[blueyes2091]

I was wondering if there are any interesting/useful things to know before going to Leeds: living in halls (fire alarms, laundry...), shopping (cheap supermarkets...), uni courses (books, lectures, exams...) and anything else! Thanks!

[lovers in japan]

(Original post by blueyes2091)
I was wondering if there are any interesting/useful things to know before going to Leeds: living in halls (fire alarms, laundry...), shopping (cheap supermarkets...), uni courses (books, lectures, exams...) and anything else! Thanks!

Interesting thing: there used to be a zoo in what is now a residential area. If you go down Cardigan Road, you can see the old bear pit.

Useful thing: Go to the pound shops in the Merrion Centre (by Morrisons) as often as you can... they sell stuff which is often the same as Morrisons, but cheaper.

[geekaymillay.]

the fire alarm went off nearly every week in my first semester at Clarence docks. a little bit annoying but it became almost a ritual and i was in one of the biggest blocks to be fair.

nothing useful to say apart from enjoy it!!! first year is wonderful.

[blueyes2091]

(Original post by geekaymillay.)
the fire alarm went off nearly every week in my first semester at Clarence docks. a little bit annoying but it became almost a ritual and i was in one of the biggest blocks to be fair.

nothing useful to say apart from enjoy it!!! first year is wonderful.

Thanks! I really thought the thing about the alarms wasn't true...

[blueyes2091]

(Original post by lovers in japan)
Interesting thing: there used to be a zoo in what is now a residential area. If you go down Cardigan Road, you can see the old bear pit.

Useful thing: Go to the pound shops in the Merrion Centre (by Morrisons) as often as you can... they sell stuff which is often the same as Morrisons, but cheaper.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[lovers in japan]

(Original post by blueyes2091)
Thanks for the suggestions!

Also, coming from Italy, just bring clothes, books and technology (laptops etc), you won't need to bring anything else as you can buy it over here fairly cheaply... plates, cutlery, decorations, duvet etc etc

[blueyes2091]

(Original post by lovers in japan)
Also, coming from Italy, just bring clothes, books and technology (laptops etc), you won't need to bring anything else as you can buy it over here fairly cheaply... plates, cutlery, decorations, duvet etc etc

Oh, I understand. However, I have already bought many of these additional things as I found them at a very low price during the past 3 months. I was just wondering about the books...Do I need to buy a lot of them for the courses? Are they very expensive?

[lovers in japan]

(Original post by blueyes2091)
Oh, I understand. However, I have already bought many of these additional things as I found them at a very low price during the past 3 months. I was just wondering about the books...Do I need to buy a lot of them for the courses? Are they very expensive?

I meant books for pleasure in Romanian! The language centre will have some, but not many... Books for your course will almost definitely be in the library, there are several of them and they are huge!

Obviously if you can afford the shipping, then that's fine... otherwise, I would advise making sure your accommodation for second year starts in July so you can move your stuff straight in and not have to worry about taking everything back home; that's what my Lithuanian housemate did

[blueyes2091]

(Original post by lovers in japan)
I meant books for pleasure in Romanian! The language centre will have some, but not many... Books for your course will almost definitely be in the library, there are several of them and they are huge!

Obviously if you can afford the shipping, then that's fine... otherwise, I would advise making sure your accommodation for second year starts in July so you can move your stuff straight in and not have to worry about taking everything back home; that's what my Lithuanian housemate did

Ah, no Romanian or Italian books! I`m already scared about the fact that everything will be English and I`ll be studying Chinese and Portuguese so I don`t want to get distracted by other languages )

About the other things, I can bring 32 kilos with the airplane. I think that`s enough. The problem about the second year is that I`ll spend it abroad...So no accommodation in Leeds!

[lovers in japan]

(Original post by blueyes2091)
Ah, no Romanian or Italian books! I`m already scared about the fact that everything will be English and I`ll be studying Chinese and Portuguese so I don`t want to get distracted by other languages )

About the other things, I can bring 32 kilos with the airplane. I think that`s enough. The problem about the second year is that I`ll spend it abroad...So no accommodation in Leeds!

Oh you're doing Chinese! That's what I did A lot of people I knew made friends from the other language/other half of their course, and rented a cupboard/corner of a room to leave basic stuff like cutlery etc in, with the proviso that those people could use the stuff if they wanted!

As for being overwhelmed, I'm sure you'll adjust well There's a soon-to-be fourth year Japanese student who's Romanian, my housemate spoke Lithuanian and Russian, moved to the UK and studied Japanese, another friend is Portuguese, moved to England to study Chinese Japanese, another is Bulgarian who studies Japanese... I'm sure you'll be in good company

[blueyes2091]

(Original post by lovers in japan)
Oh you're doing Chinese! That's what I did A lot of people I knew made friends from the other language/other half of their course, and rented a cupboard/corner of a room to leave basic stuff like cutlery etc in, with the proviso that those people could use the stuff if they wanted!

As for being overwhelmed, I'm sure you'll adjust well There's a soon-to-be fourth year Japanese student who's Romanian, my housemate spoke Lithuanian and Russian, moved to the UK and studied Japanese, another friend is Portuguese, moved to England to study Chinese Japanese, another is Bulgarian who studies Japanese... I'm sure you'll be in good company

I`m happy to know I`m not the only one And thanks for your suggestions!

[longey]

For run-of-the-mill groceries (including fresh fruit and veg) you can't beat Aldi (Meanwood) and Lidl (Chapel Allerton). Lidl even has their own bakery on site. I find them about 20-30% cheaper than the big name supermarkets.

For more specialist/exotic things it's hard to beat Morrisons at Kirkstall.

[blueyes2091]

(Original post by longey)
For run-of-the-mill groceries (including fresh fruit and veg) you can't beat Aldi (Meanwood) and Lidl (Chapel Allerton). Lidl even has their own bakery on site. I find them about 20-30% cheaper than the big name supermarkets.

For more specialist/exotic things it's hard to beat Morrisons at Kirkstall.

I understand... But what can you tell me about things like detergents, toothpaste, shampoo etc.?

[longey]

(Original post by blueyes2091)
I understand... But what can you tell me about things like detergents, toothpaste, shampoo etc.?

Items such as detergents, toothpaste, shampoo tend to go on and off special offer a lot so you have to shop around for the best buy.

At the moment I find the best detergent is Formil (from Lidl), the pound shops often have good deals on toothpastes (especially Colgate). Shampoo varies a lot - Lidl sells a brand called Cien which seems quite good and cheap to me. Then again, I saw Morrisons own brand shower gel for about 25p a while ago (didn't test it).

Pound shops (Pound Land at Crown Point, and Pound World at Merion Centre and Kirkstall, are the two I know well; and I seem to remember seeing a new one at Crown Point almost next door to Pound Land recently ! ). Everything costs a pound) are often quite cheap BUT beware that they also sometimes sell same brands as the supermarkets in smaller containers - so make sure you are comparing like for like. - this is especially true for things like shampoo where a supermarket might sell it in a 500ml container but the pound shop might sell it in a 425ml container.

There's also a chain called "Home Bargains" which IMHO is often better than the pound shops - I think there is one in the Merrion Centre, though I always go to the one at Cross Gates (not convenient unless you live much further out and/or drive).

And there is another called "Pound Stretcher" which isn't a pound shop - just a discount chain like Home Bargains - there is one at Meanwood, and another at Crown Point in town.

Last but not least - always check the receipt - I would say on 20% of occasions I find the wrong price for something (strangely enough, it is never cheaper than the displayed price !) Morrisons are by far the worst offender in my experience.

[Bollo's Lovechild]

[QUOTE=blueyes2091;38790626]
I can bring 32 kilos with the airplane. I think that`s enough./QUOTE]

I wouldn't bother, you won't get through customs

[blueyes2091]

[QUOTE=Bollo's Lovechild;38825043]

(Original post by blueyes2091)
I can bring 32 kilos with the airplane. I think that`s enough./QUOTE]

I wouldn't bother, you won't get through customs

Why do you say that? I`m allowed 22kilos and a handbag of 10kilos.

[blueyes2091]

(Original post by longey)
Items such as detergents, toothpaste, shampoo tend to go on and off special offer a lot so you have to shop around for the best buy.

At the moment I find the best detergent is Formil (from Lidl), the pound shops often have good deals on toothpastes (especially Colgate). Shampoo varies a lot - Lidl sells a brand called Cien which seems quite good and cheap to me. Then again, I saw Morrisons own brand shower gel for about 25p a while ago (didn't test it).

Pound shops (Pound Land at Crown Point, and Pound World at Merion Centre and Kirkstall, are the two I know well; and I seem to remember seeing a new one at Crown Point almost next door to Pound Land recently ! ). Everything costs a pound) are often quite cheap BUT beware that they also sometimes sell same brands as the supermarkets in smaller containers - so make sure you are comparing like for like. - this is especially true for things like shampoo where a supermarket might sell it in a 500ml container but the pound shop might sell it in a 425ml container.

There's also a chain called "Home Bargains" which IMHO is often better than the pound shops - I think there is one in the Merrion Centre, though I always go to the one at Cross Gates (not convenient unless you live much further out and/or drive).

And there is another called "Pound Stretcher" which isn't a pound shop - just a discount chain like Home Bargains - there is one at Meanwood, and another at Crown Point in town.

Last but not least - always check the receipt - I would say on 20% of occasions I find the wrong price for something (strangely enough, it is never cheaper than the displayed price !) Morrisons are by far the worst offender in my experience.

Thanks! The information is very useful!

[star_gaze]

[QUOTE=Bollo's Lovechild;38825043]

(Original post by blueyes2091)
I can bring 32 kilos with the airplane. I think that`s enough./QUOTE]

I wouldn't bother, you won't get through customs

Why, what's wrong with customs? And does anyone know how much it will cost to bring an extra suitcase on the plane when travelling within the UK, say from Gatwick to Leeds? I know we are allowed only one, but you can pay for another, how much is that?

[accomoffice]

[QUOTE=star_gaze;38831135]

(Original post by Bollo's Lovechild)


Why, what's wrong with customs? And does anyone know how much it will cost to bring an extra suitcase on the plane when travelling within the UK, say from Gatwick to Leeds? I know we are allowed only one, but you can pay for another, how much is that?

At the moment, there aren't any flights from London to Leeds. There is going to be one starting soon but I have a feeling that it's after September. So your best bet is getting the coach - it takes a long time but it's a lot easier managing lots of luggage than it would be getting the train, because you'd have to change stations in London and get the tube. There are about 2 coaches a day that go straight through from Gatwick to Leeds - it wouldn't be quite as bad changing coaches but still better to try and get the direct one if you can.
If you haven't bought your ticket yet it may be worth while either flying to Manchester or going via Amsterdam or Brussels, both of which then connect to Leeds/Bradford (or at least, they used to)

[blueyes2091]

[QUOTE=accomoffice;38831323]

(Original post by star_gaze)
At the moment, there aren't any flights from London to Leeds. There is going to be one starting soon but I have a feeling that it's after September. So your best bet is getting the coach - it takes a long time but it's a lot easier managing lots of luggage than it would be getting the train, because you'd have to change stations in London and get the tube. There are about 2 coaches a day that go straight through from Gatwick to Leeds - it wouldn't be quite as bad changing coaches but still better to try and get the direct one if you can.
If you haven't bought your ticket yet it may be worth while either flying to Manchester or going via Amsterdam or Brussels, both of which then connect to Leeds/Bradford (or at least, they used to)

I`m flying to Leeds from Rome, Italy. I have a ticket with Jet2 and I can bring a 22kg suitcase and a 10kg handbag. All my documents are ok. Can I have any problems with the customs? It seems weird to have problems just because of the luggage...I won`t bring any banned products, so...