Population: 82,689,000

British population: 115,000

It is Europe's most populous country. It is the world's leading exporter. And it is also home to a growing number of Brits. Welcome to Germany, which - though less sexy than France, Italy or Spain - is one of the most attractive places to live in Europe.

By far the largest number of Britons who live here are soldiers and their dependants. Despite the end of the cold war and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the British army has 22,000 troops still stationed in its Rhine garrison - more than anywhere else in the world. But Germany is a magnet for other kinds of Brits, too. Artists, sculptors and musicians live in Berlin, lured by the city's vibrant cultural life, cheap rents and generous studio space. The famously tolerant German capital is also home to a number of gay Brits. Finally, a number of professionals also live in Germany, the UK's biggest EU trading partner, working in the car industry and for blue-chip companies such as Rolls-Royce.

For those fed up with public transport at home, Germany is nothing less than paradise, offering reasonably cheap high-speed trains and marvellous buses. The climate isn't bad either. Summers are hot and winters cold (though last winter temperatures dropped to a bottom-numbing -17C).

The biggest obstacle facing newcomers in Germany is getting a job: with unemployment at 10.1%, work is hard to find. Other drawbacks include the fact that law-abiding Germans allow their dogs to crap everywhere, and complaints that some Germans can be miserable and rude.

How is it for you?

Charlotte McGowan-Griffin, 31, has lived in Germany for two years.

I came to Berlin in March 2005 after a year of artist's residencies in Brazil, India and the US. Initially, cheap rents were a draw, but it also seemed like a city that was in the process of defining itself - giving more opportunity for individual freedom and plurality of lifestyle.

In London, I couldn't afford an artist's studio and had to work full time to pay for my share of a tiny flat. It's easier here. My flat is a typical 'Altbau' with high ceilings, stucco, a wooden floor and large windows. It always comes as a big surprise to friends visiting from England.

When I arrived here, I found the bureaucratic elements a bit offputting. In government offices, people rarely speak English, so you need to have a native speaker with you when you register. And you have to get used to an initially brusque approach from shopkeepers. But don't be put off - if you talk longer to people, they often warm up.

Germans also have a very practical approach to everyday living, which makes life easier for new arrivals. Public transport works and small things make a difference, such as bike lanes, balconies and cloth bags in the supermarkets.

People are very health-conscious here, especially about food. I have a weekly organic market on my doorstep. Recycling is very easy and is an everyday part of life. Berlin is the only city I know where people leave furniture they don't need any more on the street for whoever can make use of it.

I like the fact that in Kreuzberg, where I live, you can go out without feeling self-conscious or that you have to conform to a prescribed sense of style. Here, anything goes and people don't judge each other on how they look.

How to do it

Red tape is an unavoidable part of settling in Germany. New arrivals have to register within a week of finding fixed accommodation. To do this you need to fill in an 'Anmeldungsformular' or registration form at the local town hall (you will need your passport and rental agreement). If you plan to stay for more than three months, you'll need a residency permit. For this you need your passport, two passport photos and proof of studies, a work contract or evidence you have the money to support yourself. (Requirements vary from state to state, so check with your local Ausländerbehörde, usually in the town hall.)

Accommodation tends to be more expensive in cities such as Munich and Frankfurt: one-beds in Frankfurt are around £75,000. In Berlin, however, prices are lower, with a one-bed flat in Friedrichshain, a student area in east Berlin, at £40,000.

Most rented flats aren't furnished and many don't have kitchens installed - check the small print of the contract.

Legally you need to have some photo ID with you at all times, and if you live there you will need to arrange health insurance.

Go to the German Embassy in London, at, for more information.