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 31st 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 31st 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 15th 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.