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Moving to the UK: A Concise Guide for South Africans
Thinking of moving to the UK but don't know where to start? Overwhelmed by the information coming at you after a Google search? Baffled by visa requirements? Worried about how your kids and your beloved pet iguana would handle it? Fear not! Written by a seasoned mover who's been there, done that and even brought back the tea towel, Sam Beckbessinger will hold your hand in this end-to-end guide to moving from South Africa to the land of tabloid, tweed and terrible weather. Inside, you'll find helpful tips, funny anecdotes and to-do lists to keep you on track. This guide covers everything from the practicalities of finding a job to the cultural quirks of British life (yes, they really are obsessed with tea), equipping you with everything you need to know about fitting in on this weird, adorable island. "The totally vital everything-guide I wish I'd had. I'm so grateful to have been one of the test subjects for this book, and that all Sam's thoughtful advice, tips, tricks, spreadsheets and honestly terrible jokes are now available to everyone..." - Lauren Beukes--Sam Beckbessinger is the author of the bestselling Manage Your Money Like a Fucking Grownup and the novel Girls of Little Hope (co-authored with Dale Halvorsen). Her interactive story about climate change, Survive the Century , was featured in New Scientist and Gizmodo . She teaches creative writing at Bath Spa University, writes kids' TV and picture books, once wrote for Marvel, and is weirdly obsessed with spreadsheets. She grew up on a farm near Durban with a pet donkey named Mr Magoo, but now lives in London.
- GenresNonfiction
264 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2023
3 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Sam Beckbessinger
16 books100 followersSam Beckbessinger is the author of the bestselling Manage Your Money Like a Fucking Grownup and the novel Girls of Little Hope (co-authored with Dale Halvorsen). Her interactive story about climate change, Survive the Century, was featured in New Scientist and Gizmodo. She teaches creative writing at Bath Spa University, writes kids' TV and picture books, once wrote for Marvel, and is weirdly obsessed with spreadsheets. Her perimenopausal werewolf novel Femme Feral is coming in summer 2026. She grew up on a farm near Durban with a pet donkey named Mr Magoo, but now lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 23, 2023
Giving this five stars because I'm very proud of one joke I made about the true definition of "public school": "The fanciest type of private school, where they teach you polo, class subjugation and how to drop the word ‘mahogany’ into casual conversation."
This little book grew out of a wildly elaborate spreadsheet that I started putting together when a dear friend moved to the UK two years after me, which I mostly created on the couch while being sick with Covid and bored out of my mind (what, other people don't make emotional-comfort-spreadsheets when they're ill?). It just kept growing and growing, until it became a 40,000 word document, which eventually I sent to my agent with an apologetic "look I'm sorry I know I'm supposed to be writing another novel but this book really wanted to come out of me instead".
This book was so healing to write. Moving countries is one of the most difficult, emotionally fraught things I've ever done, and writing about it has been my way of making sense of it all. It's a very pragmatic guidebook, but it's also - in a way - memoir. Maybe self-help books always are.
If you're embarking on the brave, hopeful, horrible, admin-filled, life-changing adventure of moving to a new country, I hope this book is a cheerful companion for you.
This little book grew out of a wildly elaborate spreadsheet that I started putting together when a dear friend moved to the UK two years after me, which I mostly created on the couch while being sick with Covid and bored out of my mind (what, other people don't make emotional-comfort-spreadsheets when they're ill?). It just kept growing and growing, until it became a 40,000 word document, which eventually I sent to my agent with an apologetic "look I'm sorry I know I'm supposed to be writing another novel but this book really wanted to come out of me instead".
This book was so healing to write. Moving countries is one of the most difficult, emotionally fraught things I've ever done, and writing about it has been my way of making sense of it all. It's a very pragmatic guidebook, but it's also - in a way - memoir. Maybe self-help books always are.
If you're embarking on the brave, hopeful, horrible, admin-filled, life-changing adventure of moving to a new country, I hope this book is a cheerful companion for you.
December 21, 2023
Moving to the UK is written for South Africans who are considering or who have decided to immigrate to the UK, or even temporarily move there for work purposes or other reasons. It is more geared towards those who want to start a new life in the UK though.
This isn’t Sam’s first book. She wrote a bestseller titled Manage Your Money like a F*cking Grownup: The Best Money Advice You Never Got which was published in 2018. She has also co-written several teen and children’s books. Moving to the UK is her newest publication, and it doesn’t disappoint.
If you have ever considered the weird and wonderful island as your possible new home and wanted to get away from the sometimes insurmountable problems of living in South Africa, like rising costs of living, devastating unemployment, load-shedding, potholes and sewage leaks, then Sam’s book is a must-read. It lays out, in plain language, spiced with laugh-out-loud humorous titbits, everything you need to know, from making the decision, sticking to it, planning the move, finding a job, selling your stuff and/or home, the immigration process, the financial side, finding a new place to live, the weather, the culture, leaving family behind and the emotional ups and downs you are likely to go through. And much more!
She doesn’t paint an unrealistic picture that living in the UK will be problem-free but gives you a brilliant overview of how your life will most likely be and what problems you may encounter. Sam is like that best buddy you want to take in your hand luggage on the plane trip over to the ‘land of tabloid, tweed and terrible weather’ as she calls it. There is something deeply supportive yet practical and detailed about her writing – even though it’s called a concise guide, it does seem comprehensive enough without being bogged down with boring and unnecessary facts.
Once I put the book down, I felt I could do this – follow a dream I’ve had for years – the dream I’d stashed away because it seemed too daunting and unknown. With her book as my UK bible, I would know what to do every step of the way. She even goes into tax stuff – from the SA side and the UK side – something most people are deeply terrified of. And how to have a baby in the UK – not something I need to worry about but definitely something many young couples would be keen to know.
As someone who considers clothing a vital part of my enjoyment in life, she explained how to dress for the cold winters in a practical way – and even where to buy certain types of items. I know now how to arm myself to combat those icy or rainy days.
On top of providing useful information, Sam talks a bit about her own experiences which makes the book relatable for readers.
Because the book fills a much-needed void in the SA reading market and is written so well, it deserves 5/5 stars. – Kathy Bosman
This isn’t Sam’s first book. She wrote a bestseller titled Manage Your Money like a F*cking Grownup: The Best Money Advice You Never Got which was published in 2018. She has also co-written several teen and children’s books. Moving to the UK is her newest publication, and it doesn’t disappoint.
If you have ever considered the weird and wonderful island as your possible new home and wanted to get away from the sometimes insurmountable problems of living in South Africa, like rising costs of living, devastating unemployment, load-shedding, potholes and sewage leaks, then Sam’s book is a must-read. It lays out, in plain language, spiced with laugh-out-loud humorous titbits, everything you need to know, from making the decision, sticking to it, planning the move, finding a job, selling your stuff and/or home, the immigration process, the financial side, finding a new place to live, the weather, the culture, leaving family behind and the emotional ups and downs you are likely to go through. And much more!
She doesn’t paint an unrealistic picture that living in the UK will be problem-free but gives you a brilliant overview of how your life will most likely be and what problems you may encounter. Sam is like that best buddy you want to take in your hand luggage on the plane trip over to the ‘land of tabloid, tweed and terrible weather’ as she calls it. There is something deeply supportive yet practical and detailed about her writing – even though it’s called a concise guide, it does seem comprehensive enough without being bogged down with boring and unnecessary facts.
Once I put the book down, I felt I could do this – follow a dream I’ve had for years – the dream I’d stashed away because it seemed too daunting and unknown. With her book as my UK bible, I would know what to do every step of the way. She even goes into tax stuff – from the SA side and the UK side – something most people are deeply terrified of. And how to have a baby in the UK – not something I need to worry about but definitely something many young couples would be keen to know.
As someone who considers clothing a vital part of my enjoyment in life, she explained how to dress for the cold winters in a practical way – and even where to buy certain types of items. I know now how to arm myself to combat those icy or rainy days.
On top of providing useful information, Sam talks a bit about her own experiences which makes the book relatable for readers.
Because the book fills a much-needed void in the SA reading market and is written so well, it deserves 5/5 stars. – Kathy Bosman
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews