What to Pack for Your UK Student House: Overseas Edition

Landing in the United Kingdom for uni is exciting… right up until you realise your new student house comes with four walls, a dodgy sofa, and the vague promise of “fully furnished” that means wildly different things depending on who wrote the listing. 

Some places genuinely have the basics covered. Others come with a bed frame and a mysterious stain on the carpet and call it a day. The trick is packing like a pro: bring what’s hard to buy quickly (or expensive), skip what’s bulky, and plan for the little UK-specific quirks that catch overseas students out.

This guide is built to be practical, not precious. Think of it as your “first week survival kit” plus the stuff that makes your room feel like yours.

Before you pack: confirm what your house actually includes

Before you start buying anything, check your tenancy details or ask your landlord/agent for an inventory. 

The phrase “furnished” might mean bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and maybe a chest of drawers. It might also mean “there is a bed somewhere in the building.” 

Confirm the essentials: mattress included or not, wardrobe space, desk setup, and what’s in the kitchen (microwave, fridge/freezer, cooker, kettle, toaster, pots, pans). If you’re in halls, the kitchen basics vary too, but they often have the big appliances.

Once you know what’s there, packing gets easier and cheaper.

Things you don’t need to bring from overseas

This is where people waste luggage space and money. If you’re moving into a typical UK student house or halls, skip the items that are either commonly provided, easy to buy locally, or a pain to transport.

A kettle and toaster are the classic mistakes. Most shared houses already have them, and if not, they’re cheap and easy to pick up from supermarkets or discount homeware shops. 

Big furniture is another one. Even if your room feels small or under-equipped, you’re better off arriving first and assessing the space. Buying a wardrobe or desk chair without seeing the room is how you end up with something that doesn’t fit through the door.

Avoid packing bulky kitchen equipment too. Air fryers, rice cookers, blenders, and coffee machines are common “I’ll bring it from home” items, but they take up space and can cause plug and voltage headaches. 

The UK runs on 230V, which matches many countries, but not all, and the wrong setup can ruin appliances quickly. If you really can’t live without a specific device, buy a UK version once you arrive.

Also, don’t pack huge quantities of toiletries “for the year.” UK supermarkets stock everything you’ll need, and you’ll thank yourself later when you’re not dragging a suitcase full of shampoo through a train station.

The items overseas students always forget (and regret later)

There are a few small things that are absolute lifesavers in UK houses, and they’re the ones people always remember on day three, usually when they’re tired, cold, and trying to charge their phone from a socket that’s inconveniently placed behind a bed.

Extension leads are top of the list. UK bedrooms often have a limited number of plug sockets, and they’re rarely where you want them. Bring at least one good quality extension lead with multiple outlets. Even better if it includes USB charging ports, because everyone needs to charge everything all the time.

Next: plug adapters. The UK uses the Type G plug (three rectangular pins). If your devices aren’t UK plugs, you’ll need adapters immediately, especially for laptops and phone chargers. Bring at least two, because one will mysteriously vanish the first week.

Bedding sizes cause genuine chaos. UK bed sizes aren’t always the same as at home, and student accommodation often has odd mattress sizes. A “single” is common, but some places have a small double, and fitted sheets need the right dimensions to actually fit. 

If you can, wait until you arrive and confirm the mattress size before buying lots of bedding. But do bring one emergency set: a basic pillowcase and duvet cover or even a sleeping bag for the first night if you’re arriving late and shops are shut.

Other commonly forgotten essentials include a laundry bag or basket (carrying clothes in a plastic bag gets old fast), a small first-aid kit (plasters, painkillers, cold meds), and a couple of spare towel sets. Not glamorous, but massively useful.

The first-week essentials that make life smoother

The UK is cold and damp more often than new arrivals expect, so pack for comfort as well as style. 

A warm hoodie, decent socks, and something waterproof will instantly improve your first weeks, especially if you’re walking to campus. A compact umbrella is fine, but a hooded waterproof jacket is better because UK wind loves turning umbrellas inside out.

For your room, bring a few items that make it feel livable: a small bedside light (student house lighting can be brutal), earplugs (you’ll thank yourself during pre-drinks season), and a reusable water bottle. If you’re sensitive to noise or light, a sleep mask and a white noise app can be surprisingly effective in shared living.

For the kitchen, keep it simple. A basic starter pack works best: one good mug, one reusable food container, and a cutlery set. Some people like bringing a lightweight pan or knife from home, but in most cases it’s easier to buy once you know what’s missing in the house.

The “don’t panic, you can buy it here” list

If you’re trying to travel light, it helps to know what’s easy to replace once you’re in the UK. 

Hangers, cleaning supplies, a bin, storage boxes, bathroom mats, and cheap kitchen basics are readily available. The same goes for stationery, printer paper, and even bedding once you know your bed size. 

In other words: don’t over-pack “just in case” items that are sold everywhere.

A good strategy is to arrive with your essentials plus a small budget set aside for a first-week shopping trip. That way you only buy what you actually need, rather than guessing from another country.

Quick packing mindset: pack for comfort, not perfection

The most successful overseas students aren’t the ones who bring everything. They’re the ones who bring the right things. 

Prioritise what keeps you connected (chargers, adapters, extension leads), comfortable (warm layers, bedding plan), and organised (laundry setup, storage basics). Skip the bulky appliances and furniture until you’ve seen your space.

Your student house doesn’t need to look like a Pinterest room on day one. It needs to work. Get the basics sorted, settle in, and you’ll build the rest as you go – one properly fitted bedsheet and one extension lead at a time.