Plans to move to UK, no clue where to start.

By all the accounts I've read, no matter how hard it is to get into the UK and stay here legally, it is a hundred times harder to get into the US and stay there legally.

Sort of ironic, no?

I can tell you from Personal experience, that her coming to the US and getting her Green card and citizenship is not easy, it is just as if not harder then the UK.  You have to do so much more research in to all of this before you make these kinds of decisions.
Seriously take some time and read the info everyone has given you.  It should take you about a week to actually read all the sites that everyone posted.
Good luck to you, and The UK IS a lot different, Go and visit first.

You're eligible for NHS care as a spouse (or fiance) of a British citizen, but you pay international tuition fees for schooling for a while until you have a more permanent status in the UK (I believe it's three years?). There's been plenty of debates about what country is better in what respects, I would just warn you to be careful making those comparisons, especially since you haven't visited yet. Both countries have their pros and cons ultimately, and you have to decide what's important for you.

I don't know if it's easier for her to get US citizenship; you'll still have to meet certain financial requirements to move her to the US, though this is mainly a board for people going from the US-UK; other forums might be able to answer those questions better.

I think it's best to focus on what you need for a visit, and then go from there; it can be overwhelming to be thinking about things way in the future when you haven't even been there yet. The grass always seems greener on the other side, and it's really hard to tell until you've set foot there and spent some time sorting stuff out.

Well, that about settles that then, I'll be goin to the UK. Alright, looks like I got some planning and researching to do, thanks for your time.

Edit: Is a visit really worth it? I don't want to expend any cash that I don't have to. I figure regardless I'll be going to school and living with a parent for a while, then jumping into a job and making a life for myself.

It all depends, really, on your reasons for wanting to go to the UK. If you want to go to school overseas because it's something you really want to do, or you want to have a serious commitment with your girlfriend, then yeah. If you two continue onward and you really hit it off, then the visa would be worth it--but it'll take time to figure those things out. You don't need a visa to go and visit though, so you can go check things out and see where things take you.

I'd say the visit is worth it, not only to give you a chance to get to know your girlfriend in person, but also so you can experience the UK and decide if you really want to live here.  It's a lot more different than you might expect, and there's every chance you'll hate it.  Or you might love it and decide that the sacrifices you'll need to make are worth it to live here.  But you'll never know unless you see for yourself. 

Very true, very true. So no visas for a visit then, just a passport?

As an American, you're eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, which means you can visit the UK without a prior visa. But you have to be able to prove to the Immigration Officer when you land that your intention is only to visit--having things like a return ticket, letters from work/school saying you'll be back by such-and-such date, etc. are all handy to have with you to prove your ties to the US. So, you don't need to apply for a visa beforehand generally as long as you can provide those things when you enter.

Passport, proof of funds available to you, and you're going to want some proof of ties to the US, if possible.  Without a job, that might be difficult, particularly if you plan to stay for a long time.  You will have to convince the Immigration folk that you aren't coming to the UK to work, but to visit for a time then leave.  

As an American, you're eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, which means you can visit the UK without a prior visa.

Just a quick clarification: the UK does not have a Visa Waiver Program - the VWP is a US program only, but many people confuse it with the UK system, which issues a visa at the UK port of entry.

Just a quick clarification: the UK does not have a Visa Waiver Program - the VWP is a US program only, but many people confuse it with the UK system, which issues a visa at the UK port of entry.

Thanks for clarifying that, I keep getting it confused with the US system, I'm a dork  I think what I meant to get across is that it's similar to the US, my bad; too much talking with the fiance about him coming through Newark next month 

Just a quick clarification: the UK does not have a Visa Waiver Program - the VWP is a US program only, but many people confuse it with the UK system, which issues a visa at the UK port of entry.

Yes.  Also, you do need a visa, but it will be stamped into your passport when you arrive.  What you don't need, as an American, is prior entry clearance.  

Do we both have to be 21 or older for the spousal thing to work?

I mean what if I just go over there on a visit and marry her can they still throw me out?

They can and will...not to mention you can't just go there and get married without a visa. You must be 21 or over to qualify for the marriage-based visas.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2008/marriagevisaageraisedtoprevent

Be careful, Justsomeguy. Any mistake you make now may haunt you for a very long time. It is entirely possible to be married to someone and be denied a visa, in both the US and the UK.

Tightening restrictions tighten on everyone.