Wilson House, a hall well known among Imperial students for its significant distance from school compared to others, is located to the north of Kensington Gardens; on the other hand, Imperial is on the south. So what’s so great about Wilson House? In fact, the unanimous opinion of past and present Wilsonites and even non-Wilsonites is that it is great in every way except for that aforementioned issue. Of course, it isn’t as fanciful and new as most of the other halls but that is all on the outside.
First and foremost, Wilson House is among the cheapest halls offered by Imperial. A single room ranges between £100 and £115, with the more expensive ones being really spacious. Each room is equipped with a sink, fridge, bed, cupboard, drawers, study table, table lamp and shelves, along with other miscellaneous inventory. Rooms are cleaned once every fortnight. Bathrooms are shared among approximately 5 people but are cleaned every weekday, so cleanliness is not a big issue. Kitchens are shared among about 12 residents but overcrowding is rare. There is a squash court and a multi-purpose hall in Wilson House available for recreational sports like badminton, soccer basketball every day from 10-11pm. On top of that, there is a lounge, a games room with a pool table and a table-tennis room. The lounge has an X-Box and games and DVDs are available for loan (for free) from the hall reception. St. Mary’s Hospital is very nearby with its swimming pool and gym available for use. The Imperial College library there is a good place to study as well.
The infamous 30-minute walk to school every day is actually much less daunting than it sounds. At normal walking speeds one takes only 25 minutes and a brisk walk when rushing for lessons can take just 20, while a journey on bicycle requires only 10 minutes. What’s more, the walk across Kensington Gardens is both refreshing and relaxing and one does not need to worry about perspiring because the weather will never be warm enough until you return to Singapore in the summer at the end of June. The only problem arises during winter when the sun sets before 5pm and the Gardens gates are locked even before your lessons ends and you’ll have to make a slight detour; in addition, the walk in the cold can be quite bothersome. Even so, the journey doesn’t take much longer as long as one knows the fastest route around. (Climbing the gates has been resorted to at times but it isn’t advised.) Alternatively, there are two tube stations also within walking distance of Wilson House and a bus that takes you to South Kensington.
Grocery-shopping isn’t a problem around the area. Waitrose, Somerfield, Tesco, Marks & Spencer… These supermarkets lie in close vicinity of Wilson House – just 5 minutes’ walk at most, except for Tesco which is another a minute or two further. This is characteristic of Wilson House alone and no other hall. There is also a Post Office just behind the hall, which is a great convenience that doesn’t sound at all relevant until one needs it. Besides these, bank branches of HSBC and Lloyds are equally near.
The area around Wilson House comprises countless fast-food chains, cafes, bakeries, restaurants – offering Middle-Eastern, Malaysian, Indian, Chinese and of course Western food. A 15-minute walk takes you to a Chinese restaurant famous for its roast duck, which is hailed as the best in London, and many other dishes. The start of the shopping district, Oxford Street, is 10 minutes away. Having gotten used to walking after the daily walks to school, you would then start loving the 40-minute walks to Chinatown and Piccadilly Circus. Once again, there needs to be emphasis placed on the cool weather that makes walking such a joy.
One real advantage of Wilson House emerges during the holidays when people start flying across Europe. Often, flights depart from Stansted and Gatwick airports, which are reachable only by bus. The bus-stops are located at Gloucester Place along Baker Street, which is about 20 minutes away from Wilson House on foot. As flights are usually in the early mornings, peers from other halls would want to stay in Wilson House before leaving as the transport service terminates after about 12am, less the “night-rider” bus services. The same applies when returning flights occur late at night.
The location of Wilson House away from school brings its residents, and also its Singaporeans, closer together. The walks to and from Singsoc events are always lively and chatty, therefore the distance is never an issue, albeit the initial envy of those who just have to cross a street or two to get home. That being said, the time spent travelling every day can be translated to perhaps more productive activities (such as mugging . . . ) and should be taken into account when comparing the halls of accommodation. One hour of travelling five days a week is indeed worth considering but this should also be weighed against the many pros that surround Wilson House. Perhaps a homely and serene environment is worthy of the price paid and balances the disadvantage of travelling time.
Wilson House Residents 2010