The UK

Ancient cities, wonky pubs, and British humour that's as dry as its famous London gin.

Why make the swap?

UK work and travel guide

Equal parts quaint and quirky – the UK plays its starring role down to a tee (or should that be tea). With rolling green countryside, elegant cities straight out of a Hugh Grant movie, and a 500 year old pub on every corner – history, beauty and creativity are everywhere. Combined with its two-hour proximity to mainland Europe for weekend side quests, the UK is a worthy rite of passage for any Canadian working holidaymaker.

Best place to work in the UK

You can work anywhere in the UK – Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland – on your working holiday visa or internship visa. If you want a big city then you can't beat London for the job opportunities, or Glasgow, Edinburgh or Belfast for history, culture and pubs per square mile. For friendly locals, industrial charm and music mad venues – head for Manchester, Leeds or Sheffield. If you want a more outdoorsy setting, then Cornwall and South Wales have the UK's best beaches.

What can I earn in the UK

How much you earn in the UK will very much depend on your job and where you are based. For casual or seasonal work, you can expect to earn at least the minimum wage, which is £12.71 per hour for over 21s. Cost of living is high in London, Edinburgh and Brighton, and slightly cheaper in places like Liverpool and Manchester. But there are always pockets of big cities that are more affordable, and the price of fresh groceries are generally a lot cheaper than in Canada.

Best time to visit the UK

The UK weather is famously unpredictable. However, you'll have seen enough Wimbledon or festival coverage to see that it does get great summers – especially in London and the south of England. As a general rule, Apr-Sep are a great time to work or intern. The days are longer and the sun draws punters out into the beer gardens. Winter (Dec–Feb) can bring beautifully crisp or dark and drizzly days. Both always benefit from a Sunday roast around a crackling pub fire.

I'm sold, let's swap Canada for the UK

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