"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
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 UK.
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.
1. Deciding to Move
How do you decide whether moving is right for me? What are the big pros and cons of life in the UK? What's the best age to move with kids? How do you manage all these feeeeeeeelings?
3. Setting Up Your New Life
How do you open a bank account, find a place to live, and register for council tax? Actually, what IS council tax?
2. The Move Itself
What are all these different types of visas? How do you find a job? Do you really have to get your pets vaccinated four months before they can fly? Why does every South African live in South-West London?
4. A Path Back to Happiness
How do you make friends? What the heck are Jaffa cakes and why does dissing them make every Brit hate you? What should you do with your savings now?
About the author
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. 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.