Hmm, I'll throw my opinion in.
I was in OP. First off don't be too enticed by tower challenge, people from all the halls around it usually tailgate to try it so it isn't an op exclusive.
I had a mixed experience. On the one hand, you get to know a lot of people, and people are always up for going out. Lots of drugs around the place if that is your thing and it certainly is lively.
However, there are a lot of private school kids. A lot. It's renowned among boarding school circuits it seems and the catered, close proximity thing seems to appeal to them. I never really realised how many boarding schools there were, and they all seem to be in the tower! The 'hipster' is the most common. There was one guy, never went to lectures, always high as a kite, tattoos and rebel without a cause swagger. Turns out he was from harrow and wore a smart jumper when his parents came... Public schoolers tend to stick together too, so I think I was the one state school mate a lot of them had! That can get a bit difficult at times, and I realised in my 2nd year we weren't thought of as highly as the tower itself seems to be here!
There is also only a common room every other floor. If you are on an odd numbered floor, you share with the floor below but it's never really yours I find. Common room is rubbish anyway, so you find that there's 6 or 7 of you per-drinking in a tiny room.
Work wise, you don't get anything done in there. There's a game of FIFA being played, or dub step, or people preparing to go out. I didn't mind that, as first year doesn't count (though don't do too badly or 2nd year will be a nightmare) but for those who want to come to work it probably isn't for you! That being said, I did ok in the end just by using the very nearby computer cluster. Be warned, on the days leading up to essay deadlines across the uni, there are fewer depressing places to be. I was there for 17 hours (open to all years) in one sitting the other day for a deadline.
Food is ok, typical canteen. But free refill drinks, a salad pasta bar and fruit and deserts men you really do get your money's worth quantity wise (though the canteen girls Aren't fond of the girl students!).
Toilets are appalling. Often sick in there (our harrow lad had this idiot mate from another hall who without fail threw up on saturdays, which would not get cleaned till mondays), often no loo roll. Showers however are top notch if you get the one by the bath (yes, they are private). Proper industrial (mostly hot..). Lifts are erratic, so pray you get a low floor! I often thought of the top floor as a separate world, with their own community and system for going to the shop
Overall, I would say the slumming it oak house is the better Experience. The people are much more varied in backgrounds and I found down to earth. The rooms are terrible and toilets awful (as iare OP) but there is a kitchen dining area which you really miss as a place to chill in OP. really annoying hanging out in other peoples rooms after a while!
Richmond is a class act place in terms of room and toilet, but suffers from the problem of OP in that its nicknamed rich mans park. Nonetheless, op has its charm.
Just stay in fallowfield. Many of the city ones are international student focused and fallowfield is so convenient. Gaffs, friendship inn, sainsburys and kebab king. It's all you need.