These are the items I bought within my first week in England.
I’ve put a list below of stores where you can purchase these items.
| Item | £ |
| medium frying pan | |
| small pot | |
| a big pot | |
| loose silverware – 2 forks, 2 knives, 2 large spoons and 2 teaspoons | |
| knives | |
| drinking glasses and a tea cup | |
| scissors | |
| disinfecting wipes | |
| cooking utensils (spatula, spoon, | |
| can opener | |
| water filter jug (you cannot drink from the tap so you need to order a jug from amazon and replace the filters every four weeks. | |
| filters for the water jug | |
| duvet and duvet cover (king size is advised for those who are around 5’8″. The double duvet is exact to the bed.) | |
| pillows | |
| 2 sheet sets | |
| towel and rag | |
| kitchen towels | |
| lights (to design your room a little) | |
| water bottle and flask | |
| plastic containers (to put away leftovers or season meat) | |
| two pasta bowls (these are perfect for almost every meal. They are deep enough for soup and wide like a plate. | |
| pens, pencils etc. | |
| writing books | |
| iron (my flat had one but it didn’t work properly and I couldn’t live without one) |
I advise getting two of everything because it allows you to not have to wash and dry every time you want to eat. Also, because you will have to clean out your flat once your lease is up, you will need to store your belongings in storage. You do not want too many things to have to move and store. I do not suggest buying your dishes in sets.
Advice: Try and buy things that have colour or aren’t too plain because things can get mixed up with other flatmates.
Pots and Pans: Your pots and pans must have a metal bottom as they will be used on eletric stoves which use magnets The listing of your accommodation should tell you if that is the case. If anything check the kitchen to make sure before you buy.
Knives & Scissors: You will be asked to present an I.D to prove your age before buying knives or scissors. The age is 21. I think if you’re 18 years old and you show your student I.D. you might be able to buy. But just ask the store clerks for help on it.
Duvet: Make sure it’s at least 10 tog (tog is the measurement used for the thickness)
Some accommodations and companies do offer the service of providing you with pillows, kitchen ware and cleaning stuff so that you don’t have to worry about it.
Here’s an example of one.
You can google for recommendations if this is the route you would like to take.
Stores you can purchase these items:
- https://www.wilko.com/
- https://www.bmstores.co.uk/ – Can only be bought in stores.
- https://www.homebargains.co.uk/
- https://www.asda.com/
- https://www.lidl.co.uk/ – Can only be bought in stores.
I love shopping in B&M because their stuff is aesthetically pleasing. Use google maps to check the stores you have or will have around you.