- Libraries:
- There are two main libaries in South Kensingon, the Central Library and the Imperial Science Museum Library. Many departments also have their own libraries, and the School of Medicine at St. Mary's has its own collections.
Overall, Imperial College have around 760,000 books and 2,500 study places. Furthermore, Imperial students, as with all the University of London, are allowed to use Senate House.
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- Computing:
- Computer facilities are better than average at Imperial...being a science college and all...with over 1,400 terminals. There is also some 24hr access.
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- Sports:
- Like all colleges of the University of London, Imperial students are allowed to use the sports facilities at ULU (see University of London unofficial-guide), as well as their own.
The most amazing thing about Imperial’s sports facilities in South Kensington is that they are underground in order to save space! Down below there is a 25m swimming pool, squash courts, weights room, gym, Jacuzzi and Health suite. There are lesser equipped 5 star hotels in London!! On the surface, the College has tennis courts, a shooting range, and a boat house in Putney.
To add to the College’s repertoire of amenities, one has to include the 60 acres of playing fields in Harlington (12 miles from Kensington, which are used by Chelsea football team as a training ground), the 50 acres in Cobham, Kent and the 12 acres in Teddington! There is simply no excuse to graduate from Imperial College unfit!!
The new Sports Centre on Prince’s Gardens, South Kensington campus will be opening in January 2006...watch that waist!
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- Future Plans:
- Imperial has merged with Wye College, a forlorn outpost of the University of London to minimise admin expenses. There are frequently rumours circulating about Imperial merging with other colleges, perhaps most notably Royal Holloway. Reaction to one rumour from Holloway was swift. A senior SU figure said: 'The bastards will never take us alive'
The new Sports Centre on Prince’s Gardens, South Kensington campus, has been under construction now for a little over a year. The final few months are approaching before the Centre opens (January 2006) and when fully functional Students at Imperial will be able to use the gym and swimming pool free of charge! Now there really is NO excuse!!
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- Disabled Students:
- Disabled facilities at Imperial can best be described as ‘hit and miss’, depending heavily on who has been there before you. The university has just hired a Disabilities Officer, and buildings have been made accessible where possible. Some lecture theatres have hearing loops and accommodation has been set-aside for disabled students. However, the College’s location generally, being so far from Central London, makes it difficult for many wheelchair users.
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- Student Welfare:
- Imperial students tend to be a fairly happy bunch of bunnies! The College Health Centre have a 10 man (/woman, for those who are politically correct) medical team, and a dentist. There are also several counsellors.
The Students' Union provides more general help, on everything from sex to finance. They also have quite a good section on the SU website.
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- Parking:
- Parking is only available if you are disabled or have a large trust fund!
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- University Shops:
- There are two shops on the main site, one, the ICU Shop, selling stationery, clothes, and light snacks, and the other (sorry, can’t remember the name) which sells groceries. The Student Union also contains a travel agency and a cinema, boasting the largest student cinema screen in the country (and apparently the 6th largest in London)!!
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- University Bookshops:
- A branch on Waterstones is on the main campus.
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- Banking:
- There is a NatWest Bank on the main site. Other banks have branches close by.
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- Transport Policy:
- The Union runs a night bus on Wednesday and Friday nights from the union. Priority is givin to ladies and single men. It great for those who live quite far away in North London.
The public transport system, however, is good. The nearest tube stations are Gloucester Road and South Kensington, which are both on the District, Circle and Piccadilly Lines.
Buses run along Exhibition Road heading to the West End, as well as many other parts of London. The nearest train stations are Paddington and Victoria.
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- Green Areas:
- There are numerous quads around the main campus, as well as public squares...like those seen in the movie 'Notting Hill'. Plus Hyde Park is very close and huge!
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