Look here first -> Banking in the UK

There are a number of services which will help you organize a bank account for a small fee. Whether you need them or not is up to you.

If you are new to the country you'll probably be paying bank charges for the first 6 months at which point provided you've been a solid customer you can ask them to remove these fees. At least this was my experience with Natwest.

HSBC UK has a passport Bank account which you can start if you like:

http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/curr ... :12ntf1n0a

I've heard from various people that setting something up at HSBC in one country doesn't always make it easier to get your account to another

Another thing that I've been given to understand is that in general the banks quite willing to help you set up an account provided you have proof of address(something official like a bill with your name and address on it.), and an offer of employment, along with your visa.

I set up my account through the swap program so it was really just me making an appointment and walking down to the bank and telling them the program I was with and that I wanted an account and that was about it.

so then you probably keep a canadian bank account open to repay your canadian credit cards online if they are used right? or can you pay your canadian credit cards bills with a british account if they are used until you get a british credit card?

I'm keeping my account, but also getting a British account. You will find that there are costs with transfering money to your canadian account, though.