LSE Accommodation Advice

OK, I'm an undergrad at LSE so I should be able to answer your questions.

Firstly, cycling in London- you can try it if you want, but it's not something that I'd want to do and I'm a pretty experienced mountain biker (read into that what you will). I do however personally know one person who rides in, also others must as the bike racks on campus (no locks provided- get a decent one like a Kryptonite New Yorker) are usually pretty full. There aren't many proper bike paths in London- you will get bike lanes, but I'm not a huge fan of those (they're always in the gutter, buses and cars cut you up etc).

Last time I checked a monthly zone 1 and 2 tube pass is £60ish including discount (I'm not sure if masters students are eligible for the discount). Taking the bus is £1 each way regardless of distance (therefore £2/day).

LSE halls aren't that much cheaper than shared accommodation, but they're a good way to meet people and are generally in a more central location than other places. For shared accommodation check out http://www.netletlse.co.uk

Reply 2

inspire

Hi, as what russia has mentioned, it's really rather cold here, so you may not get much out of cycling. but there are ways to cut down costs.

shared rooms can be pretty cheap, just 50-55 pounds a week at either Carr Saunders or Rosebery, but how good that eventually will be depends on your roommate

both are 25 mins walking distance away from LSE and obviously in london, walking is a fantastic way of saving money.

if you want a single room, chances are the cheapest option would be the intercollegiate halls (canterbury, commonweath et al) they cost 105 a week inclusive of meals (bfast and dinner). but catch is that they run on a 30 week contract, which means you have to move out during the hols.

Passfield hall used to be the cheapest but last i heard is that they won't be open for the next academic year, but if you want budget, value for money accomodation, passfield is the place. it's catered as well. plus only 20 mins walk.

living further away won't save you all that much unless you're talking about really far away. London is an expensive place per se and it isn't for no reason. Monthly tube concessions are as russia said, 60 pounds, and even with saver tickets for bus, expect to pay 70pence for each one way journey.

thus, cheapest is to walk to school. that's what most people in lse do anyway..

let me know if you have any further queries.

Reply 3

inspire

Hi, as what russia has mentioned, it's really rather cold here, so you may not get much out of cycling. but there are ways to cut down costs.

shared rooms can be pretty cheap, just 50-55 pounds a week at either Carr Saunders or Rosebery, but how good that eventually will be depends on your roommate

both are 25 mins walking distance away from LSE and obviously in london, walking is a fantastic way of saving money.

if you want a single room, chances are the cheapest option would be the intercollegiate halls (canterbury, commonweath et al) they cost 105 a week inclusive of meals (bfast and dinner). but catch is that they run on a 30 week contract, which means you have to move out during the hols.

Passfield hall used to be the cheapest but last i heard is that they won't be open for the next academic year, but if you want budget, value for money accomodation, passfield is the place. it's catered as well. plus only 20 mins walk.

living further away won't save you all that much unless you're talking about really far away. London is an expensive place per se and it isn't for no reason. Monthly tube concessions are as russia said, 60 pounds, and even with saver tickets for bus, expect to pay 70pence for each one way journey.

thus, cheapest is to walk to school. that's what most people in lse do anyway..

let me know if you have any further queries.

How, in your opinion, do rosebery and carr saunders compare. Im hopin to go for one of those 2 and cant see a lot between them. Thanks

Reply 4

everyone knows that Rosebery is far superior to carr saunders.......

Reply 5

MuvverRussia

everyone knows that Rosebery is far superior to carr saunders.......

I presume by that that you stay/stayed in rosebury??

Reply 6

What would make you think that? :tongue:

I'm at Rosebery BTW for clarification.

Rosebery is quite a bit better than Carr Saunders- we have a bar, 2 computer rooms, 2 TV rooms (one with the full Sky package open 24 hrs a day), a garden, a roof terrace. Also, although our location isn't as central as Carr Saunders it's better. We are only a short bus ride from town (direct bus- numbers 38 or 19) and a 2 min walk from Islington Upper St- this area is full of pubs, clubs and restaurants meaning that it's a good place to go out to.

BTW- they've been saying that they will close Passfield for the last 3 years. It hasn't happened yet and I'm willing to bet it won't happen until the new accommodation is ready (in about 2 years)- quite simply, LSE need the accommodation.

Also, remember that with LSE you basically go into a lottery, so there's no guarantee that you'll get the hall you want- just put down 3 decent choices and see what happens.

Reply 7

MuvverRussia

What would make you think that? :tongue:

I'm at Rosebery BTW for clarification.

Rosebery is quite a bit better than Carr Saunders- we have a bar, 2 computer rooms, 2 TV rooms (one with the full Sky package open 24 hrs a day), a garden, a roof terrace. Also, although our location isn't as central as Carr Saunders it's better. We are only a short bus ride from town (direct bus- numbers 38 or 19) and a 2 min walk from Islington Upper St- this area is full of pubs, clubs and restaurants meaning that it's a good place to go out to.

BTW- they've been saying that they will close Passfield for the last 3 years. It hasn't happened yet and I'm willing to bet it won't happen until the new accommodation is ready (in about 2 years)- quite simply, LSE need the accommodation.

Also, remember that with LSE you basically go into a lottery, so there's no guarantee that you'll get the hall you want- just put down 3 decent choices and see what happens.

Right, Ill probly go for Rosebery, Carr saunders, passfield in that order. Worth putting intercollegiate halls down? if so which?

Reply 8

TBH, I've no idea about intercollegiate halls. I did put some down though, the only one I can remember being Canterbury hall. All I can say is avoid College hall and Nutford House.

Rosebery is definately the best out of those 3, whether you get it or not is another matter though, so make sure that you're happy with all of them before applying.

Reply 9

OP

BTW- they've been saying that they will close Passfield for the last 3 years. It hasn't happened yet and I'm willing to bet it won't happen until the new accommodation is ready (in about 2 years)- quite simply, LSE need the accommodation.
_________________________________________________________

Just as an FYI, all over the LSE website, they said that Passfield WILL definitely be closed from summer 2004 for renovation. Don't know if it will really happen this time - but as far as the prospectus is concerned, they don't even list the rate for accommodation at Passfield for 2004/2005. just that it's "CLOSED". So maybe this time, it could be for real???

Another question, what kind of area is Butler's Wharf? One of the residences is there. Supposedly flat-style. Does this mean that 6 students share 1 apartment type thing???

Also, I know you mentioned that accommodation is quite the lottery. Do overseas/post-grad new to LSE get priority over domestic students? I know that at other universities, this is the policy because it is harder for foreign students to get apartments external to the campus.

Thanks! This forum is really useful!

Reply 10

I doubt it'll be closed- you can apply for it using the Sept 04 accommodation form.

Butler's Wharf is predominantly post grad. Also it's further out than the other halls, so I don't know much about it.

As for priority, I think that first year undergrads get the highest priority and then first year post grads before going to returning undergrads and then returning post grads. I know for sure that all first year undergrads are guaranteed accommodation.

Reply 11

OP

Do you know if there are photos of the rooms inside the various residences? I checked on the LSE Accommodations website and most of the pages aren't even functioning yet. e.g. the compare pages, the photos etc.

Do local students typically visit the residences before selecting? I mean, for international students, this is fairly impossible. So we rely entirely on the descriptions and photos where available. But it seems to be lacking for the LSE Residences. Do they each have their own separate website or something?

Also, does anyone know anything of Goodenough College? I was recommended that from an LSE Alumn but it's not listed as one of the Residences.

Thanks,

Reply 12

There's no real photos of rooms around- you pretty much have to accept them blind. Also, when it comes to visiting not many do- I didn't, as well as this you would only be allowed to visit during LSE vacations- i.e. when the hall is empty.

I did a quick search on google for Goodenough College- it's not affiliated to LSE or UoL in anyway, so I don't know what you're talking about.

Reply 13

claire1985

busybee

Do you know if there are photos of the rooms inside the various residences? I checked on the LSE Accommodations website and most of the pages aren't even functioning yet. e.g. the compare pages, the photos etc.

Do local students typically visit the residences before selecting? I mean, for international students, this is fairly impossible. So we rely entirely on the descriptions and photos where available. But it seems to be lacking for the LSE Residences. Do they each have their own separate website or something?

Also, does anyone know anything of Goodenough College? I was recommended that from an LSE Alumn but it's not listed as one of the Residences.

Thanks,

I think they may have been pulling your leg, Goodenough Collge-it must be a joke........

Reply 14

OP

claire1985

I think they may have been pulling your leg, Goodenough Collge-it must be a joke........

That's what I thought at first! But it's legit!!! Check out http://www.goodenough.ac.uk/

It has no affiliation with any university it seems. So I guess it's a commercial thing? Make money off all the students studying in London?

Reply 15

busybee

That's what I thought at first! But it's legit!!! Check out http://www.goodenough.ac.uk/

It has no affiliation with any university it seems. So I guess it's a commercial thing? Make money off all the students studying in London?

hmm, it says houses 600 postgrads, no good for undergrads. Anyways, Im sure its better to got to LSE halls to mix with other LSE students.

Reply 16

OP

inspire

Hi, as what russia has mentioned, it's really rather cold here, so you may not get much out of cycling. but there are ways to cut down costs.

shared rooms can be pretty cheap, just 50-55 pounds a week at either Carr Saunders or Rosebery, but how good that eventually will be depends on your roommate

both are 25 mins walking distance away from LSE and obviously in london, walking is a fantastic way of saving money.

if you want a single room, chances are the cheapest option would be the intercollegiate halls (canterbury, commonweath et al) they cost 105 a week inclusive of meals (bfast and dinner). but catch is that they run on a 30 week contract, which means you have to move out during the hols.

Passfield hall used to be the cheapest but last i heard is that they won't be open for the next academic year, but if you want budget, value for money accomodation, passfield is the place. it's catered as well. plus only 20 mins walk.

living further away won't save you all that much unless you're talking about really far away. London is an expensive place per se and it isn't for no reason. Monthly tube concessions are as russia said, 60 pounds, and even with saver tickets for bus, expect to pay 70pence for each one way journey.

thus, cheapest is to walk to school. that's what most people in lse do anyway..

let me know if you have any further queries.

Hi,
Just wanted to clarify something. Some halls have 40 weeks contract and others only 30 weeks. i.e. christmas and easter break are not included in the price. My question is, what happens during these holidays? Are students just locked out of the residence? Or are the rooms rented out and therefore students have to pack up their whole entire room and take it with them? Or are there storage at the residence? e.g. what happens when people buy a TV for example. Do they take it home with them on vacation? Because as an international student, that won't work.

Thanks!

Reply 17