Taking a child to university by train and what to buy there?

[Boxingshibes]

Anyone taking their dc to uni by train?
I'm trying to figure out how much stuff we can take by train and how much we'll need to buy once we're there.
So far - clothes/personal stuff by train
Everything else - buy at Tesco/dunhelm/ ikea once we've seen the accommodation.
Trying to explain to dd we cant buy bedding/kitchen stuff now seems to be going in one ear and out the other!!!

if you're both travelling then you can probably take 2 large suitcases? (carry one each?)
Can you get two and lay them open in her room and then just let her fill them?

Ooh and do a supermarket click and collect or delivery for when you get there? Then she can pick everything out and fill the virtual basket?

Can you amazon locker some stuff close by? You can also buy "Uni Kits" of varying ££ which can just be in the room on arrival

Shop delivery for our oldest at a time that suits , picked all he needs just has to take his clothes etc

Back in the day I went to uni on my own and what I could carry was what I had in my uni accommodation.

I suggest you focus on what personal items DD would like. You'll have her clothes (but depending on distance, consider taking ones for hotter/going into autumn weather and suggest she comes back/you go down after a few weeks with more warmer clothes). If she wants to buy things now, think about what is most important to her. I doubt she will care where she gets a sheet from, but you can buy a duvet cover of her choice - rather than limiting her to what she can get when she arrives. Same with kitchen stuff - would she like a couple of nice mugs and plates that she's picked out and she can get the more basic practical items like pans when she gets there?

Both my husband and I took our son up by train as we don’t have a car. We took 3 suitcases with us but had to make sure we were at the platform early (and from the starting station) or we may have struggled fitting them in the racks. We did arrive a few days before he moved into his accommodation and rented a car whilst there which made it easy to buy stuff/pick up items pre-ordered from Amazon and the like.

I’d probably buy bedding before you go unless there is a source close to the accommodation even if it just sheets and pillowcases.

We also had to use https://www.sendmybag.com/ when we realised we had overestimated how much would fit in to the cases.

I’d prioritise getting bedding and towels as I’d want to wash them before using.
My cousin also said packing into packing cubes was good as my niece could then use the packing cubes as storage on the shelves and under the bed.
Some people take way too much stuff too I’d ask her to make a list of what she really needs - perhaps a Parmesan grater and julienne cutter can wait 🤣
Hope it goes well.

Dd went to uni on the train to London. She didn't have to take kitchen stuff but she did take a coverless duvet and pillow rolled up in the gym type bag it came in a bit like yuy would carry a sleeping bag. She then took her clothes, towels etc in a large wheeled bag (a bit like the Eastpack ones.

We did follow i the car a couple of weeks later with other stuff.

Order stuff from Argos to be collected at the uni end.
Alot of the shops might be a bit bare.
We luckily went by car we got a lift, but when we popped to a few local places there wasn't much left on the shelves.
So maybe think what you could order that way?

Her halls of residence didn't have post drop offs or storage for some deliveries. So check that.

If you buy bedding at destination at least pack a pre washed fitted sheet and a couple of pillowcases from home for first couple nights.
A duvet without cover is fine till you get a new set and just give it a wash iyswim.

She’ll only need a couple of plates, bowls, mugs etc so those could be packed between the clothes if there’s particular ones that she wants to take.

i’d also take sheets, duvet covers and towels so that they can be washed in advance, even if they’re new.

Bulky kitchen stuff, duvet, pillow, rug etc can be bought in advance to collect from somewhere convenient nearby. I know some universities have second hand sales of kitchen equipment at the start of term that was left or donated by previous students.

where is she heading to? Perhaps we can help with what’s nearby?

She is so excited so want to buy everything!!
I am medically unable to drive but thinking about it (my dad has a merc saloon but will be unable to take us) i dont think we'd get much more in his car.
We have 2 big wheels bags and 2 large zip up ikea type bags. Plus 2 normal rucksacks. I think we'll be OK on the trains. Its 3 trains from here and 9hrs.
Ill be staying for 3 nights in a hotel so we can get stuff during that time.

I dropped off my DD at Kings Cross for Edinburgh. She took one large suitcase and a backpack. The suitcase did have her clothes vacuum-packed, so it was heavy and she needed help getting it on the train. Fortunately another student had her dad with her.

She bought a bedding pack for her room which was there on arrival, and then got bits and pieces from charity shops and Ikea.

When she moved for second year, we stayed in her flat when she was in America, and we got Argos stuff delivered.

I’d pick up bedding and towels while you’re there, or have them delivered, so they’re ready for you. Don’t understand why they need washing in advance. No need to carry them with you, as they take up space. Similarly a couple of plates, cups, pans, etc.

DDs bed is 4’ so not a normal size. Buy a double duvet and bedding set there but if it’s a 4’ bed definitely order fitted sheet and mattress topper online as it’s not a common size

We've dropped two off at uni via trains.

We used - My Baggage and both sent rather a lot of case (got them from charity shops beforehand). I suspect they both took a lot more than if we did drive.

We also did three huge cases and back packs on trains - nether seem to travel light.

We still had to buy bedding - pillows duvet - and few cooking items and towels.

They both put most of it in storage over summer in first/second year and then had accomodation for rest of year. DD1 did man in van to get it all back to us after graduation.

Supermarkets were very well set up with stuff - so if there most to get set up when there it really shouldn't be an issue.

I would pack early though as it does mean it become obvious and very visual how much stuff you are dealing with.

I've moved one into uni by coach and one by train. Both times we used Unikitout for basics. They were delivered to the room. It needed three of us with a large case and back pack to take other stuff. People travel to uni from abroad so it's doable.

Check your luggage allowance on your train ticket.

It sounds as if you have a lot of stuff. I would not want to struggle with that much luggage on three different trains. Sounds like my worst nightmare. There is not much room in second class seating.

I went by plane and we did the shopping when we got there. We had a very full taxi taking us from the hotel to halls. DD did more shopping for small items after I left. We have family in the uk so they arranged storage over the three summers during the course.

Good luck, I hope that she enjoys her course

Order from Argos/dunelm/asda rather than relying on buying in store for household bits, near universities shops can look like the locusts have been through the duvet section! Dunelm has a kitchen starter pack, which looked about right for ease, you could even get it all delivered to the halls. Alternatively some universities will even supply some things, popular with overseas students.

i would also look at low cast shipping services so you can mail bit a week in or so that she realises she has forgotten.

Bring hangers. I remember forgetting them and then seems so did many others and when I went to the shops, adult hangers had sold out.

My ds went travelled to university abroad on the Eurostar. He took two large suitcases and a rucksack. He took a duvet, pillow, towel, toiletries , a pan, basic cutlery and utensils, basic crockery, and all his clothes. He managed it independently, including travelling through London! It is possible.

Check your luggage allowance on your train ticket.

Is that a thing on UK trains? We did see a sign up one year at local station saying no more than three cases per person - and wondered what prompted that as it was so unusual.

A case each and a ruck sack even a big one is doable - done it few times getting them there - how bad depends on the route - cross country always the worst and more change there are the harder is can be - need to locate lifts and make sure have lot so change time or trian soon after.

Old two have both carried way too much back via trains - but they've managed.

I hope we'll be OK, train wise SE to London no worries, the lumo to Edinburgh I'm suggesting we each put luggage in racks early. Then after Edinburgh northwards should be fine. London to Edinburgh is the only one we have designated seats on.

At least one of the train tickets I have bought this year has referred to luggage allowance. I rarely travel with more than under seat carry on so not studied it.

I have travelled East Midlands to Birmingham Airport, Gatwick Airport and Heathrow. Might depend on rail company.

I still think it is easier to buy stuff at Uni town.

Interesting never seen that but did google and apparently it's three items per person typically two larger bags and one small hand-held item provided you can carry them yourself without blocking aisles or seats across whole network - just never seen anyone enforce that.

Honestly though more than that is really hard on trains though have seen people try- but we found the baggage service linked above really good and reliable they do door to door trackable service.