There are already half a million (500,000) Americans living here in London. Not sure how many spread out nationwide. I did see one American lady on TV a while back, how came from Texas originally. She had come here on a holiday back in the 1960s and just did not bother to go back to the States.
So what to do between now and your arrival here in UK!
You could spend time learning more about the UK.
What are the British really like?
Let's take a look at comedy - usually works : -
Here's Bill Bailey doing foreign sirens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRyvsRAo8T8
Here's how we do business in Parliament
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AsiKI7uCog
The above is from the House of Commons 4th April 08.
We all speak English, right! Yes, but we often use different 'English' words to mean the same thing. For example; in the USA you say "hood" we say "bonnet" - that's the lid to the engine compartment of your car. Both English words.
Below you'll find some useful translations : -
american english english american translation guide
AMERICAN-ENGLISH/ENGLISH-AMERICAN TRANSLATION
GUIDE --------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN -
ENGLISH ------------------ American ...
http://www.accomodata.co.uk/amlish.htm - Cached
The English-to-American Dictionary - A Guide To British Slang
British English slang dictionary with translations into American English.
http://english2american.com/ - Cached
The American-British - British-American Dictionary
Collection of words and phrases, including information about holidays, weights
and measures, money, area codes and presidents and prime ministers.
http://www.peak.org/~jeremy/dictionary/dict.html
English to English
When I first came to America, twenty two years ago, even though I spoke English,
the words coming out of my mouth often resulted in puzzled looks and blank ...
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/2284/
As Winston Churchill once said, "We are two nations separated by a common language".
More British comedy - this time a TV show here called, "Have I got News for You"!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wJQIoXbG_k&feature=related
Here's a trip down the London Underground - what we call the Choob (Tube) here in London : -
Piccadilly Circus Tube Station
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6VygXlR9g
Some history of the London Underground - the deep tube got started back in the 1890s and the money for it was put up by American Railroad Barons plus British shareholders. So now you know.
Here's something we have every year here in London - the Queen's Birthday Parade - Horseguards Whitehall
Massed Bands the Brigade of Guards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zofhv9KWoec
Here's Noel Coward singing "London Pride"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-pYvloAADg
I have included the above because it gives you a deeper understanding of how much Londoners do love their city - London.
This next sites gets you lots of London panoramas (360s)
http://www.urban75.org/photos/london/panorama.html
I just loved this next link when I came across it. It made me laugh so much, and still does - enjoy : -
http://www.suslik.org/Humour/National/usabrit.html
This next link below gets you the webcam at Trafalgar Square in central London - it updates every few seconds and pans around : -
http://www.camvista.com/england/london/trafsq.php3
English Morris dancers at Covent Garden - London
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zYfrMkl5x_c
Looks pretty dangerous to me - there's some guy waving what looks like a cutlas over his head.
At least it shows you the origins of 'Tap Dacing' - English.
Some more comedy.
Here's Peter Kay - Witnessing to a Robbery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5vSHiAOAE
Peter Kay has a north of England accent.