Having stayed at Butler’s Wharf Residence for coming up to a year now, I wanted to share some tips that are not obvious if you have not lived here. Generally, Butler’s Wharf is a great place to stay during your master’s and there are many other blogs available if you are looking to book a room here.

Transport

Consider different methods of transport to get to campus. When I first arrived, most people were either cycling or taking a specific bus routes from the nearest bus stop, namely the 188 route. However, I have found that this bus is relatively unreliable and would thus encourage anyone moving to Butler’s Wharf to consider other ways of getting to campus.

For one, London Bridge station is really close to the accommodation only being 15 minutes on foot. Walking there can be really worth it to get alternative bus routes such as the 521 route which takes you through the City of London. It is also a much quieter and less traffic-jammed route. From London Bridge, you can catch the tube, or take a Thameslink train to London Charing Cross.

Other than that walking from and to campus is a great way of getting your steps in for the day. Especially, walking back along the Thames path after a long day on campus has always helped me clear my mind this year.

Food Options

When you first look up Butler’s Wharf and its location, the food places that come to mind are around Tower Bridge and, of course, Borough market. However, there are many other places to explore, which I would make a priority since they are less touristy and more affordable.

One place I have been regularly going to throughout this year is Tabard Street Market. It is a 20-minute walk from Butler’s Wharf and can be followed up with a study trip to cafés nearby. This market has a lot of foreign cuisines. An average meal costs around £6. There are lots of nice cafés and bars on Bermondsey Street, which is equally suited for meeting friends for a drink and having a coffee while studying.

Price and what’s included

While it is obvious from the website what is included in the price for a room in Butler’s Wharf, I wanted to emphasise some aspects that make the accommodation very well-priced for its location in London. Having rented privately in London before, I can attest to both the difficulty of finding a flat and the high price that comes with it. At under £200 per week, Butler’s Wharf is very well priced. This does not only include the place to stay, but also utility and water bills, as well as weekly cleaning of the common spaces and termly cleaning of the sink in your room.

What is also included in the price are free events the hall committee runs. These little treats have definitely made stressful periods during the year easier, one of them being the free coffee bike. Besides, at the beginning of the year, organised events made it easier to meet people in the accommodation, since there is not many common spaces this can be more difficult than in catered undergraduate halls.