Walter Sickert Hall, London > Reviews > Angel nearby

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money	Good
Quality of Rooms	Good
Standard of Service	Good
Quality of Food & Drink	Excellent
Cleanliness	Good

Advantages:	Comfortable, well situated, clean and economically viable
Disadvantages:	It is basic

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Just in case readers of my recent reviews, think that this was yet another of my accommodations in Finland this year - it was not.!
This was my residence in London during the last week in June as I graced the city with my presence for my annual pilgrimage and conference season.

1 Why Walter Sickert Hall ?

The conference I attend clashes each year with Wimbledon. I used to think that this was as a result of ignorance by the conference planners. Then I decided that no-one could be ignorant of the clash, year after year. I decided that it must therefore be a kind gesture, to allow conference attendees to combine a quick trip to see the tennis once the day's conferring was over.!! This year, I realised it was a new form of Evangelical Anglican penance for those of us who are not Anglicans - we have to sit in St Helen's all afternoon, unable to get any information on any of the UK's tennis hopefuls, while all of the rest of the population can keep at least one eye on a TV or else have an online information service available.!!
The result is that we descend on London at the moment of supreme joy for all hotel owners and managers. Prices can be right at the top of the rack rate, and queues will still be forming for any room space that may be free.!
What is One to do when One's family member has no room for her Dad, and all subtle hints to London based Ciao members has still not resulted in so much as an offer of a camp bed in the bicycle store?
There was a thought of sneaking into the marquee erected each year for the conference in Bishopsgate, but the harsh reality is that if One was allowed to bed down there for a night, the high proportion of Scots and Irish attending, would see it knee deep in bodies the next night.!! - not a pleasant thought!
So University accommodation is a reasonably priced alternative.! - hence the Walter Sickert, London.

2 Where is Walter Sickert ?

Well Walter Sickert is dead, actually, and much as I would like to be able to, I cannot tell you of his current whereabouts.!
He was born in Germany but lived much of his life in London as an impressionist painter.
He was involved in a murder in Camden, and, if Patricia Cornwell is to be trusted, was actually the infamous Jack the Ripper, himself.
So it is not completely inexplicable that these halls, that bear his name, are in the northern part of central London, though rather more in Islington than Camden.

3 How well located is WalterSickert ?

That is a good question, as British weather is so unpredictable, that you really do not want to lodge in some residence that is an hour's walk from the nearest public transport !
The actual address is Graham Street, and that itself is just off of City Road in N1.
If you were to walk from Angel Islington towards Old Street, it is about 5 minutes walk and on your left hand side.
A number of buses use City Road, and the nearest bustop if you are heading down towards Liverpool Street, is a walk of a couple of minutes.
There are plenty of shops at Angel for your groceries, and the tube is there as well.
All in all, well situated.

4 What is Walter Sickert Like?

It looks reasonably modern and very smart as you enter the foyer. Receptionists at the desk were marvellously helpful. Even though I arrived ahead of checking in time, and quite prepared to be asked to come back in 3 hours time, it was the opposite.
I was invited to take a seat while she checked with the cleaning staff that they finished my room asap.! 15 minutes later, I was in the room.
There are about 200 rooms in the building, and I assume that most are the same as the ground floor one I had been allocated.! ( I guess they had made extra allowances for an old guy like me!! )
There are some executive rooms, available all the year round, which are a bit more plush - radio, TV and armchair included, and these have been recently upgraded.
In my poverty, I opted for the more bog-standard version, but it was still one of the best student rooms I have ever seen.
Now some unkind Ciao readers like aestro, would suggest that it is so long since I was in student accommodation myself, that I would think anything was plush which had less than ten bunk beds per room, fitted with anything other than sack covered straw palliasses. To such rudeness, I would simply reply that I have reviewed other university accommodation on Ciao, and I have dared to enter student accommodation used by my offspring - so I do know what I am talking about.!
These rooms are all ensuite, have good wardrobe and desk space, and reasonably modern beds. True the shower unit is compact and with a high entry and no bathmat, but there were towels and toiletries supplied.
There was also a kettle, mug, tea, coffee etc in the room, replenished each day, and I have never seen that elsewhere in student halls of residence.
There was even a telephone in the room and access to wi-fi was possible for a charge.
There is 24hour security in the premises, and no-one gets past the front desk unless they have a room key. That is not quite the case everywhere!

5 Is Walter Sickert perfect?

For the purpose I needed, it was close to perfect. My niggles were partly due to my failure to read all the details. The usually favourable aspect of student accommodation is access to the kitchens. Usually milk can be kept in a fridge - and other suitable drinks ! - and there is crockery and cutlery available - even if it needs a good scrub first. However, in Walter Sickert, City University has decided to close the kitchens during the summer holidays. That meant getting breakfast in a coffee shop, and having nowhere to keep stuff fresh and cool. I had to eat out, and was unable to delight myself with my culinary expertise.!!??
The price - at £32 per night - is a good bit higher than other university rooms. Try the executive rooms and you are talking £40 for a single and £60 for a double. Compare that to rates I have managed to get in Travelodges and Holiday Inns, and it is a bit steep. However, I readily acknowledge that the £32 rate was far better than anything I could get in Wimbledon fortnight.

So all in all, A good choice and I may well return!