International student storage in London is a door-to-door service in which UniMove collects your belongings directly from your student accommodation before you fly home for summer, stores everything safely at a secure depot in rural England, and delivers to your new London address when you return in September. It is designed for students at UCL, King’s College London, Imperial College, LSE, SOAS, Queen Mary, and other London universities who face weeks or months between their tenancy end date and their return flight, during which excess baggage allowances and international shipping costs make taking everything home genuinely impractical.
Why International Students in London Need Storage
London is home to more than 125,000 international students, a higher concentration than any other UK city. Many study at institutions with some of the highest international student ratios in the country: LSE typically has around 70 percent of its student body from outside the United Kingdom; Imperial College has a postgraduate population that is majority international; UCL enrols students from more than 150 countries.
When summer arrives, most London student tenancies end at the close of June or on 1 July. The problem for international students is the gap. A flight home to China, India, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, the UAE, or South Korea does not leave room for a full bedroom’s worth of belongings. Airlines impose strict weight limits on checked bags, and excess baggage charges on long-haul routes can reach hundreds of pounds for even a few extra kilograms. Shipping boxes home via courier services costs considerably more, and many items are restricted for international travel in any case.
The result is a genuine storage problem: you have a tenancy that ends in June, a flight that departs a few days or weeks later, and no practical way of taking your possessions with you. UniMove was built to bridge this gap.
The End-of-Tenancy Timing Problem in London
London student lets are typically held through university accommodation offices or private landlords in areas such as Bloomsbury, Elephant and Castle, Mile End, New Cross, South Kensington, Holloway, and Peckham. Whether you live in university halls or a private house share, most contracts align to the academic calendar, ending in late June or early July.
At that point, you need to be out. You cannot leave boxes in the room and you cannot store items in a corridor or common room indefinitely. If your flight home is a week or two away, and your next tenancy does not start until September, you have a room full of belongings and nowhere to put them in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Some students pay for short-let accommodation to bridge the gap and leave bags with the front desk. Others pay airport storage fees, which run to several pounds per bag per day for weeks at a stretch. Others ask a UK-based friend to take their things for the summer, which places a significant burden on that friendship. UniMove offers a cleaner alternative: collected from your door before you leave, stored securely throughout summer, delivered to your new address in September.
How UniMove Works for London Students
Step 1: Get a quote
Visit studentsummerstorage.com/get-a-quote and enter your current London address and your planned return address for September. You choose the number of items and the approximate collection and delivery dates. Pricing is per item, so you pay only for what you need to store.
Step 2: Collection from your door
On your chosen collection date, UniMove comes to your address. You do not need to carry boxes to a drop-off point or hire a vehicle. The team collects from your room or hallway, which matters particularly in London where many student properties have narrow staircases, restricted street parking, and no lift.
Step 3: Secure summer storage
Your items travel to UniMove’s depot at Plover Barn, Kings Lane, Longcot SN7 7SS. This is a dedicated storage operation, not a shared public self-storage facility. Your belongings are kept by a small team who handle student storage specifically and who will also manage the redelivery in autumn.
Step 4: Delivery to your new address in September
When you return to London for the new academic year, UniMove delivers your items to your new address. You choose the delivery date at the time of booking. Most students request delivery in the second or third week of September, once they have settled into a new flat or halls room. UniMove confirms the slot in advance and contacts you before the delivery day to verify your address and any access details.
London Universities and Student Areas UniMove Serves
UniMove collects from across Greater London. The main universities and student areas covered include:
- UCL and SOAS: Bloomsbury, Euston, Camden, Fitzrovia
- King’s College London: Strand, Waterloo, Denmark Hill, Guy’s Campus
- LSE: Aldwych, Holborn, Borough
- Imperial College London: South Kensington, White City, Chelsea
- Queen Mary University of London: Mile End, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green
- Goldsmiths: New Cross, Deptford, Brockley
- City, University of London: Barbican, Islington, Clerkenwell
- London Metropolitan and Westminster: Holloway, Marylebone, Harrow
- Brunel University London: Uxbridge and the western boroughs
- UAL colleges: Elephant and Castle, Holborn, Chelsea
For more on storage options in the capital through the summer period, see the summer student storage London page. For general London student storage information including neighbourhood-level guides, see the student storage in London page.
What You Can Store
International students in London typically store a combination of:
- Bedding, duvets, and pillows
- Kitchen equipment, crockery, and cookware
- Textbooks, course notes, and stationery
- Clothes and shoes beyond your flight luggage allowance
- Electrical items such as desk lamps and hairdryers
- Sports equipment and musical instruments
- Empty suitcases you want to store rather than check onto a flight
If you have specific or oversized items, contact smile@unimove.org before booking to confirm they can be accommodated.
UniMove vs Self-Storage vs Leaving With a Friend
| UniMove | Self-Storage Facility | Leaving With a Friend | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collection from your room | Yes | No | No |
| Transport required | None | Van hire or taxi with items | Carrying across the city |
| September delivery | To your new address | Collect yourself | Collect from friend |
| Cost structure | Per item, flexible | Monthly unit rental | Informal, variable |
| Storage security | Dedicated depot | Commercial facility | Friend’s home |
| Minimum quantity | One item | One full unit | No minimum |
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book storage with UniMove?
Book at least two weeks before your planned collection date. During June and early July, collection slots across London fill quickly. Booking early means you can choose a time that works around exam deadlines and your departure flight, rather than having to take whatever remains available. Bookings can be made at studentsummerstorage.com/get-a-quote.
Can UniMove collect from all London postcodes?
Yes. UniMove serves all London postcodes, including zones 1 to 6. This covers central areas like Bloomsbury, South Kensington, and the Strand, as well as further out locations such as Mile End, Uxbridge, New Cross, and Holloway. Check your postcode when requesting a quote if you want confirmation before booking.
What happens to my belongings while I am abroad?
Your items are stored at UniMove’s depot at Plover Barn, Longcot SN7 7SS. This is a dedicated facility used exclusively for student storage, not a public self-storage facility. The same small team that collects your items handles the redelivery in September, so your belongings are managed consistently throughout the storage period.
Can I store bulky items like suitcases or sports equipment?
Yes, suitcases, holdalls, and most sports equipment can be stored. Bicycles are not currently accepted. If you have specialist items such as large musical instruments or custom-built sporting equipment, email smile@unimove.org before booking to confirm whether the item can be accommodated and what packaging is required.
When will UniMove deliver my belongings back in September?
You choose your redelivery date when you book. Most London international students request delivery in mid to late September, once their new tenancy has started and they have the keys. UniMove confirms the slot and contacts you a few days before delivery to verify your address and any access details for the property.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of items I can store?
The minimum booking is a single item. There is no upper limit on the number of items you can store. Most international students in London store between six and fifteen items over the summer, typically covering bedding, kitchen equipment, books, and clothes they cannot bring home on their flight.
To get started, visit studentsummerstorage.com/get-a-quote or email smile@unimove.org with any questions about your booking.