Moving from India to London for Work in December: What Should You Pack?
Moving from India to London for Work in December: What Should You Pack?: A Complete Guide
Shifting from India to London for professional purposes in mid-December is a great experience, but packing for the initial period can be tough. Winter in London is far cooler and rainier and much more unpredictable than any other part of India, and you have to pack your suitcase in such a way that you stay warm and comfortable and manage your work-related necessities as well. As you might be getting started with your work soon after reaching London, careful planning of your suitcase can reduce costs and hassles for your initial days.
Before finalizing the stuff to be packed in your luggage, think about the mode of transportation from the airport to your hotel. No matter whether you plan to get a Glasgow City Private Hire Taxi for onward journey in Scotland on future occasions or use the public transport of London, managing your luggage becomes much easier. Two neatly packed suitcases are always easy to handle rather than carrying many large suitcases around.
Understand London Weather in Mid-December
The weather in December in London tends to be cold, wet, and relatively dark as compared to India. The average temperature may tend to remain around single digit Celsius during the daytime and tends to fall even further in the evenings. Rain, winds, and cloud cover tend to be quite prevalent in December; hence, you need to be ready for multiple weather conditions rather than preparing yourself for extremely cold weather alone.
The trick lies in layering. Rather than carrying one really thick coat, you should carry multiple layers which could be used as per the weather condition. Layering also becomes quite useful when moving from warm indoor places to cold outdoor areas.
The basic winter wear should comprise the following:
Waterproof/water resistant winter coat of good quality
Two to three warm sweaters/fleece
Innerwear which is thermal in nature
Shirts/T-shirts long-sleeved
Trousers/Jean
Waterproof shoes/boots
Woolen Socks
Gloves
Scarf
Hat
Compact Umbrella
Regular footwear
Waterproof outer wear is especially useful because the weather in London changes very quickly.
Pack Appropriate Clothing for Your New Job
The dress code in your place of work will determine the bulk of your luggage. In case you know what type of dress code your employer follows whether it is formal, business-casual or casual, then pack your luggage in accordance with this requirement.
In case of office-based job, then two or three sets of professional wear will be useful for the first week. There is no need to bring a whole set of professional wear from India since you can always purchase some after settling down.
A good starting collection could include:
Two formal shirts/ blouses
One or two pairs of formal trousers
One jacket/ blazer
One set of formal wear for meetings
Comfortable office shoes
A belt which complements the shoes
Ties or any other accessories required
Smart casual wear for informal working days
In case your job is in specialized fields like technical, healthcare, hospitality, construction, retail, etc., see if your employer offers uniforms or any special wear.
Bring Important Documents in Your Hand Luggage
The importance of the documents is much higher than that of buying yourself an extra pair of shoes. Keep all the essential documents in your hand luggage and not in checked baggage.
Prepare one single folder of all essential documents like the following:
Passport
Visa/Immigration documents
Offer Letter/Contract letter
Accommodation documents
Flight documents
Documents related to travel insurance
Duplicate certificates for education
Professional certificates
Driving license (if any)
Important phone numbers
Emergency contacts
Important duplicate identification documents
It is also wise to maintain the copies of these important documents on the cloud storage. Do not put the originals in your checked baggage.
In case there will be requirement to move to another city in UK post your landing, carrying all your documents and valuables in one single bag can make things more convenient for you. In case of airport travel, the Glasgow airport pick up and drop off can be helpful in your further travel in Scotland though London will probably be your base.
Pack Your Electronics Carefully
It is common practice that when changing countries, people also change electricity sockets. The UK has Type G electrical sockets, so ensure you carry the right travel adapter for your Indian electronics.
Useful electronics are:
Smartphone
Laptop
Laptop charger
Phone charging cable
Power bank
Universal travel adapter
Headphones
External storage if needed
Smart watch and charger
Work accessories
Ensure you check the voltage of any appliance you intend to plug into UK sockets. Most phone and laptop chargers operate at a wide range of voltages, but other older ones might not.
Don't clutter your luggage with heavy electrical equipment when it is unnecessary. Things like kettles, hairdryers, irons, and other simple household items can be acquired in the UK.
Take a Small Supply of Familiar Essentials
It is indeed exhausting to relocate, but some things from home can help you adjust better. But don't bring lots of things that you could easily get in London in your bags.
The things you might need include:
Your favorite toiletries in small quantities
Skincare products
Medicines and their prescriptions or documents
Some of your favorite snacks
Hygiene products
Comfort items from home
Stationery items
In case of medicines, do keep them in their original packaging. Check for UK regulations on bringing medicines that might be restricted.
Food products need to be particularly careful about. Do not think that anything that you usually carry from India can be brought in UK. Please check UK border restrictions on foods especially meat products, dairy products, plant products, seeds, etc.
Don't Overpack Your Kitchen and Household Items
One of the biggest mistakes that new international workers do is packing too much in terms of their household items. London boasts a number of huge supermarkets, department stores, drugstores, and specialist stores where one can find all the necessities.
It would be better not to pack those things such as dishes, bedsheets, cleaning agents, and huge amounts of food that you could easily purchase once you arrive at your destination.
You might even find that your apartment has been equipped with some of these things especially if you get into a furnished apartment.
You should rather pack those things that are expensive or hard to get.
Prepare Your Luggage for Airport Travel
Arrange your suitcase prior to departing from India instead of packing it hastily. Utilize packing cubes for your clothes, work clothes, electronics, and personal items.
A realistic way of doing so is to have:
Luggage:
Passports, documents, wallet, electronics, medicines, valuable items, one set of clothes, chargers, and toiletries.
Primary suitcase:
Winter clothes, professional clothes, casual clothes, shoes, and personal stuff.
Other luggage:
Only pack an additional suitcase if it makes sense according to the allowance of your airline.
It is important to know about the luggage allowance of the airline before you travel since weight limits may vary.
Consider What You Can Buy After Moving
It is not necessary to bring all of your belongings along with you. London provides almost all that you will require on a daily basis, albeit at varying costs depending upon how much things cost in India.
Prioritize things which are:
Urgently required after arrival
Difficult to obtain quickly
Important to yourself
Costly/unconvenient to buy again
Required for your job
The rest can always be bought later after getting settled in your new place.
Final London Relocation Packing Checklist
Before you close your suitcase, review this checklist:
Documents: Passport, visa, employment documents, and accommodation information
Clothing: Warm clothes, raincoat, trousers, and work clothing
Footwear: Comfortable footwear and appropriate weather-related footwear
Electronics: Mobile phone, laptop, charger, and adapter for the UK
Health: Medications and any required prescriptions
Money: Credit card and some cash
Personal belongings: Toothpaste, toothbrush, and other personal effects from home
Travel documents: Travel documents and insurance information
Luggage: Review airline size and weight requirements
Settle Into London With a Practical Mindset
The right way to move from India to London during December would be to bring only those things that you will need in the first few weeks and not all the things that you think you will need. You should focus on bringing warmer, water-proof clothes, your office attire, important documents, electronics, medicines and other essentials. As you know what kind of neighborhood and surroundings you will have and what kind of work you will do, you can buy anything else that you may need when you reach there.
But above all, give some space in your luggage because you are starting a new life in London and you will surely buy some new clothes and other necessities once you get settled there.
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