Essential non essential items - UK self catering holidays

[Ihatesandwiches]

Our holiday is booked and paid for and I'm counting the days until we go away :-)
We're self catering in the UK (in the title but I thought I'd mention it again) and I'm wondering what non essential items we should take. Is there anything you pack that makes a world of difference?
We always take DP's ipod and docking station. And a posh candle for when the kids have gone to bed. Also, a nice fluffy throw in case it gets chilly or it's not quite warm enough to sit outside.
I'm considering taking a cafetiere this year as I really missed "proper" coffee last time.
Any ideas?

A sharp knife if you are doing any form of cooking.

It depends on the standard of accommodation, but I usually find them very well kitted our these days.
We also take a cafetière, even if there is one, it usually hasn’t been cleaned very well.
Other stuff:
Tupperware for sandwiches/picnics
Clips for sealing food bags
Spare tea towels (mine dry better because I don’t use fabric softener)
Spare hangers (never enough)
Bar of soap that you can cut up to share between sinks/bathrooms

Slippers - I dislike walking around without something on my feet.

Don't know if the standard has risen since we used to do this when mine were little, or if it is just that we have gone up in the world a bit, but things I used to find useful were:
cloth (wiping up spills - never seemed to be one)
pegs - hanging out the towels and swimming costumes
a decent sized mug - having been caught out previously with teacup only place
decent tin opener
bucket (yes, I know seems odd but one child or another would normally get something on clothes that were better soaking than leaving to wash when you got home ~ maybe that was just mine though?)
sandwich bags / clingfilm / tupperware for taking picnic to the beach

Cafetiere and a bag of good coffee. Lavazza is all very well, but by day 3 it gives us insomnia.

I always take:

Pegs
Lunchboxes/sandwich bags/drinks bottles
A bath mat
Tea towel
Loo roll (just in case!)
Torch

Have fun

My luxury items are to take my own pillow and slippers.

And an umbrella and rain jacket that stay in the car and if they stay in the car the whole holiday I can be smug and say we got good weather.

Decent non stick pan.

Load of board games.

Plastic cups unless the kids are past dropping glasses age.

Books! There’s usually a few but I take my own.
This time we’re going for two weeks so I might take a few dvds too, as I never seem to get time to watch them at home. Again there’s usually a few there but not always my cup of tea.

I've often considered taking the slow cooker but haven't as of yet.

We always take a deck of cards. And Pandemic (a great 2play board game).

I like your candle and fluffy blanket idea. I'll add them to our list.

I usually buy a fresh bottle of gin and nice tonics.

A packed lunch for when we get there, so we can have a quick bite to eat and then have a good look about and suss out what's available.

Decent sized mug. Nothing worse than trying to have a proper brew in a thimble-sized teacup. That’s it really - we tend to eat ready meals and supermarket pizza on holiday so we don’t need proper culinary equipment.

I’m currently away in a holiday cottage and really wish I’d brought my slippers. Apart from that it’s very well equipped, there are even bikes and helmets!

This interlocking colander and fruit bowl combination if we’re travelling by car. So versatile and, if I pack it with other things inside, not particularly bulky.

I always take a hand towel for the kitchen, a spare tea towel, pegs, anti bac wipes and my own hairdryer.

A corkscrew.
Matches.

Electric extension cables, there are never enough sockets.

I would check the inventory before making a long list as some self catering places are quite/very well stocked. My trick is to do an online shop before we depart to be delivered the evening of our arrival. Saves having to run about getting essentials the first evening. And you can then have proper breakfast the next morning.
My main things I bring from home are for DD. Lots of activities such as colouring books art stuff games cuddly toy etc to make the place feel a home from home for her.

If you are at all a serious cook, bring some sharp knives. I have stayed in probably 15 or more self catering places and I don't think I have ever found decent knives. Especially a good knife to cut tomatoes.

I also travel now with a few of the little battery operated tea lights. They are cheap and make a good night light, especially in bathrooms. We use them in cruise ship bathrooms too as they are just enough light but the light does not spill into the hall much.

Have a great time.

A must for me is a large coolbag and a couple of iceblocks so we can make packed lunches and be a bit more self sufficient/ free for lunch if we want to go exploring.

Normally there is a caffiettere and cling film/ tin foil but these things are good to pack too.

Nice bubble bath is good if there is a bath. We take hotel slippers that my DH takes home from business trips!

Well, I'm a bit of an over packer.

Everyone takes Slippers and two pairs of Flip flops, one pair for external use, another purely for bathroom/showering.
Slow cooker, as there are 6 of us and it's really useful.
Selection of Face masks.
Escalado racing game or the trading game PIT.
Ice cube bags for freezer.
Our own kettle.
Cocktail maker
Plastic pimms jug
Plug extension lead
Foil trays to cook in.
Bbq skewers
Panini press
Filter coffee maker with filter papers etc.
Melamine serving platters and plastic tumblers.
Plastic storage containers for fridge and cupboard use.

We used to go Centerparcs a lot when the kids were little, I used to take a wok with me 😂😂

Oh and those glow sticks things you get from camping shops.

Ordnance survey map.
Full First aid kit.
Baking paper
Sponge scourers
Disinfectant spray
Floor wipes
Antibacterial wipes and hand gels
Liquid soaps
Bleach
Toilet rolls
Batteries
Cool box, freezer inserts, thermos flasks.
Cake tins.

We bring a "kitchen box" with a couple of decent knives, a chopping board, basic herbs and spices, olive oil and balsamic and some fresh garlic and chillies. Also coffee and a cafetiere and some wine and fizz.

We are going away next week staying in a location we have been to many times but a different house to the ones we have stayed in before so I am going to bring a couple of plug in fan heaters. It's Winter here (Aus) and the house is supposed to have electric heating but just in case...

Bloodying hell donutrehomer, I thought I was an over packer until I read your list, you’ll need to hire a van for that lot I expect
Why do you need to take your own kettle? That has never once crossed my mind!

I don't know really, it just sort of happened 😂😂😂