Goldsmiths House, London

I stayed in Goldsmiths house from 2019-2020,it had been such a wonderful experience. I heard alot about horrible accommodations and flats,but this place wasn't. I came from a very socially connected family and country to study my master in the UK,and I was expecting myself to struggle with being lonely and not having the real sense of family,but it doesn't happen. Can you imagine that I really started to miss my family back home when I moved out of Goldmiths?!. This place has everything that you need make out the best of your studies for many reasons: Firstly,it is always clean,all the common areas are sparklingly clean all the day because of the dedicates staff who are always there and they clean on a daily basis. The only thing you need to take care of is your room. Secondly, The availability of the quite study room helped me alot while searching for a place to focus and not sleep ( I'm a library person,I am not the kind of people who have the strong will for studying on their room,I used to spend all my study time in libraries). Some people also study in the dinning room ,which is such a large space that can accommodate many activities at the same time. Thirdly,the staff,starting from the management team who had been very helpful from the day I signed the contract.They always try hardly to find solution for everyone,and they always show understanding. I will mention two things that happened for me personally that I will never forget: Due to some restrictions on the bank transfer from my country,I didn't pay the first installment and I'd signed to pay when I arrive and the first week will be payer separately untill I open the bank account here and receive the money transfer.But when I arrived to the UK and to Goldmiths,openning the bank account took some time and there was adminstrative delays in sending money from my sponsor side. I was panicking alot and I didn't want to tell my family or anyone about that.I told the manager about the story and she was just like a "mother" ,she solved the situation by making another contract to pay on weekly basis untill I receive the fund. And not only that,she even asked me if this might affect my budget so she can have another solution. I was not expecting something like this to happen at all. Even during my last payment,she was not there,but she adviced the other accommodation manger to see if I want to pay later , because she was expecting the same delay to happen but it didn't. This example clearly shows their willingness to help their residing students and make life simpler for them. The other example was the other staff members: the cleaning and maintenance staff and the receptionists,they are all lovely and kind. I remember when I stay in my room and not appear for some days they ask me the moment they see me where I have been and wether everything is okay with me. I felt they are like a family. The last thing to mention is the other students in this place. I am getting out with one that I can call sisters,and I mean that. Although we encounter different kinds of people in life,but most of the students there are really amazing. It's also interesting to point out the activities that are usually planned by the management team for the purpose of connecting people together,such as having some breakfasts together , celebrating Christmas together and many other activities.Indeed,it helped me more to know most of the people who lived there and to have a longer chat when most of the people used to be very busy during week term time. I would strongly recommend this place for any female searching for a place to stay in London,and it's also important to consider the location and the proximity to universities, regent's park,Camden high street.

This is a great building, with just female residents. A lovely garden for residents to use. Cleaning is done every day by in house cleaners and maintenance and cleaning staff are on site each day. A very nice stay.

There are a number of issues with this accommodation that do not make it competitive with other student housing in the area. They are: 1) No lift: The property is four floors and while there used to be a lift it has been out of order for months and will continue to be out of order indefinitely. A real turn off before you have even moved in. 2) Mini rooms: The rooms are tiny. It makes you feel terribly hemmed in and also means that your neighbours they are in the room with you. If your land a noisy, night-owl neighbour with behavioural issues then you may as well sleep at the library. 3) Poor Hygiene: Cleaning seems infrequent and superficial. There is mould between the shower tiles and the tiles are very slimy. I have seen dangerous black mould growth along the baths. There are no cleaners on the weekend which means that by Sunday night the kitchen looks like something from Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. It is not unusual to see rats. I have seen rats and mice with a rat running over my barefoot when I took the rubbish out. 4) Management: Not at all friendly and oft times appear irresponsible in regard to response times for queries and maintenance requests. They do not enforce house rules which means that students with behavioural issues run riot. I have been verbally and physically assaulted by one problem resident; witnessed students smoking weed in the garden; dumping garbage pretty much anywhere; hanging wet washing all over the public areas; stealing and the list goes on. Despite notifying the reception desk or management they have never failed to stamp out these behaviours. Lack of Facilities: Unlike other halls, they have only one study room next to a very noisy TV room. This is really not a room you can study in. There is no gym. The common spaces are few which means they are always overpopulated. Construction Zone: The worst feature of this otherwise property is that it is in the HS2 railway construction zone. Last summer I had to go home for four months because of the noise, dust, smell - 24hrs a day. The heat made this unbearable. If I had not gone home I would have failed my course. The building is metres away from a giant abyss where they are building high-speed rail infrastructure. Some roads around it have ben closed which has meant disruption to most transport routes to and from Goldsmiths House (GSH). The construction is due for completion in 2026. Unsafe Area: Given the HS2 chaos, road closures have resulted in the creation of dead spaces which has seen an increase in crime. Several students have been mugged, assaulted and intimidated by gangs. Normally their phones get stolen. There is also a growing informal settlement of migrants around the corner from the entrance. It is very unsettling to pass. Atmosphere: The atmosphere is hostile and heavy as there is a constant tension between students who comply with house rules and those that don't. The management are disliked which compounds the issues. I really needed an environment conducive to study and found this to be intolerably disruptive on both a cognitive and sensory level. Despite having met some nice people here I will always think badly of this place and my time here. If you are serious about your studies find a place that is clean, quiet and friendly. Goldsmiths House is a toxic space and I caution all who consider staying here. I wish I had done more research because there are some really great student places in London. This one is an epic fail.