Post contributed by Adriana T.  She is an undergraduate student at King’s, studying German.

Life in Moonraker Point

SE1 0FN – Your new postcode. By the time you are reading this, these six digits will not mean much to you but in a few weeks, you will know them by heart and they will be your new home. Moonraker Point is a hugely popular residence, not only due to its proximity to Guy’s Campus (Medicine) and Strand Campus (Arts and Humanities) but also thanks to the outstanding facilities, the views and the communal atmosphere. The greatest asset of the Student life at Moonraker Point is the big common room, including a pool table, ping pong and a big TV (and yes, there is Netflix). What I personally like most about the space is its diversity. Walk in at any time of day or night and you can find students studying, eating, watching TV, playing pool and even doing pre-drinks and parties on the Weekend. Twice a week, the common room is used for our very own #resilife events.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, you will find your CFs and RAs amongst the other students. Tuesday is always the time for tea and biscuits, where the atmosphere will be quite relaxed and everyone is unwinding over a cuppa. Thursdays, on the other hand, the common room might get messy as we get artsy and creative. What started out as ‘Art night’ has evolved into a creative hub with activities ranging from crafting, painting to designing mugs and T-shirts. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere while being inspired by your new life in London, your university and maybe even your new home. Hint: your artwork makes amazing and cheap decorations for your flat!

Living with other like-minded young adults might sound like a dream to some but it can also be a bit of a daunting prospect and I felt no different when I first arrived at Moonraker. But let me assure you that Moonraker offers one of the friendliest and most inclusive communities you will find. There is a sufficient support network in place to ensure that you will have a good time during your stay. A 24-hour reception is there for any urgent or non-urgent matters and queries and they are always happy to chat to you about anything. Why not pop down for a chat once you settled in? They love to get to know their residents better. Moonraker also offers a team of fully-trained RAs and CFs who will introduce you to your new residence, your neighborhood and will always have an open ear. Keep an eye out for their red jumpers and do not hesitate to ask them for advice or what’s on at the next art night!

Post contributed by Elisabeth M. She is an undergraduate student at King’s, in the department of War Studies.

Living in Moonraker Point means being part of one of the most social and vibrant student accommodations in London. One of the things I love most about the Moonraker community is that there is always something going on. Whether you feel like going to one of the many Resilife events hosted throughout the week, just chilling in the common room or exploring the lively Southwark neighbourhood with your fellow residents, you will always be spoiled for choice. This is what makes Moonraker Point a truly unique place to live. And for those who prefer a more relaxing night to themselves, the rooms at Moonraker Point are incredibly spacious and all ensuite, so they provide the perfect retreat for busy students living in a busy city.

The accommodation not only offers shared flats that range from four to twelve people, but also private studios. Shared flats are the perfect way to meet other residents and co-habitate with a diverse group of fellow King’s students. For those looking for a quieter living situation, studios provide the perfect option, with spacious rooms that include fully equipped private kitchens.  So whatever living situation you might be looking for, Moonraker Point has got you covered. In addition to this, Moonraker Point offers some really incredible facilities, including a common room with pool and ping-pong tables, as well as free Netflix for those craving a relaxing night in. So whatever you might be looking for, Moonraker Point has the facilities to satisfy any taste or mood. Keen on a fun night in with your flatmates? Most of Moonraker Point’s shared flat kitchens have balconies with some of the most amazing views in London.

So you can spend the evening relaxing and chilling with your flatmates and fellow residents while you take in breath-taking views of the London Eye, the Shard and the Tate Modern. Or what about if you’re looking to meet new people around your halls of residence? There are always events going during the week, including Tea Tox, Art Night and weekly Saturday outings around London. These events are a great way to bring together the Moonraker community and meet new people. In addition to these weekly events, there is always a huge event that takes place every month. These include game nights, parties in the common room, free food and potlucks. So it really means that everyone is involved in the Moonraker community, which easily makes it one of the most vibrant and social residence communities at King’s. All in all, Moonraker Point really is a unique place to live, with such an incredible and diverse community that will immediately make you feel like you have found your home away from home.

Moonraker Point and its Neighbourhood  

One of the most unique and exciting parts about living in Moonraker Point is the vibrant and historic Southwark neighbourhood, which you will be at the centre of. As one of the oldest boroughs in London, Southwark offers its residents a unique London living experience. Of course, one of the perks of living at Moonraker is its proximity to the various King’s campuses; the residence is situated within a 10-minute walk from King’s Waterloo campus, a 15-minute walk from the Guy’s campus and a 20-minute walk from the Strand campus. Beyond this, however, the area is home to some of London’s most iconic landmarks, with some of the city’s most famous bridges, buildings and museums located just outside your doorstep. Follow me, as I describe some of my favourite spots in Southwark and reveal some secret and lesser-known hangouts in the area.

Start your day with a relaxing brunch at the Table Café, which is tucked away on Southwark Street. It offers a legendary brunch menu that can satisfy any craving. Whether you are craving a traditional full English breakfast or something a bit more unconventional like a brunch burger topped with pork, beetroot, egg, sour cream and avocado sauce, the Table Café offers pretty much anything to satisfy your hunger. Next, spend the day exploring some of the iconic buildings and museums that you will find around your neighbourhood. An absolute must-see for anyone living in the area is the Tate Modern, which is only a short 10-minute walk from Moonraker Point. Soak in some modern art and unique, awe-inspiring exhibitions. Before heading off, make sure to check out the incredible view you have from the top floor, in order to really get the full experience. After this, head towards the Shakespeare Globe Theatre to the catch a show or just explore this historic landmark. Here you can discover some of the Southwark area’s rich and vibrant history. Located right next door is The Swan, one of London’s most famous pubs. This is perfect for those craving a traditional fish and chips lunch or a pint with enviable full views of the Thames. Alternatively, you could stroll along the Thames and head to the bustling Borough Market to experience London’s most renowned food and drink market. Wander around and discover the diverse range of foods from all around the world. This spot is perfect for hungry students looking for reasonably priced food and a truly adventurous culinary experience. One of my favorite dishes here and a must-try for anyone visiting Borough Market are the Thai coconut pancakes. Let your busy day in Southwark come to an end by walking along the Southbank promenade. Here you can enjoy breathtaking views of London and experience a Bank side sunset that illuminates the city and the river with a golden hue. This is one of my favorite London moments and being at the heart of it all makes living at Moonraker Point so incredibly unique.

Post contributed by Tanya. She is an undergraduate student at King’s, studying Law.

Life in Atlas

Hi, I am Tanya, a second year Law LLB student. I was a Community Facilitator and a resident of Atlas. Atlas is one of the newest King’s accommodations for both undergraduates and postgraduates. It has been a jovial and dynamic experience living at Atlas. The residence is in the newly upcoming neighbourhood of Vauxhall and is five minutes away from the Victoria bus/ tube station. One of the perks of living in this area is its connectivity to central London and the university campuses. The building accommodates around five hundred students coming from different countries and backgrounds and enthusiastic to befriend people and make the most of the London attractions.

The management team and the people at the reception are very amiable and helpful. They are easy to approach and make an effort to know almost everyone in the residence. If you have any issues or queries they are the first post of call who can solve your problems efficiently! The other advantage of living at a King’s residence is the King’s ResiLife programme which at its core is aimed to facilitate the adjustment of students in university life, providing an inclusive and engaged community. There are student-led weekly events for all to enjoy, relieve stress and make new friends. There are excursions and trips to London attractions every Saturday. There are large residence wide events cater to the multitude of festivals of all cultures like Christmas, Eid, Holi, Diwali, Chinese New Year, Easter and the list goes on. What I found unique to Atlas was that it has its own swimming pool and gym with the services provided at a heavily discounted rate to King’s students. I’ll recommend everyone to make the most of it. There are various sessions in collaboration with King’s BeActive programme where you can take part in classes such as Yoga, Pilates etc. Atlas has some fantastically furnished communal places such as a study room with free printers, a common kitchen room for lavish dinners, pool tables and a media room just in case you don’t feel like going to a cinema. There are two-rooftops where we have hosted an induction and a year-end barbeque for all the residents. Atlas has great security and basic amenities such as cycle storage, laundry machines, and postage boxes.

Local Area

Atlas is not only a self-sufficient residence but is also situated in the best locality you could ask for. There is a Vauxhall park opposite the building where films are screened in the summer time, the Vauxhall comedy club, rock climbing facilities, and for someone like me who is interested in dancing, a ballet school as well. For all the art lovers, Tate Britain is just 10 minutes of walk away from the accommodation. Various other London attractions nearby are the MI6 building, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye, Winter Wonderland, and the Natural History museum- all within a reach of less than thirty minutes! Vauxhall has its own food market where students, residents and tourists enjoy spending quality time on a weekend. From various gourmet food restaurants to the classic Nando’s, the market has it all. For all the cricket fans, the renowned Oval stadium is a 10 mins on foot from the resident and this year was particularly buzzing because of the World Cup. To the surprise of all, there is a city farm amidst the hustle bustle of London and a great way to relax and ride horses. If you desire to have a riverside dinner, then Albert Embankment is a stone’s throw from the building with an attached dockside restaurant. Vauxhall is rightly situated for the students to enjoy not only what it has to offer, but also what the rest of the London has to offer!

Post contributed by Valentina M. She is an undergraduate student at King’s, in the department of History.

The new Vauxhall residence is the perfect place for any new King’s student. The building has 30 residential floors, with some breathtaking views of London. Hardwood floors, brand new bathrooms, and a large double bed and floor-to-ceiling windows are just some of the great features of this building. There is lots of storage space for students to comfortably move in, the kitchens are brand new and they have two ovens, two stove hobs, and two sinks for the students to use—which means fighting your flat mates for space. There is also a large dining table for flat dinner parties or to invite your friends over and cook, and large windows overlooking the American embassy and the Themes. The common room upstairs on the 31^st floor is open to all students to hang out on the comfortable couches, play ping pong, and enjoy the giant projector to watch movies at night. There is also a TV room with two televisions that can be used to play video games, watch Netflix, or amazon prime. There are two balconies in the building, one on the fourth floor and one on the 31^st floor, and both are great places to hang out outside in the rare occasion that London is sunny and students wish to study outside, especially around exams. There is also an indoor study space for students, with tables, couches, and charging ports as well. Other amenities in the building include free printing, a laundry room on the 15^th floor, a meeting space on the second floor, and a bike room that allows students to rent bikes for free. The building staff is extremely friendly and willing to help students whenever there is a problem with one of the rooms, and building maintenance fixes problems quickly. The Vauxhall residence will become your new home quickly and is well-equipped to handle any problems that arise in your first year.

The location of the Vauxhall residence is ideal for any new student looking to explore London. Its proximity to a well-serviced bus station, tube station with access to the Victoria Line, and a train station is perfect to get around the city quickly and easily. There is a bus that goes directly from the entrance of Strand campus to down the street from the Vauxhall residence in 40 minutes, passing through Trafalgar Square and Westminster, and is perfect for King’s students who are looking for an easy (and scenic!) commute. The usefulness of the Victoria Line to get around London cannot be overestimated. It is one of the more efficient tube lines, with consistent trains coming in every 2-3 minutes that run all night Fridays and Saturdays, and easily connects to the Northern, Jubilee, and Piccadilly lines. It’s also easy to get to Gatwick and Heathrow, for the students who are going to be traveling a lot during their time in university from Vauxhall. Other features of the Vauxhall area are the closeness to various gyms, a large Sainsbury’s, and a big park that’s perfect for studying. It’s closeness to the river makes for some gorgeous riverside walks and runs towards Westminster, especially during fall and spring evenings as the sun sets. There are also a lot of cool restaurants in this area, including a great Jamaican restaurant, and an Indian restaurant, for fun dinners out with friends. There are also plenty of pubs nearby for relaxed nights out, and they are perfect for watching Six Nations with friends and support your team. For students interested in the more cultural aspects of London, Vauxhall is near the Tate British museum, which exhibits international modern and contemporary art. There are a ton of great attractions in and around Vauxhall that make this residence the perfect location for any new student to London that is looking forward to exploring central London.

Post contributed by William C.  He is an undergraduate student at King’s, studying Medical Education.

Life in Atlas

Atlas, no not the titan holding up the sky, but an accommodation that adds to the London skyline as it too stretches upwards towards the heavens. It’s 31 floors providing views that are unparalleled in some of London’s most expensive locales. The 31^st floor roof terrace is a great place to take in this vista and on a sunny day there is nothing more pleasant than sitting and taking in London’s vibrancy from a bird’s eyes perspective. If you are afraid of heights, then do not fear as there is a more expansive terrace only four floors up. Equipped with lounging areas and enough plants to keep an aspiring botanist content.

Atlas’ charm is not just restricted to outside space- indeed some of its most impressive offerings can be found within! The third and fourth floors are dedicated to communal space and if you are looking for a place to watch a movie go no further. The third floor boasts a media room equipped with no less than three 60inch televisions, that you can watch to your hearts content. There are a plethora of bean bags and sofas to accommodate a modest horde and if you more of a gamer there is a PS4 you can borrow from the lovely reception team. If you are a more studious individual, then just adjacent to the media room is a more than spacious study room. Within these walls you can find an environment of ample study spaces, chairs and tables: which you can sprawl out upon when exam season hits.

There is a state-of-the-art gym that holds regular classes and includes a swimming pool, sauna and steam room (It is important to note that this is not included in the price of the accommodation). Vauxhall has amazing transport links to the rest of the city and Atlas is just a stone’s throw from the tube and over ground station, indeed the tracks go right past the windows.

Local Area

Situated just south of the river it is only a 25-minute walk to Waterloo and Westminster. So, in just 25 minutes you can be outside the houses of parliament or taking snaps in front of the London Eye. Vauxhall is one of London’s most up and coming areas and if you blink for a second another development or skyscraper appears before your eyes.

Vauxhalls greatest strength is its connections. It has a major bus terminal, Overground station and Underground station. These transport links allow you to get across London with ease and gets you to Strand, Waterloo and Guys campuses all in less than half an hour. It is not just transport that makes this area so popular, as there are a range of parks and pleasure gardens for any rare sunny days. One of the most popular places is Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens where you can lose yourself among the shrubs and hedgerows.

Just next door to the Gardens is a rare sight indeed- A farm situated in the heart of London amidst the sky scrapers and high rises! So, if you’ve got a couple of hours to kill why not head on over and interact with all manner of friendly creatures at Vauxhall City Farm.