King's Accommodation

Anyone have any advice re: accommodation?

Of course Stamford street is my first choice. I'll probably put Great Dover Street second. After that, I know nearly nothing about the residences, except that Wolfson is a bit shabby and Hampstead a bit far!

Any advice is appreciated - I'm an overseas grad student.

Thanks.

Reply 1

Sukifizzies

If you want the social side of halls, don't apply to SS or GDS. SS looks so attractive because of the 'en-suites' (which are no larger than a shallow wardrobe) and the location, but compared to Kings College Hall and Hampstead, the social side is not nearly as good (however maybe being a grad this doesn't bother you so much?). SS and GDS are also very expensive. KCH and Hampstead are further out, but in many ways its good because there is actually some greenery around you and it's quieter. You feel like you're escaping. Buses run to both 24hours a day. Also at KCH you get you meals included in the price, and the rooms are bigger at both KCH and Hampstead.

Don't know anything about Wolfson, Brian Creamer etc. They are smaller I think.

Hope this is of some help.

Reply 2

somombo

SS and GDS are overrated! Everyone I know who lives there wishes they'd thought it through a bit better! The rooms are absolutely tiny and they're not very sociable (plus ridiculously expensive)

I live at Wolfson house and I love it. It's in a good location (right by London bridge tube station) Gets a bad rep because it's a tower, but I am on the 13th floor (out of 15) and I have panoramic views across London out of my window, it's amazing!

Shared toilets, showers and bath but it's never been a problem. And the rooms are decent sized. I have photos if you want them

Everyone I live with here loves it and wouldn't swap for the world!

Reply 3

weet_ABI_x

11

Go for intercollegiates, by far the best social life!!

Reply 4

*agridulce*

DrDomDom

Can you PM me those photos?

Can you PM me those photos too?

Reply 5

simon12345

14

Me too please. :biggrin:

My requirements:

- Good social life.
- En-suit.
- Self-catered.

Any suggestions?

Reply 6

somombo

Wolfson...

My room...

View out of my window! (though you won't get a view like this if you're on lower floors of course)

thank you!!

Those views are stunning.... I'm torn between Wolfson and Hampstead for the gardens.

Reply 9

somombo

Vykeera

Those views are stunning.... I'm torn between Wolfson and Hampstead for the gardens.

Which campus will you mainly be studying at, do you know?

Hampstead is much further out than Wolfson is. My friend lives there and she doesn't like it very much. Haven't visited it myself so couldn't really say but she gets annoyed at the travelling in for lectures (involves a bus journey to the tube station and then 20mins or so on the tube to Waterloo)

Reply 10

somombo

Oh and also, I wouldn't base a decision on the views. I'm on one of the highest floors and I know the lower floors have an awful view just of the side of a building. And it's pot luck, you don't get any say in which floor you get put on.

In spite of that though, I do think Wolfson is the best all-rounder (although I'm biased!) No there's no en suite but the rooms are a nice size. I'd rather it than the absolute boxes they get at SS/GDS and are paying through their noses for!!

Reply 11

Vykeera

12

somombo

Oh and also, I wouldn't base a decision on the views. I'm on one of the highest floors and I know the lower floors have an awful view just of the side of a building. And it's pot luck, you don't get any say in which floor you get put on.

In spite of that though, I do think Wolfson is the best all-rounder (although I'm biased!) No there's no en suite but the rooms are a nice size. I'd rather it than the absolute boxes they get at SS/GDS and are paying through their noses for!!

Yeah, I definitely don't want SS/GDS! I'd be studying at the Strand campus.... and I know half the rooms probably have hideous views. :p:

I'm just thinking about whether living there will make me want to 'escape' to something green (or the beach, but obviously that does need a train to get to in London!)

Also, is it true that Wolfson can be really unsociable because it's all corridors, not flats?

Thanks!

Edit: well, mostly corridors

Reply 12

Sukifizzies

Corridors I think are more sociable than flats - I know people at SS who don't really know the people in their own flats......

KCH is all corridors but with communal areas such as a bar and common room, and is in my opinion my more sociable :wink:

By the way, the curtains in those photos are soooooooooo KCL accom curtains lol!

Reply 13

somombo

Wolfson is very sociable!! The people on my floor became firm friends by the end of the first week! The only problem I find with it is that the kitchen we all share isn't actually big enough for us all to sit in at the same time, which is annoying. There is a common room too with a big TV and pool table. It's not hugely used so me and my flatmates use it alot just to lounge around and watch tv! (we've also used it to have flat meals together as it's bigger for us all to fit at the same time!)

I'm from a small coastal town surrounded by beaches and country-side, so I know where you're coming from but I haven't found it a problem to be honest. Take a walk through Hyde park or walk along the South Bank! London's got a lot of green spaces (they're just surrounded by city instead of by more green space!)

Oh and re curtains, mine are actually the best in my corridor, all the others have darker, more vomit-inducing ones for some reason!

Reply 14

Sukifizzies

Wolfson sounds good, similar to Hampstead and KCH in terms of social life.

KCL accom wouldn't be the same without the disgusting curtains!

Reply 15

Vykeera

12

somombo

Wolfson is very sociable!! The people on my floor became firm friends by the end of the first week! The only problem I find with it is that the kitchen we all share isn't actually big enough for us all to sit in at the same time, which is annoying. There is a common room too with a big TV and pool table. It's not hugely used so me and my flatmates use it alot just to lounge around and watch tv! (we've also used it to have flat meals together as it's bigger for us all to fit at the same time!)

I'm from a small coastal town surrounded by beaches and country-side, so I know where you're coming from but I haven't found it a problem to be honest. Take a walk through Hyde park or walk along the South Bank! London's got a lot of green spaces (they're just surrounded by city instead of by more green space!)

Oh and re curtains, mine are actually the best in my corridor, all the others have darker, more vomit-inducing ones for some reason!

Ok thanks! :smile:

Looks like Wolfson is going to be my first choice for the accomodation!

Reply 16

aforalice

10

errrrm well i live at gds, and actually i only pay about £20 more than people i know in other cities, and the social life is great. people at ssa and gdsa do not spend their evenings crying alone because it's 'unsociable' a some would have you believe!

Reply 17

zfitter

OP

Thanks for the replies. I definitely hope I won't want to "escape" London, so Hampstead and KCH are low on my list. I like Wolfson, SSA and GDSA because they are self-catered. This may sound strange, but I just have a hard time thinking about being forced to eat food that I don't want when I'm 24 years old! Those pictures and strong recommendations for Wolfson is definitely making me consider making it my first or second choice. I also kind of like the Rectory, which I understand is for mature undergrads/grad students, has a decent location and is quite small. The more I think about it, though, the more I think I'll have Wolfson at least #2!

Reply 18

zfitter

OP

Those views are just amazing.

Reply 19

aforalice

10

The room sizes are good but you do have to share a tiny kitchen with 14 people at wolfson while the kitchens are twice the size, sometimes more, at gdsa and ssa but for half the number of people. Having a pretty large kitchen is really good for socialising and parties.

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