LIST: Things you SHOULDN'T have brought with you

From reading all of this I think it's gonna be easier to just bring myself and my cat and start from scratch!

Chary- My boyfriend currently lives in Nottingham, but we're looking to move somewhere near London. Ideally Kent, Reading, Hertforshire etc.. How's the weather in those regions? Reguardless this American is bringing ALL her heels, wedges, flats and flip flops haha 

Hi LMS,

I'm currently in San Diego awaiting my spousal visa. My husband lives in London and works in Kent if you have anymore specific questions. But the short answer is to bring waterproof everything, because you never know when it's just gonna pour!

VCH

Hello Everyone

I'm an american currently living for the last 3.5 yrs with my dutch boyfriend in the Netherlands. We are researching the possibilities of moving to the UK and when I saw this forum and read some of the posts, it got me thinking and wondering. SO here are a few questions that I pose in hopes someone can advise me.

Since we live in the Netherlands and my boyfriend is an electrician, he has told me that the UK and EU, use the same voltage (watts) on electronical stuff, only the plug in is different. So I got all excited. We dont have a lot of extra money and the move would be quite tight, so there isnt any extra to be buying new expensive items for a home. Our original thought/plan, was to take everythign with us, such as, washer/dryer, tv's, stereo, computers, microwave..etc etc. My boyfriend can easily change the plug ins to UK ones so everything fits snug as a bug in a rug...and since the watts are the same, they shouldnt (hopefully) get fried. With that explained here are my questions...


1) We'd be coming over with a moving truck by ferry....will they be going through ever single box and item before allowing us through?
2) is there some sort of taxes that we'd be charged on all the electronics, etc for taking them into the UK?? I had never considered that possibility before since we own the items already.
3) Always open to any suggestions...anyone have any??

Thanks!
Nikki

I think the biggest one (for me at least), forget about bringing over your American hair appliances. You're much better off going to Boots/Superdrug/Argos, etc. and picking up a British hair dryer, straightener, curling iron (tong in UK terms), or any other hair appliances you may use. I've had bad luck using my converter in the past and ended up breaking two expensive American straighteners and FRYING a strand of my hair on a curling iron! Way more trouble than it's worth!

do NOT bring dog food unless you want a customs nightmare!!  i don't care if others got away with it.  Not worth the risk even if it was free prescription food.

I think the biggest one (for me at least), forget about bringing over your American hair appliances. You're much better off going to Boots/Superdrug/Argos, etc. and picking up a British hair dryer, straightener, curling iron (tong in UK terms), or any other hair appliances you may use. I've had bad luck using my converter in the past and ended up breaking two expensive American straighteners and FRYING a strand of my hair on a curling iron! Way more trouble than it's worth!

This totally! It's a nightmare having to lug that stuff around anyway lol :p

I think the biggest one (for me at least), forget about bringing over your American hair appliances. You're much better off going to Boots/Superdrug/Argos, etc. and picking up a British hair dryer, straightener, curling iron (tong in UK terms), or any other hair appliances you may use. I've had bad luck using my converter in the past and ended up breaking two expensive American straighteners and FRYING a strand of my hair on a curling iron! Way more trouble than it's worth!

Good to know.

My in-laws were questioning me yesterday about why I am not bringing hair product (dryer, flat iron, etc.) and I tried explaining all that I've learned here!  They don't believe me.  They think that you can just use an adapter and be just fine.  SMH.

the basic rule is, if it heats up, leave it and buy a new one.

how about Lamps? and things that are rechargeable? (clippers, razors and groomers, portable hand held Vac)   

Batteries...for some reason I purchased & packed dozens of AA and AAA batteries for various things (back in 2001 for a year studying abroad). Well needless to say airport security thought this was very suspicious and confiscated most if them...why I thought this was something I had to bring vs buy over there, I'll never know!

how about Lamps? and things that are rechargeable? (clippers, razors and groomers, portable hand held Vac)   

Leave those at home.

We brought lamps and they are absolutely fine.  We plug them into an adaptor which we then plug into a surge protector.

We brought lamps and they are absolutely fine.  We plug them into an adaptor which we then plug into a surge protector.

Thank you..
I have heard both responses.  I am only moving for 3 yrs and didn't want to have to buy everything new over there only to sell it all before we return. 

lamps? like table lamps???

Change the plug (or use an adapter) and buy a UK bulb. A lot of rechargeable stuff has a multi-voltage transformer that will work on 110-240; check your equipment.