Loughborough university moving in day-parking?

[Shinyandnew1]

Any tips for parking on moving in day-there don’t seem to be any nearby parking spaces for Telford Hall? Will it be rammed??

No experience of Loughborough but my experience elsewhere suggests that it is likely to be a sort of controlled chaos/pretty rammed. Slightly less so if they give out fairly narrow arrival windows spread across a few days. Worst around midday/early afternoon. Normally you get twenty minutes to half an hour next to halls to unload then need shift your car to a car park elsewhere with staff moving you on.

On the upside, picking them up at the end of the year is pretty relaxed as people leave over the course of a few weeks.

We had a window to arrive and park, then a short time to move in (Falk Egg). Don’t think we were in the nearest car park but it was fine.

This was in 2021 so there were Covid restrictions - it was easier with DD in 2019 (not Luffers though).

Think they provide trolleys? How far away are you? Don’t take loads of stuff is my tip, you can easily do a delivery of anything they do need after all. We were v near tho

DS is moving into Cayley on Monday 21st. We've got an hour slot booked, but we're coming by train - so one less car fighting for space.

Which day is Telford's moving day?

It’s Wednesday 23rd.

My other DC were at unis which had car parks right outside the blocks and it was really easy (especially with Covid as it was so strict!) but Telford looks to have no nearby car parks and we are coming a fair distance

I don't know about Telford specifically but when DS1 was there we had our move-in slot and could pull up quite close to halls in areas which were not official car parks usually, then a team of students in hall t-shirts descend and load all your stuff onto trolleys. Once your car is empty, you move it to an official car park somewhere. It was very easy and the existing students are so helpful and welcoming. I'm quite nostalgic thinking about it!

Looking at the map @Shinyandnew1 there's a car park opposite the library which is not far away. I agree with @AlohaRose I recall now that lots of lovely second years descended on the car to help. As I say, this was Falk Egg which has a car park just at the top of the Bouley [sic] but I imagine Telford will have similar.

My daughter did preseason in Telford last year before moving to her regular room in RIg-Rutt. You are right - the parking for Telford is not particularly near so you will be walking stuff over but there are helpers and hopefully trollies to use on moving in day. Car parking is also free on moving in week so no rush on timing when you need to leave campus.

We're Rigg Rutt on the 23rd trying not to take too much stuff and driving up with some more after a few weeks is my plan. I assume they will direct us where to temporarily park when we arrive?

Is there anywhere to park on a random day further into the term?

Each hall has a group of student helpers. They'll be wearing Telford t-shirts so easy to spot. You'll park up and there will be offers of help from the Welcome Helpers to support transpors all of your stuff. Really friendly and a good opportunity to ask lots of questions!

Thank you-that’s helpful. So I presume we head for a car park first, then go and find out where the room actually is, then look for helpers and a trolley!

DC is not happy at the moment in that loads of school friends have been at uni for a week and been doing lovely freshers things (or freshers doesn’t even start till next Monday!) whereas at Loughborough it’s moving in day tomorrow, course welcome things at 9.30am both Thursday and Friday and then the course starts on Monday 28th at 9am and is 9am virtually every day! When is the opportunity to just spend a bit of time getting to know your flatmates?!

With my older DC, they were signed up to WhatsApp groups and ‘met’ their flatmates before they went. We don’t know a flat/room number or anyone else-it’s all very different.

Successfully dropped DS yesterday. Once on campus it was all very smooth. Getting there was less great as we went by train and our train broke down so we had to change trains then it decided not to stop at Loughborough so we had to do another change- along with loads of other families with suitcases.

I wasn't prepared for how small his room is. I knew he was in an old block but (obviously) photos online are all of the bigger room. He bought hardly anything and I have no idea where he is supposed to keep things like socks etc.

But the main thing he was happy. It's a great location in the village, really near everything.

Good luck to others moving in today or tomorrow.

A few underbed storage boxes are cheap from eg ASDA and can provide a good amount of additional storage.

Is his a cheaper hall? DS's room in Falk Egg was not very big. But then it was £100 pw (a few years ago, but it's still a cheaper choice). IME with uni halls you really do get what you pay for (tho I have read horror stories from some unis of £££ rooms that were horrible). If you are paying top dollar for a SC room it should be a decent size with a good social area. Actually the Falk Egg kitchen was fine, a decent space for some social activity.

@Chrysanthemumsinpots the bed is on a block - if you take off the mattress you can lift up the base and perhaps store your empty suitcase in there but you can't slide anything under the bed.

@clary He is in old Cayley so more reasonably priced (still £189 pw) than others but the kitchen is like a galley kitchen, no oven, one hob for 16 people. There is no space to sit in the kitchen. It is a catered halls Monday to Fri but they are supposed to cook at weekends.

I'm sure he will make the most of it - and knows no different. It's very much like my room was when I was at uni and I very much enjoyed my time.

Ah Ok that's not a bad price for catered tbh. I guess the room being smaller is one reason. But you could easily pay that for SC (tho probs ensuite) in some unis. Falk Egg is SC hence the decent kitchen. Catered halls are a great way to meet people and if you are fairly open to most food then it's not a bad deal.

I was in a catered hall (not Lboro, and about 1300 years ago obvs) and that was just Mon-Fri. We were given the basics for sandwiches for the weekend but we didn't starve. There were no kitchens to speak of – just a tiny room with water boiler, no fridge. We got creative! Also no one used to get up till about 2pm on a Saturday anyway haha

@Shinyandnew1 just wondering how moving in day went and how your DC is settling in?

My DS appears to have settled in well. He is not much of a clubber/drinker but nonetheless says he has spent virtually no time in his room other than to sleep and is absolutely exhausted!

Mine seems to be out all the time too which I'm taking as a good sign (after a wobbly drop off day....) I was very impressed with the range of welcome events his hall have put on.

Yes, all is good thank you! Moving in was great-really well organised. Room is nice-halls have got loads of events on and they’ve been out every night.

Lectures tomorrow! Lots of school friends elsewhere don’t even start freshers week till tomorrow which is odd!

@allthemind yes the stuff arranged by his hall has been great. My DS is in catered and so far the food has been good too. He has to cook at weekends so not sure whether he actually got round to doing any shopping!

I knew Loughborough was strong in sport but I didn't realise how much a focus it is socially as well. Apparently a there is a rounders match today!

@Shinyandnew1 I think Loughborough is known for long terms - getting your money's worth! I think they break up relatively late in December as well.

I didn’t know that!

Ah well-money well spent 😂

yes great sport for fun is on offer as well as more serious stuff. Ds's GF is busy on her society stall today.All the best to all new starters.

Lots of nostalgia reading this thread. L’boro is a fantastic University. Hope your DC settles in quickly 🥰