taste; it'll only cause scales to form in your boiler. To remove the taste, you can use water filters, which can be found in Argos or Woolworth. It should not cost more than 20 pounds. One that holds 3.2 litre should be sufficient for a couple.
Currencies/Monies
1) With your HSBC account properly set up, getting the the currency from cash machines in London should not be a problem. Just bring over 100-150 pounds in cash with you should suffice for the first day. Most probably, you'll be using 50 pounds note. Please don't be offended if the local handling your note checks it against the light. People don't normally see a 50 pound note in daily life (like we don't for 100 dollar bills back home), 10 and 20 pounds note is the norm.
2) The coins are ultra heavy (as compared to the Singaporean ones). I would advice you to bring along a coin pouch and refrain from dropping them into your pocket else you'll have a hole in your pocket pretty soon (no pun intended).
Medication
1) If need be, bring along some panadol but leave your medicine cabinet behind. Normal ailments can be easily treated with Nurofen, the non drowsy cure-all medication that is popular with Britons. If that doesn't work, you'll probably be better off in the hospital. It easily be obtained at Boots.
2) Having said that, you may need to bring along any special medication that you might need for specific ailments, allergy or conditions. Visiting the local GP here is far from the 30min wait back home; you need to make an appointment and waiting time can go up to 2 weeks in some cases for NHS doctors.
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