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’ve had 2 DC at Edinburgh University - both now graduated. For DC1 we went on the train and did click and collect for bedding etc, which was fine.
We drove up with DC2. I happen to really like driving, and much prefer the A1 route which is less boring than the M1. There are really lovely views north of Newcastle. I did it in a day. We all enjoyed the road trip together, and it was much easier to unload all their stuff from the car and not have to pick up various click and collect orders.
Parking in Edinburgh is difficult, you need a hotel with a car park or stay a bit out of town.
Enjoy! Edinburgh is a wonderful place to visit, which we did frequently (by train) when they were studying there.

We are taking the train! Youngest also starting Edinburgh in September and we live in SW London.

I did the train with a suitcase (no wheels!) and a backpack. But we also got duvets, pillows, bed linen and towels provided (and towels and linen washed once a week!). And I was in a catered hall. And we had to clear out our rooms at Christmas and Easter (though there was a box room you could put a suitcase in)

it’s not like the ‘old days’ of university where you had to take a load of stuff with you. A car is completely unnecessary these days IMO.

Online shopping has made it easy to get items delivered to the address and shopping locally is also easy.

It’s unnecessary to drive from London to another city, when the train is direct, takes half the time, is more ecological and you easily can bring what’s needed.

We are going by train. A couple of suitcases and buy the duvet up there

Can you INPOST some of the stuff up ?

Neither dh and I enjoy driving, we used shiply.com to send a couple of big cases to Pollock and then went up with dd on the train with a couple more bags. Dc does not pack light. It worked out really well. If you do shiply (I think there's also sendmybag) people send in bids for how much they'll take the case for, ignore the first few, which are insanely high and soon you'll get sensible, very affordable ones. It was all very easy and much more enjoyable than driving.

Not RTFT but we're in West London and our elder YP is at Edinburgh (now going into her 4th year). We have always driven up and booked a hotel with parking for overnight (often outside the city because the prices shoot up around drop-off dates unless you book very early). In her first year, she was in Holland House in Pollock Halls and there was parking in front of Holland House where we were able to park up for about 20 minutes to get her stuff in and get her settled. That said, one of my closest friends has had 2 YPs in Edinburgh (now both graduated) and they have always gone up by train and done some of the bigger shopping once up there.

I will add that I really enjoy driving and in fact, initially on Waze's recommendation, we went up the west side of the country and got on to the pay motorway around Manchester - the traffic was easy and the views just got more and more stunning as we drove through the Lake District and into southern Scotland.

We took our DD from near Edinburgh to Bristol. We drove and took a few days to do it there and back. We then drove her back once she had graduated but by then we needed to hire a van as she had accumulated so much stuff!

@Pigeonpair1 Lots of good ideas. Hope your DD has a wonderful time at Edinburgh. Mine is about to go into her second year there and loves it there.

That long drive up the M6/A1 is practically a rite of passage for Edinburgh parents, but doing it solo with two teens is a massive stretch! If you do drive, breaking it up overnight around the Lake District or Carlisle makes it so much more manageable.

We don’t like driving so we send stuff with MyBaggage from Edinburgh to Durham 😂

Usually send DD’s 4 large boxes at £22/ea and take a large suitcase on the train.

I think it helps them curate what they really need to take with them.

Those sending boxes, how does it work at the other end? Not all halls seem to be keen on managing the receipt of large parcels.

We drove. DD had an early get in time so we stayed at Dakota in Queensferry the night before. Usually we would have stayed at Tebay but for some reason didn't. We do the drive regularly and recommend coming in the Biggar road. We have done the whole trip in 6.5 hours but it can take 8 or more (11 once!) if you have bad luck with the M6 or like a lot of stops.

It’s a long tiring drive. But if you’re ok with that, do it.

If your DC’s halls won’t take delivery then perhaps arrange delivery a day or so after they’ve arrived and let them travel with the essentials.

Dd has done inpost boxes for Christmas 2or 3 medium boxes so much cheaper than hold luggage. Drops them in a locker near halls and picks up in our village a few days later.

As I recall, Pollock didn’t have a problem with receiving boxes – I’m sure it happens all the time. But if not, as someone said just arrange it for the day after they’ve arrived.

There are over 2,000 students at Pollock Halls. I could imagine it would only take a small proportion of those sending a few large boxes for move in day and they would be overwhelmed! But also not all of the other halls have porters or reception on site.

I can’t remember the exact arrangements for my DC1 in halls but I do remember having to send parcels to pickup locations instead.

I see you have already decided to drive. DS1 is going into year 3 and for first year we drove from London. We stopped at services once or twice and then stayed overnight, when we took him back last year we drove up, dropped stuff, had dinner and drove back - I do not recommend this, though it was fine.

Its things like pillows and duvets that will be a pain on a train and there is limited space for big luggage. Things were very organised on drop off day and it was very easy to unload the car with plenty of staff about directing people.

This year we timed leases so that he could move his stuff straight into his new flat and then he just came home with his clothes and laptop, so he will go back on the train this year.

I did think he would probably fly occasionally because of train fares but he has always managed to get reasonable fares so has always taken the train.

Not at all a practical concern, but I was just reminded of all the other cars on the way up on the motorway with teens and their pillows piled up and at the service stations seeing others doing what we were, it was quite nice.

Not reason enough to drive of course if someone doesnt want to.

It is nice isn’t it - I think it helps the kids seeing all the other freshers in the same boat - probably all a bit nervous! We are all quite looking forward to the road trip - we have our best chats in the car and will have music on. It will be long but I quite like driving and regularly drive the four hours to South Devon without a stop. My husband died about 13 years ago so it will just be the three of us. These milestones are always a little bittersweet without him, so making a trip of it will be nice. DS 21 will be there on the way back to mop up my tears at leaving her 🥲🥲

My daughter was in pollock halls and her room was very small with tiny storage. She had breakfast and dinner catered so no kitchen stuff needed. We took train, then rented a car and went to ikea. Got bedding, towels etc. room already had a rubbish bin, bath mat and all the basics so there was no need for us to bring a huge amount of stuff, two suitcases of clothes were completely enough