Firstly I must announce that I am a very, very, *very* long time reader of this site (2 yrs+) but never thought I should bother you all with a single comment but I decided - bugger it, i'm going to say something after all :)

I'm 27 and from Australia and eligible for an ancestry visa to the UK so I can stay there for 4 years which is all good. The problem is I don't know anyone from that part of the world and I don't want to appear like a real leech and latch onto someone and stay there etc. A good (and rather knowledgable) friend of mine said I should find people from the UK who want to stay in Australia and sort of make a deal where they can stay where I live and reciprocate later on etc, but it all sounds rather dubious to me.

I am serious about making some good friends in the UK but unsure about how to go about it. I'm sure there are other readers from .au who have gone over to the UK for the long term and dealt with friends they have made online and have managed to stay there a few years and really enjoyed it. Anyone have any advice or experience on the matter?

Thank you all for making this forum truely great!