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Luggage

What you need to know about what you need.

Contents​​

1.

     Essential items

2.

     Useful Items

3.

     Tips for Packing

4.

     Recommended Retailers

Essential Items

Important documents

  • Passport (with visa) & HKID 

  • Tuberculosis test results 

  • Printed proof of student accommodation and student status (e.g. screenshot of payment, offer letter, CAS Statement) 

  • Any relevant health records (eg.certificates regarding ongoing medication)

  • Photocopies of documents in case any documents get lost or stolen​

Digital Appliances

  • Charging appliances: Charging cables, adapters, docks, portable charger

  • Table lamps or portable wall lights

    • Not many accommodations provide one, rooms may appear dark without a lamp

Clothing

  • Bring more winter clothes and coats: Down jackets, scarves, gloves, sweaters

    • Term time is mostly cold and chilly, weather becomes warm only after late April and becomes cool in September

    • Packing some summer clothes is still beneficial for adapting to warmer weather later​

  • Formal wear for special occasions, such as formal balls or conferences

  • Clothing in UK is generally more expensive than clothing in Hong Kong

Useful Items

Useful items to pack

  • Kitchenware: Cutlery (chopsticks, forks), cooking utensils (Frying Pans, knives), Tupperware

    • Tupperware is much more expensive in the UK compared to Hong Kong​

  • Medication (eg. 必理痛特強傷風感冒丸)

    • Controlled drugs (eg ADHD, Antidepressants) must be put in your hand-carry luggage when entering or leaving the UK. It may be taken away from you at the border if you cannot prove it was prescribed to you.​

    • Request for a doctor's letter including your personal details, drug name and required dosage and bring the letter with you to the UK - this is to prove that the drug was prescribed to you

    •  Schedule 1 drugs require you to contact the DLFU before you travel to get a license to bring the medication 

    • You can only bring up to 3 months’ supply of medicine with you

  • Rain gear: Compact Umbrellas, raincoats​​

  • Stationary: Notebooks, folders and binders, pens

    • Stationary in the UK is generally more expensive than in Hong Kong

    • UCL mostly runs digital, so a small amount of stationary should be more than enough

  • Hygiene Items: Toothbrushes and toothpaste, rinsing cups, toothfloss​

Useful items to buy upon arrival

  • Water filter jugs (eg. BRITA) - available on Amazon / certain supermarkets

    • Drinking water in the UK (both tap + boiled) contains many impurities, water filter jugs help remove the impurities and make the water more pleasant for drinking​

  • Drying rack, clothes hangers, clips, laundry basket(s)/bags

  • ​Air moistener, hand lotion - UK climate tends to be dry, especially in the winter when heaters are always on

​Packing Tips

Luggage Weight Allowances

  • Take note of luggage weight limitations - different airlines and cabin classes have varying policies

    • Cathay Pacific: 2 pieces, 23kg each (Economy, student fare)​

    • British Airways: 1 piece, 23kg each (Economy)

    • Refer to the official websites of individual airlines for more updated information

  • Items to avoid packing to maximise luggage weight allowance​

    • Large textbooks/coursebooks - second-hand books and e-books are easily obtainable upon arrival to the UK​

    • Liquids (eg Shampoo, Body Wash) - These take up much space and weight and are available in many UK supermarkets and drug stores 

Packing your items

  • Make use of vacuum bags to pack soft, bulky items (eg. clothing, towels)

    • Vacuum bags help compress your items and minimise the amount of space they take up​

  • Wrap up your fragile items to prevent them from breaking ​

    • You can consider using clothes/towels instead of bubble wrap to pack up your fragile items - thick layers of cloth is also an effective shock reducer​

  • Wrap up your liquids with cling wrap before packing them in your luggage to prevent any potential leakage​

    • High air pressures during your flight may cause liquids to leak ​

Recommended Retailers

List of Retailers

  • Amazon Student  - Students get 6 months of free Amazon Prime when they first register

  • Argos - household items

    • Consider getting the app with UNiDAYS for discounts​

  • Superdrug / Boots - Toiletries, hygiene products, medication 

  • IKEA - household items

    • Kitchenware and Bedding could be ordered online  

  • Tesco superstore / Sainsbury’s / Waitrose / Wilko / Robert Dyas - Kitchenware, daily products (e.g. water bottles) 

  • Ryman - Stationary

    • Present your UCL Student ID for discounts when making purchases ​

  • Unikitout - Packages for various essentials (eg. bedding, kitchenware)

    • Offers delivery service which delivers items to your accommodation ​

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