[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] The College is part of University of London and students are entitled to use its facilities.[EBOLD][PARA][BOLD]For general information about London:[EBOLD] see [ULNE]University of London[EULNE]. At one end of The Strand is Trafalgar Square and at the other is King's College, among other things. Those other things include the beginning of Fleet Street, Somerset House (the home of the Inland Revenue and the [ULNE]Courtauld Institute[EULNE]), Aldwych, (a 5-lane crescent curving round Bush House, the HQ of the BBC World Service), the [ULNE]LSE[EULNE] and the handsome Wren church St Mary's-in-the-Strand. [ITAL]The 70s front of the King's College main building is a bit of a disappointment among the splendid surrounds.[EITAL] It's concrete, glass and grey, [ITAL]but bland enough to blend[EITAL]. Hidden away at the back of the building, overlooking the Thames is much finer Georgian architecture, [ITAL]but once that far into the building it's hard to find your way out again.[EITAL][PARA]The College has quite enough students to be a university on its own and the Strand campus is only the main site. There is a baby site in Kensington and another on the King's Road in Chelsea, which may be phased out over the next 5 years and the departments moved to Cornwall House - a new development just over the Thames next to the South Bank Complex, which already houses some departments. The 5th site is the large Medical and Dental School based at King's College Hospital just over 3 miles away in Camberwell, south of the river. King's also has halls of residence all over central London (both north and south)[ITAL] in some of the capital's most exciting, not to say valuable, locations.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]The College is overwhelmed by London's hustle and bustle, but King's students never forget their student roots (mainly because they can't afford to). The Strand bar keeps students together, keeps them friendly, keeps them drunk. It's impossible to slap labels on King's students though because, with London's luxuries on their doorstep, their experiences of student life are too varied. This keeps things lively and interesting, even if it's not exactly a community atmosphere. Not being too far from Bloomsbury, King's students often feature in ULU and University activities, although it's mainly an ardent few who keep the flag flying.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE SITES:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]The Strand:[EBOLD] This is the eastern end of the West End. There's Covent Garden; there are theatres; there are restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs. Over the river there's the South Bank - Britain's largest arts complex, housing the Royal National Theatre, Hayward Gallery, National Film Theatre, Museum of the Moving Image, Royal Festival Hall, Thames TV and so on. [ITAL]There's a million ways to spend money, for goodness sake. There are not, however, any places to live, nor anywhere to do the weekly shopping without your daily bread costing more than your dough.[EITAL] Thus commuting is compulsory even from the College's halls.[PARA][BOLD]Cornwall House:[EBOLD] (Education, physiotherapy, nursing) On the other side of Waterloo Bridge on the Thames south bank.[PARA][BOLD]Chelsea:[EBOLD] (Pharmacology, pharmacy) The birth place of punk in the 70s and the home range of the Sloane Ranger in the 80s, the King's Road is one of London's most [ITAL]tortuously trendy [EITAL]strips. [ITAL]But you pay for chic. [EITAL]Chelsea is the embodiment of affluence in the inner city. It's one of the closest residential areas to the West End. As a result, [ITAL]it's too expensive for students actually to live here[EITAL] (except in halls), [ITAL]but it's a great place to play if you can stand the Sloanes. Or if you are one. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Kensington:[EBOLD] (Management, biomedical sciences, life sciences) See [ULNE]Imperial College[EULNE] and [ULNE]Heythrop College[EULNE].[PARA][BOLD]Normanby College, Camberwell: [EBOLD](Physiotherapy, nursing, radiography) [ITAL]A different kettle of cod altogether[EITAL], Camberwell is south of the river and, almost necessarily, shabbier as a result. [ITAL]It's not London's safest area (nor its worst[EITAL] - [ITAL]London gets much worse[EITAL]), but it's cheap, residential and good for shopping. Camberwell may not have a great deal by way of entertainment itself, but is very well connected for the West End. The hospital has its own social life, anyway.[HDNG]LIFE IN LONDON:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Samuel Johnson wrote 'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.' Obviously, he wasn't living on a student grant at the time; for there is only a certain amount in London that a student can afford. SJ was right in that London is second to none in its diversity, but you can't do it all. It's easy to feel that you're not making the most of London if you're not spending every waking minute at the theatre, ballet, opera or cinema, in clubs or fashionable markets, and in museums and galleries, sports grounds and parks. However, if the truth be known, even taking advantage of the many freebies you can dig up if you try, you'd be broke within a week if you tried to keep up with the tearaway pace. When it comes to opportunity, choice and life in the fast lane, London is the turbo-boosted Porsche. London is supposed to be the city that never sleeps, leaving the bright lights burning all night long. In fact, as international metropolises go, this one tends to shut down when the pubs close. Getting more than a cheeseburger after midnight can be as difficult in London as it is in a Turkish jail. Not everyone likes the pace or the impersonal atmosphere that many find in London. Whilst it's hard to be alone, it's easy to be lonely, and most students in London find this at some time. London can be oppressive and if you're not streetwise, or at least street sensible, it can be a dangerous place. Bomb scares are usually just that, but violent crime is on the up. [EITAL][PARA][ITAL] There are a number of responses to the high cost of living in London: (1) burst into tears; (2) mug someone; (3) live on credit; (4) ask daddy for lashings of cash. Alternatively, if these don't appeal, you can always use the following methods: (1) Limit your spending by only going out when and where you can afford it (ULU fits the bill, offering cheap events for students). (2) Buy second hand - for books, there's ULU, Charing Cross Road and Waterloo and, for clothes, try Camden Market, Greenwich, Brick Lane and Portobello Road. (Many a London student falls prey to fashion, but not always at vast expense.) (3) Get a job - [EITAL]more London students have part time jobs than anywhere else.[ITAL] [EITAL][PARA][ITAL] London also has more overseas students than almost anywhere else, which, in Britain's most international city, is an appropriate addition to the already spicy variety of life. The extent of London's cosmopolitanism is unique. Nowhere else are there as many students of every different shape, colour, vintage, creed and flavour.[EITAL][PARA][ITAL] To be young in London and have flexible demands on your time is an ideal recipe. The daily downers such as the time spent travelling have a minimal effect, whereas the opportunities are all there. If you happen to live in London, it's good to be a student, but if you're a student, London isn't necessarily a good place to happen to live.[EITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]London is the centre of the network: Bristol (1:40hrs, 1/hr); Birmingham (1:40hrs, 3/hr); Manchester (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Glasgow (5:20hrs, 12/day); Edinburgh ( 4:20hrs, 1/hr); Newcastle (2:45hrs, 2/hr); Leeds (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Norwich (1:49hrs, 1/hr). Trains come into the 8 mainline termini and if passing through London (for example from Canterbury (Kent) to Manchester), it is often necessary to travel by tube (at extra expense) between mainline stations .[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] London is also the centre of the National Express system and a whole variety of other national bus services (Green Line, Blue Line and so on). Some example National Express journeys: Birmingham (ú9.50, 2:30hrs, 1/hr); Bristol (ú12.50, 2:15hrs, 1/hr); Edinburgh (ú25, 7:50hrs, 3/day); Glasgow (ú25, 7hrs, 7/day); Manchester (ú16, 3:30hrs, 7/day); Newcastle (ú17.50, 5:10hrs, 7/day).[PARA][BOLD]Local Trains: [EBOLD]Network SouthEast operates local overground trains [ITAL]which are a speedy and sometimes pleasant way to travel and are moderately efficient. The main problems are the ease of use (a fair level of understanding is necessary), the high fares and the early closing[EITAL] (last trains between 11pm and 1am).[PARA][BOLD]Underground:[EBOLD] The 'tube' is the largest underground train system in the world and generally,[ITAL] it is fast, easy to use, efficient (well, maybe not the Northern Line) and takes you just about anywhere you want to go, although South-East London is a bit hard done by. However, it is often crowded,[EITAL] shuts down at midnight,[ITAL] it's often disrupted by bomb scares[EITAL] and the minimum fare is 90p. [ITAL]Talking to other tube passengers is tantamount to threatening their mother - the only people who do it are tourists and people who want to talk to you about Jesus.[EITAL] Nearest tube to Senate House/ULU Building: Goodge St (Northern Line).[PARA][BOLD]Local Buses: [EBOLD][ITAL]In the tube you can't see the real sights, so why not take the buses which are just as efficient,[EITAL] offer even more destinations and are slightly cheaper (50p minimum). [ITAL]But buses are slow and, until you know your way around, it's difficult to know which ones take you where.[EITAL] After midnight, buses come into their own - Night Buses are London's only form of all-night public transport and[ITAL] if you don't mind how long it takes,[EITAL] you can go almost anywhere within 10 miles of the centre.[PARA][BOLD]Travelcards:[EBOLD] For a legal way of dodging the expense of tubes, buses and trains, Travelcards are available at ú2.60 for a daily pass for the central 2 zones of the network.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis: [EBOLD]There are 2 types:[ITAL] the classic black cabs which are well regulated and enormously expensive, and dodgy merchants in Ford Escorts which are almost as expensive. There are now also some run by and for women. Basically though, forget all taxis, except late at night when all else fails and/or you're in a party of 4 or more.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Parking in Central London is impossible, and, although there is only one rush hour every day it lasts from 6 in the morning to midnight. Driving in London is excellent training for being a volcano.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air: [EBOLD]Served by 4 airports, including Heathrow, the world's busiest. Regular flights to anywhere and back.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[ITAL] [EBOLD]Not possible from Central London, but get out a little way on to the city's escape routes or beyond the M25 and a thumb's a first class ticket.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD][ITAL] A popular form of student travel given the pros: it's cheap and you can get through traffic. But there are the cons: London is big, full of exhaust fumes, lacking in cycle lanes and a Houdini-proof lock is advisable. It's also an easy way to die.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Denmark Hill BR station or bus is the best way of getting to King's Hospital.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] King's Hospital: 12, 35, 40, 45, 68, 171, 176, 184; Night Buses N12, N62, N72, N82 and N86. Chelsea: 11, 19, 22, 49, 219, 249, 349; Night Buses N11 and N19. Kensington: 27, 28, 31, 52, 70; Night Buses N67 and N93.[PARA][BOLD]Underground:[EBOLD] Aldwych station is actually part of the Strand site. Chelsea: no tube all that near although Fulham Broadway (District Line), Sloane Square (Circle and District), and South Kensington (Circle, District and Piccadilly) are all within a brisk walk. Kensington: Notting Hill Gate (District, Circle and Central) or High Street Kennington (District and Circle).[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Quite a popular form of transport although theft, pollution and fatal injury aren't big selling points.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Books: 800,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 3,000 [BULL] Study places: 1,000 [BULL] Computer workstations: 500[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]There are 6 libraries with quite a large number of books in storage: 4 at the Strand site (1 in a building in Drury Lane across the road) and 1 in each of the Kensington and King's Road sites.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 7full [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 16%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]KCL runs a popular optional Theology course for all students. This is a relic of the College's religious foundations and there is a certificate - the AKC (Associate of King's College) - for those who turn up to the lectures.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Sir James Black (Nobel Prize-winner); Rory Bremner (impressionist); George Carey (Archbishop of Canterbury); Arthur C Clarke (sci-fi writer); John Elliot Gardner (composer/conductor); Dr Reita Faria (former Miss World); Graeme Garden ('Goody'); Hanif Kureishi (writer); John MacGregor MP (Con); Sir Patrick Mayhew (Attorney General); Chapman Pincher (writer/journalist); Sir Hugh Rossi MP (Con); Dame Angela Rumbold MP (Con); Dr Jonathan Sacks (the Chief Rabbi); Desmond Tutu (South African Archbishop/rights campaigner).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads.[PARA][PARA]
