Moving from India to the UK? Congratulations! This article will guide you with exactly what you need to pack in terms of relocating from India to the UK. You maybe on a UK student visa or a working professional.
Here’s a quick checklist on what to pack and what not to pack. I get into the details further in the article. There are numerous packing lists available online. Based on what our customers have packed and told us, here is the exhaustive list.
Here’s the official UK Government’s What not to carry into the UK list.
What to Carry – Only the Essentials
Cash
Carry only a few hundred pounds. It’s easier to lose cash.(So you want to be careful) Carry a Forex Card and activate International payments on your Indian debit / credit cards for most of your money.
Documents
- Visa
- Passport
- Flight Tickets
- Drivers License
- Original 10th Marksheet
- Original 12th Markesheet
- Past Employment – Experience Letter
House Hold Items
Wilko and Argos offer attractive discounts on household products such as kitchen essentials. Argos functions similarly to Amazon but exclusively stocks popular brands. Additionally, both retailers provide the convenience of next-day delivery. So products such as ladles, spoons etc can be bought in the UK for cheap.
- 2 plates, 2 steel glasses, 2 cups , 1 kadhai (If you don’t have time to shop and are immediately moving to your accommodation)
- Pressure Cooker
- Swiss Army Knife
- Tapes & Scissors
Clothing
Most clothing can be purchased in the UK
- 5 or 6 Shirts & Tshirts
- Jackets – Regular and Thick
- Gloves
- Muffler
- Hats
- Rainboots (Buy in UK, if you want to save space)
- Some Indian wear
Electronics
- Powerbank
- UK Adapter / Plug Converted (2 to 3)
Personal Items & Healthcare
- Medicines for Cold, Headache, fever, pain, allergy, diarrhea, acidity, antibiotic, and prescription medicines if required (e.g., for diabetes, asthma, etc.). Remember to carry prescriptions for all medications.
- Custom shampoos or creams that you use
- Bring spare eyeglasses or contact lenses
- Complete your dental check-up and address any dental issues before departing
- Folding Umbrella
Travel Accessories
- Don’t forget small locks, a cross-body or chest bag for important documents, a quality backpack, a neck pillow, and an eye mask for your journey.
How much Cash to carry to the UK when moving to the UK?
Don’t carry anything more than £300 to £400 because cash can easily be lost and most of the transactions can be done through International Debit Cards or Forex Cards.
Packing List when Relocating from India to UK
Important Documents
First and foremost, let’s discuss the essential documents that you must bring along on your flight. These documents hold immense importance. To begin, I’ll briefly mention your passport, visa, and tickets. It’s safe to assume you won’t overlook these crucial items.
Moving beyond that, it’s also crucial to have your driver’s license, especially if you possess an international driver’s license. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend applying for it. This license will permit you to drive in the UK for approximately a year upon your arrival.
However, in the event you haven’t obtained your international driving license and your partner or a friend has, and you’re considering purchasing a car together, ensure you carry your Indian driving license to the UK. This is imperative because you cannot buy a car in the UK without your Indian driving license.
Additionally, you’ll need to bring all original educational certificates, including your 10th and 12th-grade mark sheets, as well as any experience letters from past employment. If you’ve been part of the workforce previously, make sure to gather all originals and organize them in a file before your departure.
Household Items
When it comes to household items, I recommend packing only the absolute essentials – the bare minimum. You might initially think that certain items won’t be available here, but believe me, they are. In terms of household items, the primary item to consider packing is a pressure cooker. This is because many Indian dishes, such as dals, rice, and khichdi, are prepared using a pressure cooker. It’s probably the most crucial utensil for Indian cooking. Additionally, pressure cookers are quite expensive in the UK. Therefore, we brought one from India and also carried extra rubber seals and a spare whistle, just in case.
You don’t need to bring any other cooking vessels, regardless of what others may tell you. Everything you need is available here. If you have doubts, you can check the Ikea website, as they offer a wide variety of kitchen essentials, including ladles, kadhai’s, chopping boards, knives, and cutlery. Ikea delivers quickly and is cost-effective.
Don’t burden your suitcases with cooking pans and pots. Even if you can’t find something on Ikea, there are Indian stores scattered around where you’ll surely find what you need. The number of Indians in the UK guarantees the availability of Indian cooking items.
Besides, it’s wise to pack tape – masking tape or heavy-duty tape – and a pair of scissors. These are handy for cutting tags, opening packages, or handling various situations. Also, don’t forget to carry a pen or two. Trust me, you’ll need it for numerous tasks. As for other situations, consider investing in a Swiss Army knife. This multi-functional tool includes nail cutters, knives, corkscrews, and bottle openers, saving you from carrying multiple tools. It’s a practical investment.
Clothing & Footwear
Let’s talk about another significant aspect: packing clothing. This tends to occupy a considerable portion of your luggage space. Often, we fall into the trap of overpacking clothes due to overestimating our actual needs. It’s essential to address this.
To be candid, you only need a few pairs of jeans. There’s no need to go overboard and bring along 10 or 12 pairs. If you happen to require more, it’s quite feasible to purchase additional pairs after arriving. Keep in mind, you have a luggage limit of 23 kgs per person, and carrying an excess of jeans might not be as practical as you think.
Beyond this, a key consideration when packing for the UK is layering. The weather here tends to fluctuate daily, with yesterday being warmer and today colder. Thus, packing items suitable for layering is crucial. Regarding shirts and t-shirts, around five or six should suffice. Managing with this number is entirely manageable. I’ve spent the past three months here with about six t-shirts or sweaters, and it’s been perfectly adequate.
Jackets are a necessity for the UK. You’ll need both thin and thick options, including waterproof or water-resistant varieties. Remember to cater to these variations. Given that winters can get chilly, don’t forget regular socks and thermal socks for exceptionally cold periods, especially if you’re residing in colder areas. Gloves, a muffler, and a hat are also crucial due to the windy conditions. Walking is common, whether to the metro, grocery shops, or school drop-offs, and the wind can be biting.
Footwear selection can be tricky. I recommend obtaining a pair of comfortable trainers, as walking is prevalent, particularly during sightseeing. Rain boots or warm winter boots are also advisable. Purchasing rain boots locally in the UK is a better idea, as they take up significant space in luggage.
Get a few pieces of traditional clothing that is Kurtas or Sarees or Sherwanis for boys. Given that most homes in the UK have heating, packing excessively warm indoor clothes isn’t necessary. The same layering principle applies.
Considering the UK’s frequent rain, it’s wise to pack at least one umbrella per person. Rainfall is quite common here. If you wear battery-powered watches, make sure to change the batteries before leaving India, as it’s more cost-effective there.
Electronics
I believe that one of the most crucial pieces of tech you should prioritize here is a UK adapter. This is because many of the devices you bring, requiring charging, won’t fit into the UK sockets due to the notable differences between Indian and UK plugs. Hence, it’s imperative to have an adapter. If you possess a universal adapter functioning worldwide, that’s excellent. However, if you lack one, it’s advisable to purchase it on platforms like Amazon. If you’ve run out of time, you can often find them at airports as well. This step is essential; otherwise, you won’t be able to connect your electronic devices to the UK’s power outlets.
Considering the substantial amount of traveling you’ll undertake once you arrive in the UK, encompassing airport journeys, house hunting, and more, having a power bank is equally crucial. While your phone might offer fast charging capabilities, you might not always have access to a charging point. Thus, carrying a power bank is a practical decision.
Photography will likely be a significant part of your UK experience. Therefore, having your camera charger and multiple memory cards is of utmost importance. Trust me, you’ll exhaust memory cards quickly as everything will be captivating when you first arrive. You’ll want to document every moment through photos and videos for your loved ones and personal memories. Hence, carrying multiple memory cards is a prudent move.
For avid readers like me who always want a book at hand, using a Kindle or the Kindle app on your phone is a space-efficient solution. While hardcover and softcover books offer sensory appeal, if you’re aiming to save space, investing in a Kindle or utilizing the Kindle app is a practical alternative.
Personal Items & Healthcare
Regarding healthcare products, personal preferences often come into play. Especially for women – I can’t speak as much for men – sticking to preferred brands is a common sentiment. When it pertains to women, altering brands might not be something we’re too enthusiastic about. While you can undoubtedly purchase many of your personal care items here, it could be beneficial to carry mini-sized bottles for the initial days. Consider taking compact toothpaste, a small toothbrush, travel-sized shampoos (most reputable brands offer these), and even a face wash instead of a full soap bar. Opting for face wash can prevent dealing with the inconvenience of a wet, mushy soap that might affect the rest of your belongings.
For those who prefer natural or homemade products, things might be a bit more complicated. Personally, I bought a stock of my trusted face wash and soap bars, products I’ve been using exclusively for the past four to five years. I packed around ten of these items to sustain me. Once they run out, I’ll explore options for obtaining more, potentially by shipping them here. If that’s not feasible, I’ll need to look for alternatives locally.
It’s essential to pack basic medications for common ailments such as colds, headaches, fevers, and stomach issues. Additionally, having a supply of band-aids and some over-the-counter pain relief like ibuprofen can be extremely useful. While these items are available here, having them on hand during the initial days or while traveling can be a lifesaver.
Equally important is carrying your prescriptions alongside your medications. While the chances of encountering issues at customs are slim, it’s a good practice to have your prescription labels with your medicines.
If you’re traveling with children, ensure you bring their vaccination records. These will be necessary when registering with a general practitioner, as they’ll need a comprehensive history of your child’s vaccinations.
For individuals who wear glasses, don’t forget to pack both your prescription eyewear and an extra pair. Accidents happen, and having a spare set can be a relief if your primary pair gets damaged.
That wraps up our list of recommended items to bring and a few to leave behind when moving to the UK.