London’s Student Residences Get an A

A neighbor approached with a question the other day. Her niece was going to be visiting London this summer and was looking for the least expensive lodging available. When I suggested a hostel, the woman replied that her niece would want a bit more privacy than that and needed a place she could really call her own, as she would be staying for almost three weeks.

I came up with the perfect solution: a stay in one of London’s university residence halls, which are largely empty of students in the summer. In particular, I suggested the dormitories of King’s College and the London School of Economics, which welcome hundreds of visitors each summer--and not only young people--at tremendously low rates (by pricey London standards, that is).

Both schools own residence halls throughout central London, all of which are within easy walking distance of subway stations. Rooms range from spartan--one or two single beds, a bureau, a washbasin and a chair, with a bathroom down the hall--to more upscale “en-suite” facilities with private bathrooms and access to cooking facilities. Dorms that are “kitchen-free” usually provide residents with a full breakfast at no charge, and all facilities supply linens, towels, pillows and a bar of soap. Dorms also offer coin-operated laundry facilities and TV lounges, and some of the residences can provide cribs for small children.

The London School of Economics dorm rooms become available between June 30 and July 8, with stays allowed through Sept. 21-29. There are set rates for nightly stays, although stays of one week or longer can usually be negotiated at a lower per-night price.

The school’s Bankside House dorm is in one of London’s hottest neighborhoods, directly opposite the new Tate Gallery of Modern Art and near the Globe Theatre. Single rooms start at $43, en-suite singles at $63. Twin-bedded rooms are $85 per night, triples $124 and quads $143. (Please note that throughout this article, prices given are per room, not per person.)

High Holborn Residence is at the top of Drury Lane, in the heart of the theater district. Singles go for about $52, en-suite twins for $134.

Situated just off Tottenham Court Road, Carr Saunders Hall is a nicely appointed residence with tiny kitchens on each floor and a dining room on the top floor, which serves a full English breakfast each morning. Singles here are $41, twins $69 and en-suite twins $77.

The school also has halls on Rosebery Avenue (single $40 to $48, twin $52, en-suite twin $88, triple $85) and in “loverly” Bloomsbury (Passfield Hall) ranging from $35 to $88.

For information: London School of Economics residence office, telephone 011-44-20-7955-7370, Internet https://www.lse.ac.uk/vacations.

King’s College has dorms and “self-catering” apartments on Great Dover Street. The flats have four to eight bedrooms, all with single beds. Each bedroom has its own shower room with a toilet, and there is a fairly large kitchen and dining area with all the necessary utensils, plus a microwave and television. Rates start at about $863 per week for a four-bedroom flat and increase in price by $94 per bedroom, making this a good option for large groups of friends traveling together.

For King’s College dorms you have a choice of the Stamford Street Apartments, Wellington Hall and the Hampstead Campus.

Stamford can be booked from Aug. 9 through Sept. 15 and consists of single en-suite rooms only, all with a shared kitchen, costing $51 per night. The Stamford Street apartments are located in the area of Waterloo, not far from the South Banks Arts Centre, home to the Royal National Theatre and the Hayward Gallery.

Wellington Hall has single rooms for $40 per night and twin rooms at $62, available June 19 through Sept. 15. Located minutes from Parliament Square, the residence is near bustling Victoria Street and the Victoria tube station. A full breakfast is included in the rate here.

Hampstead Campus has the best rates and the worst location. Single rooms are available for $26 per night, with doubles at $45. The downside is that this one is in the suburbs, a 20-minute walk from the nearest tube station.

For more information: tel. 011-44-20-7928-3777, fax 011-44-20-7928-5777, Internet https://www.kcl.ac.uk/services/vacbro/index.html.