Campus and facilities
Our 135 acre campus, a lively and friendly place with a strong sense of community, sets us apart from other universities. The spectacular Founder's Building is home to the famous Picture Gallery containing Thomas Holloway's collection of Victorian paintings, the Chapel, and around 500 students. Many residents liken it to living in a castle!
Royal Holloway's multi-million pound estate investment programme continues to enhance our campus, ensuring award-winning modern additions such as the Windsor Building and new halls of residence sit comfortably alongside the historic buildings. Beyond the buildings, students can explore acres of woodland and open spaces full of wildlife.
As a student at Royal Holloway, you can expect to find all the facilities you need on campus. The College continues to invest in new facilities and improve the standard of the existing ones. Here's a brief overview:
Accommodation facilities
Students are offered a wide variety of on-campus accommodation, within a few minutes walk of all the teaching and social facilities (with the exception of Kingswood Hall, which is one mile away and connected by the College bus service). Whether you are in self-catered or catered-pay-as-you-go accommodation, all halls of residence are well equipped and laundrettes are available throughout the campus. To find out more, visit the halls of residence webpages|.
Bank
The on-campus branch of NatWest bank offers students access to an ATM 24 hours a day, as well as a counter service if you wish to open a new account or have any queries. Other major banks and building societies have branches nearby.
Bookshop
Having a bookshop on-campus means you don’t have to go far to find the texts required for your course, and as they buy and sell used textbooks, it can help save you a little cash. You can find the shop in Crosslands Bungalow, or online|.
Multi-faith worship facilities
The beautiful College Chapel is used for daily worship, with services open to everyone. The Muslim prayer room offers prayer and ablution facilities for men and women. For more information, visit the Faith Support webpage|.
College shop
The recently refurbished ‘Store on-campus’ is open throughout the year and offers a wide selection of groceries, frozen and chilled food, wines and beers, toiletries, stationery, birthday cards, gifts and College memorabilia.
Library and academic facilities
Royal Holloway's extensive library| has a stock of more than 600,000 volumes, subscribes to over 17,000 print and online journals, and has around 900 study spaces. The College has recently invested in a £1.3 million refurbishment project to further develop library resources and facilities and to introduce innovative learning spaces. Students also have access to all other libraries in the University of London.
A number of PC labs containing a wide range of software applications are available within the Computer Centre and around campus, most of which are accessible 24-hours a day. There is a wireless internet network which enables access throughout most of the College.
Each academic department has their own facilities; The Psychology Department, for example, is one of very few in the UK to have a magnetic resonance scanner on site for neuroscientific research, and the Department of Earth Sciences has an impressive 3D visualisation facility and IT laboratories, enabling students to view satellite imagery and seismic data in 3D.
Students’ Union entertainment venues
The Students’ Union| provide safe and fun places for Royal Holloway students to socialise. There’s the main function space hosting at least two events per week, plus three pubs and bars, each with their own identity.
Childcare facilities
Royal Holloway has an arrangement with Little Echoes nursery, located adjacent to the main campus, which gives students priority on places available. For further information, visit our childcare support webpage|.
Places to eat and drink
With six catering outlets on the main campus, and a further two in halls of residence, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to grabbing a bite to eat. Check the 'Meet, eat & drink' webpage| for an overview.
Sports and recreation
The College's Sports Centre is home a multi use sports hall, 46 station fitness suite with weights room, aerobics area and substantial changing facilities. There are also outdoor pitches and courts, to ensure there are no barriers to students keeping fit while studying here. You can find out more about the College's sporting facilities here|.