n Taxation
When you arrive in the UK, you must register to pay tax. Usually, this will be deducted from your pay according to the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) schedule:

Tax free personal allowance of £4,745 then:
10% tax rate on the next £2,020
22% tax rate from £2021-£31,400
40% tax rate over £31,400

Alternatively, we offer temporary workers the benefit of working through a composite company which attracts a lower tax rate of 19%. This option will increase your take home pay.

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n National Insurance
You will also have to contribute to National Insurance (NI), which goes towards retirement pensions, unemployment benefit and sickness benefit. You must contact the local Social Security department on arrival to register for an NI number. They will advise you of the specific documentation you need - which will include your passport, work permit / visa and proof of employment and home address. NI is deducted from your pay at 11% of gross earnings between £91 and £610 per week, then 1% thereafter.

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n Health Insurance
The National Health Service is competent and economical for ordinary illnesses. However, we recommend that you take out health insurance to cover the costs of transporting you back to your home country for treatment should you require major medical care.

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n Hostels
There are seven YHA hostels in London and more than 200 across England and Wales. You can join the worldwide association from home or in the UK - see www.yha.org.uk.

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n Bed & Breakfasts
Guesthouses and B&Bs are essentially cheap hotels. Unlike hostels, they do not have any self-catering facilities. Most are family run businesses, with prices starting at around £30 for a single room. You can find several sites on the internet offering further information.

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n Renting
If you are planning to stay in London long-term, it will be worth finding rented accommodation. Depending upon location, bedsits cost £70-100 a week, studio flats cost £125-190, rooms (in a house-share) £80-130, and one-bedroom flats from £160-£230 upwards. Check out the private adverts in The Evening Standard or Loot newspapers, register with an estate agent or look on the internet.

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n Cost of Living
Accommodation - £80-130 per person per week (pp/pw)
Transport - £10-32 pp/pw
Unleaded petrol (per litre)- £0.75-£0.80
Groceries - £25-45 pp/pw
Dining out cheaply - £6-10 pp
Dining out expensively - from £20 pp
Milk (4pints or 2.2 lts) - £1.10
Loaf of Bread - £0.60-£1.00
Pint of Larger - £2.00-£3.00
Glass of Wine - £3.00-£4.20

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n Weather
The weather is extremely variable and can range from bright sunshine and blue skies in the morning to pouring rain by the afternoon. Temperatures can be below freezing in the winter and occasionally in excess of 30 degrees in the summer. Remember to bring an umbrella and lots of warm clothes if you plan to be here during the winter months of December to March.

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n London Geography
London is divided into 32 boroughs and the City, forming what is called Greater London. North London is north of the Thames, with South London being south of the river.

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n London Transport
The three major services are the London Underground, the mainline trains and the London Bus Service. We strongly recommend that you buy an A-Z guide which provides detailed street maps. If you require specific information on train or bus times, you can call the 24-hour London Travel Information line on 020 7222 1234.

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n London Guides and Publications
ACCOMMODATION
Loot, local newspapers, newsagents' windows.
There is also an excellent website for the Antipodean community - www.gumtree.com

ENTERTAINMENT
Time Out, Evening Standard

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