Astor College

The location is great, and the rooms are lovely and clean. The top floor does get a bit warm. There’s enough storage, plus plenty of showers and kitchens on each floor, with really good appliances like toastie makers and induction hobs. Made staying here easy.

During my 44 days at Astor College, from June 27-August 10, the kitchen stayed closed the whole time. I paid nearly £4,000 and had expected a comfortable, well-kept residence, especially as it was advertised as one of UCL’s newer student accommodations. Instead, the conditions were often unhygienic and sometimes felt unsafe. The complimentary breakfast amounted to one box of fruit and one of pastries for the whole building, and often there was nothing left by the time I got there. It didn't make up for having to buy two other meals every day, which became expensive. The bathroom problems were especially bad. At least weekly, toilets on my floor overflowed, sending contaminated water over the bathroom floors and common areas and into the hallway carpets. It was hard to avoid walking through it. The smell was unbearable and lingered for days because ventilation was so poor. From August 1-4, four of the six toilets on my floor were out of order after overflows, while the remaining two were backed up and unusable. There were long waits for showers and no sanitary toilets available, so I had to go down several floors, sometimes late at night. After putting off using the bathroom for days because of the lack of working facilities, I developed bladder pain. This went beyond inconvenience and was a health and hygiene issue. Other basic services fell short too. Soap dispensers in several bathrooms were empty for almost two weeks at the start of my stay; I reported it, but nothing was done. My linens and towels were supposed to be changed weekly, but service was skipped on July 4 and August 8, leaving me with the same sheets for two weeks. The laundry room was locked from July 5-8 due to a door problem, with no notice. I only found out after carrying my laundry down. Staff told us to use an off-site laundrette in the rain, without vouchers or compensation. The building had poor ventilation, and my room was unbearably hot for the first two weeks. Some residents got fans from reception, but after they ran out, the rest of us were told to buy our own. I had heat fatigue, rashes, dehydration, and poor sleep. Astor College was presented as a modern, high-quality residence, but my experience was a long stretch of unusable kitchens, overflowing toilets, weeks without soap, missed linen changes, broken laundry access, and stifling heat. Other UCL accommodations were cheaper and more reliable. I strongly recommend avoiding this place. Don't bother trying to speak with Manager Serena Mouarkach or guest accommodations coordinator Cherril Fontaine. They brushed me off like it was a game. UCL students, Summer Session students, and people visiting London, be warned. Don't stay here unless you're prepared to wade through pools of feces, sweat through sleepless nights, and risk contracting Hepatitis A. Spend your hard-earned money somewhere else!

Very clean, and the location was just right for me.

The welcoming atmosphere and clean, spacious common areas made a great impression. The staff were friendly, professional, and always ready to help students feel comfortable and supported. The modern facilities were well maintained and worked well for studying or socializing. It’s clear the team takes pride in making Astor College a good place to live. I’d recommend it to students looking for a top-tier UCL accommodation experience.