Tips about what clothes to pack and what not to bring when arriving in the UK. Scottish weather If you are moving to Scotland then you may be questioning what to expect from Scottish weather. Scotland has a wonderful variety of seasons and weather (sometimes four seasons in a day!) No matter where you’re going, the golden rule is to layer. Basic packing list - essentials T-shirts/shirts Jumpers/sweaters Waterproof windbreaker (essential for the spring and autumn months, paired with a sweater) Wool socks (naturally temperature regulating, these are great for Scotland’s unpredictable changes in weather. Especially in colder months, bring one thicker pair to wear at night) An umbrella - (handy when the wind is less than 15mph, in which case a waterproof jacket is a better idea) Pack for September, October, and November: Beanie/warm hat Light gloves Sunglasses Light scarf Pack for December, January, and February: Long-sleeved t-shirts Thermal underwear Winter scarf Waterproof winter jacket Warm hat Warm gloves Sunglasses (when the sun is out, it is bright!) Pack for March, April, and May: Beanie/warm hat Sunglasses Light scarf Pack for June, July, and August: Shorts Swimsuit (the sea is warmest in July and August - around 13-14°C) Summer hat (the sun can be very intense in summer) Sunglasses Scotland's Weather and Climate (Visit Scotland website) Current weather in Edinburgh (BBC Weather website) What to pack in your bags It is recommended that you do not pack any food to carry with you when arriving in the UK. For example, do not pack any fresh, dried, or cured pork or wild boar meat to bring to the UK. This includes any pork or wild boar products such as sausages, bacon, meatballs, pate, ham, salami, jerky, bakwa and rougan, and products made of pork fat or wild boar fat, such as lardo and salo. It is illegal to bring these items into the UK from most countries outside of the EU. Bringing food into Great Britain African swine fever Meat and meat products can carry diseases, such as African swine fever. African swine fever is a highly contagious disease of pigs caused by a virus. There is no vaccine and the majority of affected pigs die. It does not affect humans. This virus survives for a long time in pork or wild boar meat and its products. African swine fever has caused the deaths of millions of pigs worldwide and must be kept out of the UK. It is illegal to bring meat, cheese, or milk from most countries outside of the EU. Help protect the UK’s pigs and don’t bring meat or meat products into the UK. Declare any food items to customs. African swine fever (Scottish Government website) Bringing cash into the UK If you arrive in the UK with large amounts of cash you should open a bank account as soon as possible in order to deposit it securely. If you bring £10,000 (or equivalent in other currencies) in cash or more, you will have to declare it at customs when you arrive in the UK. Taking cash in and out of the UK (UK Government website) This article was published on 2024-11-12
