Can anyone give me some advice about investing in off-shore funds.

I have left the UK to live and work abroad (no plans to return to the UK) and have money that I want to invest every month. I had a pension fund in the UK that I'm not paying into anymore and still have a UK bank account.

I've been told that I'd get the best deal by opening an off-shore fund, but I've no idea how to do it, what they actually are, or which ones are the best. Is there any way of investing that would avoid tax similar to a pension fund in the UK? I want to be able to get a good portion of my money out before I'm 60/65 years old. What happens if I take the money out of the fund, will I have to pay tax on it?

I'm in Italy and don't speak Italian yet.

Any advice?