How do you move stuff into accommodation in central London?

[GMH1974]

Do you have to use the tube / trains or do you get permission to drive because of the amount of stuff they have to move? My daughter's in self catering so has cooking stuff. She will be in UCL accommodation near Kings Cross.

Are the halls within the Congestion Zone?
Kings X (Euston Rd) is on the boundary of the zone.

Can I just everybody who has managed to book their moving in slot for UCL, does the hall drop down have 2024-25 on it? Have repeatedly told UCL that DS unable to book slot as they don’t appear to have added the year. Still shows 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Anyone can drive in London. You don’t need permission but you will need to pay the charges.

London life for you.

It’s all been said.

I would just echo the ‘go light’ advice. Students just don’t need much.

Good luck to your daughter, and congratulations! UCL’s a very good college.

Sorry DD did this on her own so can’t help…

I just drive. Ds1 has an autumnal placement with PwC at Canary Wharf so I just drive him.

Thanks for starting this OP. We are in similar position and have decided to book a hotel with parking nearby the night before. We're a long drive away, and it felt like it would be too stressful to have a super early start, risk missing slot and feel pressured to get DC in and then leave them to it, possibly all in a hurry. Plan is to have a chilled "last" evening with them and then walk over to accommodation, do a food shop and then go home.

It's a bit extravagant, but we don't plan to do it other than this first time.

Some are, some aren't. But the congestion zone doesn't operate 24-7, so pick your time wisely if the £15 is a problem.

Ditto, no email about slots here either. Maybe they are doing it by hall/uni? We have UoL accommodation assigned, so all different unis in same accommodation. Hopefully some slots will be left by the time it is sorted for us.

Is this some kind of weird stealth boast?

What I know so far: stump up for congestion charge and ULEZ, stump up for 2-hour parking on the street if your halls are lucky enough to have it nearby or if on the non-central side of the Euston rd I think parking is free on Sunday (???best check this, don't rely on me). Take as little as possible in case you end up having to park some distance away. Many halls have luggage trolleys but probably not enough for everyone and not all halls particularly suit their use (e.g. older halls, those without lifts etc), so don't pack huge heavy boxes or bags but rather more smaller boxes and bags that can be carried by hand.

Oh please. The PP asked how to book the slot. I don’t know how to actually do that. So no weird conspiracy theory required beyond “ I can’t help you because I genuinely don’t know how to do what you have just asked” 🙄

My plan is as my Dad is driving is to just park up just outside the accommodation, he can help upload while I wait in the car (due to finishing cancer treatment won't have much energy for carrying boxes etc) then when all that's done he can drive home and I'll help DD unpack her room and then get the train home after.

We have been doing the accommodation drop for our UCL child for a couple of years.

We drive, pay for both congestion & ULEZ and parking on top. The parking apps I most often use in central London are Ringo and JustPark. Their apps will have maps that show you where their parking spaces are - not entirely accurate (I once drove up and the bays were closed for roadworks, not updated in the app though).

Beware that London boroughs (via the parking apps) charge extra for diesel vehicles with the parking fees, compared to petrol.

You could try using a carrier - you might find it works out very well costwise. Lots of different companies, but here's one:
https://www.sendmybag.com/en-gb/student-shipping/

We did this, ds2 stayed in UCL halls in Bloomsbury.

We could park outside but not for long so it was tea just a drop and run. It was residents parking if I recall but we didn’t get fined. I got confused with the different congestion charges and paid for both🫣

It was fine though, went smoothly enough.