My 6 week London Item list: what am I forgetting?

Hello all -

I leave for the London next Wednesday and will be living there for six weeks in a beautiful flat in Knightsbridge with six other girls. I know bedding and linens are provided for. As is a tube-pass.

The following list does not include "obvious" items like cash, clothing, student passes, ID's and passport, toothbrush etc. The following list of some things that I am going to pack in small amounts. I don't want to have to buy anything in the UK that is cheaper than in the US or turns out to be necessary/unecessary.  I want to take everything that is necessary with me. I have to keep my spending in London as minimal as possible.

Please look at this list I have compiled and see what it is I am missing, needlessly adding, or will regret if I forget:

The list:

Cosmetic and Medical:
Tylenol
Makeup/hair products
Feminine products
Peroxide/Band-Aids
Ambesol
Prescriptions
Hand sanitizer
Wipes
Baby powder
sun block
Cookery/cleaning:
Small pan
Plastic silverware/
Paper plates
Laundry tablets/dryer sheets
Febreze (Thank you for the suggestion Krissybelle)
Dish-soap and towel
Measuring cups (freakin metric conversion chart!)
Extras:
Camera & lots of film
Pantyhose (usually don’t need them but I may have an interview once I get there)
Duffel bag (still compressed, for things going home with)
Small binder, pens, paper and folder (I have one class)
Study purse that is in my sight and reach at all time
Copies of my academic identification letter, ID and passport
Should I bring?
Hair dryer = voltage adaptor….what kind? Please help
Backpack (school bag)
A spring coat

What Items would make me look less foreign? What in the world am I forgetting?

I don't plan on shopping for food in Knightsbridge as it's too expensive...which markets are the best and close?

Thank you,

Samantha***

Backpack

If you are wandering around London, a backpack is essential!

Hiya, I can't answer your London specific questions, but here's a go at a couple things... you may have a bit of tummy upset getting used to the food. I adore Rolaids so always bring those. Don't like the UK comparable stuff here. I wouldn't bring a hair dryer. They aren't that expensive here. I also would have a spring coat. It's warm during the days but cool at night right now. Don't forget the umbrella, too!

Things that would make you look less foreign? I don't think in London you need to worry about that. It's so cosmopolitan!

Will give it some more thought but I'm sure others will have lots to offer!

Samantha what happened to Southall?? you simply won't get the same experience in Knightsbridge! Never fear about the grocery shopping I seem to remember there is a Sainsbury's Local somewhere opposite Harrods but if you want to go to a proper full on supermarket  you will have to go out of central London. As for looking foreign ... I agree, with the mix of cultures here you are unlikely to stand out as foreign unless you are a martian. 

You can get Febreze here!

[Cookery/cleaning:
Small pan
Plastic silverware/
Paper plates
Laundry tablets/dryer sheets
Febreze (Thank you for the suggestion Krissybelle)
Dish-soap and towel
Measuring cups (freakin metric conversion chart!)

They're supplying sheets but not pans?  That's weird.  And the other stuff-well, dish liquid isn't that expensive.  Nor are tea towels or laundry stuff.  And febreze?  How often and for what do you use that?  Also paper plates?  Plastic cutlerly?  Aren't dishes and stuff included in your flat?  Save the space-if you really need it, that can be picked up at the pound store. 

Bring your own toiletries by all means, because you know what brands you like but I'd leave the other stuff. 

There is a Waitrose next to the Gloucester Rd. tube station, if you really need a full service supermarket now and then.  Prices are not too extortionate.  (2 stops away from Knightsbridge station) 

Also - I think you're better buying a hair dryer once you get here. Mine blew up when I sued it with the converter. And as for paper plates etc - you can get those here, and for cheap as well, so you're not saving loads of money by bringing them. Like dish liquid. You'll be fine getting that here, it's less than a pound. Also - as for laundry tablets etc- you can bring your own, but yo'll run out and end up having to buy some here anyway, so you might as well not bring them. They are only cheap here.

Journal

photos of your family, friends and where you grew up so you can show your new friends!

print out of your email address book in case your account goes hay-wire

address book with your friends/families addresses (and to add new ones!)

definetly back pack, messenger bag, whatever....

If you have a binder, make sure you bring enough loose-leaf paper to last your class because UK loose-leaf has only two holes and they are in the center of the page instead of the three holes spread out like we have. One package would suffice, I assume...

Music fan? portable 'walkman" CD player with headphones (buy batteries here; cheaper)

a manila envelope to stuff away papers, notes, tube tickets- etc. if you're into scrap booking and want to keep momentos.

pillow case from home (i bought one back with me at Cmas because I was a bit home-sick!) 

Just trying to think of things I bought while I was there that I wish I took from home- or stuff I bought back to the UK over my Cmas holiday.

Im so happy for your Samantha; have a fabulous time! 

Take a couple of snacks from the states that you know you like. You'll miss them even though youre only away for 6 weeks.

Tuck the Embassy phone number and directions from your flat into your address book incase you need it. Know where the Embassy is.

Make sure your family has copies of your passport incase you loose the original AND the copies.

A london Guide book!

REALLY good walking shoes.

I know this is silly but Europeans like to wear scarfs (like winter ones) - hold it in the middle and let the ends drop so its halved, hold the middle with one hand and the two ends with the other and toss the body of the scarf over your head so youre bending it around your neck. Tuck the two endy bits into the loop where the scarf is folded in half.

Your favourite medicine when you get sick! You never know when a cold could strike and they dont carry the same cough syrup and cough drops here. As a matter of fact it all tastes 10 times worse!

Instead of taking paper plates just take one or two unbreakable acrylic plates. It'll be lighter and cheaper than carrying 6 weeks worth of paper plates. Same with silverwear - just take a couple of stainless steel knives, spoons and forks.

A good investment would be an MP3 player so you dont have to cart around CDs or tapes.

Skin care products. I dont know how you'll be but I break out really bad every time I go back and forth between the states because of the change in water. Maybe just taking your favourite "emergency" face wash would be a good idea.

I dont know about what facilities you'll have there for laundry but dont be surpised if you dont have a dryer! You might have to let things air dry on racks. Maybe you can check that before you go. It would save you bringing dryer sheets anyway.

Measuring cups are only good if you bring your own american cook book! You'll have to get another set here if youre doing the instructions off of British boxes and bags. Or make sure you find a really good conversion chart. The British tablespoon measurement varries and IS different to the american measure, for instance.

Mittens or gloves are never a bad idea, even in the summer!

Also try and remember that not EVERYTHING is more expensive over here. As others have said, things like dish soap are readily avalible and cheap (a bottle of fairy liquid is less than a pound and will surely last you 6 weeks!).

Have a great time!

Feminine products - unless you're really attached to a certain brand, you can find those here easy, this can be bulky to pack and I'd just as soon get what you need here when you need it.  I mean, you're only going to be here 6 weeks (this time), right?

Peroxide/Band-Aids - peroxide, yes.  Band-Aids, no.  Again, something you can get cheap enough here on an as-needed basis.  I would add Bacitracin ointment - you need a prescription to get it here.

Wipes - what kind do you mean?  They have all sorts here - baby wipes and "personal" ones.

sun block - I'm iffy on this.  There is NO shortage of sunblock products here!  But they can be kind of pricy.  If you already have some, bring what you have.  But I'm not sure I'd buy brand new just to bring.


Plastic silverware/Paper plates - I ditto what others have said - wouldn't waste the packing space bringing these.  A trip to Wilkinson and you can stock up cheaply.

Laundry tablets/dryer sheets - Leave the laundry tablets unless you need a special kind (i.e. sensitive skin, etc).  Bring the dryer sheets.

Febreze (Thank you for the suggestion Krissybelle) - we have this here.

Dish-soap and towel - wait till you get here for these, too.

Measuring cups (freakin metric conversion chart!) - these I'd bring, but nothing special.  I went to Kmart and bought a set of plastic spoon and cup measuring tools.

I agree with everyone else..most of the stuff can be purchased in a pound shop for next to nothing.  (Well, for a pound to be exact!)   

As for the measuring spoons, cookbooks, etc....why bother?  You can get a metric scale at the pound shop (mine's electric blue!) and, once you have that, cooking w/ British recipes is a doddle!   

You can get everything you have listed in the UK (it's actually quite a civilised country, believe it or not  ).

Yes, the same and similar things can be found in the UK.  However, there are some things that simply are different - or are obtained in a different fashion than someone from the US might be used to.

Like needing a prescription for bacitracin ointment, which as a mother of 2 sons I wouldn't be without in my bathroom cabinet!  If I needed an actual prescription to get it when someone had a scrape...! 

I think you are overpacking, too. You're not going on safari, you can get all the basics you need right here in Blighty! Relax and just remember to bring a camera and loads of film.