Explore UCL

We’ve put together a list of places that you can visit with the aim to get you outdoors in the fresh air and get to know your campus a bit more. Every two days we will be posting a picture on our Instagram and Facebook of interesting places on campus so you can visit them. We want you to go and find the spot and take your own picture, tagging @uclaccommodation, for a chance to win a £25 Amazon voucher! A winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday 13 January 2023. Make sure to post your photos before Tuesday 10 January to be entered into the prize draw.

If you have limited time during this month, why not go and explore in January? Below is the list of locations we want you to photograph.

North Lodge 
The North Lodge is a first point of contact for students, staff and visitors when they arrive at UCL and features news and stories about achievements at the university. The North Lodge Welcome Point is open weekdays from 9am-5pm and weekends from 10am-4pm. 

Grant Museum of Zoology 
The museum has over 68,000 zoological specimens and is free to visit! The museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 1-5pm and Saturday from 11am-5pm.

Japanese Garden – Student Centre
Take a look at the artwork in the Japanese Garden. Fragments of Memory by Bouke de Vries celebrates the beauty of healing and the power of resilience. The garden is free to roam every day.

Cruciform Building 
The cruciform was originally built for the University College Hospital but was closed in 1995 and purchased by UCL! Nowadays, the building houses disciplines such as Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Medicinal Chemistry. The opening times of the Cruciform Hub are 9am-9pm Monday-Friday and 11am-9pm on weekends. 

Main library 
The UCL Main Library holds collections in Art, Economics, English, History, Law, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Public Policy. The library is open weekdays from 8.30am-12am and weekends from 11am-9pm. 

Gordon Square 
Gordon Square has been home to many great writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists. You can check out all the blue plaques on the houses around the area to find out more about the achievements of the former residents. 

Café on the Quad 
Located in the North Observatory hut on the main quad, the café provides affordable coffee, hot drinks, cakes, and snacks. The café is open from 10am-2pm during the winter period. 

Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
The Petrie Museum houses an estimated 80,000 objects, making it one of the greatest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology in the world. The museum is free and open Tuesday-Friday from 1pm-5pm and Saturday from 11am-5pm.

Student Centre
The UCL Student Centre provides 1,104 study spaces, including spaces for individual study and group working/project working. The Student Centre is open 24 hours a day.

One Pool Street 
Our newest accommodation is located on our UCL East campus in Stratford! You can visit the café that is now open and look around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

UCL Art Museum 
Located in the South Cloisters, the art museum is free to enter Wednesday-Friday from 1pm-5pm. Over 10,000 works of art across a range of media make up its collections.

Festive lights 
Take a walk around campus during December and admire all the lights – the main tree is located in the Main Quad!

You can also stay well by getting your flu vaccination - UCL offer all staff and students a free flu vaccination, all you have to do is apply. 

If you are struggling and need help, please visit the Student Support and Wellbeing page that offer free services and support for UCL students. You can speak to an advisor on the phone, available 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year via the UCL 24/7 Student Support Line. 

Remember to tag us in your post for a chance to win a £25 Amazon voucher. Terms and conditions can be found on the UCL Flourish webpage. Be sure to check out what activities are being held during December in your hall!