UCL English BA student Alicia Doran, shares her favourite study locations around campus. 

There are so many places to study on and around Bloomsbury campus; it might take some library-hopping before you find your goldilocks study spot.  

I’m personally a Main Library lover – I like the architecture and the studious atmosphere, and to be able to walk around its long corridors or sit in the Flaxman gallery for quick breaks. Somewhere like the Science Library is perfect for those preferring a more laid-back environment, where they can work alongside friends without receiving side-eyes for a small amount of chatting. Snacks are also permitted here, as well as in the charmingly Brutalist IOE Library.  If you’re a night owl, the Student Centre will be your best friend, as it is open 24/7. 

Don’t be afraid to seek out more unusual locations – departmental libraries like SSEES and Archaeology (which is famous amongst students for its copious indoor plants) are open to all and might provide a welcome change of scene from the Wilkins building. There are plenty of study spaces which are even more off-the-beaten track, in buildings such as Torrington Place or the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Library. These can work well for people who struggle to focus where it’s busy.  

No one likes traipsing around a jam-packed library unable to find an empty desk. Did you know that you can check the live availability of individual libraries, as well as book certain study spaces in advance, on the UCL Library services website?  

One of the great things about campus is that Bloomsbury is home to much more than just UCL. Senate House Library is my second favourite after Main – there’s so much space and it’s very calm there. Local cafés like Dillon’s, which is part of Waterstones Gower Street, or The Observatory on Marchmont Street, are a popular alternative to libraries. In warmer months, there’s no place like Gordon Square to get some reading done. 

It’s sometimes easy to forget that libraries are not just a place to sit down at a desk, but they contain so many resources designed to help us as students. As an English student, physically browsing the Main Library shelves is always my starting point when researching for an essay, and I save a lot by borrowing rather than buying copies of set texts.  On days where I don’t feel like lugging my laptop to campus, I can borrow one in seconds from loan lockers which are all around campus.  

Resting and refuelling during a study day are so important, and your favourite coffee spot is just as important as your favourite library. The most affordable coffee tends to be in the Student Union Cafés (especially if you bring a reusable cup). Lunch options both on and around campus are endless, but it also helps to know where student-accessible microwaves are (e.g. Student Centre 3rd floor, George Farha Café, Foster Court 1st floor) if you want to save time and money by packing lunch.  

Bloomsbury is your oyster! Developing a routine and finding an environment you feel comfortable in makes studying so much more enjoyable so make the most of what campus has to offer.  

Find out more about UCL English…

Instagram: @alicia__doran