The ultimate university packing list for students in London
You’ve got your university offer and now you’re getting ready to move closer to campus. Get ready for the time of your life! Since you have many things to plan in preparation for your move, we’re helping take the pressure off by writing this ultimate university packing list for any students starting in London this September. You’ll arrive feeling excited and prepared.
Before you start packing…
Packing for the University move can sometimes feel like a monumental challenge. We recommend that you start making a pile a few weeks in advance, beginning with the non-essentials.
Before you start packing, there are a few things to think about, like checking what is included with your accommodation. For example, at Beaumont House, we provide an in-room pinboard and bookshelf but do not provide bedding or kitchen utensils, so our student tenants bring their own along.
Top tip — don’t overpack! You’re moving to London, which has an abundance of shops, so you can purchase items locally and sharpish if you forget something.
The ultimate university packing list for students in London
Bedroom
Mattress protector
Duvet
Pillows
Bedding
Blanket
Hot water bottle
Alarm Clock
Bin
Wardrobe hangers
Dressing gown
Slippers
Clothes
Gym clothes
Small mirror
Plug extension lead (uni rooms never have many plug sockets!)
Laundry basket
Small drying rack
Desk lamp
Photos
Anything else to make you feel at home!
Bathroom
Towel
Hand towel
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Floss
Soap
Shampoo and conditioner
Razor
Bath mat
Mini sewing kit
Scissors
Tweezers
Contraception
Tampons/sanitary products
Face mask
We suggest putting together a mini first aid kit for yourself:
Painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen
Allergy tablets
Rehydration salts
Plasters
Antiseptic
Burn cream
Throat sweets
Studying
Backpack or bag for walking around campus — you’ll want this to be durable, waterproof and big enough to fit your laptop and books into
Laptop and charger
Notepad
Pens
Calculator
Books
Portable charger
Diary and/or calendar to keep track of your deadlines
Kitchen utensils
Tupperware boxes to store leftovers and take food to campus with you
Plates
Bowls
Cutlery
Mugs
Glasses
Frying pan
Wok style pan
Saucepan
Baking trays
Tin opener
Bottle opener
Spatulas
Cheese grater
Vegetable peeler
Sieve
Chopping board
Knives
Tea towels
Bin bags
Washing up liquid
Beeswax wraps (an environmentally friendly alternative to cling film)
Tinfoil
Recipe book
First food shop
You’ll want to include all of the cupboard essentials in this shop, so it’s to be expected that this shop might be a little more expensive than future shops.
Dry cupboard ingredients:
Salt and pepper
Tea and coffee
Pasta
Rice
Dried herbs and spices
Tinned goods like beans and tomatoes
Stock
Sunflower and olive oil
Soy sauce
Sauces such as ketchup
Cereal
Spreads like marmite and peanut butter
Other things to consider
Insurance
It’s worth remembering that, in most cases, you will have to sort out your own belongings insurance. We highly recommend getting a policy to cover the contents of your room at a minimum. Bonus points if you cover expensive individual items like your laptop and mobile. There are plenty of student-specialist policies and student discounts available.
Make sure you have all necessary documents
You’ll need some form of ID at a bare minimum. It’s also great to set up your student bank account before starting the term, so you are equipped and ready to go.
International student advice
The above step is especially important if you are an international student. Check out our guide for international students moving to London if you are unsure of what you need to do. If you are travelling overseas to university, we recommend buying the bulky parts of this list (such as bedding, kitchen utensils etc) once you arrive. Places like IKEA are a great place to start!
That’s it: these are all the things to consider to help get you settled as a new student in London. It’s such an exciting time and once you’ve got all the boring bits sorted out - you’re ready to go and have the time of your life. Good luck!
For more insights and guidance on early University life, check out our blog on advice for freshers here.
