Life at Butlers Wharf

Butlers Wharf is located in Shad Thames, one of the most exclusive areas in central  London. It is pretty much always quiet, and very up-market. The residence is surrounded by amenities - you're a minute's walk from every kind of take away. It also has a pub within five paces, and many others very nearby. One minute away is the riverfront, with lots of restaurants, including the famous Pont de la Tour.

Also a stone's throw away is the stunning Tower Bridge. Butlers Wharf is lucky enough to benefit from an amazing walk to LSE along the South Bank, passing many London sites, such as Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern, St Paul's Cathedral, HMS Belfast and others. The walk takes about 45 minutes, and is always a pleasure. By Tower Bridge and City Hall is a small park, perfect for relaxing in good weather.

Apart from the walk, getting to LSE is easy, although it takes longer than from some of the very close halls. There are several bus routes, and the underground from either Tower Hill (involving a walk across Tower Bridge - spectacular, but you will learn how to play 'tourist destruction derby' pretty fast), which goes straight to Temple (LSE), or London Bridge for when you want other lines. There is also a choice of methods to get to a supermarket. You can either walk ten minutes over Tower Bridge to Safeway, or catch a bus to a huge Tesco. This option has the added advantage that it is the same bus route from LSE, so you can go straight there.

Life at Butlers Wharf is what you make it. As it is mainly a postgraduate residence, some find it an ideal environment for study, while others find it a fantastic social scene. Although there is no bar, there is a student price pub round the corner and most people don't notice the lack of one within the hall. 

There is a large common room, which varies between packed and quiet, depending on the time. It has a pool table and table football, as well as many large leather sofas for watching television, doing work or relaxing with friends. Also to note are two computer rooms and a fairly well priced laundry room.

The Butlers Wharf committee were active in integrating students, which I found very helpful, being a (previously) shy first year undergraduate. During Fresher's week and the few weeks after that they helped me ease into student life. They continued to hold parties, and kept residents regularly informed on welfare in London. With events like weekly film nights, they were inclusive to both the highly sociable students, and those studious ones that needed low key relaxation.

Unlike most student residences, especially at LSE, the accommodation is organised into flats and not simply halls.  Each flat has six bedrooms, two toilets, a shower, a bathroom, and an open plan kitchen/ dining table and living area.

Having flats ensures a far more adult environment. It is easier to get to know people within your flat, and amenities are spread between fewer people. Flat atmosphere can vary between fairly subdued and very dynamic. When we moved in, it was a worry whether the flat would get on, but really, flat atmosphere is what you make it. If you want to get to know your flatmates and have a social environment, it's available to you, but if you want to keep yourself to yourself, every person has a private space. It's hard not to get to know something about your flatmates when you share the same fridge and cooking area!

The bedrooms are a good size for what you pay. Tidily arranged, they have everything you might want, are fairly modern and easy to keep clean. Each room has a large sink, which virtually eliminates queues for the bathroom.

I'm glad I chose Butlers Wharf, and hope to stay next year. It's not perfect, but has everything you might need and is adult yet fun.

Katherine Taylor: Hall President

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