Student Accommodation

Egham

Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham is home to one university, Royal Holloway, University of London, set in the Surrey countryside, around 19 miles from central London.

The campus is dominated by the Founder’s Building, a Grade I listed red-brick landmark modelled on the Château de Chambord in France’s Loire Valley. It was opened by Queen Victoria in 1886, and its towers and turrets make it one of the most recognisable university buildings in the UK. The campus covers 135 acres of parkland and woodland, so there’s plenty of green space on your doorstep.

Facilities

Royal Holloway was founded by the Victorian entrepreneur and philanthropist Thomas Holloway, with his wife Jane, who established the college as a women-only institution. It merged with Bedford College in 1985, and today it’s a research-intensive college of the University of London, with academic departments across the sciences, arts, humanities, business, economics and law.

The location combines a green campus with easy access to the capital. Trains from Egham take around 40 minutes to reach London Waterloo, so central London is within easy reach for a day out or a night in the city. For students in Prestige Student Living accommodation in Egham, it’s worth checking journey times to the campus for your chosen property.

Treat Yourself!

Egham has a good selection of restaurants and cafés along its High Street, from Italian and Thai restaurants to relaxed places for a casual meal with friends. Here are a few places worth trying while you’re studying in Egham with Prestige Student Living.

Villa Rosa (The Precinct, High Street)

Villa Rosa is a long-established Italian restaurant at 13 to 15 The Precinct, on Egham’s High Street. It’s family-run and has been serving Italian food in Egham for decades. The menu covers pasta, pizza and risotto, with a specials board of fish and meat dishes that changes regularly. It also offers vegan options.

Eat Thai (67 High Street)

Eat Thai at 67 High Street serves Thai food, with a menu that mixes classic recipes and modern dishes. It’s a good option if you want something different from the area’s Italian restaurants.

Caffe Gondola (168 High Street)

Caffe Gondola at 168 High Street is a relaxed Italian restaurant serving pizza and pasta. Its menu also includes vegan options, which makes it handy if you’re eating out with a group.

Nights Out

Egham is a small town, but there’s a good mix of places to go out, from the Students’ Union venues on campus to pubs and bars in town.

RHSU

Royal Holloway Students’ Union (RHSU) runs the main student venues on campus. These include two nightclubs, the Union Venue and Medicine, a pub called The Packhorse, and Tommy’s Kitchen, a bar and restaurant. It also supports more than 110 clubs and societies. RHSU hosts regular club nights, society events and a Freshers programme at the start of the year, so it’s a good place to meet people early on.

The Packhorse

The Packhorse is run by the Students’ Union and sits just across the road from campus. It serves craft ales, ciders and food at student prices, and the building has been part of Egham’s history since at least 1822, when it was a tavern and beer house. It’s a popular spot for a drink before a night out or a relaxed evening with friends.

Medicine

Medicine is one of RHSU’s nightclub venues, with an indoor bar and an outdoor beer garden. It forms part of the Union’s club night programme and is a good option for a bigger night out on campus.

Bar 163

Bar 163 is a bar on Egham High Street with a cocktail menu and a more relaxed atmosphere than the campus venues, so it’s a good option for a quieter evening with friends.

Love Shopping?

Egham’s town centre has the essentials, and nearby Staines-upon-Thames has a wider choice of high street shops.

Egham High Street

Egham High Street has a mix of shops, cafés and everyday services, including Costa and Greggs for a quick coffee or bite on the go. It’s handy for picking up the essentials, and there are supermarkets and pharmacies close by.

Elmsleigh Shopping Centre

Elmsleigh Shopping Centre in Staines-upon-Thames is a short train ride from Egham and has around 50 shops. Tenants include Primark, H&M, River Island, Matalan, Sports Direct, New Look and Superdrug, and there’s a Waterstones too. A street market runs outside the centre on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The centre is open seven days a week, though hours are shorter on Sundays, so it’s worth checking before you go.

Remember to look out for student discounts. Platforms such as UNiDAYS offer discounts at many high street stores, so it’s worth signing up before you shop.