Moving to Miami from England: A Brit's Real Guide to Making the Leap

“I going to move to Miami.”

That sentence feels both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Most people dream of Miami for the blue skies, endless sunshine, fun, and—most importantly—a real change in life. It’s a city where people come to reinvent themselves, start fresh, or escape a place that no longer feels right. But where do you even begin? For me, it started with a helpful guide on MiamiBeach411.com.

How Did It

Let me be clear: this isn’t a step-by-step guide on getting a green card or work visa for Europeans. I was born with dual citizenship, so I’m lucky enough to enter the U.S. without immigration hassles. Instead, this is simply the story of the practical steps I took—and what actually worked—to make the move successful.

When I first found Miami Beach 411, I was living in England, fed up with grey skies, long commutes, and cold weather. My days revolved around Starbucks (white-and-green cup in one hand, BlackBerry in the other)—not exactly a colorful life, but that’s city living for a lot of people. On a whim, I decided it was time to chase that unfulfilled dream and move to America. Coming from England, if I was going to make a life change, it had to include sunshine. My first thought was Hawaii, but after reading about shipping belongings there, I chose a city closer to London’s time zone. Those were literally my only two reasons for picking Miami: five hours behind London and a beach.

Found An Inspiring Article On Miami Beach 411

Google “moving to Miami,” and one of the top results is an article by Doug on this site: Moving To South Beach On A Budget: Real Tips From Someone Who Did It. The opening line hooked me immediately:

“For those of you who want to follow your bliss without forfeiting your life savings, listen up! I’ve picked up a lot of useful knowledge in my escape to paradise, and I’m happy to pass it on! And here I am! I actually pulled it off! This was my strategy. Feel free to copy it or amend it as you see fit!”

That optimism was exactly what I needed. Moving overseas is difficult, but doable—and by closely following Miami Beach 411’s practical advice, I made it happen too.

Visited Before I Moved

Doug’s first tip was to visit South Beach, walk the streets, and get to know the neighborhoods before committing. This is non-negotiable if you’re planning to move here. How else will you know if you actually like it? Miami gets portrayed a certain way in magazines, TV shows, and movies—but that’s tourist Miami, the two-week-vacation version. Living here is very different. Visiting solo (if you’re moving alone) is the best way to test the waters.

So I flew in September for a week to scope it out. I came prepared—Miami isn’t a city where things happen easily. I bought a guidebook and a map, then spent the week exploring just like Doug did. I walked miles, looked at apartments, took photos of buildings, met landlords and owners, and soaked up the atmosphere of this crazy little city. I made a point of doing things I’d do if I lived here: took the beach yoga class, ate out alone, used the local bus to get around South Beach. I’d spent hours reading Miami Beach 411’s relocating forums and saw how many people burned out quickly after moving, so I was determined not to treat this like an extended vacation. I focused on local experiences and imagining daily life here. I went to the beach maybe twice that week—and barely remember it. That wasn’t the point. I wanted to picture myself living here.

Asked The Locals For Advice

If I could add one thing to Doug’s advice for that scouting week, it’s this: go out and meet people. Doug wrote that “people here have the same basic needs for friendship and affection as people do everywhere else.” I met so many people on that trip—some I still know today. Everyone was friendly and helpful when I asked about living here and shared their own moving stories. I quickly realized Miami Beach is a city where almost no one was “here first”—everyone arrived from somewhere else. I asked what brought them here and heard incredible stories. Most importantly, almost everyone loved living here. With its pastel colors and daily sunshine, Miami Beach slowly cast its spell over me. I knew I had to live here.

Found An Apartment

Back in England, I followed Doug’s advice again: kept a close eye on Craigslist for apartments in the neighborhoods I liked most. Moving with no U.S. credit or bank account meant I focused on places with utilities included—one rent check is easier than setting up internet and electric separately. I eventually found an apartment in my favorite area within my price range and started emailing the realtor.

Miami has its share of scam artists, so I asked for real photos of the unit and as much detail as possible. Renting sight-unseen was a risk, but I didn’t want to arrive and live in a hostel with all my belongings. I checked the address and building online and went through the Condo Board application—another reassurance it wasn’t a scam. I signed a 6-month lease, paid first, last, and security, and rented with no credit history. All I needed were references (anyone can provide those). That was my first real taste of Miami: they don’t care who you are as long as you can pay. With the lease in my name, it was time to buy that one-way ticket.

Quit My Job And Moved To South Beach

One of my dreams back in England was the final scene of The Devil Wears Prada—Anne Hathaway tossing her BlackBerry into a fountain and walking away from her job. Telling people I was moving to Miami got me the same looks of disbelief. But with South Beach memories still fresh, I gave my notice, packed up my life, and moved across the pond. After visiting in September, I arrived for good in November 2008.

The first few weeks were… interesting. I’ll write more about that next week. But thanks to Miami Beach 411’s article and advice, I successfully made the move from England. Yes, there were days I wanted to go home. But to quote Doug one last time: “Naturally, life’s complications will stay with you no matter where you go, but they’re a lot easier to deal with among the palm trees and the turquoise water.”

Miami Today (2026 Update)

Jess’s story still resonates—many people still use Miami Beach 411 as their first resource when dreaming of moving here. Miami’s appeal hasn’t faded: sunshine, beaches, reinvention. But rents have climbed dramatically since 2011, especially in South Beach. That $1,250 furnished apartment? Today you’re looking at double or more in similar areas. The city’s energy, diversity, and “start-over” vibe remain strong. If you’re considering the move, visit first, talk to locals, and prepare for “Miami time.” It’s still worth it for the right person. Welcome to Miami—palm trees and turquoise water included.

Editor’s Note: Originally published October 09, 2011. Updated in 2026 with new photography, while preserving Jess Matlin's perspective on living in Miami.