Editor-in-Chief Nia Simeonova presents rigorous qualitative research performed among Roar News team members: these five were found to be the hidden gems of King’s College London (KCL).
This article was first published in print on 16 September 2024.
We all love Chapters Café or the scenic Roots Café on the 8th floor of Bush House, but hunting for a place to sit can get tiresome and annoying. Whether you simply need quiet time out or you’re desperately trying to find a single seat where you can finish your readings before heading to class, these are a few less-popular spots where you can enjoy some peace and quiet.
Editor’s Note: Not even Roar’s Editor-in-Chief could wring their true favourites out of Roar staff. Alas, on rare occasions, student journalists will gatekeep vital information. But here are the top contenders!
1. River Terrace Café, Strand Campus
This is one of the most spacious cafés at King’s. You can sit inside or outside on the terrace overlooking the Thames. Enjoy your lunch or order a cup of coffee while you admire London beauties in this underrated KCL gem. The natural lighting and greenery make this café a nice haven amidst the usual havoc of the Strand campus. The Macadam Building is generally less busy than other locations on Strand, so finding a spot should be easier!
How to get there: The Terrace Café is located on Floor 0 of the Macadam Building. To reach the Macadam Building from the King’s Building, walk past the Safra lecture theatre and take a left to the corridor leading to the Macadam Building.
2. The Language Centre, Strand Campus
You’re probably unaware of this quiet, snug spot just below ground level in the King’s Building. On top of being able to do your coursework unbothered, here you will also find books, newspapers and magazines in a wide range of foreign languages. There’s something for language learners of all levels. The Language Resource Centre (LRC) offers courses in 29 languages! You could take a language module as part of your course or as an additional course at a heavily discounted price. The cherry on top is their free speaking practice scheme, where you get matched with someone fluent in your chosen language and you chat away in the cosy armchairs at the LRC.
How to get there: When you enter the King’s Building, take a right down the stairs in front of the Great Hall. LRC is located on Floor -1. While you’re there, have a sneak peek at the Engineering common space opposite the centre. Pro tip: you don’t have to be an engineer to sit there!
3. Your Department’s Common Room
That brings us to an obvious but often overlooked choice – your department’s common room. Department common rooms are usually a lot more secluded. An added benefit is that you can socialise and make friends with others on your programme.
The Virginia Woolf Building, for example, houses the Liberal Arts Common Room, as well as spaces for Modern Languages students. Few people know about the lovely study spaces on the 4th to 6th floor. Equipped with sofas, desktop computers and a kitchenette, these airy well-lit spaces feel almost like home. You can sneak in even if you’re not a humanities student…but shhh!
How to get there: You will probably be introduced to this space in the first weeks of your time at King’s, but if not, you can always ask!
4. Wills Library, Guy’s Campus
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging KCL’s beautiful Guy’s Campus. While the whole place bears the spirit of an old-time English university, one spot feels particularly serene – Wills Library. It used to be the main library on Guy’s Campus: today, it houses a collection of books in locked cabinets. The library welcomes students 24/7 and its ornate wooden charm makes studying feel so natural.
How to get there: Wills Library is located on the ground floor of the Hodgkin Building on Guy’s Campus. Please don’t ask for further directions. I am just a clueless humanities student, living on Strand…
5. Any free classroom or lecture theatre
One of my biggest blind spots is not being aware of this option until recently. There are hundreds of classrooms across all KCL campuses and, of course, they are not always occupied. When you need a quiet place to get away from the crowds of students rushing to their destinations, just step into an empty classroom or lecture theatre. You may be asked to leave if there is an upcoming lecture or workshop, but then you can just go to the next free one!
Whatever you need – whether it’s a computer room, a laptop to borrow a or a microwave to heat your lunch, chances are King’s has it. Just don’t hesitate to ask. One thing is certain – your time at King’s will fly. So make the most of all the facilities and resources that are readily available to you.
If your favourite study spot isn’t featured in this list, share it with us! We promise not to tell anyone…
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