Where to buy essential items

Coming to a new city you may not know where to get all the essentials from...so we've put a list together with everything you'll need;

Cleaning products: you can find cloths, sponges, gloves and various cleaning products cheaply in Poundland or Lidl, and you can find them more widely in the major supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencers.





Toiletries/skincare/make-up: depending on what you need, you may be able to find it in typical supermarkets. However, a better variety and also, typically, a smaller price can be found in Boots or Superdrug in the City Centre and Albany Rd. 

Bedroom/kitchen items: A Freshers' Week trip to Ikea in Cardiff Bay is almost a staple, and generally you should be able to find everything you may need there - from house plants to cutlery and lamps. If you go to Ikea, make sure to grab one or two of the iconic large blue bags - they are very sturdy and will be invaluable for doing laundry and for moving out later on.

Bedsheets/duvets/pillows: you can also get these from Ikea, or closer to the halls in Matalan and Primark in the City Centre. You can also purchase a full bedding set containing everything you need from the University Residences, and it will be waiting for you in your room when you arrive. 

Notebooks/stationary: while you may be able to find these in the supermarket, a more tried-and-tested idea is to explore shops in town, such as WHSmith, The Works, Paperchase and Typo. There is also a Blackwells in the Students’ Union where you can find some textbooks too. 

Please note - if you need to self-isolate when you first arrive in Cardiff, most of the mentioned items (and FOOD of course) can be ordered online. Supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's sell the majority of items you will need and will do deliver to your residence.