1. So hot it’s actually dangerous
By April, it was already too hot to sleep — I was in a tank top and shorts, still sweating through the night. July and August? I can’t even imagine.
Why so hot? Three solid reasons:
• The walls are built extra thick for soundproofing, which traps heat like an oven.
• The windows open maybe 5cm, supposedly for “safety,” which means zero ventilation.
• There is no ventilation system in the entire building. Doors are sealed tight, windows don’t open, and airflow is non-existent.
2. So noisy it feels like a 24/7 IMAX experience
Three different train types give you a rotating schedule of misery:
• High-speed trains – loud, but at least they pass quickly.
• Slow freight trains – truly unbearable. The screeching of metal on metal will make your ears feel physically assaulted.
• Regular passenger trains – they stop at the station below, which means long, grinding, echoing noises — especially fun at 3AM.
If you open the window for air, the noise will keep you up. If you close it, the heat will. A flawless trap.
3. So filthy it should be illegal
• Everyone uses your pans, your salt, your everything.
• No one cleans after cooking — grease, food scraps, overflowing bins everywhere.
• The cleaners show up maybe once every two weeks — it’s basically a ghost service.
• There’s zero oversight or accountability from the building. Cleanliness is optional, apparently.
4. Reception staff do whatever they want, whenever they feel like it
• If it’s an easy task, like replacing a key? No problem.
• If you’re on friendly terms with them? They’ll prioritize you.
• If not? Good luck. You’ll get empty promises like “we’ll sort it tomorrow” — then hear nothing for a month. I haven’t had a single email answered in over four weeks. I guess they’re busier than the Royal Family.
5. Security?
I once reported a lost key. The security guard stared at me blankly and repeated my sentence back in slow motion, like I was speaking ancient Greek. Was he mocking me? Confused? Just bored? Who knows. I had to manage his feelings while mine were ignored. Safety? Don’t count on it.
6. The Finsbury Park neighbourhood is a public health risk
• The streets are covered in dog, bird, and — yes — human feces.
• Shops dump trash bags right outside their storefronts like it’s a festival of waste.
• Theft and muggings are disturbingly common. Just search “Finsbury Park phone stolen” on social media — new posts pop up weekly. It’s a hotspot for petty criminals and worse.
• I was physically mugged outside the train station at 8PM. People saw it happen and walked away. No one helped.
7. So far from everything it’s practically outer London
Sure, it’s close to UCL. But if you need to get to KCL or anywhere central, be ready for 45+ minutes each way. It’s exhausting.
Final verdict:
Overpriced, under-managed, overheated, and overhyped. Unless you enjoy sleepless nights, constant noise, filthy kitchens, and feeling unsafe both inside and outside the building — do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.
