Directions

Getting to Xenia

Xenia is one of the best situated halls of residence at Imperial. There are fantastic connections right on our doorstep which makes getting here a breeze. Whether you are coming from the other side of the world or the other side of London we hope this information will be all you need to get here easily.

By Plane

Lots of airports around London provide express trains which run directly to the city. If you can get into central London then it is easy to use the tube to get to Xenia.

By Train

Waterloo is right on Xenia's doorstep, so if you are lucky enough to get a direct train there then its a short walk out of the station and across the road. If you arrive at another London terminal then the tube will be the quickest way to reach Xenia. London Blackfriars is a moderate walk from Xenia, so if you arrive there you can either walk the distance or get a cab.

By Car

If you are coming from the south then the A3 or A2 will take you straight up to Elephant and Castle, where you can then head into central London, and Xenia, by taking London road, then Waterloo road, before turning onto Exton street. This will land you right next to Xenia.

If you are coming from the North then either take the North circular until you reach the A3 or A2 and follow the instructions above, or drive directly into and through central London (however this is not recommended due to traffic and congestion).

Xenia is inside the Congestion Zone, meaning that driving here may cause you to be charged. There is no charge on weekends, public holidays, between Christmas Day and New Year's Day inclusive, or between 18:00 and 07:00 on weekdays. The move-in day is on the weekend so you should not be charged, however if your parents or friends visit during the week then it is a possibility. Please check the TfL website for the most up to date information.

South Kensington Campus (Main Campus)

By Tube

There are a number of routes you can take to get to Imperial College South Kensington using the tube. Most involve taking a line from London Waterloo and interchanging along the way. Waterloo is serviced by the Bakerloo Line, Jubilee Line, Waterloo and City and Northern Lines. These lines provide connections to all parts of the city; the underground network is a quick and reasonably priced way to get around the city.

via Westminster

Take the Jubilee line at Waterloo northbound 1 stop, to Westminster, then the District and Circle line 4 stops to South Kensington.

via Embankment

Take the Northern or Bakerloo line at Waterloo 1 stop to Embankment, then District and Circle line 5 stops to South Kensington.

via Green Park

Take the Jubilee line at Waterloo 2 stops to Green Park, then the Piccadilly line 3 stops to South Kensington.

 

By Bike

Another great option is to bike to university.

The ride should take around 25 minutes and passes some of London’s most famous sights such as Big Ben, Buckingham Pal- ace, The London Eye and goes through Green and Hyde Parks making it one of the best ways to get to Imperial. Unfortunately, Xenia does not have bike storage for students.

You have two options for cycling:

  • The Santander (Boris) bike scheme. Santander Cycles is London's self-service, bike-sharing scheme for short journeys. You can hire a bike from as little as £2 a day or £90 for a year. Simply go to any docking station with your bank card and touch the screen to get started, or download and pay with their app.  There are plenty of docking stations around Waterloo and South Kensington so your sure to get a bike.
  • Cycle with your own bike. It’s possible to store them just outside Waterloo station where they have 24 hour CCTV and Imperial College has many safe places to stow your bike safely.