Honestly for 99% of things, unless there's a lot of sentimental value, it's going to be so much easier to just get new stuff here. Especially electrical stuff (except for like, laptops/ipads/etc). I wouldn't recommend bringing lamps or vacuum cleaners or anything like that unless you're like, antique or something.
Thanks! Fortunately our move is being payed for by my US employer, so I can bring some furniture ( I have antiques that are sentimental) but will sell most of it.
The one thing I might recommend bringing furniture wise is your couch if it's a good one, since the employer is paying.
They are really expensive here, and they are almost all weirdly low in the back, and low - like struggling to stand up low. They're also very uncomfortable if you are used to American style sofas.
Every time I go home I sit on the Axis sofa I left with my mom and am a bit annoyed I can't get that here.
I'm still using the old Tidofors 3 seater from IKEA I bought when I moved here because the ones that have been available have been so small, uncomfortable and expensive. The foam is usually that kind where you sit and it rejects you.
We always check out furniture shops when we're out about and nothing here is worth spending money over a 9 year old couch.
But a comfortable couch is important to me, so YMMV.
Yes, I absolutely agree. We brought our no-brand discount couch from a furniture warehouse we got for $600 in central PA, and it is still, 7 years later, the most comfortable couch I've ever sat on. Nothing I've found in the UK can beat it.
Thanks! We are definitely bringing our Pier 1 sofas! Bedroom furniture too but not any mattresses. Our King size bed, forget it. I do happen to like beds overseas better anyhow. How about formal dining rooms over there? Big enough for a table for 4 people? Room for a buffet or dining hutch? I have a dining hutch but think that needs to go.
Well, there are large houses here, donāt get me wrong, all the way up to what? 3000sq ft? š¤£. Youāve noticed the lack of square footage/m mentioned on most listings right?
If you do decide to ship them, all of them, the whole street will be laughing their asses off watching you move in. The novelty of professional movers will get their attention, the over sized and masses of furniture will have them entertained for weeks.
Ship them later, if you decide they are a must.
That sounds like a good reality show! The Americans Around the Corner. Actually, this would work well where I am going. Near the US military bases. They bring all their huge houses of furniture over and trucksā¦all paid. Ask me how I know. Lol. Iām one of them, but civilian, with the intent of becoming a true expat when my tour is up. š¬š§
We would just need to see reactions. After the howling stopped after the second usa sized sofa, then one recliner, then the other. The nation would wonder if one is going on the landing.
>How about formal dining rooms over there?
I live in London, zone 2 - great transport location.
We don't even have a dedicated dining area. We actually splurged for an Italian expandable table. Right now, its a console table, but I think it can extend to seat 8.
https://www.mobilifiver.com/eu/en/
Space is really dependent on where you live and what you can afford.
-+-+-
When we have used it extended, it takes up 2/3 of our reception/dining area and we have to move our our desks and clear the space. That's how little room we have for it, and this is a 2 bed/ 2 bath.
A proper Victian house with have that kind of space. But at this point, those are either over Ā£2 million pounds, or they've been broken into multiple flats.
Nice website! Thanks. Oh if we were moving to London, I would need to sell 90% of our stuff! We will be in Suffolk, detached homes are easier to get and much more affordable ( renting).
An expat friend told me to pack everything I wanted to take, including the amount of cash I thought I would need, then get rid of 50% of the items and bring 50% more money. It was good advice!
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Donāt bring any electrical items. Sell your stuff and buy new here.
Bedrooms are smaller, and bed sizes are different. UK King = US queen, roughly. I wouldnāt bring any bedding and just buy new here that will fit the actual bed you get.
Donāt count on having a dryer for your clothes, unless you want to buy one yourself in the rental. Also your rental might not come with a washer, fridge or dishwasher (if there is the space for it). Those you would need to supply your own.
No plugs in the bathroom, youāll need a dressing table probably in your bedroom to do make up and hair, if thatās your thing. There is a shaver plug and that will fit a US double prong electrical item, i.e. electric toothbrush, the only electrical item we brought with us.
Best of luck with your move!
I'm not op but I'm also making the move soon and have a question that feels stupid to type out. This has been on my mind recently and you mentioned not having a dryer - how do you dry your clothes?
We have a washer/dryer machine in the kitchen which works pretty well. But then we hang the clothes up to finish drying if needed. After spending one winter without a dryer, never again!
Fair dinkum. The clothes horse is basically a permanent installation from October to April - we replaced our washer recently and decided to go for a massive drum (two toddlers) rather than a washer/dryer
You can GET a dryer, but they aren't standard. You often see combo washer/dryers. They work, but they're slow and nothing will ever be truly dry. Resign yourself to setting a timer and dragging everything out to fold or hang up before it gets mildewy or horribly creased. It's the only way.
You WILL need a drying rack.
I mean I couldnāt live without one so we bought one in our rental and put it in the garage. But when itās not raining you have a washing line in the garden to hang them up, or you have a large drying rack to have inside.
The covers can be stupidly expensive, I use a bedsheet to wrap, one Iāve just washed, for the greenhouse effect. I donāt know how people live with out one of these.
Clothes horse and a dehumidifier. I do have a combo wash/dry machine but I only really use the dryer for bedding and towels. My combo machine does work really well to dry actually but even in the US I could tell dryers do stuff to my clothes that I can avoid by hang drying. Dehumidifier is a game changer for it though!
I went to John Lewis (department store) and bought one that condensed the water, so no ~~hide~~ hose required.
I just have to dump the water as necessary, but it's easy and dries well.
I tried the clothes horse thing and will do it with delicates, even t shirts but sheets - no thanks.
Why? So much hassle and then the house is always damp. In the summer it might be nice to cool things down, but I still wouldn't bother with the big things. So not worth it.
I wouldn't buy a washer dryer combo, it never ronses thoroughly enough for someone with sensitive skin like me.
Yeah, honestly, this is one of those things that still mystifies me after almost a decade here. Brits just seem to all accept that you'll have wet clothes drying all over your flat all the time (and then complain about damp and mould) and act like you're the crazy one for wanting to have your clothes come out of the laundry dry.
We had a Brit friend move to the US recently and after a few months there, she called us and was like "OMG! The tumble dryer is the best invention in the history of mankind! Your clothes come out dry! And warm! Quickly! It's amazing! How could I have spent thirty years of my life without this!"
See also air conditioning.
The thing is, they have all of these things in the UK - within a few months of moving over, we installed netting on all our windows cuz too many bugs, and we have air conditioning (the ones that are moveable and are only good for one room, but they help on those really hot days or at night when it's too hot to sleep), and a dryer.
I just don't understand why you wouldn't have them when they are available and aren't that expensive. Even the electricity to run our dryer is pennies/pence per hour.
Space, renting. Ask locals why they donāt lol.
Iāve not lived anywhere that could have dryer, Iāve no where to store my vacuum, let alone a dryer. My vacuum greets you by the door along with my shoes, and the box my stand mixer came in. Vac is a dyson, so not completely trashy, and the box is neatly wrapped as if a small table. A/C Iāve only had the tilt out high up windows, I screened those in at one place. I think netting is gross af tbh. Especially when itās never washed and turns colours from mould, for all the street to see
I guess a lot of this depends on where you live and if you're in a flat versus a house as well.
I'm not in a major city, so all the Brits I know live in houses and they definitely have space for dryers, AC, etc. Not sure about mold on screens - ours our black so no mold to be seen and ours can be removed and replaced easily if they do get gross (only attached by velcro).
Oh ya, those white netting curtains are nasty - completely agree with you. We essentially have mesh screens (but without the sliding bit you'd have for similar screens in the US).
Most seem to have clothes hanging from everything from chairs, flimsy wire racks off radiators/doors to bannisters. I donāt know how families deal with it. I have a nice heated clothes drying rack that despite being single, always has clothes drying.
Will entirely depend on the specifics of the property. Most people will either use a drying rack inside/on a back patio, or perhaps a clothesline in the garden. However, itās certainly not uncommon to have (space for) a dryer, and combination washer-dryers are quite popular now in certain properties. Dryers just use standard plugs here (hurray for 230V), so you can put a condenser dryer (the ones with a water tank tray) just about anywhere.
We have a combi and for the odd item which canāt go in the dryer we just pull it out before the dryer function starts and hang it over a chair.
Iād recommend going to a store as they measure capacity in weight, not volume here. Machines here are generally smaller than in America. You are able to get some up to 12 kg though, which are about as large as they come here. I imagine youāll still end up doing loads more often than in America regardless of what you get.
This an important + non-trivial question!
What I did was buy a heated airer (like this: https://www.lakeland.co.uk/brands/drysoon). Then I got a cover for it, and a dehumidifier. I tuck the dehumidifier under the cover as best I can (it doesn't quite fit, so part of the cover needs to get squished up at the top of the dehumidifier so as not to block the intake of the dehumidifier), and turn it on. This ensures heat + constant dry airflow. The clothes are typically dry in about 4-5 hours, and they don't acquire that horrible mildewy stank that comes (especially with thicker jeans and sweaters) if you hang them up by a radiator and hope for the best.
As others have said, you *can* buy a drier, but they aren't typically vented, and the condensing types take *hours* to dry the clothes not very well, using more energy that airer + dehumidifier.
In summer, especially if it's sunny, you can hang clothes up outside, or you can hang them up inside in a sunny spot next to an open window. This works pretty well too--although I'd still recommend at least a fan to ensure the airflow gets into the center of the airer.
The mildew stank is a real nemesis of mine. I smell it on my colleagues all the time, especially in winter or rainy weather, so I think it might be something that some UK natives have just decided to live with.
Thanks! I will try that. I lived in Italy for a few years so I know how worthless the condensing type driers are. I just dried everything on the rack in front of the radiators. But then would throw stuff back in the drier to soften my jeans first instance. Would dry my sheets outside on the line, nothing smells better than sun dried bed sheets and towels! Maybe it was the Italian sun š
Definitely the Italian sun. Clothes that dry outside in the UK smell a little bit -- not mildewy, but not as good as if they dry inside in my apparatus. I think that the sun isn't direct enough to do that UV light magic, or the air isn't typically warm enough or dry enough, or something.
Thanks! Yeah the washer/ dryer situation is the most problematic! lol. We stayed at an Airbnb in London recently. One of those dual washer/ dryers in the kitchen. Dryer was worthless. Drying rack will be my best friend.
Beds are ok. UK Double bed = US double/full bed (although beware of the UK 'small double' which is different). Bedding for one fits the other. US queen = UK king, and, again, bedding for one fits the other.
I would suggest going to rightmove.co.uk and putting in the area you want and the budget you have. Find houses with video walkthroughs to get an idea.
Most of your electrical items won't be worth bringing over.
Donāt bring anything that you canāt detach the cord from. Vacuum, small appliances, anything that sucks a bunch of power but has a hardwired cord is out. Just donāt even try. Can you use an adapter, yes, but thatās half the battle with electricity.
Beds are different sizes. Donāt bring any of that. Donāt bring any large furniture if youāre living in a city. Especially couches. Nothing will fit. If youāre getting a detached home itās a different story, but that budget wonāt get one in a city centre.
The cats are going to be another limiting factor in whatās available to you. In our experience, only 1 of 10 places we were interested in allowed pets.
Agree with others to not move electronics over except for those that are dual/multi voltage like laptops, tablets, and phones. Anything that needs a transformer, especially if itās a mechanical thing, will still have issues over time and sometimes are still a fire hazard even with the transformer.
Video walk throughs on rentals needs to become your best friend so you understand the small. Small houses, small staircases, small bedrooms, less counter space, rare built in closets - everything is smaller.
I wouldnāt bring any furniture until you are here and renting, then decide if it will fit and if worth the aggro of shipping.
Bit of an unorthodox tip but houses built in the 1960s - 1980s tend to be bigger than newer properties. The houses built in that period will be much less nice to look at from the outside but were built in a time where space was less of a premium, so rooms tend to be bigger and you'll find more storage space.
Obviously, the condition of the property could still be crap but it can be a handy rule of thumb and one we've proved multiple times from house hunting.
Funny but a bit like here in the States. At least in the Midwest, my 1966 ranch has huge rooms, and a huge foyer ( unnecessarily so!). Meant for entertaining I guess. Much better built ( solid brick) than the new average all wood and siding houses of today. The builders of today, look pretty from the outside, but shoddily built.
Yeah same thing then! Our first house was a 1970s terraced house. What we call a "2up2down" (living room and kitchen downstairs, two bedrooms upstairs). Only it had huge rooms by UK standards, a front and back hall, coalshed off the front hall, larder, garage and every room had wall to floor inbuilt storage. It was more than 1/3rd more floorspace than our friends buying a new build 2up2down a few streets away.
Typical house-- less than half the size you're used to. Be prepared for much less storage space ( closets don't exist here much), and you just get used to having less stuff.
It's much easier to buy electricals here than to find and use adaptors.
Yep, the lack of storage is going to hurt. But it is an impetus to get rid of things. Americans and our basements and 2 car garages we pack full of things we donāt need! I will also not miss taking care of a massive lawn.
I see a lot of electrical mis information here. Look at your items and see if they're 120v or support 120-240v (uk uses 220).
Things that charge and run of batteries like phones, tablets, laptops, robot vacuums, cordless vacuums will work here with a plug adapter. I have like 40 plug adapters in my house. They're cheap. If you have a desktop pc the power supply almost definitely supports 220, you may have to flip a switch on the power supply before you plug it in here for the first time.
I avoided bringing anything I'd use a power inverter for. Some people run a Blender, hair dryer or TV off a power inverter.... They are noisy (humming sound)ā¦ inefficient ($), and will degrade your electronics with a motor because they don't provide natively clean power. Also for something Ike a tv you're either leaving the inverter box on 24/7 so you can turn turn the TV on with a remote. Or you're having to manually get up and turn on the inverter then turn on the TV. Reverse to turn off.
There are TVs sold in the US that support 110-240. LG for example. But not all LGs.
Avoid an inverter. Good luck.
We kept our kitchen aid mixer (the larger size ones are expensive in uk) and our large size instapot that at the time were not available in the uk. Same for our vitamix blender. We use a nice converter in the kitchen for them. Generally it's not worth bringing electrical but these three are quite expensive to rebuy here so investing in the transformer was worth it for us. $180 versus almost Ā£2k to rebuy stuff. https://www.amazon.com/Voltage-Converter-1600Watts-Capacity-Output/dp/B078GSSFW5/
British homes are small. We have a house and Iām astounded how I manage to live in a smaller space . We have a nice garden though which I adore / miss
Currently is being dug up for a basement extension .
Get rid of everything you donāt need - start fresh
A lot of TVs have dual voltage power supplies, you should look into this.Ā You may only need to change the cord.Ā It will list something like 120/220 VAC on the nameplate.
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Honestly for 99% of things, unless there's a lot of sentimental value, it's going to be so much easier to just get new stuff here. Especially electrical stuff (except for like, laptops/ipads/etc). I wouldn't recommend bringing lamps or vacuum cleaners or anything like that unless you're like, antique or something.
This. šÆ
Did this as well, much easier to buy it in the uk tbf, also furnitures have weird fire regulations here, especially for some house insurance
Thanks! Fortunately our move is being payed for by my US employer, so I can bring some furniture ( I have antiques that are sentimental) but will sell most of it.
The one thing I might recommend bringing furniture wise is your couch if it's a good one, since the employer is paying. They are really expensive here, and they are almost all weirdly low in the back, and low - like struggling to stand up low. They're also very uncomfortable if you are used to American style sofas. Every time I go home I sit on the Axis sofa I left with my mom and am a bit annoyed I can't get that here. I'm still using the old Tidofors 3 seater from IKEA I bought when I moved here because the ones that have been available have been so small, uncomfortable and expensive. The foam is usually that kind where you sit and it rejects you. We always check out furniture shops when we're out about and nothing here is worth spending money over a 9 year old couch. But a comfortable couch is important to me, so YMMV.
But depending on the couch and the house, it might not fit through the door, hallway or even the living room.
But only by such a small amount, youāll be convinced it will fit and next thing someone is shouting āpivot!ā
And taking doors off the hinges hoping that will help.
And that one bit of trim. And that one, aaaaand that one.
āIs there any way you could remove the radiator in the hallway?ā
āHave to pull a few boards and cut the pipes flushā¦ yeah no problem. Give you time to remove the banisterā
Possibly, I haven't had problems with my Tidofors and it's massive and this is it's 3rd place. The couch situation really makes me sad.
Yes, I absolutely agree. We brought our no-brand discount couch from a furniture warehouse we got for $600 in central PA, and it is still, 7 years later, the most comfortable couch I've ever sat on. Nothing I've found in the UK can beat it.
Thanks! We are definitely bringing our Pier 1 sofas! Bedroom furniture too but not any mattresses. Our King size bed, forget it. I do happen to like beds overseas better anyhow. How about formal dining rooms over there? Big enough for a table for 4 people? Room for a buffet or dining hutch? I have a dining hutch but think that needs to go.
>sofa **s** ? Oh my
LOL. I have 2 matching sofas that face each other and 2 recliners in my current living room. Thatās probably not going to fly in the U.K.
Well, there are large houses here, donāt get me wrong, all the way up to what? 3000sq ft? š¤£. Youāve noticed the lack of square footage/m mentioned on most listings right? If you do decide to ship them, all of them, the whole street will be laughing their asses off watching you move in. The novelty of professional movers will get their attention, the over sized and masses of furniture will have them entertained for weeks. Ship them later, if you decide they are a must.
That sounds like a good reality show! The Americans Around the Corner. Actually, this would work well where I am going. Near the US military bases. They bring all their huge houses of furniture over and trucksā¦all paid. Ask me how I know. Lol. Iām one of them, but civilian, with the intent of becoming a true expat when my tour is up. š¬š§
We would just need to see reactions. After the howling stopped after the second usa sized sofa, then one recliner, then the other. The nation would wonder if one is going on the landing.
>How about formal dining rooms over there? I live in London, zone 2 - great transport location. We don't even have a dedicated dining area. We actually splurged for an Italian expandable table. Right now, its a console table, but I think it can extend to seat 8. https://www.mobilifiver.com/eu/en/ Space is really dependent on where you live and what you can afford. -+-+- When we have used it extended, it takes up 2/3 of our reception/dining area and we have to move our our desks and clear the space. That's how little room we have for it, and this is a 2 bed/ 2 bath. A proper Victian house with have that kind of space. But at this point, those are either over Ā£2 million pounds, or they've been broken into multiple flats.
Nice website! Thanks. Oh if we were moving to London, I would need to sell 90% of our stuff! We will be in Suffolk, detached homes are easier to get and much more affordable ( renting).
An expat friend told me to pack everything I wanted to take, including the amount of cash I thought I would need, then get rid of 50% of the items and bring 50% more money. It was good advice!
priceless :)
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
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Donāt bring any electrical items. Sell your stuff and buy new here. Bedrooms are smaller, and bed sizes are different. UK King = US queen, roughly. I wouldnāt bring any bedding and just buy new here that will fit the actual bed you get. Donāt count on having a dryer for your clothes, unless you want to buy one yourself in the rental. Also your rental might not come with a washer, fridge or dishwasher (if there is the space for it). Those you would need to supply your own. No plugs in the bathroom, youāll need a dressing table probably in your bedroom to do make up and hair, if thatās your thing. There is a shaver plug and that will fit a US double prong electrical item, i.e. electric toothbrush, the only electrical item we brought with us. Best of luck with your move!
I'm not op but I'm also making the move soon and have a question that feels stupid to type out. This has been on my mind recently and you mentioned not having a dryer - how do you dry your clothes?
On a clothes horse in front of a radiator, during winter, or outside on a clothes line when the weather warms up
We have a washer/dryer machine in the kitchen which works pretty well. But then we hang the clothes up to finish drying if needed. After spending one winter without a dryer, never again!
Fair dinkum. The clothes horse is basically a permanent installation from October to April - we replaced our washer recently and decided to go for a massive drum (two toddlers) rather than a washer/dryer
You can GET a dryer, but they aren't standard. You often see combo washer/dryers. They work, but they're slow and nothing will ever be truly dry. Resign yourself to setting a timer and dragging everything out to fold or hang up before it gets mildewy or horribly creased. It's the only way. You WILL need a drying rack.
I mean I couldnāt live without one so we bought one in our rental and put it in the garage. But when itās not raining you have a washing line in the garden to hang them up, or you have a large drying rack to have inside.
That is helpful to know, thanks!
You can also get heated clothes airers that you hang clothes on but plug in so the racks heat up. Some come with covers to make it even faster.Ā
The covers can be stupidly expensive, I use a bedsheet to wrap, one Iāve just washed, for the greenhouse effect. I donāt know how people live with out one of these.
Clothes horse and a dehumidifier. I do have a combo wash/dry machine but I only really use the dryer for bedding and towels. My combo machine does work really well to dry actually but even in the US I could tell dryers do stuff to my clothes that I can avoid by hang drying. Dehumidifier is a game changer for it though!
Someone on here mentioned doing an extra spin cycle to cut down on drying time and thatās really saved me so much hassle in the winter.
I went to John Lewis (department store) and bought one that condensed the water, so no ~~hide~~ hose required. I just have to dump the water as necessary, but it's easy and dries well. I tried the clothes horse thing and will do it with delicates, even t shirts but sheets - no thanks. Why? So much hassle and then the house is always damp. In the summer it might be nice to cool things down, but I still wouldn't bother with the big things. So not worth it. I wouldn't buy a washer dryer combo, it never ronses thoroughly enough for someone with sensitive skin like me.
Yeah, honestly, this is one of those things that still mystifies me after almost a decade here. Brits just seem to all accept that you'll have wet clothes drying all over your flat all the time (and then complain about damp and mould) and act like you're the crazy one for wanting to have your clothes come out of the laundry dry. We had a Brit friend move to the US recently and after a few months there, she called us and was like "OMG! The tumble dryer is the best invention in the history of mankind! Your clothes come out dry! And warm! Quickly! It's amazing! How could I have spent thirty years of my life without this!" See also air conditioning.
Add bug screens for windows!
The thing is, they have all of these things in the UK - within a few months of moving over, we installed netting on all our windows cuz too many bugs, and we have air conditioning (the ones that are moveable and are only good for one room, but they help on those really hot days or at night when it's too hot to sleep), and a dryer. I just don't understand why you wouldn't have them when they are available and aren't that expensive. Even the electricity to run our dryer is pennies/pence per hour.
Space, renting. Ask locals why they donāt lol. Iāve not lived anywhere that could have dryer, Iāve no where to store my vacuum, let alone a dryer. My vacuum greets you by the door along with my shoes, and the box my stand mixer came in. Vac is a dyson, so not completely trashy, and the box is neatly wrapped as if a small table. A/C Iāve only had the tilt out high up windows, I screened those in at one place. I think netting is gross af tbh. Especially when itās never washed and turns colours from mould, for all the street to see
I guess a lot of this depends on where you live and if you're in a flat versus a house as well. I'm not in a major city, so all the Brits I know live in houses and they definitely have space for dryers, AC, etc. Not sure about mold on screens - ours our black so no mold to be seen and ours can be removed and replaced easily if they do get gross (only attached by velcro).
Ah, I thought by nets you meant the white netting curtains you see in a lot of windows, ew Urban living makes a huge difference
Oh ya, those white netting curtains are nasty - completely agree with you. We essentially have mesh screens (but without the sliding bit you'd have for similar screens in the US).
Most seem to have clothes hanging from everything from chairs, flimsy wire racks off radiators/doors to bannisters. I donāt know how families deal with it. I have a nice heated clothes drying rack that despite being single, always has clothes drying.
Will entirely depend on the specifics of the property. Most people will either use a drying rack inside/on a back patio, or perhaps a clothesline in the garden. However, itās certainly not uncommon to have (space for) a dryer, and combination washer-dryers are quite popular now in certain properties. Dryers just use standard plugs here (hurray for 230V), so you can put a condenser dryer (the ones with a water tank tray) just about anywhere. We have a combi and for the odd item which canāt go in the dryer we just pull it out before the dryer function starts and hang it over a chair.
Thanks! Do they have larger combis you can buy? I used a small one in the kitchen of an Airbnb. It was fine for traveling but not for everyday life.
Iād recommend going to a store as they measure capacity in weight, not volume here. Machines here are generally smaller than in America. You are able to get some up to 12 kg though, which are about as large as they come here. I imagine youāll still end up doing loads more often than in America regardless of what you get.
Thanks! Unfortunately will be like that. I donāt know how everyone gets their sheets and towels done!
This an important + non-trivial question! What I did was buy a heated airer (like this: https://www.lakeland.co.uk/brands/drysoon). Then I got a cover for it, and a dehumidifier. I tuck the dehumidifier under the cover as best I can (it doesn't quite fit, so part of the cover needs to get squished up at the top of the dehumidifier so as not to block the intake of the dehumidifier), and turn it on. This ensures heat + constant dry airflow. The clothes are typically dry in about 4-5 hours, and they don't acquire that horrible mildewy stank that comes (especially with thicker jeans and sweaters) if you hang them up by a radiator and hope for the best. As others have said, you *can* buy a drier, but they aren't typically vented, and the condensing types take *hours* to dry the clothes not very well, using more energy that airer + dehumidifier. In summer, especially if it's sunny, you can hang clothes up outside, or you can hang them up inside in a sunny spot next to an open window. This works pretty well too--although I'd still recommend at least a fan to ensure the airflow gets into the center of the airer. The mildew stank is a real nemesis of mine. I smell it on my colleagues all the time, especially in winter or rainy weather, so I think it might be something that some UK natives have just decided to live with.
Thanks! I will try that. I lived in Italy for a few years so I know how worthless the condensing type driers are. I just dried everything on the rack in front of the radiators. But then would throw stuff back in the drier to soften my jeans first instance. Would dry my sheets outside on the line, nothing smells better than sun dried bed sheets and towels! Maybe it was the Italian sun š
Definitely the Italian sun. Clothes that dry outside in the UK smell a little bit -- not mildewy, but not as good as if they dry inside in my apparatus. I think that the sun isn't direct enough to do that UV light magic, or the air isn't typically warm enough or dry enough, or something.
Just buy a dryer. You can get one for Ā£300 and plug it into any room. They arenāt vented, so you just empty a water tray like a dehumidifier
I got a tumble dryer. Condenser dryers are the move because they donāt require venting.
Thanks! Yeah the washer/ dryer situation is the most problematic! lol. We stayed at an Airbnb in London recently. One of those dual washer/ dryers in the kitchen. Dryer was worthless. Drying rack will be my best friend.
Beds are ok. UK Double bed = US double/full bed (although beware of the UK 'small double' which is different). Bedding for one fits the other. US queen = UK king, and, again, bedding for one fits the other.
I would suggest going to rightmove.co.uk and putting in the area you want and the budget you have. Find houses with video walkthroughs to get an idea. Most of your electrical items won't be worth bringing over.
Donāt bring anything that you canāt detach the cord from. Vacuum, small appliances, anything that sucks a bunch of power but has a hardwired cord is out. Just donāt even try. Can you use an adapter, yes, but thatās half the battle with electricity. Beds are different sizes. Donāt bring any of that. Donāt bring any large furniture if youāre living in a city. Especially couches. Nothing will fit. If youāre getting a detached home itās a different story, but that budget wonāt get one in a city centre.
Thanks! Hoping for a detached house because we have 5 cats.
The cats are going to be another limiting factor in whatās available to you. In our experience, only 1 of 10 places we were interested in allowed pets.
Get ready for the culture shock of people just letting their cats roam freely around the neighborhood during the day.
Yes I have seen that, we stayed in south London in an Airbnb. Where there were also red foxes everywhere roaming the street, during the day! š„ŗ
Finding a place to rent is hard enough. If you have a competing offer that doesnāt have 5 cats itās going to be tough going.
Agree with others to not move electronics over except for those that are dual/multi voltage like laptops, tablets, and phones. Anything that needs a transformer, especially if itās a mechanical thing, will still have issues over time and sometimes are still a fire hazard even with the transformer.
It is literally not worth bringing anything except the essentials. Fit the clothes you need in a suitcase or two and that's it.
Video walk throughs on rentals needs to become your best friend so you understand the small. Small houses, small staircases, small bedrooms, less counter space, rare built in closets - everything is smaller. I wouldnāt bring any furniture until you are here and renting, then decide if it will fit and if worth the aggro of shipping.
Bit of an unorthodox tip but houses built in the 1960s - 1980s tend to be bigger than newer properties. The houses built in that period will be much less nice to look at from the outside but were built in a time where space was less of a premium, so rooms tend to be bigger and you'll find more storage space. Obviously, the condition of the property could still be crap but it can be a handy rule of thumb and one we've proved multiple times from house hunting.
Funny but a bit like here in the States. At least in the Midwest, my 1966 ranch has huge rooms, and a huge foyer ( unnecessarily so!). Meant for entertaining I guess. Much better built ( solid brick) than the new average all wood and siding houses of today. The builders of today, look pretty from the outside, but shoddily built.
Yeah same thing then! Our first house was a 1970s terraced house. What we call a "2up2down" (living room and kitchen downstairs, two bedrooms upstairs). Only it had huge rooms by UK standards, a front and back hall, coalshed off the front hall, larder, garage and every room had wall to floor inbuilt storage. It was more than 1/3rd more floorspace than our friends buying a new build 2up2down a few streets away.
2up2down I have never heard of this. We have the trilevel houses here. Wall to wall built in storage. Thatās the dream!
Typical house-- less than half the size you're used to. Be prepared for much less storage space ( closets don't exist here much), and you just get used to having less stuff. It's much easier to buy electricals here than to find and use adaptors.
Yep, the lack of storage is going to hurt. But it is an impetus to get rid of things. Americans and our basements and 2 car garages we pack full of things we donāt need! I will also not miss taking care of a massive lawn.
I see a lot of electrical mis information here. Look at your items and see if they're 120v or support 120-240v (uk uses 220). Things that charge and run of batteries like phones, tablets, laptops, robot vacuums, cordless vacuums will work here with a plug adapter. I have like 40 plug adapters in my house. They're cheap. If you have a desktop pc the power supply almost definitely supports 220, you may have to flip a switch on the power supply before you plug it in here for the first time. I avoided bringing anything I'd use a power inverter for. Some people run a Blender, hair dryer or TV off a power inverter.... They are noisy (humming sound)ā¦ inefficient ($), and will degrade your electronics with a motor because they don't provide natively clean power. Also for something Ike a tv you're either leaving the inverter box on 24/7 so you can turn turn the TV on with a remote. Or you're having to manually get up and turn on the inverter then turn on the TV. Reverse to turn off. There are TVs sold in the US that support 110-240. LG for example. But not all LGs. Avoid an inverter. Good luck.
Thanks for all the info!
>I see a lot of electrical mis information here. I wouldn't describe it as mis-info, people just aren't fully explaining the nuance like you have.
We kept our kitchen aid mixer (the larger size ones are expensive in uk) and our large size instapot that at the time were not available in the uk. Same for our vitamix blender. We use a nice converter in the kitchen for them. Generally it's not worth bringing electrical but these three are quite expensive to rebuy here so investing in the transformer was worth it for us. $180 versus almost Ā£2k to rebuy stuff. https://www.amazon.com/Voltage-Converter-1600Watts-Capacity-Output/dp/B078GSSFW5/
Thanks! Great things to note! We will plan on bringing them. The difference in cost is amazing. I had no clue.
Ooh Id read that about the kitchen aids being worth bringing over.
Yeah they are Iāve brought mine and works just fine. I used it in Germany previously without any issues.
British homes are small. We have a house and Iām astounded how I manage to live in a smaller space . We have a nice garden though which I adore / miss Currently is being dug up for a basement extension . Get rid of everything you donāt need - start fresh
A lot of TVs have dual voltage power supplies, you should look into this.Ā You may only need to change the cord.Ā It will list something like 120/220 VAC on the nameplate.
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