What else would I need?

What are some things that I will need once we move over that I might not think of since I don't need them here in Michigan.

Other than rain coat and boots! 

Will the kids still need their snow gear?  (hats, snow pants, boots, gloves, etc.)

Where are you moving in the UK?  The short answer is yes, you'll need cold weather clothing.

Have you seen the current weather in the UK? It's snowy in a lot of areas right now, and cold weather clothing is a must.

We are moving to Manchester. 

I know I'll need cold weather clothing but are you talking about snow pants/boots for the kids too?

I say yes if you are shipping all your belongings in a container. But, if your kids are growing like weeds, you might want to wait and see what you'll need next winter.

Have you visited the UK before? If not you might want to check out average temps and rainfall on a weather site.

We are moving to Manchester. 

I know I'll need cold weather clothing but are you talking about snow pants/boots for the kids too?

Where in Manchester? We have...extremely varied weather here. (For example, I work in the city centre, no snow! I ride in Wilmslow (8 miles out of town) snow! And it has been flipping cold here even with no snow on the ground.) Definitely check out the local weather, and then, of course, be prepared for it to change! (I would also invest in some good walking shoes. You may do a LOT MORE walking than you are used to once you move over here.)

Where in Manchester? We have...extremely varied weather here. (For example, I work in the city centre, no snow! I ride in Wilmslow (8 miles out of town) snow! And it has been flipping cold here even with no snow on the ground.) Definitely check out the local weather, and then, of course, be prepared for it to change! (I would also invest in some good walking shoes. You may do a LOT MORE walking than you are used to once you move over here.)

We are moving to Worsley and DH is working next to Old Trafford.  In Michigan it can be 70* in the morning and a foot of snow by the end of the night...so I'm more than used to the ever changing weather.  We were just there a few weeks ago visiting the area and it was actually warmer than it is back in Michigan by about 20*.  So I guess when I say cold weather I'm talking about sub zero temps in Fahrenheit with even colder windchills. 

Have you visited the UK before? If not you might want to check out average temps and rainfall on a weather site.

We did visit a few weeks ago.  We still have snow on the ground here and I'm still sending kids out in snow pants and boots when they play.  There was no snow to be seen when we were there so that's why I was asking. 

So I guess when I say cold weather I'm talking about sub zero temps in Fahrenheit with even colder windchills. 

No, you're not going to get really cold temperatures like that in Manchester (or anywhere in the UK really, apart from perhaps northern Scotland in an extreme temperature event).

In winter in Manchester, you're probably looking at average highs of 45F and average lows of 35F.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Manchester has been 10F, and the lowest temperature ever recorded in the UK as a whole has been -17F, but that was in the north of Scotland.

My step daughter has 3 boys - 6,5, and 3 - they live in Warwick, UK and the things she always asks us to send from the US are snow boots, snow pants, winter jackets, hats, gloves and down vests.  I would recommend that you bring them.  The snow amounts may not be the same as Michigan, but winter gear will still come in handy. 

She will miss our care packages once we relocate to the UK later this year.

we're in Manchester and from Wisconsin and found we can get by without all the snow gear usually.  I brought what my kids already had but haven't gotten any larger sizes.  If it does get cold and snowy I'll just use their wellies with heavy socks and have found lined pants to be helpful for the colder/ damper air.  Not that snowpants wouldn't be nice but I haven't found we need them that much. 

As far as coats they usually are in sort of a mid thickness one but for almost all year long.  Like a nylon one with fleece lining rather than a puffy parka type one.This along with a fleece pullover or something seems to be fine.  They do like to wear hats and mittens and stuff I think it feels colder from the rain and wind sometimes.

Same as Toni, we are in Manchester and get by without snow gear. We have wellies and double sock them if its really cold out. Also layer the kids for outdoor winter activities. I found a rain overall type outfit more handy than a snow suit. It does get cold here, but probably not nearly as cold as it did in Michigan!

Hi ErinO
Speaking as a person born, bread and lived in Manchester for all me life it sounds like you are more than well equipped from what weather you seem used to  Preparing for all seasons to happen within a few hours is best but mostly to make celebrations for when the orange glow in the sky makes rare appearances.

I have to say though, my husband is from Minnesota where the winters can get to -30's plus and where he has spent many winters in snow, driving on frozen lakes and just getting on with life as you do. He lived way up in the north woods in a cabin and winters seemed so harsh. He was all prepared for life here in the comparatively 'temparate' and balmy climate of Manchester... however, he complains of the cold and damp of winter and has wanted the central heating on constantly. He can't explain it but maybe it's just a case of it all being relative and what you get used but he does seem to feel the cold more than I do    He does like the fact that it is greener a lot longer here than in Minnesota where winters are white and summers get to be hot, brown and scorched. That said, sometimes here in Manchester it does feel like we only have what appears to be 2 seasons of winter and autumn...

Rosiebee - I'm married to a Minnesotan and they definitely talk the talk but can't walk the walk.   

ErinO - Seriously, my wife is always cold in Edinburgh, but I think it's the dampness.  Having been to Minnesota in a mild winter it didn't feel any colder to me than Scotland, it was about -10 c, but I felt about as cold as I do when it's +2 deg. C here in Edinburgh.
My wife says it's a damp cold which gets into your bones.  So you should be prepared for it to feel colder than it looks just going by the figures.  You also can't look forward to that relief of spring and summer, as sometimes it doesn't come.  Last week we had deep snow here, a couple of weeks before we had a week of sunshine, and the same temperatures we had last summer (15 deg. C).

As far as snow, we had a few years of hardly any, then there are random dumps of it, but it's not as if it stays all winter.