Which Reading University Accommodation is Best for Me?

Hi all! Thanks for taking the time to read my question :smile:

I've applied to Reading university to study law. I'd like to go for a room with an ensuite - so my choices are down to the following:

Benyon Hall
Greenow & Mccombie
Sherfield Hall
St. Georges Hall

I'd like a room in relative proximity to wherever law is studied (so not areas like Foxhill House i presume?), so not on the other side of town! It would be great not to have an area that isn't loud 24/7. I won't go for the quiet rooms as I'd like to enjoy my student life outside of uni just as much as inside uni, but I'm sure you can understand that I wouldn't want to be in an area where I light sleeper like myself will become an insomniac 😂. I presume all of the rooms are more or less the same size? Are there certain accommodations that are just 'better' to be at, and that is known by the students? If so, I'd love to have an insight? Finally, I don't think I'll get a meal plan - if I do, I'll go with the bronze plan, is it worth it and what does it include?

Once again, thanks for taking the time to read my post, thank you all :smile:

Reply 1

UniofReading

Official Rep

Original post

by Zacenator

Hi all! Thanks for taking the time to read my question :smile:

I've applied to Reading university to study law. I'd like to go for a room with an ensuite - so my choices are down to the following:
Benyon Hall
Greenow & Mccombie
Sherfield Hall
St. Georges Hall
I'd like a room in relative proximity to wherever law is studied (so not areas like Foxhill House i presume?), so not on the other side of town! It would be great not to have an area that isn't loud 24/7. I won't go for the quiet rooms as I'd like to enjoy my student life outside of uni just as much as inside uni, but I'm sure you can understand that I wouldn't want to be in an area where I light sleeper like myself will become an insomniac 😂. I presume all of the rooms are more or less the same size? Are there certain accommodations that are just 'better' to be at, and that is known by the students? If so, I'd love to have an insight? Finally, I don't think I'll get a meal plan - if I do, I'll go with the bronze plan, is it worth it and what does it include?
Once again, thanks for taking the time to read my post, thank you all :smile:

Hi @Zacenator

I hope you're well.

It is great to hear that you are interested in the University of Reading. I stayed in halls in my first year so will offer any insight I have!

All of the accommodations managed by the uni are relatively close to central campus, so you don't need to worry about being on the other side of town. There is a map here which shows you where the halls are situated in relation to campus. Your teaching is likely to be in a variety of different buildings, but I would guess that none of your accommodations are more than a 10 minute walk from the centre of campus. In terms of distance, the closest will be Greenow & McCombie, followed by St George's, with the others being quite a similar distance away.

The volume level of each hall is very dependent on the people who reside in it each year, so I would not say that any have a reputation for being particularly loud/quiet. The likelihood is your flat will contain some quieter people, and some more sociable people. Greenow & McCombie is nearer to Park Bar so might be noisier in this regard, and St George's is closer to a busy road so might have more traffic noise, whilst the further 2 options are quieter in terms of their location.

The rooms are indeed very similar in size and layout. The kitchens in the flats differ slightly, but not significantly so. Generally I don't think there is the impression that some halls are 'better' than others. The ones that are on the campus itself typically cost slightly more. It should be noted that whilst St George's is considered 'off-campus', it is literally on the road which goes around the perimeter of the uni so really isn't far!

My best friend lived in Greenow in her first year and I always found her flat/room to be very nice and sociable but not excessively loud. I also had friends in St George's and I found their rooms to be very nice too. I don't know anyone who was in the other accommodations, but I'm sure they are also great!

I personally found it really helpful to look at YouTube videos of room tours, as well as the virtual tours which can be found here.

I don't know anyone who had the meal plan, but from what I understand it essentially means you are able to get a certain number of your meals from the uni catering outlets which saves you cooking. It is likely to be worth it if you value time saving and if you would definitely use all the meals available on the plan. The bronze package is 3 meals + 1 hot drink a week, and can roll over to other weeks if you do not use them all. I personally did not feel the need for this, but plenty of people do! It is worth considering your accommodation choice if you are opting for this, as some accommodations are further from the food outlets than others. St George's is the furthest from a food outlet of the accommodations you have mentioned.

I hope this has been helpful. If you have any more questions about the accommodation then please just let us know.

Hattie😊
4MSci Speech and Language Therapy

(edited 8 months ago)