Living in France

Fed up with the British climate? Tempted to join all those British expats living in France? Whether you are looking at a long holiday, or thinking of working or retiring across the Channel, this guide should be a good start.

Compared to the UK , France is a big country - in fact more than twice as big - for a similar population (just under 61 million in the last census). If you then consider that around 80% of the population of France live in urban areas where industries and services are concentrated - you will realise that there is a huge amount of space, which means both unspoilt countryside and low property prices.

France is made up of very diverse and distinctive regions, in terms of both climate (continental, Mediterranean or even temperate) and landscape (from the ragged and Cornish like coast of Brittany to the 10 000 ft high Alps summits) which in turn have a significant impact on the local pace and way of life. Your experience of living in France will very much depend on where you decide to settle and what you intend to do there, but we hope that you will find some useful tips in this guide wherever you decide to go.

	Living and Working in France 2006 A very good general guide to moving to France, including sections on taxes, bureacracy, the French people etc.
	Live and Work in France Another excellent all-round guide for people thinking of moving to France. Particularly useful for anyone thinking of running a business in France, with excellent information on bureacratic procedures etc.
	Buying a Home in France 2006 A must-read for anyone thinking of buying property in France, full of clear, practical and up-to-date information.

The above 3 books come highly recommended. Another useful publication is Make yourself at Home in France, which is available from the French Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain: contact them at 4 Dartmouth Street, Westminster London SW1H 9BP tel 020 7304 4040.