Student Only Crown Place Norwich

My friend and I chose crown place as our first choice in first year, and we were lucky to get rooms there. We asked to be placed in the same flat and the staff arranged it, though they don't guarantee this. They've been friendly and helpful whenever we've needed them, and the application process was simple. The location works really well for NUA, and UEA buses are about a two-minute walk away. It's at most a 15-minute walk to uni, with a Sainsbury's around six minutes away. I usually recommend taking a granny trolley to Morrisons instead, about 20 minutes away, since it's cheaper. The building has a large kitchen for our flat of six, a living room TV, and a standard room that's just the right size for me, with plenty of storage. I've stayed in two rooms and both were well designed and kept up, including their kitchens and en suites. The bathrooms are a good size compared with the tiny ones and wet rooms elsewhere, with a big shower and plenty of room for toiletries and skincare. I suggest getting inexpensive plastic drawers from Argos for underwear and smaller things in the wardrobe. There's lots to do and places to work: a games area with pool and air hockey, karaoke and cinema rooms that are easy to book at reception, and a simple gym with enough equipment for a full routine and a large studio for dance, yoga, or pilates. The laundry room is big and easy to use. WiFi reaches everywhere, and there are plenty of spots on the ground and underground floors to study or hang out. I've enjoyed living here, and my friend and I plan to stay for year two with our friends from the All Saints Green accommodation opposite. A few things could be better. During the first week of uni, a small incident caused floor 3 to flood after people smoked in their rooms. Smoking seems to happen often, and I think staff could be stricter because the smell is awful. Since the flood, the corridor carpets smell damp. Luckily it doesn't smell inside our flats, but walking through is still unpleasant. The carpets by the lifts, in corridors, and in the bin store are all pretty grim and need replacing. Also, some flats are beside the gym and the bin store, which is worth knowing.

I've been living at Crown Place since last year, and there are plenty of things that make it a good home. The location is convenient, with shops close by and a bus stop right outside. The view from the top floor is really nice too. I also find it less stressful and worth the money compared with a shared house, where I spent far too much time worrying about bills and broken appliances. The events feel inclusive, with festivals celebrating different nationalities, baking sessions, and movie nights. The gaming room, pool tables, and shared kitchen make it easy to socialise. I often make hotpot with friends in that kitchen. It feels safe here, and 24-hour staff are a big plus. The daytime reception and maintenance teams are especially good: when something goes wrong, they respond quickly and sort it out properly. Lisa, Issy, and Garry have made my time here much better. Some night staff could be friendlier, particularly toward international students. I understand they seem focused mainly on security rather than general issues, but for anything important, I go to the daytime team. The rooms have what you need and are nice. Flatmates are a bit of a lottery, but staff take problems seriously and act quickly. Silverfish are common in Norwich, and I'm personally terrified of them, so it puts my mind at ease that staff deal with them right away. The online system is handy for paying rent and reporting maintenance. Parcels go to reception and you get a notification, so there's no need to be home to sign for them. The study areas are lovely, though I wish all of them stayed open 24/7 during exams or assignment periods, since some of us want to work late somewhere besides our rooms. The gym is a decent size, and the dance studio is great for dancing or doing your own workouts. It does get dusty, so it could be cleaned more often.

I've lived at Crown for my whole time at uni, and I'd recommend it to anyone asking where to live while studying in Norwich. The staff are lovely, always up for a chat and happy to help with issues. It's reassuring to know parcels are in safe hands when they're left at reception. The rooms are really nice for the price. I've had two different ones, and both were well designed and well kept, including the kitchen and en suite. There's a good range of facilities in the building. The pool, table tennis, and air hockey are my favourites, and there's also a private gym that's easy to get to. It's in a fantastic city location, near both smaller shops and bigger supermarkets such as sainsbury's and m&s. NUA buildings are close, and UEA buses stop nearby. If I had the chance, I'd definitely choose Crown Place for my uni home.

I really enjoyed my stay here. The staff team are friendly, accommodating, and helpful, and management is putting money into improvements. When I reported maintenance issues, they were handled quickly and effectively. There are also engaging events and competitions on offer often, and the accommodation is very well equipped.