A 3-hour drive, a 9-hour flight, a 4-hour taxi ride, a 2-hour ferry, a 2-hour drive. 20 hours of travel with 2 humans, 2 dogs, 4 suitcases, 1 carry on and a guitar. The beginning of a 2 year adventure.
I’ve had a lot of inquiry about HOW we moved across the pond with two dogs so this will be my only travel post before getting back into regularly scheduled programming. Next week, we’ll be getting into persona, people-pleasing and performance. In the meantime, here’s HOW we made it abroad:
Support
Join Facebook groups like Relocating to the UK for advice - you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
take a look at your astrological locational chart to see what areas will be best suited for you
Between my partner and I, the Southwest is best
West of Birmingham and Southampton
West of Brighton
East of Dublin
Watch YouTube Walking tours of the places you want to visit or live to get a feel for what people are wearing, what the sounds are like, what the neighbourhoods are like. Living Walks is our favourite channel. It’s very cool to now visit places we’ve been seeing in videos!
Visualize what you want your life to look like: what’s ideal, what’s non negotiable
for us, being close to history is important (within walking distance)
for me, being close to water (pond, river, ocean, anything) within walking distance
we’ve gotten accustomed to a mini fridge but it’s been an adjustment
pet friendly was non-negotiable
living somewhere walkable was ideal (to the grocery store)
we knew we didn’t want an overwhelming city like London but not super rural since we wouldn’t be driving
as Canadians, you can use your Canadian license for an international one for a year but you’re only allowed to drive automatic because they can’t verify your skills on manual drive
Blogs: https://www.marywales.com/blog/flying-with-pets-canada-to-france
Watch shows from England to get used to the accent. Our favourites are the In-Betweeners, Derry Girls, HGTV UK, Mock the Week, Have I got News for You and anything David Attenborough does ever.
Culture
Every culture, even cultures that share a language, have incredible nuanced differences. Here are a few I’ve noticed in the UK:
Greetings. In Canada, when we pass people on the sidewalk or at the grocery store or starting a chat, most everything begins with some version of “hello”, “hi”, “good morning”. In the UK, their greetings are usually, “you alright” or “you okay?” said very quickly, I might add. It took me about a month to figure out the appropriate response is some variation of “yah alright thanks you” also said very quickly. Along these same lines, cashiers and tellers most often say “hiya”, which I don’t think I had heard out loud before.
Walking. Along with driving on the opposite side, I’ve noticed people in the UK veer to the opposite side of the sidewalk, as well. Since the sidewalks are very narrow, sometimes you have to hop onto the road to pass someone. Sometimes people will just cross the road entirely - not to b rude, but because the sidewalks are so incredibly narrow. An interesting gender difference I’ve noticed is when I’m walking alone, men literally always move onto the road for me, before I can. Pedestrians definitely don’t have the right of way here so be mindful when crossing the road. Drivers are very responsive and intuitive though so there’s rarely a close call.
Pubs. In Canada, our pubs are for drinking or watching sports and the food is generally shit. In the UK, pubs are the equivalent of restaurants, most having home-cooked food and incredible chefs. Most pubs we’ve been to are dog friendly (YES) and is more of a family atmosphere. People are very friendly to the staff (from what we’ve seen) because they go to the pub nearly everyday - being an asshole means you don’t be allowed into the local pub and that’s a huge protection for people to be kind to wait staff. The food in pubs have been absolutely incredible, equivalent to a five star restaurant in Canada. For two drinks, an entree and 2 desserts, it’s usually about 50 pounds. Since pubs are relatively small (everything here is), it’s best to have a reservation or ask “do you have room” without a reservation. A very interesting difference is almost all the pubs we’ve been to have specific “meal times”, instead of having their cooks work all day. So breakfast is served from 8-10, lunch from 12-2, dinner from 5-8. We once tried to get lunch at 3 PM on a travel day and had to wait for their dinner service.
Food. In the UK, most places have mini fridges so people go to the grocery store at least 3 times a week, if not everyday. It’s commonplace to get groceries for the meal of the day and then go back. They sell in opposite quantities to Canada - where we sell HUGE, they sell small. It’s common in Canada to see flats of 32 eggs and here, the most common quantity is 6. Food is fresher and more likely to be organic, homegrown, without much of a price difference. Their food is almost all plastic wrapped (even veggies), eggs aren’t refrigerated because they’re so fresh. Digestive cookies, baked potato and toast are all common accompaniments to tea time. They take their chocolate very seriously. The pre-made food (like pre-cooked chicken, “microwave” dinners, etc) are all very healthy with real ingredients, not loads of chemicals. I have oodles of allergies and it’s super easy here in the UK because there’s a federal law that the main allergens have to be bolded on the ingredient list so it’s a quick glance, instead of reading very small font. I’m allergic to cow milk but I can have goat and sheep milk so I’m happy to have goat milk, sheep cheese and goat yogurt here.
It is eerily quiet outside after 6 PM. Almost no one is outside, and there’s hardly any traffic. People are either at home or in the pub and no one is out and about. 7 PM here feels like walking around at midnight in Canada.
Order
Update documents: passport, order a new birth certificate (long form) - good to have on hand
Apply for VISAs
Start packing (yes this early - give yourself at least a month to pack)
Order SIM card from Giff Gaff & Revolut debit card
Once Visas approved: Schedule flights
Photocopy all your documents, including your Visa application, photos of your passport and other documents and leave with a trusted person back home, in case you need copies. Scan copies that you can access remotely via Google Drive or an equivalent Cloud service.
Reserve pet shuttle
Book Air BnBs
Upon arrival: swap SIM card, pick up biometrics
Visa
Tier 5 Youth Mobility Visa
once in a lifetime Visa
Eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility/eligibility
2 year visa to work, study or be self employed
to be self employed, must have no employees and equipment less than 5000 GBP
age 18 to 30
you can turn 31 after your Visa is approved
2530 GBP in savings (3,941.63 CAD) screenshot or PDF of bank statement with your name visible, can crop the rest of you banking but must have the total
Available balance for 28 days within 31 days of appointment
as in, the most recent month to your application, you must have the full amount available for the duration of the previous month
It’s best to be safe and have the full amount in your account for 60 days
No financial dependents
Apply maximum 6 months before travel, have 3 months to get to UK AFTER Visa is approved
Valid passport
*you’ll need a postal code to send your BRP (Biometrics) to for you to pick up upon arrival to the UK (within 10 days of arrival) - I chose close to a BnB we had our eye on. We ended up taking a taxi and paying a $20 surcharge to have them wait while we waited in line at the post office.
Applying
Choose to save a copy of your Visa application in PDF form
You’ll be prompted to book your biometrics with VFS after completing the application (we went to Edmonton): https://www.vfsglobal.ca/canada/
Upload documents to the VFS page you’re taken to after applying for your VISA: financial documents, passport photo, any supporting documents (education, plan for where you’ll stay)
Print confirmation email from VFS and the PDF copy of your Visa application
Every time you upload a new document, you’ll be sent a new confirmation email from VFS so be sure to print the most recent one. You can keep uploading documents until the day of your Visa Biometrics appointment.
The Application
Demographics
Current & past addresses
Parent Details
Employment
Accommodation details upon entry
We didn’t have anything booked because we weren’t sure when we would be entering the country (based on the Visa approval) so we submitted a link to an AirBnB wishlist of places we had flagged to stay.
Travel History to the UK and other commonwealth countries
War Crimes
Criminal history
Financial Institution
Fees
Check with your bank to increase your daily limit if needed
Application fee: 259 GBP
Healthcare: 470 GBP per year so 940 total
You’ll receive an IHS Health Care number; KEEP THIS
Visa appointment: $96 for primetime (10 AM on a Thursday)
Bring your debit card to pay for a $5 surcharge to get text SMS updates
The Appointment
The actual appointment takes all of five minutes. We went to a location in Edmonton and went a week before to scope out parking, elevators, etc. They aren’t available to ask questions beforehand so I recommend joining online groups to ask questions beforehand.
You MUST bring a printed copy of the confirmation email from VFS and the PDF copy of your Visa application or you’ll have to book a new appointment at your own expense.
They’ll ask you to enter a mailing address and create a mailing sticker for the end of your appointment. You can pay an additional $85 fee to “keep” your passport and they just mail you the sticker to add to your passport. We just had them keep our passports and they were mailed back to us within 3 months.
The VFS employee will ask you the reason for your application (visiting historical sites was my answer) and when you expect to enter the country of application. I said July and we didn’t end up entering Britain until August so it isn’t a hard and fast date but gives them a timeline.
They take your photo, scan your fingerprints on a digital scanner and you pay $5 debit only to get text updates about your application.
Upon Arrival to the Country
Once your Visa is approved, you have three months to enter the country before having to reapply. So if you Visa was approved in January, you have to enter the country by March or your acceptance expires.
If you wait to enter the country, it’s “docked” from your length of stay. So if you’re approved in January and enter the country in February, instead of having 24 months (2 years), you’ll have 23 months.
You’ll have to check the postal code where you requested on the Visa application. We chose a post code close to an Air BnB we had been eyeing, not far off the east coast. This post office was in a convenience store on a busy road and we were able to pay a taxi a $20 waiting fee while we both collected our documents. At the cashier, just tell them your full name and that you’re picking up your biometrics. They’ll hand you a small envelope with an ID card and a piece of paper. Keep your ID in your wallet and the paper with your important documents.
Flights
If you don’t have dogs, flying direct into the UK is quite affordable. Airports in the UK are notorious for losing luggage, so I recommend putting a Tile tracker in each of your checked suitcases so you can keep better tabs on your luggage than the airport inevitably will. https://www.thetileapp.com/en-ca/
Since we have two dogs, we booked through WestJet and flew direct from Calgary to CDG Paris Airport. I booked our flights over the phone because they were so complex and it went off without a hitch. There’s a limit to the number of dogs per flight so I recommend booking your tickets over the phone to avoid any hassles. Our flights themselves were $700 CAD one-way each and then with additional baggage and pets in cabin fee, went up to $2000 with tax but we were able to use flight credit. It’s recommended to have a direct flight when travelling with pets to shorten their stress. Most Canadian airports have a dog reliefs station with astroturf, a fake hydrant and a hose, though the Calgary airport’s dog relief area was abysmal. It was a very small square of turf in the middle of the food court.
We got an evening flight so the dogs would be in their circadian rhythm and sleep most of the time. Upon our vet’s recommendation, we gave them a very small dose of Trazodone after going through security. About 20 minutes before our plane boarded, we gave them half a dose of Trazodone (an anti-inflammatory) so that their ears wouldn’t hurt with the pressure changes. They rested through most of the flight, but weren’t “out of it”. We fed them treats while under the seat and overall, they did well.
Every airline has different specifications, but in general, they follow similar guidelines. The pet AND their carrier can only weigh a maximum of 8 KG / 17 lb. Your dog needs to be at least 15 weeks old. When we checked in for our flight, the attendant just asked if they were comfortable and didn’t measure their carriers or weigh them. We had our dogs use their carriers as a “safe place” while at home for the months leading up to our travels so they were familiar with it. One of their carriers was backpack style so it fit the dimensions lengthways under the seat. There’s a general rule for all airlines that only one pet is allowed per person so we had two people and two dogs.
not accepted in business class
soft bag: 46 x 28 x 24 cm / 18 x 11 x 9 in.
one pet per person and one pet per container
pets in cabin are an additional charge of $100
Soft carrier matching dimensions:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09BNFRF4D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01LSJOLU6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Inside our carry on, we stuffed this dog diaper bag, that includes a container for their food and two collapsible bowls: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B085HKZJFM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
In Economy, you’re allowed two checked bags for a maximum of 50 lbs (23 kg) 158 cm / 62.2”. For an oversized bag (still <300 cm/188”), the fee is between $100-200 depending on how overweight it is. Baggage is considered overweight is >50lb but still has to be <70.5lb / 32 kg. We had two large suitcases each (four in total). Winners had a sale on Samsonite suitcases so we snagged them for a deal.
We got a luggage scale https://www.amazon.ca/SHANJE-Luggage-Precision-Digital-Hanging/dp/B07H8HQR28/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?keywords=luggage+scale&qid=1667573566&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjY0IiwicXNhIjoiNC4zMyIsInFzcCI6IjQuMTYifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1 to weigh our suitcases before leaving home and decided to bite the bullet and pay overweight fees for them all. Living abroad for two years with a portable office and two art studios takes up space! More on luggage below!
Carry on dimension: 55 x 35 x 25 cm
Personal item dimension” 50 x 30 x 15
Arriving to Paris was an experience to say the least. We had packed a guitar as a carry-on item, which is usually collected directly upon exit of the plane. We walked for probably 2 km before getting on a train (inside the airport) to pick up our luggage and the guitar was in the far corner of the airport with other oversize items, like carseats - left unattended. We had gotten luggage belts that tie all the luggage together but didn’t end up using it much because we had carts.
Dogs
You can exit the UK with your dog in the cabin or baggage compartment. To enter the UK, you cannot fly with your dog in the cabin or baggage compartment. This is a UK law and is not indicative of an airline rule. To get your dog directly to the UK, you can ship your dog to arrive and they must arrive within 2 weeks of your arrival.
https://tailwingspettravel.com
Our babies are quite sensitive so we wanted them to be in the cabin with us.
What most people do instead of shipping their dogs is to fly into Paris, France and go across the Eurotunnel in a pet taxi service instead. We accidentally arrived on a bank holiday so the Eurotunnel was booked out but our pet taxi company, Happy Saluki, were able to get us across on the ferry instead. We crossed from Calais to Dover in the ferry and were able to see the chalk cliffs, even when it was dark. If we had crossed the Eurotunnel takes 35 minutes and costs 110 GBP per vehicle, on top of the taxi price. Our ferry price was included in the cost of the pet taxi, so we didn’t have to worry about it.
When going through security at the airport, your dog has to come out of their carrier, with their leash, collar and harness off. We forgot one collar and it set off the sensor. Once through security, their leash, collar and harness have to go back on and you can either walk them through the airport or put them back in their carrier. During the flight, they have to stay in their carrier the whole time. I stuck my fingers in their carrier every hour or so and gave them treats when I could.
Happy Saluki was an incredible pet taxi company that made the journey very easy. Our driver handled our paperwork at border crossings and the price of the ferry was included in the overall price. We travelled from CDG airport to Slough for 1350 GBP, which included being picked up directly from the airport, a beautiful drive through France, a 1.5 hour ferry, all tolls, and a 2 hour drive to Slough. We chose Happy Saluki because they pick you up directly from the airport and could take us to our Bnb. Other companies usually drop you off in Dover, on the very east side of Britain. Here are other companies as well:
Folkestone Taxi - the website is very outdated but I’ve heard good things about their service. It costs $540 GBP, not including the 110 GBP fee to enter the Eurotunnel. The $540GBP price is per person/per pet so for us it’s doubled but the 110 GBP to enter Eurotunnel is per vehicle so that’s a one-time fee.
Le Pet Express https://lepetexpress.com/aboutus/ across the Eurotunnel $234 CAD only specific times like 4 PM once a day which was too tight for us to predict.
with both these taxi services, you’ll arrive in Folkestone, which is a beautiful place to stay with the Cliffs of Dover nearby and many historical destinations to stay.
From Calais, you can also go via ferry to the UK but those are more difficult without a vehicle and are a longer journey.
travelling with pets: the Eurail is not pet friendly (even difficult for those travelling with service dogs)
The public transit in France and in England are both dog friendly. In France, dogs over 13 lbs can be either in their carrier or on leash. If they’re on leash, they must be muzzled.
Book on Trainline fees are $50 per person and 7 GBP for dog carrier:
https://www.thetrainline.com
There are some breeds banned from France and the UK so be sure to ensure your dog isn’t a restricted breed
Before:
dogs must be microchipped adhering to ISO standards 11784 and 11785
full rabies vaccination AFTER microchip date
entry to France at least 21 days after rabies vaccine, no more than 10 days before the flight
as in: do this a month ahead of time
Tapeworm treatment within 5 days of entering the UK (we booked ours two days before the flight)
Vet must fill out paperwork for both EU (France) and the UK; it took about 3 hours and cost $450 for both dogs for both sets of paperwork. This should be paper clipped, not stapled.
These papers must be taken to Canada Food Health Inspection Agency
They ended up redoing most of the paperwork that the vet did but the CFHIA is free of charge!
Call beforehand to ensure you’re on the right track, they’re super nice!
The vet fills out the paperwork AFTER the tapeworm treatment and the CFHIA verifies your pet is ready for travel
Documents Required:
verified by vet and approved by Canada Food Health Inspection Agency
Health Certificate for GBP
Pet Passport for EU (to land in France)
Non-commercial transport of dogs, cats, ferrets is the title of the document. Ensure only ONE name is used on all paperwork.
You’ll need original and photocopies of the dogs’ birth certificates
The Canada Health Food Inspection Agency
I called a few months before to confirm the process and the correct paperwork
Two days before our flight, I booked a vet appointment and they filled out the paperwork in the morning
The afternoon of the same day as the vet appointment, we went to the CHFIA in Red Deer. I prefer the smaller office because it was less busy. They had a counter where I gave them all the documents from my vet and the CHFIA vet went through and redid most of it. While she was doing the paperwork, I ran some errands, which took about an hour. There were a few more changes and we were done in about 2 hours. The whole appointment with CHFIA is free.
Packing
I work from home and both my partner and I are artists so along with 10 years of living on our own, we also have a lot of art & office supplies. There are certain books and supplies I need for my work so these were non-negotiable for me. Here’s what I packed in our suitcases to be checked in the cargo of our flight:
Office Supplies
laptop rest
file folder
clipboard
my favourite pens
outlet converter
plain paper
stapler
candle
Art Supplies
oil pastels
calligraphy ink set
watercolour pencils
paintbrushes
graphic pencils
mini sketchbook
large sketchbook
Buddha board
Spiritual Supplies
yarn (for energetic boundaries)
4 of my favourite crystals
4 tarot decks
10 books
2 poetry books
candle
Clothes
6 tees, 6 blouses, 3 sweaters, 2 turtlenecks
2 vests, 3 cardigans, 2 blazers
3 trousers, 4 skits, 2 leggings, 2 sweats, 2 jeans
2 rain coats, 2 warm coats, 1 denim coat, 1 leather jacket, 3 scarves
1 pair rain boots, 2 sneakers, 1 pair slides
COVID
At least 2 doses of the same vaccine (first dose Pfizer, second dose Pfizer)
you’re considered fully vaccinated 7 days after COVID vaccine in France
you’re considered fully vaccinated 14 days in UK
Before Arrival to the UK
To create a UK phone number, you can order a free SIM card with GiffGaff. They have ongoing pay-as-you-go model for 12GBP per month with 10 GB of data. We waited to start our plan and switch our SIM cards until we arrived in the UK. Make sure anything connected to your old SIM is switched over before hand - especially with your bank.
To create an international account and have a debit card you can use in the UK, use Revolut. You can get a UK debit card sent to your Canadian address.
National Trust annual pass: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/join-us?intcmp=Join_Central_spring22_joinonlinefaqs_cta#membership-joint
The National Trust preserves over 500 historical sites so if you’re interested in seeing StoneHendge or any castle ever, the pass will pay for itself. Separately, these sites are 20GBP and the annual pass is only 76 GBP so if you visit three castles in one year, the pass has paid for itself.
Joint (127 GBP), family (133 GBP) and individual (76 GBP) passes available
Travel Essentials:
Converter - not all converters are created equal. We got Herschel converters and they have space for plug-ins from our laptops, which have ben so helpful.
Money Belt https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0199S7IUS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Fanny Pack https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07V4CSV7P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cooler https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08MB717W6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (more for train trips)
USB Straightener https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09933S1FS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
anything with a lithium battery like this must go in carry on and be separated with other electronics
Toiletries https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08L9HS7KM/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Electronics organizer https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08XMRSQL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Upon Arrival to the UK
BRP Collection: at the end of your Visa application, you would’ve selected a postal code to collect your biometrics. These have to be collected within 10 days of arrival (or 10 days after quarantine)
I chose close to a BnB we had our eye on, knowing we could take the train if it was further away than we thought. We ended up taking a taxi and paying a wait fee while we collected.
Once you pick up your BRP, on the back should list your National Insurance Number (equivalent to our health care number) to be eligible for health care.
You can apply online with a photo of yourself holding your passport here: https://www.apply-national-insurance-number.service.gov.uk/apply/applied-before (You need to be in the UK to apply)
We had an Air Bnb booked at Slough (wouldn’t recommend) upon our arrival through the ferry for a week to get all of these things done and let jet lag catch up to us. Here, we bought a car, switched our SIM cards, straightened out our Canadian banking, etc. To contact your Canadian bank without being charged international fees, most offer a Skype option.
Register with the Electoral College: https://www.gov.uk/contact-electoral-registration-office?src=schema This is a mix of our Voters Registration and Census - even if you can’t / don’t want to vote, it’s still important to register! You can actually opt out in the process. This allows you to be eligible for a credit card to build credit, which is essential for renting and literally anything else.
You’ve just paid for two years of health care so you best put it to use! The UK offers an even more comprehensive public health accessibility than Canada (which is saying something). Mental health care is INCLUDED in the health care you paid for so yes - you can see a therapist for free. The first step to take advantage of this incredible service is to register for a GP who will be referring you out to other practitioners as needed. In the UK, you register for a GP, instead of floundering trying to find a GP who fits your needs.
You can register for a GP here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/ you don’t need a proof of address or NHS number!
Another great thing about health care in the UK is that STI testing is available like pregnancy tests - at home. Contraception is totally free and abortion is legal within 24 weeks. For mental health, there are specialists for eating disorders and addiction. You also have access to registered alternative therapists like osteopathy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, reiki and herbal medicine.
You can read more about what’s included in the health care here: https://www.expatica.com/uk/healthcare/healthcare-basics/the-national-health-service-and-health-insurance-in-the-uk-1092057/
Finances
The trickiest part is opening a bank account because to open a bank account you need a bill with a verified UK address on it, like a utility bill. But in order to have a utility bill, you need to have a bank account linked to the account. You can see the conundrum. We found a way around it:
If you’re Canadian, you can open an international account with HSBC. You’ll need to show proof of income, a copy of your passport and other verifying details: https://www.hsbc.ca/international-services/international-account-opening/
A way easier way is to open an online account with Revolut - it’s similar to Tangerine bank we have here in Canada in that it doesn’t have a brick and mortar store. We were able to order our debit cards to Canada months before entering the UK. We can easily transfer money between your Canadian and UK account on Revolut.
You can travel with up to $10 000 CAD cash on the plane (less than that, you don’t have declare so $9999 is smooth sailing). Travelling with large amounts of cash can be terrifying if anything happens to it, it’s gone. But travel with enough for the first week - around $1000 per person. Keep your eye on exchange rates and exchange your CAD for GBP (Great British Pounds) when the exchange rate is low to get the most bang for your buck: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=GBP&To=CAD
To transfer between your Canadian account and your International account, you can transfer directly through Revolut using your Canadian card. It’s very tricky to get credit upon entering the UK so signing up for the Electoral College is the first step.
Buying a Car
If you’re staying in one place, Britain has fairly reliable public transit but if you’re traveling between places, you’ll definitely need a car. Taxi services and transit is very localized so a transit pass for London isn’t transferrable anywhere else in Britain.
Canadians can drive for 1 year in Britain using their Canadian license but are legally only allowed to drive automatics, which are relatively rare. Since we have a two year Visa, the plan is for my partner to drive for the first year and me to drive the second year. After that, we can take a drivers test to become fully licensed. Foreigners can purchase a vehicle, but it must be an automatic.
In Britain, if the vehicle is more than 3 years old, you need an inspection (called an MOT) every year. So when buying a vehicle, ask when the MOT requires renewal. You’ll need the original logbook (the V5C registration certificate) and the valid MOT test document for the car. Ask the seller for the car’s registration number (on the number plate), MOT test number, mileage, as well as the make and model. You can then use the DVLA’s free online vehicle information checker to make sure.
Since they’ll need to send the registration in the post, in Britain, you can use the post office as an address and just pick up your mail from there.
Once you’ve purchased the vehicle, you’ll need to:
Complete insurance for the person driving the vehicle. ONLY the person who is insured can drive the vehicle. There are certain professions who are not eligible for insurance, if there’s a likelihood of break-ins, etc. Visit confused.com for competitive rates - we got insurance from Boom by registering online. When registering for insurance, you’ll see a question about no-fault insurance; if you haven’t been in an accident, you can get additional discounts here.
Register for vehicle tax here and you can save money by having direct debit withdrawals monthly. https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax
Ensure the vehicle is automatic!!
Driving on the opposite side takes about a week to become accustomed to - an easy trick is that the driver should be opposite the sidewalk curb. Streets in Britain are much narrower than Canada so being aware of your vehicles width is important. Back up into parking stalls because it’s often a tight squeeze to exit. There are roundabouts every mile, even on highways so having a navigator is helpful.
Renting
We’ve been doing Air Bnb’s for 4-6 weeks so we can experience different areas of Britain. It’s been great to get to know different areas and not be stuck to a lease if we don’t like it. We make sure the place has a washing machine, wifi and a green space nearby for the dogs. It’s nice to not have to worry about individual bills or furniture but means you’re stuck with what the place has. If you are looking to rent, here are a few tips:
Get a UK phone number with Giff Gaff. This is required for most rental applications
Most places aren’t pet friendly, even if they have a garden. The UK recently passed a law that a landlord cannot deny a WRITTEN request for pets, without at least considering the merits: Can my landlord prevent me from keeping a pet?https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk › can-my-landlor...
Most places have a mini-fridge so you’ll have to scour for a full size, or what they call an American size fridge
We used apps RightMove and OnTheMarket with a maximum budget of 800 GBP per month for a pet-friendly 1-bedroom. For the location, we found a village we liked (Glastonbury) and then extended the location out by 10 km to see what was in the area within our budget
Look up the crime in the area with this map: https://www.adt.co.uk/crime-in-my-area being aware that high streets will have more crime
Consider your non-negotiable: property theft doesn’t bother me as much as sexual violence
Places for rent in the UK go off the market very quickly so you’ll have to act quickly. Most places are let (rented) through a letting agency (equivalent to Boardwalk or Mainstreet here in Alberta) so registering with them can make your searches easier. Everyone has a different application process.
the best thing to do once you choose the AREA of England you wan to live is to register your details with a few of the letting agencies. One letting agency that’s country wide is: https://www.martinco.com/tenants
one thing to note about the areas of England is we usually know the County (like Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire) which is close to our provinces (I think) in Canada. Within these county’s are villages, towns and cities. For example, Somerset has a city like Glastonbury but also a suburban town like Wells and teeny villages like Axbridge with only 200 people. Each area of England has several major letting agencies to register your details with.
Be aware of rental scams that say they’re renting out for their sister or their aunt. Ask for a video tour via What’sApp and ask for a video of the street the building is on.
Shipping
We’re shipping one suitcase and one box of things we’ll need when we’re more settled (jackets, boots) but that’s too much for us to handle on our own. The general rule with travelling is to be able to handle your own bags.
We had the time (it took us about 2 full months of packing and repacking) to organize all of our items into several categories:
Clothes / office supplies we need to be using in the meantime before we leave for the UK - these will be packed in a carry on suitcase so be aware of the quantity
Must-haves for when we arrive: these include office supplies, books I’m currently reading, a notebook or two, clothes I’ll need there, jackets, boots. I tried to keep my clothes as small as possible to fit in the zippered pocket of our suitcase.
Since it’s my champagne birthday just a few months after we arrive, I’ve arranged for my parents to send a birthday bin via the same shipping service. They pay for half the shipping for my present and I get my own stuff as a present! I shipped old journals and new ones, a few precious items, a set of pyjamas and a sweater (for December) my partner bought for me as a present
I created a “next” instalment to be sent about a year after our arrival with books, art supplies, office items and a few extra bulky sweaters and other knick knacks that we don’t need right away. This way, I’m not getting rid of things completely (has an artist ever given away their paints) but only bringing a manageable amount until we’re more settled
My partner’s birthday is about a year after we arrive so he’s also creating himself a birthday bin. I anticipate we’ll be a bit lonely, so I’m writing cards for us ahead of time from our past selves to our future selves.
I have a second instalment ready to go when we find a more permanent place - this has books and clothes I’m not super attached to but wouldn’t want to get rid of. In this box, I have books I WANT to read but are ginormous and I know I won’t have time yet. I have clothes that I like and don’t want to get rid of (this beautiful tulle skirt) but aren’t really practical or necessary yet. I don’t want to get rid of these items because I’ll probably just end up replacing them at some point so instead of buying them twice, I’m just preparing to receive them. This would likely ship close to the end of our Visa - or we might return and bring it ourselves!
At some point, we’ll find a permeant place and at that point we’ll have other set of shipments. Again, these are items that are so precious, we would buy them again anyway so instead of consuming MORE, we’re pacing our reception. When we have a more permanent space, we’ll be shipping:
Fragiles via https://www.shiply.com/ca/fragile-goods-transport
Heritage heirloom items
What we call “library books” - these are books we want to have in our permanent library but we may not have space for at this time. This is classics like Jane Eyre, Of Mice and Men, As the Sun Also Rises and the Dante’s Inferno trilogy. These are books I enjoy re-reading and are classics I would love to have in my personal library but want to have the space to support them.
Canvases and framed art
In the meantime, I’ve sealed all my canvases (and frame art) in clear plastic bags with duct tape or saran wrap to avoid deterioration.
This process is only possible because of family’s help - I’ve never had the opportunity to store things before so this is a new experience for me!
The top recommended shipping company I’ve come across is Send my Bag, which ships boxes, suitcases and sports equipment within 2-5 business days. They offer:
Door to door pickup
Maximum cubic centimetres of 150 000
Maximum weight of 30 kg
Calculate dimensional weight here: https://www.shipbob.com/blog/dimensional-weight-explained/
MUST be double walled cardboard
not just “heavy duty” - double walled has two layers of corrugation, like a layered cake
Soft suitcases preferred
Can’t vacuum seal due to customs
Fragile items not recommended
Learn more here: https://www.sendmybag.com/support/faqs/question/36
Given the dimension requirements, the largest box you can pack is 20x20x20” (or 50.8cm) because the cubic centimetres is 131 096 which is <150 000 and the dimensional weight is 26 kg which is <30 kg. The average large suitcase is 78 cm high, 31 cm length, 53 cm width and is the same price to ship as a box (166 GBP). https://www.sendmybag.com/allowances
These are two box options that are double walled that worked well for us:
18x18x28” https://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Boxes/Double-Wall-Boxes/Dish-Barrel-Box/?id=2573 $6.95 each
20x20x20” https://www.staples.ca/products/690538-en-275-lb-test-double-wall-corrugated-boxes-20-x-20-x-20-10-pack $66 for a pack of 10
Maximum international dimensions: 220 cm with fee, 120 cm 47” (garment box)
Per item being shipped is 166 GBP or 258 CAD
Via FedEx, sending a comparable package is over $1200
https://www.sendmybag.com/order/addluggage Test out your budget
Bicycle: 45 x 12.5 x 6.5 inches (114.3 x 31.8 x 16.5 centimeters) 40 lbs
https://shop.bikeflights.com/new-bikeflights-med-box.html
Ship via Bike Flights
https://www.bikeflights.com
Or Ship for 144 GBP with send my bag