Best way to move daughter into Edinburgh halls from West London

[Pigeonpair1]

Hello all, my daughter is starting at Edinburgh in a couple of weeks and I’m just debating the best way to get up there with all the kit (from West London). I am mostly tempted to drive as I like the idea of just putting everything in the car and going door to door but of course I know it’s a very long drive and probably sensible to stop overnight. Then there’s flying but that will likely involve paying for extra bags etc and I just find it all a bit of a hassle! Lastly, there is the train option but I’m sure they will be limits on how much you can take.She is in Halls so no need for kitchen stuff, but I expect they will still be a lot! In terms of manpower it will be me, my daughter and my son who is coming to help (sadly my husband died a few years ago) I’d love some advice on what current and former Edinburgh parents did and what fresher are planning to do!! many thanks

I would get the train. How much does she need if no kitchen stuff?

You can always courier a couple of boxes of stuff to her once she’s there. She/you can carry the rest on the train - back pack, couple of cases? Everything she takes up she’ll have to bring back down at the end of the year so it’s pointless to take the kitchen sink.

There was another thread recently where someone recommended a baggage courier. I’d do that then get the train.

Also, you don’t want to take big cases as you’ll have to bring them back again. She’ll have no room to store them.

There are shops in Edinburgh too. Pack clothes only, get the train, pop to Primark, M&S or similar on arrival to pick up bedding/accessories, arrange an online food shop and you are sorted

I'd drive and make a mini holiday out of it if you have the time

Just drive! So much easier and it’s not that bad, it’s a day travelling then you have everything

It isn't that long a drive? From west London it's about 7.5 hours plus stops. I went to Edinburgh and lived in same area, we went up and down all the time. Take the car so she can have all her stuff and not be stressing about packing small for the train. I've never stopped overnight. Leave early morning you'll be there by mid afternoon.

https://www.lner.co.uk/our-trains/luggage/

https://www.sherpr.com/en/student-shipping/

Train is very convenient, but if you like driving, it’s very doable to leave very early in the morning, stop somewhere half way up for a brunch, and drive on to Edinburgh. Check availability for parking at the halls. But it might be then you could also leave your daughter, go spend another night in say St Andrews or Fife or East Lothian with your son, pop back for coffee with your daughter, then head back, timing it so it’s not rush hour passing any cities and stop for another meal.

If pollock halls you often have to remove all your stuff each term or pay loads for storage (this may have changed tbf it was 22years ago!) there are kitchenettes on each floor so she will need a mug plate and suchlike for when she doesn’t feel like eating (if doing the catered halls). At least she won’t need to take the massive sound system like I did 22years ago- 5cd player and tapes- think I got an MP3 player by end of 3rd year. lol! My dad drove me from the midlands was 5hours for us. It is a very very long drive it’s lovely but doing it twice a term is a lot! Tell her to have an amazing time and back in the day the chicken and sweetcorn naan at teviot row house was the best thing on the menu! My daughter is thinking of applying to edinburgh and I’m so excited!

Thanks all! Yes I think we will drive. I’m up and down to south Devon all the time and enjoy it so it’s not that much further! Also like the idea of just being able to pack everything in the car and go. I love the idea of sending everything ahead though. Great idea.

My DD is at Edinburgh and we take her up in September and then bring her back in May. We leave at 6am, are at Teebay Services in time for coffee at 10.30/11 and then in Edinburgh for 2.30/3. Then we stay overnight and drive back the next day. Just a word of warning hotels are really pricey, as if they all know it’s Uni dropping off time, and not all have parking.

However you decide to travel, I’d strongly encourage you to save some budget for buying things once they are there for a few days and know what would really make a difference.

Trying to guess everything in advance is tricky

I would drive too. My DD1 at Edinburgh (4th year) and it’s about 6.5 hours from us. She takes the train when back at Xmas.

I usually stay over somewhere for the night or a few days if I can. Halls will manage the parking on the day yoh go up but parking in Edinburgh is usually a bit of a pain.

Also, there is an IKEA not far away, about 20 mins.

There's a huge Sainsbury's in Cameron toll shopping centre too which is on the south side and an Aldi. Loads of parking there. Lots of b&b's to stay in that side of Edinburgh too. Obviously depends where her halls are.

Definitely drive if you are happy too. My DD lives in Edinburgh (for work - she’s not a student) and DS at uni in Stirling. It’s roughly 6.5 hrs in the car on a good run for us to Edinburgh and we love a road trip. We always stop at Tebay 😊
Both the kids get the train home every so often and it never fails to be an utter nightmare (delays/cancellations etc pretty much every trip).

Hotels in Edinburgh can be very pricey though

Me too!
Make a lovely adventure of it

Post some vacuum packed via in post to a local locker 🤣

Drive - you can save money by doing your overnight stay outside of Edinburgh - there are some nice places in Northumberland!

Drive.
Other options are much too difficult.

Drive. Assuming she’s in catered halls? She will still want some kitchen bits - mug, glass, plate, cutlery unless she really won’t be making any meals at all.

If you drive then make sure you stay somewhere you can park. Driving across Edinburgh is a pain so if you do drive stay somewhere south/westvsude so you're on the right side of town. Edinburgh Park is a bit soulless but the hotels have parking and are beside both the train and tram stops to get into town in a few minutes so you can get a bit of a holiday as well. Plus you are right near the bypass to get round to Pollock.
We live near Edinburgh and DS is moving into self catering halls - not Pollock- I am fully expecting to bring half the stuff he plans to take, home again when he sees how little room he has.

I drive up and down to Glasgow on the regular and I would drive. There’s plenty of student luggage companies you can use to shift some of her stuff in advance (memories of collecting Dd and her having acquired tons of stuff and no way were we fitting it all in my car!)