New social and study spaces open at Senate House

BLOOM@Senate House is a central London base where students from our 17 Member Institutions can study, eat, and socialise. It features quiet study spots, the use of Deller Hall Café, and relaxing lounges in a location convenient to Senate House Library. 

The opening event was a great success, with students from across the federation gathering to enjoy free tasters of the café's new global street food menu. They also met representatives from some of the many clubs and societies on offer, learned more about our health and wellbeing and careers services, and were able to register for Senate House Library membership. 

The Malet Street Senate House Steps were officially declared open in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Vice- Chancellor, and staff and students alike enjoyed socialising and relaxing on the newly opened structure. The Steps provide dual entertainment spaces, allowing for performances to take place at the base of or underneath the steps. 

Malet Street car park, previously empty except for occasional use by film base units, has been transformed by the installation of the steps, in addition to wildflower gardens and Art Deco-inspired landscaping, in keeping with the architecture of Senate House. 

The west entrance of Senate House is now a unique place for students, staff, and the local community to meet, eat, and enjoy entertainment. The surrounding area provides further opportunities for engagement with visitors through pop-up stalls and food/beverage vans to support a variety of social events. 

These new spaces form part of the University’s plans to improve and develop our Bloomsbury campus. A key objective is to make more study and social areas available to students across the federation and to Senate House visitors. 

University of London students are part of a wider community of 195,000 students at world-leading universities across London, and a further 45,000 studying via online and distance learning in 190 countries around the world. Senate House is at the heart of the University of London, and we hope that our entire community – students, staff and alumni - will enjoy the new and improved spaces.