LSE Halls Life
Your Hall
Westminster Bridge FAQs

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Halls

Posted 1 year ago

We're looking forward to welcoming you to halls very soon!

Before you arrive at your new home, we've put together all the FAQs we've been asked by students, from things you need to know before you move in, to what it's like living in London as a student.

Check them out below ⬇️

 Before you arrive 

You can access the online induction and consent training through the LSE student accommodation system, which will be available after you have accepted your confirmation of accommodation. Undergraduate students should be able to access it by the end of this week, while postgraduate students can access it now.
The LSE Student Welcome page and guide are resources for new students that cover everything they need to know before and after they arrive at LSE, such as how to enroll, what learning facilities are available, how to deal with homesickness, and more.

Yes, you can arrive to the hall slightly earlier than 3 pm, as the staff will try to have your room ready before then. If your room is ready, you can check in early. You should also check your email for a message from bookings@urbanest.com that will ask you if you are interested in early arrivals and give you some dates.

You can send or order anything before you arrive, such as deliveries from Amazon or department stores, and they will be put in the parcel room ready for your arrival. You can also order bedding packs and kitchen packs from the online shop at Urbanest, which work with the cleaning company, and they will be put in your room before you arrive. You can find more information about the online shop and how to order on the Urbanest website.

You can find out your room number before you arrive at Urbanest by contacting the support@urbanest.com or inquiries@urbanest.com and providing your tenancy number that starts with TO. They will be able to tell you your room.

No, you cannot find out who you're sharing your room or kitchen with before you arrive at Urbanest, due to the general data protection laws in the UK. You will find out your flatmates on your date of arrival.
You can get from the airport to Urbanest Westminster Bridge by using public transport, such as the tube, the bus, or the train, through the Transport for London (TfL) network. You can also use other services, such as Uber or black cabs, to get a taxi. You should check the TfL website for more information on routes, fares, and timetables.

 Westminster Bridge specific 

The main contacts are;

  • James:  Head of Residential life for LSE
  • Anne-Marie: Property Manager for Urbanest
  • Lucia: LSE Warden
  • Fabio: Residential Life Officer
You can see some images of the gym and the facilities at Urbanest by visiting their website. You can also find more information about the amenities, services, and location of the hall.
The kitchen includes a hob, an oven, a fridge, and a freezer in every room type. The hob can be controlled through the switches on the wall and the device itself. The kitchen extractor fan is activated by pulling it outwards. The staff can show you how to use the appliances when you check in.
The electrical appliances that are allowed are those that have a UK plug or a compatible adapter. Appliances such as hair straighteners, irons, or rice cookers are allowed, but they need to be checked for safety by an external person who does PAT testing. Appliances that require a different plug type or an adapter are not recommended, as they can pose a health and safety risk.
Yes, water and electricity usage are included in the rent at Urbanest. However, students are encouraged to be green and sustainable and not overuse them. Heating is also supplied all year round and can be adjusted in the room. If there are any problems with the heating or the water, students can contact the reception team for help.
Yes, Urbanest provides a free bike service and storage for bikes. You can fill out a form at reception and pick out a bike that you can use for as long as you want. You can also bring your own bike or buy one while staying at Urbanest and store it in the back of the building.
The rooms at Urbanest are designed to have as much storage as possible, so you can fit your suitcases and other belongings. However, there is no storage elsewhere in the building, so you should be mindful of how much you bring or buy.
No, the rooms do not have air conditioning, as the building is designed for the winter, which is the majority of the year in the UK. The rooms do have ventilation that provides fresh air, but if it gets really hot, you can use a fan. The communal areas of the building have air conditioning.

You can have guests stay over, but you should check in with your flatmates if you are sharing a kitchen with them to make sure they are comfortable with it. You can also have your parents stay over when you first arrive, as long as you follow the same rule.

Overnight guests - shared apartments

    If you are staying in a shared flat, such as an en-suite room, out of courtesy, we ask you to check with your flatmates it's OK before your guests arrive.

    As a rule of thumb, to respect your flatmates, we ask that you don't have overnight guests in shared apartments for any more than five days at a time. Your flatmates reserve the right to speak to Urbanest and raise concerns about your guest, and we reserve the right to ask them to leave without forewarning.


      Overnight guests must be 17yo+.

      To respect your flatmates, we strongly advise that it's not a good idea to have parents/guardians stay, especially during the initial few weeks of settling in.

      You can have a mini fridge in your room at Urbanest, but it has to have a UK plug or a compatible adapter. You should not use an adapter for appliances that use a lot of electricity, as it can pose a health and safety risk.

      The gym is open 24/7 and has a designated team that can help you with your workout or give you an induction. The gym has a charge that works out to about a pound a day, which you pay upfront for your entire stay. The sauna and the pool are open from 8am to 8pm and are free to use for residents. You just need to book your slot at reception or online.

      The facilities for learning in the building include:

      • Common spaces with tables and power outlets where you can study or work on your laptop.
      • A boardroom where you can do group projects or presentations.
      • Private study rooms where you can focus on your assignments or readings.
      • Rooms on the 18th floor where you can study with a view of the city.
      • A printer on the mezzanine and the 18th floor where you can print your documents.
      No, there are no music rooms available, but there are some at LSE in the new building that you can use. You can bring an electric piano and use it in your room, but you should be mindful of your flatmates and the noise level, and not play it when people are trying to sleep.
      You can have guests stay overnight, but you should check with your flatmates if they are comfortable with it. There is no limit on the number of guests that you can have, but you should make sure it's appropriate for your room and not cause any disturbance or inconvenience to others.

       Living in halls 

      Some of the sources of support are:

      • The reception desk, which is staffed 24/7 by Urbanest staff who can help with any questions or emergencies.
      • The LSE warden, who can provide pastoral support, guidance and referrals for any personal, academic, financial, health or conflict issues.
      • The hall committee, which is a group of student volunteers who organize events and activities in the hall and shape the student experience.
      • The online induction, which is compulsory and includes the consent training and information about living in halls.
      • The LSE counseling service and disability and wellbeing service, which offer specialized mental health support for students.
      • The 24/7 external mental health support scheme, which can be accessed through online chat, WhatsApp or phone calls.

      You can express your interest in joining the hall committee by emailing res.life@lse.ac.uk or speaking to the warden or subwardens. They will be looking for volunteers soon and will provide more information about the role and responsibilities.

      The Student Services team can offer help and support with various aspects of student life, such as visa advice, financial support, disability and wellbeing support, academic development, careers advice, and more.

      You can get involved in the Students Union by visiting their website, following them on social media, joining one of their many clubs and societies, taking part in their campaigns and events, or running for a position in their elections.

      Follow LSE Residential Life on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

      They post regular updates on events, news, tips, and opportunities for students living in halls.

      Some of the events and activities that LSE Residential Life organizes for students living in halls are boat

      parties, trips to IKEA, West End shows, day trips to Brighton, Cambridge, and Oxford, pottery painting, walking tours around London, and more. Students can find out more information about these events and book their place via the Halls Life platform.

      You will be supported by the reception team, who can help you arrange food or medication delivery to your room. You can contact them by email or ask a flatmate to speak to them in person. You should also register with a GP (general practitioner or family doctor), which is free in the UK, and get phone appointments or medical attention if you need it. You can register with the GP on campus at LSE or another one nearby.
      No, there is no curfew or time limit for entering or leaving the hall. You can come and go as you like, as there is always someone at reception keeping an eye on the doors and you need a fob key to enter. However, you should be mindful of your surroundings and the people around you who might be sleeping if you are leaving or coming back late.
      The cost of duvets, pillows, and bed sheets depends on the level of luxury that you want, but you can find cheap deals at Ikea, Primark, or other department stores. You can also check the LSE halls portal for some suggestions of lea items that you might want to look at. You can also order online and have them delivered to the hall.
      You can arrange kitchen cleaning by paying separately for a service that is available through the reception team. You can also share the cleaning duties with your flatmates by creating a rota system that organizes who is going to clean what throughout the week and the month. This is a good way to get to know your flatmates and keep your living space tidy and livable.

       Living in London 

      The area around Urbanest Westminster Bridge is generally safe, but it is also very touristy, so you should be careful not to have your phone or other valuables on display to avoid pickpockets. You can also enjoy running or walking in the nearby park at night without worrying too much about your safety.
      You can get from Urbanest Westminster Bridge to the LSE campus by walking, which takes around 25 minutes along the river, or by taking the tube or the bus, which have several stops nearby. Walking is a nice option if it's not raining, but you can also use public transport if you prefer.

      Some of the supermarkets or places to buy food around Urbanest Westminster Bridge are:

      • Tesco and Co-op, which are small supermarkets that have the essentials.
      • A street that has stalls with street food, farmer's market type of vegetables and fruit, and other things.
      • Ikea, Primark, or other department stores, where you can order or buy furniture, bedding, or other items and arrange delivery to the hall.

      A common app that's used in the UK to get around the city and find out the public transport options is Citymapper. It's linked to the TfL network and shows you the routes, fares, and timetables for the tube, the bus, the train, and other modes of transport. You can download Citymapper from the app store or the Google Play store.

      You can order groceries online from various supermarkets or websites and get them delivered to the hall. You will have to pick them up from the reception, as they cannot deliver them to your room unless you are isolating. You can also get food delivery from various services, such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Just Eat, and pick them up from the reception as well. If you are unwell or isolating, you can arrange with the reception team to have them delivered to vour room.
      WESTMINSTER BRIDGE WESTMINSTER BRIDGE INFO

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