early passenger lists

[Angelaj]

Hi,
I know there are passenger lists for the late 1800s but what about earlier on? I'm looking for German and Polish immigrants who seem to have arrived here in the 1850s, are there any sources of information available? I've tried looking for them in the National Archives online catalogue but have found no trace. I think their claim to be British citizens on the later census was untrue.
Angelaj

[Jan1954]

Have you checked the Ships List here: http://www.theshipslist.com/

Not sure if it will have what you are looking for, but it's worth a browse.

[Colin Moretti]

Most immigrants from Europe to the UK will not appear in passenger lists unless the vessel was bound for (or from) a port outside of Europe; no lists were kept for ships just travelling to and from the Continent.

Here's an article about immigration records: http://www.anglo-italianfhs.org.uk/articles/ukrecords.htm#intro

Alternatively get yourself (or borrow from the library) a copy of Immigrants and Aliens by Kershaw and Pearsall (TNA). TNA also do a guidance leaflet on the subject:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=243

Colin