Cashing/depositing a large US check into UK bank account?

It looks like I may be getting a fairly large settlement check from an insurance company in the US.  They said they would send a check.  I would much rather them do a wire transfer but I don't think they will.  Anyone have any idea how difficult it may be or how long it may take to for funds to clear on a US check? 

It depends on your banks policies.  It does take quite awhile.  Once it took 28 business days for a us check to clear into my UK account.

Ask your bank, some wont even do it.

Also, see if the bank the check is written on as a partner bank in the UK.

Bank of America has an agreement with Barclays.

I managed to deposit a US check for $400 (travel expenses reimbursement from a university conference) into my Natwest account relatively easily, although there was a fee of about £10 for cashing a foreign check. They told me it could take 28 days to clear, but in the end I think it was in my account within a week or so .

It does seem to depend who the check is from. We were told 4 - 6 weeks to clear by Barclays, but we paid in an IRS check and it went into the account within days.
Just a thought...you could save on the fees and exchange rates by paying it into your US bank account if you can use it over there, US banks have mail-in facilities email your bank for details. But, a word of warning, you can't mail-in IRS checks (they didn't tell us that boy was that a pain!)

I'm looking at about 30 grand or so and don't want to leave that in the states.  My bank there is a small credit union and hard to access from here.  It will be from a large insurance company who I found also has offices here in the UK.  I don't mind waiting for the funds to clear.  I just want to make sure there is no restrictions on a deposit like that.

This will be helpful me too -- when I get my settlement check from the sale of my home.  It's been suggested to have them instead give me a cashier's check...but make certain that the bank in the UK accepts it.

My bank will deposit anything under £1000 from their own funds within 5 days of receiving it (you have to post it to them rather than use the post office as I use an internet only bank) - then if it bounces they reclaim it off of you. If it's over that amount they wait until it clears the US bank to deposit it which can take up to a month. Their fee depends on the amount of the cheque - think it's £8 for up to £1000 and then goes up incrementally.