Essential Furniture and Home Goods

IKEA Belfast

• Location: Holywood Exchange, 306 Airport Rd W, Belfast BT3 9EJ
• What to Buy: Duvets, sheets, towels, home furnishings, kitchenware
• Tip: IKEA offers a delivery service as well as a shuttle service for students which can be very handy if you don’t have a car.

Queen's Accommodation organises trips to IKEA for new and returning students

B&M Bargains

• Location: Various locations around Belfast, including Cityside Retail Park.
• What to Buy: Super affordable home decor, kitchenware, cleaning supplies, small furniture items.
• Tip: Check out their seasonal sales for great discounts on almost all of their products.

Dunelm

• Location: Shane Retail Park, Boucher Road, Belfast BT12 6HR
• What to Buy: Home furnishings, bedding, kitchenware, storage solutions, heated blankets, etc…
• Tip: Dunelm offers a wide variety of stylish and affordable home essentials, perfect for setting up your student accommodation.

Cosy up your accommodation!

Affordable Clothing and Textiles

Primark

• Location: Castle Street, Belfast
• What to Buy: Budget-friendly clothing, bed linens, towels, curtains.
• Tip: Primark is known for its low prices, making it a great place to stock up on essentials without breaking the bank.

TK Maxx

• Location: Donegall Arcade, Belfast 
• What to Buy: Brand-name clothing, home décor items, kitchenware, bedding.
• Tip: TK Maxx offers high-quality items at discounted prices. It's a treasure trove for finding unique pieces and trinkets to make student accommodation homier.

Check out Primark Belfast's Disney cafe during your visit!

Everyday Essentials and Groceries

Ginney's

• Location: Multiple locations in Belfast including city centre
• What to Buy: Affordable home goods, kitchen utensils, small appliances.
• Tip: Ginney’s often has incredible deals on all household items that are perfect for student budgets.

Tesco Extra

• Location: Newtownbreda Rd, Belfast BT8 6PZ
• What to Buy: Groceries, toiletries, basic kitchen equipment, essentials for your first few months.
• Tip: Tesco offers a wide range of products, and signing up for a Tesco Clubcard can help you save money through exclusive discounts and give you vouchers for future use.

Dunnes Stores

• Location: Forestside Shopping Centre, City Centre
• What to Buy: Groceries, clothing, homeware.
• Tip: Dunnes Stores is great for one-stop shopping, offering both groceries and high-quality home goods at reasonable prices.

Take a trip with Darshana to shop for international and local produce in Belfast

Iceland

• Location: Bridge St, Belfast
• What to Buy: Frozen foods, groceries, and household essentials.
• Tip: Iceland is perfect for stocking up on affordable frozen foods and other grocery items for those busy days when you just can’t cook!

Unique Finds

St. George’s Market

• Location: 12 East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3NQ
• What to Buy: Fresh produce, artisanal foods, handmade crafts, and unique home décor.
• Tip: Open Friday to Sunday, St. George’s Market is a great place to explore and find unique items to personalise your space, great for a little day out too!

Enjoy an iconic Belfast Bap during your visit to St. George's Market!

Victoria Square Shopping Centre

• Location: 1 Victoria Square, Belfast BT1 4QG
• What to Buy: A variety of shops offering electronics, fashion, home goods, and more.
• Tip: It’s a one-stop-shop for everything you might need, from tech gadgets to stylish home accessories.

Check out Victoria Square's store directory

Final Tips for a Smooth Move

• Make a List: Before you go shopping, make a list of everything you need. This will help you stay organised and avoid unnecessary purchases.
• Budget Wisely: Keep track of your spending to ensure you don’t run out of funds for other important expenses.
• Keep it simple: remember you can always buy stuff as and when you remember it, try not to get overwhelmed and start slow and build up the things you need!

Moving to Belfast for your studies is a wonderful opportunity to experience a new culture and make lifelong memories. By following this guide, you'll be well on your way to creating a comfortable and inviting home away from home.

Find out more

Accommodation at Queen's

More blogs about arriving at Queen's

UAE country page - information for students from UAE

India country page - information for students from India

Study Medicine at Queen's

Hiya Grover MB BCh BAO Medicine | Undergraduate Student | Dubai, UAE & India I'm an undergraduate medical student at Queen's, originally from India; however, I've lived in Dubai, UAE, for the past 15 years. I am part of a few medical societies, namely Scrubs surgical society, SWOT, and QUB Cardiology society. Alongside these academic endeavours, I'm a committee member for the French society and thoroughly enjoy reading, horse riding, and volunteering in the community whenever I can! My journey to Queen's was a learning curve and a hugely gratifying experience; I hope to help aspiring applicants find their footing in this wonderful new environment.