LSE Carr-Saunders

I've stayed at another LSE hall-of-residence in London before - Ramsay Hall, which is literally round the corner from Carr-Saunders Hall.

Carr-Saunders is located at the corner of Fitzroy Street and Maple Street. It is almost under the Post Office - or BT - Tower, so it's impossible to lose your way! The handiest tube is Warren Street, about five minutes' walk away. If you are walking to this tube station, you pass a Tesco Express supermarket which is very handy for groceries, food and drink, booze, pastries etc. There is also a Sainsbury's supermarket across the road.

When you arrive at Carr-Saunders Hall, you walk up about 7-8 steep steps, making it difficult for handicapped people. They give you a plastic card to open all doors. This worked well, except I found it awkward to open the inner front door (needing to swipe it several times). There is a common room to the right as you enter; this is handy, with drinks machines, comfy sofas, tables and a small library too. Although there is a computer room, it is solely for the students' use. The door has a code for access; as do the computers. I tried to use it to no avail. I suppose, if you got to know a student of staff and asked nicely, they might give you a password!

My room was 118. There is a lift which is handy for the restaurant/canteen on the 6th floor at the top. My room was quite adequate, though a bit dated. It had a small bed with duvet, wash hand basin, wardrobe with coat-hangers, towels... no telly! There was no light at my bed, so I had to get out of bed to turn off the light. The radiator was piping hot, as was the water. The communal toilets were beside my room, which was convenient.

The breakfast was more than adequate and value for money: Sausage, bacon, egg, beans, tomato, fried bread, cereal, yoghurt, any amount of toast, butter, marmalade, jam... it is exhaustive. This big breakfast kept me going the whole day, really.

I had no complaints about it at all. I'd stay there again. Bear in mind that you shan't find much cheaper, or better value, in central London for £32 a night.

Having always managed to stay with friends in London, I needed somewhere to stay near Oxford Road for a course which would run 12 hours a day. Following a tip from someone else I looked up University lodgings available over the summer holidays (via travelstay.com) and it came up with Carr-Saunders Hall, just off Tottenham Court Road, single room for £30 per night on B&B basis.

I arrived late Monday evening, and was impressed on entering - everything looked clean, and the check in was incredibly smooth. The guy on check-in checked if I knew what I was doing, how to use the card, etc, and that was it - I was in my room. The room was what I expected from a student room - single bed, sink, desk, wardrobe - all clean, and with towels provided. I decided to look for the toilets/showers - didn't have far to go. The room was shared male/female, but all individual cubicles for showers/toilets, all of which looked clean (aside from the Cockroach treatment posters, but as the treatment means there won't be any, no problem!), and the following morning I found that the showers were also warm and reasonably powerful. Need to be careful to hang clothes on back of door to avoid the splashes!

Breakfast available 7.30-10am, and was a choice of any 6 items, which I was pretty impressed with. Toast/spreads could also be had free on top of the 6 items! Food was not 'value' quality, but seemed pretty good - Yeo Valley yoghurts for the first 2 days... and plenty of fruit.

Issues: I could only find one dual-plug socket, which is not great these days, but other than that, all was neat. The curtains had blackout material, but needed to make-sure these were carefully pulled together and some light did get through at the bottom. I could also have done with some ear plugs because of the street noise, but this would have been the same anywhere in London (although there is a pub opposite the entrance) and by the end of the week I was used to it and slept through.

I'd stay here again, and recommend to others who want a centrally located single room... but it's only available over the summer! See: [--] for more.