Don't you mean Chavs Nathan?

Don't you mean Chavs Nathan?

 

Nope.

 

Charv is the proper term, it's short for Charver. Some cockney who can't pronounce changed it to Chav and then it caught on as Chav.

I don't understand why you hate me Maja...

 

:uhoh:

Nope.

 

Charv is the proper term, it's short for Charver. Some cockney who can't pronounce changed it to Chav and then it caught on as Chav.

 

Oh I guess I'm just a nub when it comes to English culture then.

Oh I guess I'm just a nub when it comes to English culture then.

 

Nah, most people don't know that, you just got some leet info

Thanks, Jack! :dance:

 

I know I'll be able to find everything I need and more, I guess it's just weird to not know anywhere off the top of my head to buy the most basic things in :P.

 

Question, though: Aren't Tesco/ASDA etc just supermarkets, or do they sell things like towels and other home goods as well? I've never been really clear on that, whether they're more just for food or actually like a scaled-back Target or whatever.

 

No supermarkets in england or the UK come to that, are just supermarkets anymore, they sell allsorts, clothes, gardening stuff, kitchen equipment, tvs, mobile phones, mp3 and ipods, cds, dvds, games, books, towels!!! The list goes on!

Hi :nice:

 

 

 

So. My first mundane questions:

 

1. Is there a UK chain of stores that sells linens at student-friendly prices? I need sheets, towels, pillows, blankets, bedspreads, everything. In America, I would just go to Target and get cheap ones, or go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

 

2. Same question for basic, cheap kitchen essentials. I have to do all my own cooking, which scares the crap out of me, but I hear that's a pretty standard thing in British universities? I might have some stuff shipped to me from my parents, but I assume I'll have to supplement some things.

 

For those questions, I'll take anything that anyone knows of that happens to be in Norwich, or just big chain sorts of stores that probably have a location near Norwich.

 

And my third question:

 

3. I love IKEA, and they have good prices. However, I'm not so good with town names in the UK, and it's not always easy to determine exactly how far places are from each other on the internet. These are the IKEA locations in the UK, and I'm wondering if anyone knows if any of these places are reasonably close to Norwich (obviously I know where London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Southampton, and Edinburgh are :P):

 

Belfast

Cardiff

Croydon (London)

Edmonton (London)

Glasgow

Leeds

Milton Keynes (Bletchley)

Southampton

Wednesbury (Birmingham)

Bristol

Coventry

Edinburgh

Gateshead (Newcastle)

Lakeside (London)

Manchester (Ashton-Under-Lyne)

Nottingham

Warrington

Wembley (London)

 

 

You can get pretty much all your bed linen from supermarkets these days and they aren't that expensive, it just depends on how fussy you are! Asda are very good for all that stuff.

 

Don't know about University as I am too thick to have ever gotten close to studying at any!

 

I reckon probably Milton Keynes is the closest to Norwich, then london, maybe birmingham? and then coventry? everywhere else you mentioned are either in scotland, wales, northern ireland or over in the west or northern england. But as we are only a little country, unlike the US, it doesn't take a day or more to get to many places! If your lucky, (and the trains are running good) then you could probably be in manchester in about 2 or 3 hours.

 

Bare in mind that I am a thicko, so this info will probably be insulted by someone far more intelligent than my little self! But I wish you luck and hope that maybe just a little of what I said will help you in some sort of way!

THANKS, bellynelly! :nice:

 

I have to say I didn't realize you guys had the big all-purpose stores like we did...I had always heard of Brits and Europeans being amazed by places like Target and Costco and Wal-Mart that I assumed that meant you guys didn't have anything comparable, but if I can buy cheapo sheets and towels from supermarkets, that's perfect! :dance:

 

The IKEA thing isn't essential, but for some reason I just love IKEA and I know I can get what I need there, so it would have been helpful if there had been one close to Norwich, but if there isn't, I know I can find everything in other places.

 

THANKS AGAIN! :D

Yeah we just live in fucking huts, compared to you SUPER ADVANCED AMERICANS

:cool:

oh chelsea i am so happy for you, we will miss you being our tri-state coldplayer but i know everyone over there will love having you there. i hope you have a blast

Yeah we just live in fucking huts, compared to you SUPER ADVANCED AMERICANS

 

I was actually expecting to have to sew my own makeshift sheets and towels, and I was going to ask what kinds of bugs and weeds most of you live off of. I also have to find out about digging my own latrine.

hehehehehheehehe

Make sure you visit the Norwich Mustard Shop

Thanks :nice:. And I'm pretty sure it's illegal for me to drive over there anyway! I could have driven in Holland when I lived there for up to three months, and I moved the car down the block once and almost killed three cyclists in the process :lol:.

 

If you have an American driving license, than your allowed up-to a year driving in the UK on that driving license, after-that you need to take the Brit driving test.

 

Just remember we drive on the right side of the road ;)

And a cheap place to get sheets, try Argos.

If you have an American driving license, than your allowed up-to a year driving in the UK on that driving license, after-that you need to take the Brit driving test.

 

Just remember we drive on the right side of the road ;)

 

Wow, really? I had no idea! Not that there will be a car available for me to drive or anything like that, but perhaps if there was an emergency or something...

 

However, I'd be more likely to CAUSE the emergency while driving--on a mostly-empty road, I would completely forget that I was supposed to be driving on the other side, and then another car would come along...:wreck:. Come to think of it, I'm actually terrified of having to drive on the other side.

Most Brits spend half the journey on the right hand side of the road they go that fast!

Most Brits spend half the journey on the right hand side of the road they go that fast!

 

Is that you then Ian?

Hey, who's giving Mich credit for my idea??? I'm sure I was the first one to suggest a "moving to England" thread :laugh3:

 

I reckon the best place for your home essentials is Asda - they'll be the cheapest, and even their smaller stores stock a range of things. The largest ones are probably on a par with what you're used to in the states. Tesco will be a little more expensive and not all their stores stock the home stuff.

 

Neutrogena, Pantene & Special K are all readily available.

 

Don't know if they have "Home & Bargins" down South, but if they do, it's a high street store that always has big brand goods at really cheap prices. You can never predict what they're going to have as the stock changes all the time, but it's always worth a mooch.

 

As for IKEA, what are you going for? Furniture or Market Place stuff? IKEA's are always out of town and difficult to get to without a car, but if you let us know what you want there, maybe we can suggest alternatives...

Aww, you must've suggested it too Alison :nice:. THANKS! :D

 

I'm glad to hear about the Special K...if they have the whole line of stuff, I'll be set forever :P. I have no idea how to cook and that stuff has saved my life time and time again :lol:.

 

And nah, I wouldn't be getting furniture at IKEA, I just was thinking that if there was one in/near Norwich, I know I can get super cheap plates/silverware/cooking stuff/lamps etc. Of course I can replicate that stuff elsewhere, but in America, the only place I've ever seen a small lamp for less than $15 is IKEA (my desk lamp I got there for $3...I've never seen better prices for decent-quality stuff), so I thought if there was one in my area, I could get everything I need for the cheapest prices I can think of without having to do currency conversions in my head too much :P. Anyway, it's not essential.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions :nice:. This whole thing still feels pretty far away to me, since my family and I are going to Canada next week, and that's a big trip too. Once we're back, though, it's REALLY going to hit me that I have to get serious about packing and leaving :freak:.

Hey, who's giving Mich credit for my idea??? I'm sure I was the first one to suggest a "moving to England" thread :laugh3:

 

I reckon the best place for your home essentials is Asda - they'll be the cheapest, and even their smaller stores stock a range of things. The largest ones are probably on a par with what you're used to in the states. Tesco will be a little more expensive and not all their stores stock the home stuff.

 

Neutrogena, Pantene & Special K are all readily available.

 

Don't know if they have "Home & Bargins" down South, but if they do, it's a high street store that always has big brand goods at really cheap prices. You can never predict what they're going to have as the stock changes all the time, but it's always worth a mooch.

 

As for IKEA, what are you going for? Furniture or Market Place stuff? IKEA's are always out of town and difficult to get to without a car, but if you let us know what you want there, maybe we can suggest alternatives...

 

Don't think we have a store called "Home & Bargins", but there are shops like that, such as Poundland, Poundworld, Double Discounts. Ikea Southampton is pretty much in the city center :P

 

If you want posh stuff, then head to larger Waitrose stores which has John Lewis stuff in.

Aww, you must've suggested it too Alison :nice:. THANKS! :D

 

I'm glad to hear about the Special K...if they have the whole line of stuff, I'll be set forever :P. I have no idea how to cook and that stuff has saved my life time and time again :lol:.

 

And nah, I wouldn't be getting furniture at IKEA, I just was thinking that if there was one in/near Norwich, I know I can get super cheap plates/silverware/cooking stuff/lamps etc. Of course I can replicate that stuff elsewhere, but in America, the only place I've ever seen a small lamp for less than $15 is IKEA (my desk lamp I got there for $3...I've never seen better prices for decent-quality stuff), so I thought if there was one in my area, I could get everything I need for the cheapest prices I can think of without having to do currency conversions in my head too much :P. Anyway, it's not essential.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions :nice:. This whole thing still feels pretty far away to me, since my family and I are going to Canada next week, and that's a big trip too. Once we're back, though, it's REALLY going to hit me that I have to get serious about packing and leaving :freak:.

 

Woolworths (RIP) would have been good for the stuff your after, but see if there is a Wilkinson in Norwich *checks website* nope, nearest is in Dereham, west of Norwich.

Haha, I'm DEFINITELY not going for posh stuff, but thanks :D. I'm looking for the absolute cheapest stuff I can find, as long as it's functional and will last a year of use.

 

I assume I can buy hairdryers/straighteners in everyday drug stores like Boots and Superdrug? I remember the first time I went to England when I was younger, your drug stores were way nicer and had more stuff than a lot of ours, so I'm not worried, but one of the first things I need to buy on my first day there is a good hair straightener with a British plug :P.

You can buy hairdryers/straighteners in Boots/Superdrug, I think, it's been a while since I went shopping for those sorta products