+1 for HSBC Premier - I opened an account this year in the UK in order to take advantage of global services - it was really easy to open accounts in the US and Australia straightaway, and the staff worldwide have been really helpful. The global view is great and makes transferring money easy (I would still go though a currency broker for big sums, but for small sums online transfers are is easy and hassle free, and generally better rates than a high street bank).

Only bugbear is different usernames and passwords in different countries, dongles in some but not others, HSBC US has had database issues printing the correct UK address on envelopes, but apart from that all has been fantastic.