- minute read
So you’re moving to London! London is one of the best cities in the world to be an international student, but preparing to move your life to a new country can be… stressful. First of all, if you haven’t found your student accommodation yet, you can search thousands of rooms in London on Resooma.
If you’re more in the packing phase, we’ve put together a list of 10 essential items to bring with you, plus a bonus list of 10 things you can leave at home.
Check out resooma.com/importantdocuments for a complete checklist of what documents you will need and do NOT forget these! We recommend getting a folder and gathering all of your important documents before packing anything else.
As a student, it’s hard to live without your laptop, phone, eReader, and other various electronics. Make sure you pack a converter (or two… or three) to make sure you can keep your devices fully charged. There are converters (or even extension leads if your student accommodation allows them) that let you plug 3 or more devices into the same outlet… check these out before you move! Remember – wattage may be different than your home country, so be careful what you plug into a converter in your student accomodation in London.
Bringing photos from home is one super-easy way to make your student accommodation in London feel more like home. Feeling homesick when moving to a new city is TOTALLY normal… but being surrounded by photos of friendly faces can definitely help. Plus, it’s an easy way to decorate your space as student accommodation can sometimes be a bit personality-less.
You’re moving to notoriously rainy London, so a good raincoat/pair of boots is a long-term investment. If you don’t bring these with you before moving, you will end up buying both as soon as you move here.
Grocery stores are a bit different in London… if there are certain granola bars/brands of peanut butter/spices you like (Looking at you @ Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel seasoning) – make sure to pack them or you’ll have to live without!
As a student in London, you will almost certainly carry your backpack everywhere so invest in a good one! When deciding what bag(s) to bring or buy, make sure an umbrella can fit inside.
Headphones are the #1 student accessory. Whether you’re on the tube… Or walking to class… or at the gym… Or even on the plane ride here – you will use your headphones often! A good pair of headphones is essential so don’t forget to pack these.
Vacuum sealable bags for packing your clothes are the BEST investment you will make. For less than £10 on Amazon, you can double (maybe even triple) your suitcase space. Highly recommend putting your sweaters/jumpers/items that take up the most room in vacuum sealable bags.
When packing clothing, think about London’s weather and the fact that you will do a lot of walking. We recommend packing practical, comfortable clothes that you can mix and max to make the most of your wardrobe. Remember – you can buy anything in London and the shopping here is incredible, so only bring your absolute favourite pieces with you!
There are refillable stations everywhere you go – bring a water bottle with you if you have a favourite/don’t want to buy one in London! Save the planet and don’t purchase bottled water.
First of all, your student accommodation may provide bedding, towels, kitchenware and other items mentioned below for you, so check in advance of packing.
If bedding is not provided by your student accommodation then don’t waste your precious packing space bringing it from home. There are TONS of great stores in London to purchase pillows, sheets, and every other comfy item you might need to sleep. For cheap bedding, check out Primark. For trendy and still affordable, look at H&M Home or Zara Home. Department stores like John Lewis or House of Fraser or larger grocery stores are also great options.
If convenience is your thing, then there is a great company called Noah’s Box who do the hard work and put all the essentials together for you with bulk buy discounts. They’re fully customisable too, so you only get what you need – Get £10 off with code resooma15 too!
Similar to bedding… Purchase towels upon arrival in London and don’t waste your suitcase space.
Ladies… You don’t want to use a converter with high power devices like blow dryers, curling irons, etc. Wattage is different in the UK and while your curling iron might work with a converter in a hotel, it’s unlikely it will in a standard outlet at your student accommodation. It could fry your device or fry your hair.
Leave your hair accessories at home and purchase ones with the correct outlet in London! T.K. Maxx has some good budget options.
Would you want the person next to you on the flight telling you they packed a knife set in their luggage? No.
Enough said. (You can get these from Noah’s box too!)
If you can work it out with your student accommodation and you think you can manage taking care of a pet while in university, then go for it! But think twice before bringing your pet with you to London…. especially if your stay is short-term or you have a long flight.
Lots of things can happen in transit, and unless you’re certain you can keep your grandma’s precious vase safe, leave it at home. This goes for all fragile items!
Invest in an eReader or just expand your horizons and purchase some new books in London! There are SO many great bookshops worth visiting in the city if you want a new read.
If you can’t walk for at least 15 minutes in any pair of shoes, then don’t pack them. Going anywhere in London involves at least a little bit of walking. Heels are great but if you can’t walk in them comfortably, leave them at home!
Again… think about outfits, what pairs well with the rest of your wardrobe, and what’s practical for London and its weather before packing.
Ok… so this one isn’t a packing item specifically but definitely something to leave at home. You’re moving to LONDON! Approach your new city being open minded and eager about the new world you’re entering.
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