Learning English On-Site When Moving to the UK

Published on January 17, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Moving to the UK without really speaking English is a bit like landing in London without an umbrella in November: technically possible, but quickly becomes very uncomfortable. The good news is, the country is full of free or affordable resources to make fast progress, while also understanding the local culture. Between platforms like BBC Learning English, intensive courses, apps, conversation clubs, slang, accents, and administrative requirements (visa, citizenship…), it’s possible to build a solid strategy from the very first weeks.

Understanding UK English: More Than Just One “Language”

Arriving in the UK having learned a standard “English”, often influenced by American English, can be a shock. Not only does the accent change, but expressions, humor, and even some everyday words are different.

For expats, two ideas are important.

First, there is no single mandatory “good” accent. People often talk about Received Pronunciation (RP), also called Queen’s English or BBC English: a non-rhotic accent, historically associated with the upper classes of southern England and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Yet it only represents about 3% of native speakers. It’s a useful model for understanding national media, but absolutely not a requirement for fitting in.

Second, what really matters to your conversation partners isn’t the accent you imitate, but clarity: rhythm, articulation, volume. Brits are generally curious about people’s backgrounds and rather pleased to talk about their accent if you ask them.

Advice for expressing yourself in English

A useful reflex is to familiarize yourself with the major accent families you’ll hear quickly: Cockney and Multicultural London English in the capital, Northern accents (Yorkshire, Manchester, Newcastle), West Country in the South-West, as well as Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish variants. The British Library even hosts an online “Accents and Dialects Archive” where you can listen to this diversity.

BBC Learning English: The Must-Know Free Resource

For an expat in the UK, BBC Learning English is almost a rite of passage. The platform belongs to the BBC, the British public service founded in 1922, and it has existed since 1943, originally as a radio program. Today, it’s a free website and network of content accessible worldwide, attracting over 50 million users.

Unlike a single, linear course, BBC Learning English is a huge library of resources categorized by theme and level, aligned with the CEFR (A1 to C2). You can find:

The method is based on the communicative approach: each lesson starts from a real context (excerpt from a show, interview, everyday situation), then introduces vocabulary, grammar, before offering guided practice.

How to Leverage BBC Learning English as an Expat

The advantage when you already live in the UK is that you can immediately connect what you learn online to what you hear on the street or at work. The site is accessible 24/7 on computer, tablet, or smartphone, with a responsive interface. You can create a free account to track your progress, save favorites, receive weekly reports, and unlock virtual badges.

The table below gives an overview of some useful series depending on your needs.

Main Need	Adapted BBC Learning English Series	Format and Key Strength
Understanding daily conversations	6 Minute English, The English We Speak	Very short podcasts, realistic dialogues, idiomatic expressions
Improving your grammar	6 Minute Grammar, The Grammar Gameshow	Simple explanations, fun quizzes, “game show” approach
Working on your British pronunciation	Tim’s Pronunciation Workshop, Five Days to Improve Your Pronunciation	Sound breakdown, videos, linking examples
Following the news in English	News Review, LingoHack, Fake News: Fact and Fiction	Headline analysis, contemporary vocabulary, critical thinking
Refining your professional English	Business English, Leadership series	Concrete cases (public figures, AI, management)
Having fun while learning	Dramas (Alice in Wonderland, Gulliver’s Travels, etc.)	Audio stories, actors’ voices, transcripts and glossaries

The strengths often highlighted in reviews are the quality and authenticity of the content (real British voices, BBC excerpts), the variety of formats (video, audio, text), and the total free access. The limitations: the navigation can seem a bit disorganized, some older links are broken, the mobile app was discontinued in late 2023, and there’s no personalized correction of your pronunciation or writing.

Slang, Idioms, and “Britishness”: Talking Like the Locals Without Putting Your Foot in It

Speaking correct language isn’t always enough to feel “in the know.” In the UK, a large part of informal conversation happens through idioms, jokes, sarcasm, and very rich slang. Some linguists even talk about a “language within English” when referring to British slang.

You hear these expressions everywhere: movies, TV series, social media, pubs, open-plan offices. Mastering them helps you understand your colleagues or neighbors, but also to sound more natural, humorous, and nuanced. Conversely, using slang at the wrong time can fall flat, or even seem rude.

A few useful reference points for an expat.

Next, geography: some words are typically Northern (“nowt” for “nothing”, “ta” for “thank you”), Welsh (“tamping” for “furious”, “lush” for “delicious / stunning”), Scottish (“wee” for “small”). Others come from London and Cockney rhyming slang (“apples and pears” for “stairs”, “porkies” for “lies”). Mixing up these registers isn’t a disaster, but can be surprising: you quickly notice an expat sprinkling their English with Essex expressions learned from a reality TV show while living in Glasgow.

To navigate it all, it can be useful to gradually build your own small personal lexicon, noting expressions heard in your neighborhood or at the office, their tone (neutral, informal, vulgar), and the context in which they appear.

Here is an example of slang categories to get used to over time.

Category	Examples (simplified meaning)	Where you’ll often encounter them
Feelings / reactions	gutted (devastated), chuffed (pleased), gobsmacked (astonished)	Conversations between friends, social media
Daily life & weather	cuppa (cup of tea), brew (hot drink), chucking it down (pouring rain), parky (cold)	Pubs, office, coffee break chats
Money & work	quid (pound sterling), skint (broke), dosh (money), grafting (hitting on/flirting in TV slang)	Pub, shows like Love Island, informal chats
Judgments & soft insults	muppet, plonker, numpty, daft (silly / a bit stupid)	Workplace humor, among friends
Colorful expressions	storm in a teacup (a fuss over nothing), bits and bobs (bits and pieces), Bob’s your uncle (and there you go)	TV shows, older Brits, pubs

The golden rule remains simple: observe before you imitate. Listen to who uses these words (age, region, background), in what situation (pub, meeting, email), and test them first with people with whom you already have a certain rapport.

Accents and Dialects: Surviving (and Progressing) in the Sonic Jungle

Many expats have the same experience in their first months in the UK: they understand the BBC rather well, but feel lost as soon as they talk to a neighbor from Liverpool or a colleague from Glasgow. It’s logical: accents like Scouse, Geordie, or Glaswegian are known to be among the most difficult to grasp, even for natives from other regions.

However, it is pointless – and unrealistic – to try to “learn” 40 accents. In practice, regular exposure to the accent of your living area will make the difference. A few strategies can, however, accelerate the adaptation.

Using specialized resources. BBC Learning English has an entire section dedicated to pronunciation, with videos detailing sounds, linking, intonation. Teachers like “Tim” explain, for example, why a Brit might say “wanna” instead of “want to” due to linking, or how a non-rhotic “r” is pronounced. You can also find individual videos dedicated to typical phenomena of British English.

Finally, don’t underestimate curiosity as a learning tool. Asking a colleague politely, “Where’s your accent from, by the way?” often opens a pleasant conversation. Many Brits enjoy explaining their region’s peculiarities, sharing a few typical expressions (“Any road” in northern England, “What’s occurrin’?” in Wales…), and will appreciate your interest.

In-Person English Courses: Schools, Intensives, and ESOL

Living in the UK gives you access to a valuable advantage: language schools on-site and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses offered by many local institutions. For expats with a bit of budget or employer support, intensive courses constitute a very effective accelerator, especially to reach the levels required by certain visas.

Several well-established players offer general, academic, or professional English programs in many cities: London, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, York, Birmingham, Eastbourne, Torquay, Cheltenham, Bath, Shrewsbury, among others.

The following table gives an overview of the weekly volumes offered by some course types.

Course Type	Indicative Weekly Volume	Target Audience
ESOL / General classic English	Around 15 hours	Beginner to intermediate adults
Intensive (private schools)	21 to 28 hours	Motivated expats, need for rapid progress
Super intensive (UK only)	Up to 30 hours, or more	Exam preparation, visa requirements
University (Sussex, etc.)	15 or 21 hours, over 6 to 11 weeks	Students, future university enrollees

Specialized courses (Business English, English for HR, Banking, English for Lawyers, IELTS or TOEFL preparation, professional communication) can be very useful for an expat in a job who needs to write emails, participate in meetings, or give presentations in English.

The advantages of these schools are the quality of the teachers, often very experienced, the motivating environment, modern materials, and, sometimes, personalized support. Some institutions like The London School of English are even regularly at the top of rankings and have excellent reviews on platforms like Trustpilot.

For tighter budgets, ESOL courses organized by local colleges, libraries, associations, or local authorities are an alternative to explore. They specifically aim to help new arrivals develop the English needed for daily life and employment.

Apps and Self-Learning: Complementing Immersion

Even living on-site, most of your progress will depend on the time invested outside of work. Language apps can transform “useless” moments (commutes, waiting in line, train journeys) into useful little sessions.

Recent comparisons regularly place apps like Mondly, Babbel, Busuu, Duolingo, Pimsleur, Memrise, Rosetta Stone, Rocket Languages, or Yabla among the most effective depending on the profile. Their interest for an expat in the UK, however, differs.

Others, such as Mondly or Mosalingua, rely more on spaced repetition and vocabulary, with increasingly developed AI features (conversation chatbots, personalized recommendations). Yabla or FluentU use authentic subtitled videos, ideal for getting used to accents and natural pace.

The important thing is to choose a few complementary tools rather than spreading yourself too thin. A common combination for an expat would be:

– A structured app (Babbel, Busuu, Rocket English) to advance by level,

– A vocabulary repetition tool (Anki, Memrise, Mosalingua),

– An exchange platform (Tandem, HelloTalk) to talk with natives,

– and BBC Learning English as free support focused on British English.

Private Tutors and Online Course Platforms

When you need to progress quickly, or have a specific goal (job interview, language exam, public speaking), using a native tutor can save a lot of time. The UK is particularly well-served with matching platforms.

Services like FindTutors or Tutor Hunt claim to have one of the largest tutor databases in Europe, with over 200,000 tutors available in the UK in all kinds of subjects, including English as a foreign language (EFL/ESOL/TEFL). Others, like Preply or MyTutor, focus on online teaching via spaces integrating video conferencing, an interactive whiteboard, and session recording.

The following table summarizes some useful options for an expat.

Platform / Service	Main Course Type	Assets for an Expat in the UK
FindTutors	In-person or online courses, all subjects	Wide local choice, possibility of home lessons
Tutor Hunt	Tutors with DBS checks, scheduling tool	Structured matching, online and on-site options
Preply	1‑to‑1 online lessons, integrated video space	Filter by country, refund for 1st lesson if unsatisfied
MyTutor	Online lessons, session recording	Progress tracking, useful for reviewing an explanation
Home Tutors Directory	Tutor and agency directory	Free contact information, transparent pricing

The main advantage of this approach is personalization. A good tutor will build on your concrete needs: understanding administrative forms, writing professional emails, preparing an oral presentation, understanding accents in your work environment, etc. For expats who dread speaking in a group, one-on-one sessions can also help overcome the fear of making mistakes.

Conversation Clubs and Local Language Exchanges

One of the big risks for an expat is staying in a “bubble” with fellow countrymen. To avoid this pitfall and practice living English, conversation clubs and language meetups are valuable allies, especially in big cities.

Prices remain affordable: around £10 for a one-off session, discounted for newcomers, with monthly packages or session bundles being more economical. Other groups, notably in Soho, Crystal Palace, Camden, Dalston, Angel, or on the Isle of Dogs, even offer free weekly classes, run by volunteers or local charities.

For those not living in London, platforms like Meetup.com allow you to search for “language exchange” or “English conversation club” in most major UK cities: Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, etc. Many meetups are free or have a token fee to cover venue hire.

The interest in these groups isn’t only linguistic. It’s also a way to build a network, get out of isolation, better understand British social codes (humor, politeness, small talk). Organizers often set simple rules: speak English as much as possible, let participants introduce themselves, avoid overly sensitive topics, encourage newcomers.

Cultural Integration and Daily Life: “Social” and “Professional” English

Learning English from a textbook doesn’t always prepare you for some very concrete realities of British society: importance of punctuality, ever-present politeness, sometimes very sarcastic humor, a tendency not to say things too directly.

Understanding and adopting a few communication reflexes helps enormously with integration.

Conversation frequently starts with the weather, the commute, a neutral detail of daily life. Jumping straight into very personal details can make people uncomfortable. Brits prefer to slowly progress to more intimate topics as the relationship builds.

Assets like intercultural communication training, public speaking workshops, or business English courses (especially those from the British Council or specialized schools) can be particularly useful for expat managers or executives. They allow you to work on concrete points: wording a professional email, meeting language, managing disagreements, appropriate humor, etc.

Language and Administrative Procedures: Visas, ILR, and Naturalization

For expats considering staying in the UK long-term, mastering English is not just about daily comfort. It also becomes a legal requirement for certain immigration statuses, like Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British citizenship.

Current rules impose, for most applicants between 18 and 65, a “Knowledge of Language and Life” (KoLL) composed of two parts:

The English test costs on average around £150 and the results are valid for two years. For some applications, an older B1 or higher certificate already accepted by the Home Office can be reused, even if expired, under certain conditions. Alternatives exist if you have a university degree taught in English or obtained in a majority English-speaking country: you then need to provide equivalence certificates via the Ecctis body (paid service).

In practice, many expats use a mix of resources to prepare: intensive courses to reach B1/B2 level, targeted exam practice with specialized apps (e.g., Magoosh for IELTS), and, for Life in the UK, books, official apps, and sometimes small courses organized by colleges or associations.

The important thing is to integrate these administrative goals into your overall learning plan. Aiming for B1 for a test doesn’t just mean “passing the exam”, but also giving yourself the means to exchange with colleagues, understand the radio, manage daily procedures without depending on a third party.

Building a Tailored Strategy for Your Expatriation

Every expat in the UK arrives with a different story: some already have a good level of school English, others start from almost zero. Some work in an English-speaking environment, others in a company where another language is mainly spoken. The right approach is to build, from the available resources, a plan adapted to your time, budget, and goal constraints.

A possible framework for the first six months on-site could look like this:

Above all, it’s essential to connect learning to your real life. Using in an email what you just learned on BBC Learning English, testing a new idiomatic expression heard in a series with a colleague, asking a neighbor to correct your phrasing: these are the micro-actions that transform learned English into lived English.

In the UK, English isn’t just a communication tool. It’s a gateway to a mosaic of identities, accents, traditions, and histories. Investing time in the local language is giving yourself the chance not just to “live in” the country, but to gradually make it “your” country.