Packing for the UK- What to Bring and What Not to Bring

Take it from
me, there are lots of things that I packed for the UK that I wish I hadn’t – I
didn’t need them! My best advice for packing would be to pack what is simply
irreplaceable and necessary for you. Most everything else can be purchased
while in the UK, or shipped to you from home if you absolutely need it – it
will save you overweight baggage fees!

GENERAL RULES

If you don’t already own luggage, consider investing in a quality set – with a good carry-on size bag, and a bigger suitcase with wheels. In all honesty, buying something long-lasting and durable is very worth it.

In terms of clothing, consider the weather. Will it snow a lot where you are moving (Scotland)? Or will it be less likely to do so (London)? I packed winter boots for London, and never used them once!

Some tricks
for getting the most out of packing a suitcase: rolling your clothes, sticking
socks in shoes, and using vacuum sealed bags. These were a lifesaver for me!

Also consider items that you will get the most use out of. Don’t bring a huge, bulky novel if you’ll just read it once, and then have it sit on your shelf for the length of your programme. You can borrow books from the libraries in the UK, or read them on a small device like Kindle or Kobo!

WHAT
TO BRING

Some things you may need include:

• Your laptop and charger, for school work and staying in touch with people back home!
• Your phone and charger (you can use one, if it is unlocked, in the UK with a UK SIM card).
• Your favourite clothing items that you can’t live without (like a cozy sweater – you’ll need it in the UK, and it will be a comfort from home!).
• UK or universal plug adaptors – for all of your charging and electrical needs!
• Think about your hobbies. What do you like to do? Perhaps it’s essential that you bring your trusty hiking boots, a sketchbook and art supplies, or that wetsuit for surfing. If it’s dear to you, and you know you will get use out of it, consider packing it!

WHAT
NOT TO BRING

Here are some things that you should
probably skip packing:

• Hair styling tools like a
  straightener or curling iron. You can buy them in the UK, and that way they
  will have the proper plug for UK sockets.
• Bedding/blankets, kitchenware,
  and other ‘home’ items. Your university may provide these if you are living in
  residence, or you can just purchase them when you get to the UK. Bed sizing
  tends to be different in the UK anyway, so skip the bulky blankets in your
  suitcase!
• Too many of the same thing – this
  especially goes for clothing items like scarves, sweaters, mittens, coats, and
  hats. You can always buy extra if you feel you need them while you are living
  in the UK.  I learned this one from
  experience!

Consider your airline luggage allowances
when packing. How many checked bags can you have? What is the weight limit? If
someone is travelling with you to help settle you in, they could check a bag
for you as their extra!

Overall, it’s best to lay out what you want
to bring, eliminate what you can, and then try packing. Think about the biggest
items and if they absolutely need to come with you on the plane.

My final reminder is that you will most likely acquire a lot of stuff while living in the UK, so remember – you somehow have to bring it all back!

If you would like to find out more about studying in the UK, please contact one of our advisors.