{"id":1863,"date":"2024-05-28T11:36:38","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T10:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/?p=1863"},"modified":"2024-07-30T16:37:54","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T15:37:54","slug":"what-do-i-need-to-pack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/2024\/05\/28\/what-do-i-need-to-pack\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do I Need To Pack?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>As move-in weekend creeps closer and the excitement continues to build, it\u2019s time to start picturing your life in your brand new home.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Moving to university is a completely new experience and you\u2019re likely to learn a lot along the way, but one thing I want to help you get right is your moving day. Together, we can make sure that moving into your King\u2019s Residence is stress-free and pretty smooth sailing!<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/cat-loop-relaxed-wu29mJA7MXBzG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media1.giphy.com\/media\/wu29mJA7MXBzG\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"Relaxed Cat GIF by sheepfilms - Find &amp; Share on GIPHY\" width=\"400\" height=\"250\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll show you exactly what you need to bring with you on move-in day, what you can buy when you get here, the best places to shop and more.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What will be in my residence when I arrive?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>King\u2019s Residences encourage you to personalise your room so that it feels like home and represents you BUT that doesn\u2019t mean you have you bring your furniture with you! You get a lot of items included in your rent, so <strong>don\u2019t worry about buying or bringing any of these with you:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bed and mattress (with a mattress protector)<\/li>\n<li>Desk and chair<\/li>\n<li>Wardrobe<\/li>\n<li>A set of drawers<\/li>\n<li>Curtains\/blinds<\/li>\n<li>Microwave<\/li>\n<li>Washing machine and dryer<\/li>\n<li>Ironing board<\/li>\n<li>Vacuum<\/li>\n<li>Mop &amp; bucket<\/li>\n<li>Sweeping brush<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Not all of these will be in your room; you\u2019ll have to venture out to your kitchen or even communal spaces to find some of them but they are all there for you to use.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What do I need to bring with me?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you first open the door to your room, it looks a bit like an empty shell but in the best possible way because it\u2019s a blank canvas ready for you (and your things) to bring it to life.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re travelling to London from a different part of the UK, you shouldn\u2019t have a problem packing a car full of this stuff and carrying it up to your room once you arrive. <strong>Beware<\/strong>: this will probably take a few trips but it\u2019s all worth it in the end &#8211; it means you can officially start getting settled into this exciting new chapter!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/QaSLqlqn7sqlhJqNgA\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media2.giphy.com\/media\/QaSLqlqn7sqlhJqNgA\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"Animated GIF - Find &amp; Share on GIPHY\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here are the must-haves:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bedding (duvet, pillowcases, bed linen)<\/li>\n<li>Towels<\/li>\n<li>Cleaning products<\/li>\n<li>Toiletries<\/li>\n<li>A bin<\/li>\n<li>Clothes and shoes<\/li>\n<li>Clothes hangers<\/li>\n<li>Pots and pans<\/li>\n<li>Crockery and cutlery<\/li>\n<li>Kettle<\/li>\n<li>Toaster<\/li>\n<li>Important documents (ID, enrollment paperwork)<\/li>\n<li>Technology (laptop, speaker, TV, games console)<\/li>\n<li>Chargers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth mentioning that it isn\u2019t always necessary to buy <em>all <\/em>of this yourself. You don\u2019t want to end up with 5 kettles and no space for everyone\u2019s pots and pans or food. By joining <strong>your residence\u2019s official Facebook group<\/strong>, you can find your future flatmates and plan who\u2019s bringing what. I did this and I found out that someone had already bought a toaster for the flat, so it saved me a bit of extra money. Winner!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What can I buy in London and where from?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For those of you who are joining KCL from overseas, you may struggle to bring much more than a couple of suitcases. That isn\u2019t a problem though because once you arrive in the UK, you\u2019ll find that there are LOADS of places to buy all the essential household items.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re unsure of where to shop, here are some ideas:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bedding. <\/strong>You\u2019ll need a duvet and pillowcases. You can buy bedding packs in some of King\u2019s Residences so that they\u2019re waiting for you in your room once you arrive. Otherwise, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilko.com\/en-uk\/home\/home-furnishings\/bedding\/duvets\/c\/174\"><strong>Wilkos is your budget option<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.johnlewis.com\/browse\/home-garden\/bedding\/duvets\/_\/N-5ube\"><strong>John Lewis for luxury<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bed linen. <\/strong>I\u2019d suggest having at least two sets so that you always have a spare when you need to put your sheets in the wash. <a href=\"https:\/\/groceries.asda.com\/shelf\/bedding\/duvet-cover-sets\/_\/111492\"><strong>ASDA is your budget option<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewhitecompany.com\/uk\/Bedroom\/c\/duvet-covers?\"><strong>The White Company for luxury<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Towels. <\/strong>Again, you\u2019ll need a few for when they need washing. For bath and hand towels, <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.hm.com\/en_gb\/home\/shop-by-product\/towels.html\"><strong>H&amp;M Home is your budget option<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.next.co.uk\/shop\/department-homeware-productaffiliation-bathroomtextiles\/category-towels#1_0\"><strong>Next Home for luxury<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pots and pans. <\/strong>You\u2019ll learn loads of new recipes at university, I did and I couldn\u2019t even boil an egg before I left home! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ikea.com\/gb\/en\/products\/cookware\/pots-pans\/\"><strong>IKEA is your budget option<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wayfair.co.uk\/VonShef--11-Piece-Cookware-Set-1500001-L749-K~VOSH1095.html?refid=GX190833678389-VOSH1095&amp;device=c&amp;ptid=536056879365&amp;targetid=pla-536056879365&amp;network=g&amp;ireid=63272605&amp;device=c&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwkoDmBRCcARIsAG3xzl_cZpDLOgM16AaotIzVFWExHGvd9H1LSu8LVyNTjSqe3uXyEh5xiLcaAvFXEALw_wcB\"><strong>Wayfair<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Crockery. <\/strong>Most stores will sell crockery in sets of 4 but buy individual items if you can because you don\u2019t really need the extra items. <a href=\"https:\/\/groceries.asda.com\/shelf\/dining-glassware\/dinner-sets-plates-bowls\/_\/111417\"><strong>ASDA is your budget option<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marksandspencer.com\/l\/home-and-furniture\/dining\/tableware\"><strong>M&amp;S Home for luxury<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kettle. <\/strong>You will have a microwave in your residence but another staple you\u2019ll struggle to live without is a kettle, whether you\u2019re a big tea drinker or not. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.argos.co.uk\/browse\/home-and-garden\/kitchen-electricals\/kettles\/c:29560\/?clickOrigin=header:home:menu:kettles\"><strong>Argos is your budget option<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.johnlewis.com\/browse\/electricals\/kettles\/_\/N-aht\"><strong>John Lewis for luxury<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Music speaker. <\/strong>Playing music during Welcome Week is one of the biggest ice breakers; it\u2019s guaranteed to get you and your flatmates talking and getting to know each other. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=music+speaker&amp;i=electronics&amp;crid=260F5VIFMNQ84&amp;sprefix=music+speaker%2Caps%2C139&amp;ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_13\"><strong>Amazon is your budget option<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.currys.co.uk\/gbuk\/audio-and-headphones\/audio\/hifi-systems-and-speakers\/550_4278_31971_xx_xx\/xx-criteria.html?ntid=B~d~Speakers\"><strong>Currys for luxury<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clothes.<\/strong> As you may (or may not) know, British weather is pretty temperamental so you\u2019ll need to bring clothes for every season. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boohoo.com\/\"><strong>BooHoo<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.selfridges.com\/GB\/en\/\"><strong>Selfridges for luxury<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>What should I leave at home?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For the safety and convenience of you and your future flatmates, there are some things that aren\u2019t allowed in King\u2019s Residences so just leave these at home. Whenever you\u2019re packing or out shopping for uni supplies, remember <strong>you shouldn\u2019t have these: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Candles, incense, oil burners<\/li>\n<li>Hookah pikes<\/li>\n<li>E-cigarette chargers<\/li>\n<li>Large furniture and electrical items<\/li>\n<li>International rice cookers (they must be purchased in the UK)<\/li>\n<li>Your car, moped or motorbike<\/li>\n<li>Clothes horse (every residence has dryers)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re going to have a great time living in your new home and for me, move-in weekend was one of the highlights of Welcome Week.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now it\u2019s time to focus on getting your uni supplies together and it\u2019ll start to feel much more real, especially once your house is filled to the brim with moving bags and boxes!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As move-in weekend creeps closer and the excitement continues to build, it\u2019s time to start picturing your life in your brand new home. &nbsp; Moving to university is a completely new experience and you\u2019re likely to learn a lot along the way, but one thing I want to help you get right is your moving [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":529,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/529"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1863"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2803,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1863\/revisions\/2803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kcl.ac.uk\/resilife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}