London Depot Point - 10 Nearby Attractions
Our Depot Point accommodation really does benefit from a prime spot in the heart of London. We’re sure many of our residents will love making the most of this fantastic location, and we thought we’d help you out a little by offering a few suggestions.
London is a truly spectacular city, and while its Underground network is well-known, the best way to explore is undoubtedly on foot. Here, we present the 10 best places to visit within walking distance of Depot Point. Enjoy!
British Library
Walking time: 11 mins
Situated right next door to St Pancras station, the British Library is a real treasure trove for anyone with an interest in literature, history and just about any topic you can think of.
Formerly part of the British Museum, the library receives a copy of everything published in the UK and Ireland. When you think of a library, you think of books, but you will find much more than that here. The library houses over 150 million items, including manuscripts, newspapers, magazines, stamps, maps and even drawings.
It is famously home to the Magna Carta, Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook, the Lindisfarne Gospels and the last remaining copy of Beowulf. Opening times vary throughout the week, but get there at the right moment and you’ll find space for up to 12,000 visitors to sit and read at their leisure.
Charles Dickens Museum
Walking time: 11 mins
Even 145 years after his death, Charles Dickens remains one of the most significant literary figures the world has ever known. Fortunately, his former home at 48 Doughty Street is still standing today, and has been painstakingly restored to give visitors a glimpse of how the novelist would have lived.
In addition to this faithful reconstruction, the museum houses photographs, books and other memorabilia that will provide a unique insight into Dickens’ life and work.
While Dickens only lived here for two years, he managed to write two of his most famous works, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, in that time, as well as putting the finishing touches to The Pickwick Papers and making a start on Barnaby Rudge. Standing in the room where these classic works were created is a real treat for any fan.
The museum is open from 10am-5pm every day, with tickets costing just £6 for students.
O2 Academy Islington
Walking time: 17mins
One of the more recent additions to the O2’s collection of London music venues, the Islington Academy can hold up to 800 people in its main space, with a second smaller room able to accommodate 250.
The venue was acquired by O2 in 2003, and has hosted acts such as Alkaline Trio, Funeral for a Friend, The Script, Sarah Harding, My Chemical Romance and even Eminem.
In addition to its live music, the O2 Academy Islington has become a popular student haunt for its two flagship Saturday club nights, Old School Indie and Club de Fromage.
Ticket prices will naturally vary depending on the act, but for fans of smaller, more intimate music venues, this is a must.
Bloomsbury Theatre
Walking time: 19mins
With a comparatively intimate capacity of just 547 people, the Bloomsbury Theatre is a popular venue for well-known comedians, particularly for DVD recordings and Edinburgh Festival previews. Previous internationally-acclaimed comics to take to the stage here include Eddie Izzard and Ricky Gervais.
The theatre is also closely affiliated with University College London, and hosts student shows for 12 weeks of the year. So who knows, if you’re heading to UCL you could find yourself performing here one day!
Naturally, as a small space hosting popular acts, you’ll have to move swiftly if you want to secure tickets. However, you can rest assured that it will be worth the effort to enjoy the Bloomsbury Theatre’s special atmosphere.
British Museum
Walking time: 22 mins
One of London’s most visited attractions, when something as popular as the British Museum is practically on your doorstep, it’d be a shame not to visit.
The museum was famously established to display the collection of noted physician Sir Hans Sloane, who had amassed over 71,000 historic artefacts during his lifetime and was anxious that his life’s work should stay together after his death.
To achieve this, he sold everything to King George II for £20,000, who gave the green light to the idea with an Act of Parliament in 1753. Six years later, the museum opened its doors to the public for the first time.
The collection has of course grown over time, and contains many thousands of pieces from across the globe, spanning civilisations including the Vikings, Celts, Romans, Mayans, Babylonians and Assyrians. Popular exhibits include the Rosetta Stone, the Lindow Man and a bust of Egyptian ruler Ramesses II.
The museum is open from 10am-5:30pm every day, while if you visit on a Friday, extended opening hours mean you can continue to view the exhibits until 8:30pm. Entrance to the museum has been free to “all studious and curious persons” ever since it first opened, so if either of these words describes you, why not head over and take a look?
Barbican Centre
Walking time: 31 mins
The Barbican is the largest performing arts centre in Europe, so if you’re interested in music, dance, theatre, film or pretty much any form of visual entertainment, you will want to check out their calendar.
The idea for the building was conceived in the aftermath of World War II as one way of announcing the city’s recovery, but it wasn’t until 1982 that The Barbican was finally opened by The Queen.
It boasts numerous performance spaces, from large theatres to the atmospheric Pit, where just 200 audience members can be accommodated. The main theatre was designed specifically for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s use, while The Barbican is also home to the revered London Symphony Orchestra.
Besides the shows, you can also take a tour of the Barbican Centre for just £10, where you can learn even more about the history and architecture of this Grade II listed building.
Museum of London
Walking time: 31 mins
What better way to get to know London than by visiting the very museum dedicated to its rich history?
This fascinating museum looks at the capital right through the ages. Discover how the city was formed and how it grew under the Romans and during the medieval period. Learn about the Great Fire of London and the plague, both of which decimated the city during the 17th century. Explore 20th century London to see how the city pulled together during the war and enjoyed the advent of the Swinging Sixties.
The exhibits cover everything up to the present day, and you can even get an intriguing glimpse of what London might look like in the future.
Each room is packed full of artefacts from the era, so you can get a real flavour of what life was like for Londoners at different points in history. And don’t forget to look out for special exhibitions that delve even deeper into specific points in London’s history.
The museum is open from 10am-6pm and admission is free.
Regent’s Park
Walking time: 32 mins
One of London’s famous Royal Parks, Regent’s Park is the perfect spot for an afternoon stroll or a day relaxing in the sun with your new friends.
The park as it is today was originally designed by royal architect John Nash in the early 19th century, but his grand plan for a park surrounded by 56 villas and a summer palace for the Prince Regent was never fully completed. However, the basic of elements of his design still survive today, and the park has welcomed some truly wonderful additions since then.
There is a lot packed into this 395-acre space, a quarter of which is given over to providing one of London’s largest and most impressive outdoor sporting facilities. Wander through the park and you will find Queen Mary’s Gardens, where over 12,000 roses grow.
Elsewhere, the open air theatre provides a charming evening’s entertainment, while you mustn’t miss the spectacular views across London from the top of Primrose Hill. The park is also home to London Zoo, where you will find tigers, hippos, giraffes, gorillas, penguins and much more.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Walking time: 32 mins
The architect Sir Christopher Wren is responsible for a number of picturesque buildings throughout London, but none more so than the majestic St Paul’s Cathedral. Designed in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London, it has been a dominant feature of the London skyline ever since.
Its importance to London life was cemented during the bombing of the city during World War II, when photographs showed the iconic dome of the cathedral standing tall among the smoke from the blasts.
It has hosted many significant services, including the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the Queen’s Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees and the funerals of former Prime Ministers Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
St Paul’s is also the final resting place of many notable people, including Wren, Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and scientist Sir Alexander Fleming.
The cathedral welcomes visitors, but bear in mind that it is also a fully functioning place of worship and services are held daily. It is open to the public from 8:30am, with the final admission at 4pm. Tickets for students cost £16.
Covent Garden
Walking time: 33 mins
Covent Garden is one of the most vibrant areas in London, so it’s certainly well worth visiting. There is plenty going on here, from pubs and cafes to shopping and culture. In fact, one trip probably won’t be enough to drink it all in.
Its West End location means there are plenty of theatres here, hosting plays and musicals that frequently feature well-known film and television stars. There are also plenty of museums and galleries to browse, including the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, London Transport Museum and London Film Museum.
You will find dozens of shops, pubs and eateries on the site of the old fruit and vegetable market, which relocated to Nine Elms in the 1970s. These days, the building is a great place to sit and enjoy a drink or browse the various quirky craft stalls.
Covent Garden is also famously licensed to host street performances, and crowds flock to the main square as magicians, circus performers, comedians and musicians do their best to entertain the public.
Want More Hints and Tips?
If you’d like to find out more about life as a Student Housing Company resident, why not take a look around our blog area?
You’ll find dozens of useful reads, from city guides to practical information that will make sure your stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.