Introduction

Most students live in private housing. They arrive a bit earlier and find an available room in a private flat or join up with some friends to locate an apartment. While private housing is a good option, it’s more expensive than dorms and you tend to lose out on social events. Unless you’re a PhD student, I would highly recommend student dorms. If you’re an undergrad, choose an undergrad one; if you’re a post-grad, choose a hall with mostly postgrads. This is because you want to be around students who will be in your program, your department, and your other activities.

When browsing for an LSE dorm, think about four things.

1) How important is location? Generally, the closer the hall, the more expensive the rent. But, don’t be intimidated by a 30-minute commute. This is completely typical and doesn’t impede on your daily life as much as you might think. A best bet is picking a place that is 30 minutes or less, by tube or walking.

2) Do you want to live in self-catered buildings with singles or halls with cafeterias and mostly twin rooms? If you’re a first-year, I would recommend the latter; if you’re a post-grad, certainly choose the former. I say this because its more important for undergrads to eat together, hang out together, and foster closer relationships with your flatmates. At the grad level, many of your close friends are people in your program and department. And for grads who have shared rooms before, you need your own space.

3) Do you want a lively dorm, a quiet dorm, or something in between? Some places are more accommodating of a party atmosphere, but only slightly. High Holburn, Bankside, and Grosvenor tend to be a bit louder. Halls with more undergrads will feature more room parties and loud music. But, the sub-wardens (think resident sheriffs) are pretty strict in all the dorms. If you keep the gathering to less than 10 and close the windows, you’ll probably be able to goof around without being surprised by the authorities.

4) What’s your budget? If you want to live like a king, choose Grosvenor or Northumberland. They’re close to campus, have modern facilities, and are near more nightlife. If you don’t want to break the bank, pick something a bit further out, but still has nice areas and solid amenities, such as Butlers Wharf or Lilian Knowles.

Below is a snapshot of some of the residences.

High Holburn

*mostly postgrad/some undergrad, located near the Lincoln’s Inn Fields

facilities: 408 singles, 40 twins; each flat has kitchen and small common area; 2 TV rooms, communal lounge, computer room, coin laundry, regular cleaning service

bonus: rated no. 1 by students; close to campus (20min walk); very central to nightlife, attractions, many grocery options, cool quarterly events

bummer: can be a bit loud, large student body diminishes community feel

Northumberland

*half postgrad/half undergrad; near Charing Cross

facilities: 158 singles, 91 twins; flats have kitchens and small common areas; computer room and laundry

bonus: very close to campus (<10min walk), affluent and safe neighborhood; pristine building, big rooms

bummer: because of the postgrad/undergrad split, its less close-knit; a bit pricer

Bankside House

*mostly undergrad

facilities: 527 singles, 45 twins; 250 en-suite bathrooms; restricted floor kitchens and communal restaurant; student bar; games room; 6 TV rooms; coin laundry

bonus: massive rooms, bar, modern furnishings, central to campus, pretty nice location, clean building, decent quarterly events; get to meet a lot of people; rated high among former residents; good price

bummer: not much of a neighborhood, plenty of shopping, but short on eateries and bars

Butlers Wharf 

* postgrad house near Tower Bridge, about 270 students; all self-catered (full kitchen, dining table); private rooms

bonus: solid bang-for-your-buck deal; nice accommodations; balconies; safe and quiet area; great quarterly events, including boat parties; friendly population; solid laundry/common rooms in the basement

bummer: a bit of a trek to campus (40min walk; 27min tube); nightlife is so-so around butler’s; you will run into many, many tourists on Tower Bridge

Carr-Saunders Hall

*mostly undergrads house

facilities: 132 singles, 10 twins; dining/restaurant; shard floor kitchens; TV/common room; basement bar

bonus: near Regent’s Park, inexpensive, lively, close-knit, 24-hour kitchen access, social pub, nice common room area, computer room

bummer: might be too small for some people; urban surrounding can get loud at night

Grosvenor House

*postgrads only

facilities: 105 singles, 59 twins, 3-one bedrooms; all rooms are en-suite studios with private kitchens; lounge area, coin laundry

bonus: private kitchens; large rooms; clean; literally next to LSE; close to nightlife spots; easy to access from buses; 24-hour security guard

bummer: small fridges; expensive, few communal areas; limited public computer/printer use; lack of any game room; not much of a community feel; less socialization

Lilian Knowles

*postgrad only

facilities: 360 singles; common areas with TVs; computer room; coin laundry; self-catered facilities

bonus: nice area, pretty friendly student population; really good facilities and building; close-knit community; high feedback marks from former residents

bummer: a bit further from campus (50 min walk/30min tube)

 Passfield

*mostly undergrad, situated in Euston

facilities: large common room; bar; dining room; kitchens on floors; coin laundry

bonus: only hall with its own bee hive; attractive Georgian building; known for being really friendly; quiet area; 15min walk from LSE; 5min from tube; fun hall events (ex: paint balling, theater trips), own garden