The experience of a real Queen Mary student

The bedroom

The bedroom is really spacious with a lot of storage space available. As my room was on the first floor, the noise was bit of an issue but nothing alarming. The light was sufficient but a lamp on the study desk would absolutely help!

What size was the bed? Single

Did you have an ensuite?

Yes. The bathroom was good enough, there was enough storage space in there but there was no separation in the shower and toilet which can be a little difficult.

The kitchen

How many people lived in your flat? 6

The kitchen was very huge, there were two fridges and freezers, one kettle, one microwave and one oven. The cupboard spaces are divided equally and sufficient enough. The space and the dining table is big enough to accommodate 6 people.

Laundry

There was not a laundry room in the building as my building was in the Mile End Campus. The laundry room was in the France House building which was 2 mins away from my building and easily accessible.

Social spaces

There are no social spaces inside of the building.

We had QM Social, Canalside and Library Square as common spaces, all 2-10 mins away. Every spot has a different vibe and is usually used to have a chat, study or just to chill.

QM Social was usually busy and always crowded. It was also a bit noisy so people usually just come there to have a chat, sit and chill. Canalside and Library Square usually had their peak times, but during late evening it’s more calm.

Where did you and your flatmates usually hang out?

It used to be Canalside and it was great during the summer! The Shacks are open a few times, there are ResLife events going on there and overall just a perfect vibe! We all decided on Canalside because it was at an equal distance from all of my friends' accommodation.

Location

Creed Court is on the Mile End campus.

What were the transport links like?

It was very accessible, the closet station was the mile end tube station and a 25-30 mins ride to oxford circus. It will be the central line and and is very convenient

What were the best parts of your hall's location?

One of the best parts about living in Creed Court was its location on campus. Being so close to everything at Queen Mary meant it was really convenient to get to lectures, the library, and other facilities within minutes. It also gave me the full student village experience because most of the university accommodation and student spaces were nearby, so there was always something happening and it was easy to meet people.

What were the worst parts of your hall's location?

One of the downsides of the location was that while Creed Court was very convenient for getting to lectures and other campus facilities, it sometimes felt like we were mostly within the university bubble. Because everything we needed was so close by, it could take a bit more effort to go out and explore other parts of London regularly. Additionally, although transport links were accessible, getting to some central areas of the city still required taking the tube, which could feel a bit time-consuming at times.

Community

The sense of community in the hall was really positive, especially during the first few weeks of university. Living with other first-year students made it easy to meet people and form friendships, as everyone was in a similar situation and open to socialising.

People often spent time in the kitchens or common areas, which naturally created opportunities to get to know each other. While everyone eventually became busier with classes and their own schedules, there was still a friendly and supportive atmosphere in the building.

In conclusion...

When I look back on my time in my hall, I feel very grateful for the experience. It was my first time living away from home, so it helped me become more independent and confident. I also met a lot of new people and formed friendships that made the transition to university life much easier.

Overall, living in halls was a really memorable part of my first year at Queen Mary University of London, and it played a big role in helping me settle into both university and life in London.