Can you bring baking tools in your suitcase?

This might be a stupid question but i've gotten really into baking lately.

I'm traveling to the UK for 3 months soon, and I was wondering if I could bring my baking tools in my suitcase (not carry on) with me, so I'll have something to do (since I'm not allowed to work!). Things like cake pans/cake rounds/cake levelers/cookbooks/rolling pins, fondant, etc..

I'm not sure if those items are allowed to begin with (can cake levelers or rolling pins be weapons?) but they would not be in my carry on. And I'm also afraid since I'm going for 3 months, they might think I'm trying to set up a bakery or something stupid??

I just don't want to have to re-buy all that stuff while I'm over there!

Yes, you can bring them. You can even bring knives in checked luggage.

Yes you can bring them.....BUT....

I watched that show UK Border Patrol or whatever it's called.  It's a documentary series about UK immigration and they show the stories of people showing up at Heathrow etc.   On one episode they did deny a woman entry because she was carrying a set of professional chef knives with her.  She also had copies of her resume and did plan on trying to secure work, so a little different than your situation.  But if you have any plans of making even one cake for a friends birthday and getting paid, I would say don't risk it.  You can always ship them to yourself if you really want to keep busy. 

Hmm..that's what I was worried about.

If they asked about them I was planning on saying "Well, since I can't work/volunteer I need a hobby to keep busy!" but I definitely don't want to arouse suspicions. I have no intentions of baking anybody anything for money - if I do bake it'll just be for my boyfriend! Also not bringing a single resume or anything work-related.

Maybe shipping them to myself would be a better idea but gosh that would be expensive

As a recreational baker, I understand your pain.  I live in the US now, but a lot of my pans, decorating tools came from the UK.  You could probably build up some basic supplies pretty cheaply and stuff like Fondant is everywhere in the UK.  If you will be in London I know a few places where you can get some more advanced decorating supplies. 

It really is luck of the draw.  They tend to only go through your bags if something else raises their suspicions.  Having them in your bag if you were stopped, would just add fuel to their fire for sending you home.  Good Luck. 

Yeah, I mean I would kick myself forever if I were returned to the US because of cake pans! I suppose it's much less of a pain to just re-purchase when I'm there. I'm already so stressed about getting through immigration for 3 months, better not add to it! Thank you for the replies!

If you like to bake pies- bring your pie tins! I looked everywhere for a deep dish pie tin and couldn't find one! I could only find shallow tins for tarts.

If you like to bake pies- bring your pie tins! I looked everywhere for a deep dish pie tin and couldn't find one! I could only find shallow tins for tarts.

DW has found deep pie tins here, I think in Morrisons and Wilkinsons, as well as other places.

It does seem like a strange request, I can see that immigration might look at it a bit strange, someone coming on a tourist visa waiver and bring baking equipment. Just get your boyfriend to buy some when you get here!

You can buy deep dish pie dishes at Lakeland (online or in the store).

Personally, I wouldn't worry at all about bringing baking things in my luggage.  My family and friends brought me plenty of household things in their luggage when they came to visit.  And the only way you'd be asked about them would be if you're already singled out by UKBA and pulled aside, and then your luggage is pulled out and searched.  They're not going to see them in your luggage and then pull you out because of them, if you see what I mean.  But to each his own.

I watched the same Border Patrol show, and the woman did have her resume printed out and in her luggage, so it was suspicious. I think it was the Australian Border Force show, too, not the UK, but I could be wrong.

If you can prove ties to the US and that you have plenty of funds, as you would normally, you shouldn't worry about your cookware. I'm sure any immigration officer would understand the desire to keep up your hobby whilst here. You can get any ingredients here (fondant, etc), but cookware can be pretty expensive, so you might as well bring your own if it fits in your luggage.

I am not an immigration expert (nor do I play one on TV!) but I would think bringing some baking equipment would mostly raise issues if baking were your profession.  If you are stopped and questioned and you have a legitimate reason (only here for 3 months, don't want to buy new equipment...etc.) I would like to think they wouldn't have a problem with it.

If it is your profession, then I wouldn't risk it.  And, yeah, check out Lakeland!

Especially if you are applying for prior entry clearance as you mentioned in another thread, I cant see that this would be a problem.

The Border Patrol episode woman was a professional chef, which is why her knives got her in hot water.

If you're not a professional and just a person who likes to bake I don't see why you would need to worry about it. Bring them.