The experience of a real Queen Mary student

The bedroom

It was a cosy small space with a single bed. It had a mini-fridge inside which was indispensable. As it was next to a graveyard, there was little to no noise. I couldn't even hear anything from the construction going on behind the hall (which has since been completed). There was a cupboard and a space for keeping storage and I succeeded in obtaining a full-body mirror from residential services later. It had blinds so there was little to no lighting (although due to automatic lights outside, it made sleeping in the night a bit difficult but that wasn't too much of an issue).

What size was the bed? Single

Did you have an ensuite? No

What was the shared bathroom like?

The shared bathroom was nice and spacious. There were hooks provided that managed to do the job for most of the year. We also had a separate toilet which was really helpful in case someone was using the shower. The bathrooms were cleaned quite frequently. We set up a rotation between our flatmates to ensure that everybody was responsible for the toilet paper which worked well for the most part.

The kitchen

How many people lived in your flat? 4 in the flat, 14 in the house

It was a large kitchen shared by 14 people. As a result, it could end up being quite messy and we had to co-operate a lot in ensuring it was kept clean.

The kitchen contained a lot of amenities like 3 ovens, 1 table, a couple of kettles and toasters and 3 hobs. We also had assigned cupboard spaces for everyone to make sure everyone had enough space. The kitchen was a very social space and we hosted different events from birthday parties to Secret Santa and Christmas there for our flat!

Laundry

We did our laundry at the nearby Ifor Evans Place.

Social spaces

There are no social spaces inside of the building.

The kitchen was quite social and always lively. There was an outer space near Ifor Evans which I liked a lot and frequently used to play table tennis. There was a lot of space for seating as well so we'd regularly have conversations there (of course, before quiet hours!)

Where did you and your flatmates usually hang out?

We attended a lot of ResLife events! We also used the Genesis cinema tickets and would regularly organise dinners after.

Location

Albert Stern Cottages is located at the Mile End campus.

What were the transport links like?

The tube stations (Stepney Green and Mile End) and bus stops were very close.

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

The hall was very close to the library, QMotion and Asda (RIP) which I loved. It made studying and attending classes very easy in addition to going to the gym and shopping. It was also very close to the local cinema and numerous restaurants and cafés.

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

The location was honestly the best part! Central London felt like an escape and uni felt like a place to study at so our experience living in the hall really did feel like a home.

Community

The community was the best part! Due to the sheer number of people (14), there was somebody to get along with at all times! I became quite close with all of them and we organized cookouts regularly, went to the cinema and ResLife events, organized trips and birthday parties and partook in Secret Santa! We still regularly hangout together and I couldn't have asked for better flatmates!

In conclusion...

It was a lovely place that I really liked. It was well-maintained by the residents and was good for its price and distance.

Make sure you get your own hooks, hangers and a toiletries holder (along with other things you deem essential). Additionally, apparently, students do get a pin board in their rooms so if you don't have one, don't hesitate to ask!