Congratulations!!! Living in England is amazing! Although it might not seem amazing right now because you’re in the midst of packing and sorting out everything you need to do to move to the UK, you’ll soon get to the other side and be saying “hiya” in no time.
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So, how do you pack up your entire house to move to England?
You don’t. You leave some things behind.
Moving from America to the UK is no small task, especially when it comes to sorting out what to take from your American-sized house to your charming British one. And while it might be obvious that some things simply can’t go, like your best friend across the street 😂, it’s not always so obvious what things to leave behind and buy upon arrival instead.
As an American who went from a 5100+ square foot home (everything is bigger in Texas) to a much smaller one, I had to seriously get to work on determining what to pack vs store vs sell vs buy. (As an aside, I’d include square feet if I could but I have no idea since square footage isn’t a metric the British include in real estate listings. 🤣)
Whether you’re moving for a year or forever, don’t bring everything. You can buy what you need in the UK if you simply can’t bring it from America.
Ask These Questions To Decide What To Pack For England
Consider your circumstances. And factor in the differences between the US and UK on everyday things.
Moving To The UK Packing List Questions:
- Are children moving with you? If so, consider how obsolete their toys and items will be if you leave them behind.
- Will it even work in the UK? Voltage is different so no matter how much you love that tv you just purchased, you’re likely to fry it upon use in the UK.
- How do you feel about your current closet and storage space? If you don’t like it now, prepare yourself. Even if you’re getting a walk-in closet in your new place in England, it will not be like-for-like.
- When was the last time you used it? If you don’t use it all the time, it’s unlikely you’ll use it in the UK either.
- How will you feel if it got lost or broken en route? If you have something precious that you don’t wear or use all the time but would be completely heartbroken if something horrible were to happen to it, put it in storage if you plan to move back. Otherwise, bring it if you can’t bear to sell it.
And keep in mind, no matter how well you plan, accidents, or even natural disasters, happen. If you live in an area where mother nature gets nasty every year like in the Gulf states, then factor that into your overall decision. For more on this, read about my move from Texas.
- What are the things that comfort you and your family most? Pack enough of these items to get you through the first 3-6 months of culture shock living in England. Get the list of things to stock up on for a move to the UK.
Moving is the perfect opportunity to purge, clean house, and try a minimalistic approach. Granted, not all moves are equal. It might be that you have minimal time to pull it together.
Whether you have a year or less than 3 months, use my Moving to England Workbook or get my free moving to the UK checklist.
What To Pack For A Move To England
Most items (except food) on your moving to the UK packing list can be bought in the UK. It’s up to you to decide what to pack based on how much you want to spend on shipping. Even if an employer is shipping your stuff, consider what you really need to adjust to living in the UK.
Bottom Line: Pack items that make the move to the UK for you and your family the easiest.
Most things are more expensive in the UK. Sticker shock takes a long time to adjust to in the UK so consider your financial situation (use my expat negotiation kit) and how much you want to invest in new things. As an aside, IKEA is a great low-cost option and is everywhere in Europe. Antique shops are awesome, too!
But, if you love your stuff, then bring your stuff.
If you’re detached, not overly concerned about expenses (keep in mind there are a number of things you HAVE to buy), and want a fresh start, then take a minimalistic approach.
Packing Categories
What you choose to pack is entirely personal. This moving to the UK packing list may depend upon how much you have to pay vs how much a sponsor will cover the shipping cost for you. We were lucky enough to have our employer cover the shipping container cost to the UK.
- Clothes – Consider the weather and time of year you’re moving.
- Shoes – Bring them and even consider buying a few extra pair for the kiddos. If you have children attending a private school in the UK, they will need more than one pair of trainers (one to leave at school and one to have at home – which is very different from attending schools in the US). Factor the weather! Bring wellies or buy new ones upon arrival. Hunter, Barbour, and Joules are great British choices.
- Furniture – Measure it first! If it doesn’t fit, store it or sell it. Apps like Home Design 3D or Room Planner are great for figuring out how to stage furniture so you know what will fit. And if you don’t have the time to configure the app, just do it old-school with a measuring tape.
- Beds, unless it’s a king. If you don’t have a new home selected yet with known dimensions, it’s better to leave that king-sized bed behind.
- Linens & Bedding – Bring extra sheets for beds. It’s hard to find sheets that correctly fit American-sized beds.
- Home Decor – Bring the pieces that you love. Factor in the size and weight. Ask your new landlord if you are allowed to hang items on the walls before you pack them.
- Kitchen Items – Cutlery, plates, glasses, mugs, etc.
- Photos – Bring the photos you really want. If you aren’t sure, bring it. This is the type of item expats typically wish they’d brought more of to help with feeling more at home or filling up decorating space without spending too much money. TK Maxx in the UK sells fantastic frames at a low price.
- Holiday Decorations – If you enjoy decorating for the holidays, then pack your decorations. Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, and Thanksgiving are all holidays that aren’t easy to find decorations for or at all. If the holidays make you happy, then pack all the decor.
- Computers & Printer (Read This First)
- Camera
- Small Entertainment Devices – Amazon Echo, Apple TV, and similar small entertainment devices that are of the right voltage.
- Plug Adaptors & Voltage Converter – You’ll need these right away so pack several or buy an adapter before you leave the US.
- Tools – Hammer, level, and basic toolset so you can fix or hang things as you get settled, but leave the power drill and other electric tools behind.
- Spices, food, toiletries, and medicines – Pack enough for a few months while you find comparable products in the UK. Refer to my what to stock up on list for an idea of what to pack.
What To Put In Storage
If you know what size your home will be in England (so you can predetermine what you will have space for) or that the move is temporary, consider storing items.
Categories to consider putting in storage instead of taking with you to England include:
- Bathroom appliances, such as hairdryers and curling irons.
- Kitchen appliances, such as toasters, toaster oven, hand mixer, KitchenAid Mixer, crockpot, and microwave.
- Entertainment systems, such as TVs, Xbox, and even the Wii. Despite getting some of these to work in the UK, downloading and playing digital content purchased from the UK doesn’t work on an American-purchased Xbox. This could be very freeing if your child is obsessed with Fortnite!
- Big garage items, such as power drills, air compressors, and pretty much everything else that plugs into a wall. If there isn’t a shed or a garage to store goods, just take essentials (a basic toolkit) and store the rest.
- Sentimental things, such as children’s artwork, old photographs, family albums, the wedding dress…and all the personal items that you’re keeping for a special day later in life but don’t need now. I would store them but that decision is entirely personal. Pack what will make you happy.
If the appliance doesn’t meet the voltage requirement, don’t bother taking it to the UK. Some appliances aren’t worth the risk of burning down the house, like a hairdryer.
Despite knowing the voltage and Hz differences and doing all the things to correctly convert, most American expats in the UK share the same story…that the hairdryer nearly caught the house on fire. 😳🚒
Save small appliances for the move back or sell them. By the time you return to the US, there will be improved options and technology anyway.
What To Sell Before Moving
Moving overseas is a great opportunity to sell items you won’t need or simply can’t take to the UK. The categories of what to sell before moving to England include:
- The car. Talk to your car dealer for a buy-back option. Otherwise post on AutoTrader, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. Depending upon the make and model of your car this could be a really easy sale or one that takes a long time. Plan accordingly and beware of scams.
- High-value items that are easy to sell that you simply don’t use or need anymore. Post photos on Facebook marketplace, Facebook groups, and Craigslist. Items include furniture, collectibles (even toys, like Lego sets), high-value strollers, electric appliances, and well-kept toys in their original boxes or organized as such.
- For everything else not worth your time, donate to local charities.
- If you don’t have the time to run around to local charities or sell online, put items you’re giving away outside for curbside pick-up. If you live in Houston, Texas you can even put it curbside one afternoon and it’ll likely be gone by the next morning. Trucks drive through before the trash is picked up to take items you’re giving away for free. This is how we got rid of a TON of our household goods (including expired car seats).
What To Buy After Moving
Once your packing list for England is sorted out, you likely already have an idea of what to buy to move to England. Just be sure to wait to buy these household essentials and electronics AFTER moving to the UK from the USA.
- Small appliances, like:
- Coffee pot; try Russell Hobbs.
- Toaster. Toaster ovens are less of a thing in the UK than in the USA.
- Hairdryer and curling iron.
- Iron
- Microwave
- Big appliances, like:
- TV systems
- Vacuum cleaner; try Hoover (which the Brits use synonymously with vacuuming).
- Washer/Dryer (if the unit doesn’t have one)
- Refrigerator (if the unit doesn’t have one)
- Closets – Plan on a trip to IKEA right away since closets aren’t built into British homes.
- Transportation – A car, bike, train pass, Oyster card, or another mode of transportation.
For a list of England items you’ll want to stock up on for the return move to the USA, be sure to save this repatriation shopping list.
Where To Buy Household Items In The UK
Target isn’t in the UK so you’ll need to go to several different stores for your typical one-stop shop. For Target equivalents read this post, otherwise become familiar with these commonly used retailers in the UK:
- Use Argos, John Lewis, Amazon UK, and even grocery stores like Tesco to purchase home appliances.
- Head to IKEA for inexpensive furniture options for the entire house. Home Sense is similar to HomeGoods in the USA and offers inexpensive quality options though the selection isn’t as wide.
- Other great and higher-quality furniture destinations include Next and John Lewis.
- For bedding and textiles, Next, John Lewis, and TK Maxx offer great quality options.
Lastly, consider antique shops for home decor and even vintage-looking furniture. Antique stores are everywhere and if farmhouse, country chic, or shabby chic are your styles, you’ll find plenty of options shopping antique stores or markets in the UK.
Final Thoughts On What To Pack To Move To England
In the end, deciding what to pack for a move to England is entirely personal. But if you use this guide to help decide between what to pack vs store vs sell vs buy, then you’ll know what to do.
Take advantage of this opportunity to “clean house” and even make a little cash in the process so you have money towards buying new things for your new home in the UK.
Looking for more expat resources for England? Try these.
- How To Keep Your Mobile Phone Number While Moving Abroad
- What The USPS Change-Of-Address Form Really Means
- Moving to the UK? Get organized with my moving abroad checklist.
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