Best way to travel with US$3000

So I figure I'll need about $3000 to get me started my first couple of weeks to a month in the UK,  since I don't get my first paycheck almost the end of August. The rest of my money can be wired over once I secure a bank account.

What is the best way to travel with that much money? How did you travel with money when you were on your way to the UK to live?

I'd leave it in my US Bank account & use my Visa Debit Card or...I'd get a prepaid credit/debit card.

Yep, I'd leave it in the US and take it out from ATMs.

Ditto that.  I'd carry maybe £200 with me in case I needed any cash straight away, but everything else I'd leave in the bank. 

If you absolutely must travel with cash, I'd split the $3k into smaller amounts and hide it in my carry-ons.  Whatever you do, don't put your cash in your checked luggage. 

Yep, I'd leave it in the US and take it out from ATMs.

Does your US daily limit count over there, or is it different? Because at $300/day it would take me ten days to get that money out and I need it to pay deposit/first months rent on whatever flat I end up getting.

It isn't unusual to pay deposit and such on a credit card, or do a wire transfer.  When I moved, I used a combo of ATM, credit card and eventually wire.  I would NOT carry $3k.

Does your US daily limit count over there, or is it different? Because at $300/day it would take me ten days to get that money out and I need it to pay deposit/first months rent on whatever flat I end up getting.

There is a daily limit, but I can't remember how high it is (if it stays the same or is higher in the UK).  I remember using two different accounts to do it (my checking and savings).  Or bring some cash over to change at the airport and do the rest at ATMs.  I do remember going daily to the ATM to get the money for our flat deposit, which was about 1800 pounds.

If you bring money over from the US and need to exchange it for pounds, if possible, I would go to Marks and Spencer rather than the airport since M&S will give you a much better exchange rate. (I found them to be the best when it came to exchanging money on the High Street).

That said, Thomas Cook (travel agency) on a lot of High Streets is also better than the airport.

Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean 'at the airport' specifically - I just meant change it somewhere.  Thanks, Jules.

Be careful putting things on your Visa, I called my Visa company and they told me they would take the exchange rate that was most advantageous to them over the 7 day period and then charge 3% of the total as a service fee for the conversion.  On larger purchases that really adds up.