New here! Cheap shopping/thrift stores in London?

Howwwwdy ho!  I'm new here. 

I'm going to be studying this year in London, and I'm wondering if there are any second-hand or thrift stores in London?

(*insert laughter here*)

The times I've been in Sweden and Norway, I never saw something like what they have in the U.S., but maybe I didn't look hard enough. 

I am just wondering if I'm better off buying some cheap pots and pans when I'm there, instead of shipping my own kitchen stuff? I'm going to be living in a small room in a residence hall so I'm not sure what's worth shipping.

So far I've got on my list: medical/dental records, clothes and toiletries, first aid kit, and some sentimental/nostalgia items. I've been told to bring tupperware, too.

I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed needless to say.... 

No need to be overwhelmed - there are endless opportunities in the UK for "cheaper" stores, every town has a "pound store" (your "dollar store") where you can stock up on all sorts of kitchen items/pots & pans/tupperware/sundries.  Our equivalent of drugstores are very reasonable for toiletries and household cleaners too.

Also, plenty of markets (stalls selling allsorts) in London and a good place to go for second hand furniture are the charity shops (PDSA/Cancer Research/Scope) etc, they sell washed and clean second hand clothes/blankets, but often a range of kitchen items etc that are new

Below, a selection of cheaper stores, plus the major supermarkets here now sell clothing/home accessories etc.

The things for you to stock up on are clothes/underwear and items like Nyquil and your fave brands of OTC meds/painkillers and sheets/bed linen from the U.S as good quality ones here tend to be more expensive, having said that, there is nothing you won't be able to get here one way or the other- relax, you will be fine- I promise
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Home.htm

http://www.wilko.co.uk/index.htm

http://www.woolworths.co.uk/

http://www.bhs.co.uk/

Ditto!

Total coolness! Thanks.   

I'm so excited... it's been at times overwhelming making the crossover as an independant postgrad -- basically doing all of the grownup paperwork myself. So overwhelming I've been doing everything bit by bit at a time.

LAST two things are making sure that my loan (for tuition) will be confirmed and THEN finally applying for the visa.

hit the markets!!! Camden Locks, Spittalfields, Petticoat Lane, Portabello road!

deals to be hadQ

Not sure about London, but here is Suffolk/Norfolk there are no end of thrift shops, if by thrift shops you mean what we meant in NY---second hand. These are called charity shops here and they either go by the charity's name, British Cancer Society etc., or by a woman's name. I'm not sure how womens names like Sue Rider got attached to such things, but there are several.

DJC

true!! there is oxfam and a bunch of other charity shops...they have a very small selection though.