i'm finishing my first year having lived in kingswood. i applied disgustingly late last year and only just got a room, and boy i'm glad i did! kingswood is the ghetto of holloways accomodation, undoubtedly, our lift is literally a moving wooden box outside of the building, whereas wedderburn etc have hotelesque lifts and lovely buildings, but nobody gives a ****. i've made a fantastic group of friends and their is such a community feel about kingswood, one that you wont find as easily in any of the other halls. everyone knows everyone else and you can saunter about and see your friends easily, whereas at other halls you need key cards etc to get into other peoples corridors. its also quite a peaceful place especially when you need to study, the quads offer a great place just to sit out in solitude and get some work done. lots of parking too so bringing a car isnt an issue.
i recommend kingswood completely!!
as for getting up earlier for lectures etc, yeah, by about ten minutes probably. as long as you're outside for the bus when it arrives (timetables are simple and everywhere) you always arrive on time and hassle-free, its literally a 3-minute drive.
another thing i'd mention, you all probably know that it isn't exactly famed for its nightlife, rhul, the union is ****, like most unions, but gives you more of an excuse to get ratassed drunk to enjoy it. windsor kingston and london obviously have endless possibiltiies for nights out. my main advice is find the party at rhul, believe me, there is one and it doesnt necessarily revolve around the su or campus bars. the people here are fascinating and if you find the right kind of people for your-kind of partying, you'll have a great time. endless house parties too, kingswood have the best hall parties though!!