Westminster Kingsway College was established in 1810. It is situated in central London. It is a further education college that provides further, higher education and adult programs to people belonging to all age groups. Westminster Kingsway College focuses on the skill development of every student to hone them into being the best version of themselves for the world that lies outside the college. Westking also provides over 200 vocational courses. Some of the notable Westking alumni include Jamie Oliver, Michelle Collins, Kathy Burke, Little Simz, Trevor Nelson and Sophie Wright.
Many beautiful London off-campus student accommodation choices are available at a short distance from Westminster Kingsway College. Westminster Kingsway College off campus student accommodation is plentiful and once you decide where you want to live, you’ll have no problem finding a shared apartment, en-suite room, or studio. If you’re getting ready to book your student apartment near Westminster Kingsway College, House Of Student can help! All our Westminster Kingsway College properties are located close to public transportation, have amazing facilities (like gyms, Instagrammable rooftop terraces, gaming lounges, theater rooms, and more), and a range of apartments. Share your accommodation s with roommates, enjoy the luxury of an en suite room, or live solo in a studio.
Student Life at Westminster Kingsway College, London
Student Life at Westminster Kingsway College
- College Environment: WestKing is a large Further Education (FE) college, part of Capital City College Group (CCCG). It caters to a diverse student body aged 16+ across a wide range of vocational, academic, and adult learning courses. The atmosphere is often focused on practical skills and career preparation alongside academic studies.
- Student Support: The college provides various support services, including Assisted Learning Support (ALS) for study skills and specific learning needs, wellbeing advice, and potentially financial guidance.
- Student Voice & Activities: While perhaps different from a university student union, WestKing likely has a Student Council and Student Ambassador programmes, allowing students to get involved, represent peers, and contribute to college life. Affiliation with the National Union of Students (NUS) may provide access to discounts (like TOTUM).
- Enrichment & Social Life: The college group promotes enrichment activities beyond studies. This can include:
- Clubs & Societies: Examples mentioned across the college group include Anime, Chess, Dance, Debating, LGBTQIA+, student newspaper/podcast, poetry, and sports clubs (Football, Basketball, Table Tennis, Boxing etc.).
- Events: The college likely organises events celebrating diversity (e.g., Black History Month, LGBTQ+ History Month), current affairs debates, guest speakers, award ceremonies, and potentially social gatherings.
- Volunteering: Opportunities may exist to volunteer, become a peer mentor, or participate in campaigns.
- Facilities: Centres typically have learning resource centres/libraries, cafes/canteens serving affordable food, and social spaces for students to relax between classes.
Student Travel for Westminster Kingsway College
Getting to WestKing's central London centres relies heavily on London's public transport network (Transport for London - TfL).
- Main Transport: Primarily the London Underground (Tube) and London Buses. National Rail services are relevant for King's Cross and Victoria stations.
- Key Locations & Links:
- King's Cross Centre: Served by King's Cross St. Pancras station (Tube: Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City lines; Rail: National & Eurostar). Extremely well-connected by numerous bus routes.
- Victoria Centre: Served by Victoria station (Tube: Victoria, District, Circle lines; Rail: National & Gatwick Express). Nearby Tube stations like Green Park add Jubilee and Piccadilly line access. Many bus routes converge here.
- Soho Centre: Served by nearby Tube stations such as Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly, Bakerloo), Leicester Square (Northern, Piccadilly), Tottenham Court Road (Central, Northern, Elizabeth Line), or Oxford Circus (Victoria, Bakerloo, Central). Numerous bus routes pass through or near Soho.
- Fares & Discounts:
- Use an Oyster card or contactless payment (bank card/mobile device) for the best fares on Tube, bus, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line, and most National Rail services within London.
- 16+ Zip Oyster photocard: Provides free or discounted travel on TfL services for eligible 16-18 year olds living in London.
- 18+ Student Oyster photocard: Available to eligible students (18+, living in a London borough, enrolled on a qualifying full-time or specific part-time course). It gives a 30% discount on Travelcards and Bus & Tram season tickets (it does not give a discount on individual pay-as-you-go journeys). There's an application fee, and the college must approve your application.
- 16-25 Railcard / 26-30 Railcard: Can be linked to an Oyster card to get 1/3 off off-peak pay-as-you-go fares. For some travel patterns, this can be more cost-effective than a discounted Travelcard.
- Journey Planning: Use apps like TfL Go, Citymapper, or Google Maps to plan routes, check live times, and view fares.
Must Visit Places Near Westminster Kingsway College Centres
The central locations put students on the doorstep of world-famous attractions:
- Near King's Cross Centre:
- British Library: Vast collection, exhibitions, study spaces.
- Coal Drops Yard & Granary Square: Trendy shopping, dining, fountains, public spaces.
- Regent's Canal: Scenic walks, boat trips, unique spots like Word on the Water book barge.
- Wellcome Collection: Museum exploring health and human experience.
- St Pancras International Station: Impressive Victorian architecture.
- Near Victoria Centre:
- Buckingham Palace: Official residence of the monarch (check times for Changing the Guard).
- St James's Park & Green Park: Royal Parks offering green space for walks and relaxation.
- Westminster Abbey: Historic coronation church.
- Houses of Parliament & Big Ben: Iconic symbols of London.
- West End Theatres: Victoria Palace and Apollo Victoria are nearby, with many more a short bus/tube ride away.
- Tate Britain: Major gallery of British art (walkable or short bus ride).
- Near Soho Centre:
- Theatreland: Heart of London's West End theatre district.
- Shopping: Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Liberty.
- Chinatown: Restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, cultural gates.
- National Gallery & Trafalgar Square: World-class art museum and famous public square.
- Covent Garden: Market, street performers, shops, restaurants.
- Piccadilly Circus & Leicester Square: Famous landmarks, cinemas, entertainment hubs.
Best Areas for Student Housing near Westminster Kingsway College
- College Provision: As an FE college, WestKing does not typically provide its own halls of residence. Students need to find accommodation in the private sector.
- Challenge: Finding affordable housing, especially near the central London college centres (King's Cross, Victoria, Soho), is very difficult due to high costs. Most students commute from further out.
- Main Options:
- Private Student Halls (PBSA): Numerous privately managed halls exist across London, offering rooms (often en-suite) or studios, usually with bills included and communal facilities (gyms, social areas). Look for providers like Unite Students, Scape, Chapter, iQ, etc., in areas with good Tube/bus links to your specific WestKing centre. Central locations are expensive (£300-£700+ per week is common). Examples near King's Cross include Chapter Kings Cross and Scape Kings Cross.
- Shared Houses/Flats: Renting a room in a house or flat shared with other students or young professionals is often more affordable but requires finding housemates and potentially managing bills. Look in outer London zones (Zone 2 outwards) for better value.