Kendrick Hall's biggest selling point isn't a gym or a games room. It's the walk to campus, which is close enough that "commute" isn't really the right word for it. Sitting directly opposite the University of Reading's London Road campus, Kendrick Hall has built a reputation as one of the most consistently well-reviewed student buildings in Reading, and it's worth understanding exactly why before you book.
Location and Distance to University
Kendrick Hall is located at 4 Crown Place, Reading, RG1 5AE.
University of Reading, London Road campus is directly opposite the building, roughly a 1-minute walk. This makes it the closest PBSA option to London Road for students on Education, Architecture, or Typography and Graphic Communication courses based there.
University of Reading, Whiteknights main campus is around 20 minutes away, typically by bus, for students whose courses are based at the larger main campus rather than London Road.
Royal Berkshire Hospital is about a 5-minute walk, which makes Kendrick Hall a strong option for medical and healthcare students on placement.
Reading town centre is roughly a 15-minute walk, putting shops, restaurants, and the train station within easy reach without a daily commute eating into study time.
London is under 25 minutes away by train from Reading station, which makes Kendrick Hall a realistic base for students who want occasional access to London without living there.
Rent and Room Types
Kendrick Hall has around 250 rooms spread across 4 floors, offering a genuine range rather than a single room type:
- Classic en-suite rooms in shared flats, with a private bathroom and shared kitchen
- Premium en-suite rooms with more space and updated finishes
- Classic to Premium studios, fully self-contained with a private kitchenette
Weekly rent has typically sat between £198 and £218 depending on room type and contract length. Rent is all-inclusive, covering water, gas, electricity, and Wi-Fi, and the building offers a single-sex flat option for students who prefer it. One point worth budgeting for separately: several resident reviews note that Kendrick Hall doesn't supply basics like bin bags or bed linen, so factor a modest move-in shopping list into your first-week budget.
Amenities and Facilities
Kendrick Hall's facilities are aimed at a genuinely social, self-catered student experience:
- Communal lounge and courtyard
- Dedicated study area
- Bike storage
- On-site laundry room
- On-site maintenance team
- Vending machine
- Fob-entry security system
- Landscaped gardens
- Contents insurance included in rent
What's Nearby
Kendrick Hall's location bridges campus life and Reading's town centre without requiring a long walk for either:
- Tesco Crown St Express 4-minute walk, for everyday groceries
- The Oracle shopping centre 8-minute walk, for larger shopping trips
- Vue Cinema Reading 9-minute walk
- Honest Burgers, Bolan Thai, and Zizzi all within a 10 to 11-minute walk for eating out
- Forbury Gardens 13-minute walk, a genuinely pleasant public park for a study break
- Reading Museum and Town Hall 14-minute walk
- Broad Street Mall 17-minute walk
Reviews and Reputation
Kendrick Hall is rated by StudentCrowd users at around 4.2 out of 5 from over 100 reviews, placing it among the top three student accommodation options in Reading, behind Crown House and 79 Silver Street. Reviewers consistently praise the location and the responsiveness of on-site staff, particularly for resolving maintenance issues quickly. The most common criticism relates to room size variability and the lack of included basics like linen or cleaning supplies, which is worth knowing before you pack.
Safety
Kendrick Hall's fob-entry system, on-site maintenance team, and central location near the university campus and Royal Berkshire Hospital contribute to a generally safe, well-monitored environment. The building's proximity to the town centre means the surrounding streets are busy and well-lit for most of the evening, though the usual precautions apply on weekend nights near the Oracle and town centre nightlife strip.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unbeatable 1-minute walk to the London Road campus
- Genuine variety of room types and price points across 250 rooms
- All-inclusive billing and contents insurance
- Strong reviews for staff responsiveness and location
- Close to Royal Berkshire Hospital for placement students
Cons:
- Whiteknights campus students face a 20-minute commute rather than a walk
- Doesn't include basics like bed linen or bin bags in the rent
- Room sizes and finishes vary noticeably between Classic and Premium tiers
- Popular room types can sell out well before September for new bookings
Life at Kendrick Hall: A Typical Day
Residents generally describe a routine built around the building's location rather than its facilities: roll out of bed, cross the road, and you're at London Road campus. The genuine time saved compared with commuting from further out in Reading adds up over an academic year, particularly during exam periods when a few extra minutes of sleep matters more than usual.
Evenings tend to split between the communal lounge, the courtyard when the weather cooperates, and short trips into town for dinner or the cinema. Because Kendrick Hall sits between the university and the town centre, residents rarely need to choose between a quiet night in and a night out, since both are within a short walk.
How Kendrick Hall Compares to Other Reading Options
Reading's student accommodation market includes several strong contenders, with Crown House and 79 Silver Street ranked marginally above Kendrick Hall on StudentCrowd. The main differentiator for Kendrick Hall is its unmatched proximity to the London Road campus specifically. Students prioritising Whiteknights campus access, or wanting accommodation genuinely walkable to both Reading campuses, may find other buildings positioned more centrally between the two sites worth comparing before booking.
Booking Timeline and Application Process
Applications for the following academic year typically open several months in advance, and the most popular studio types sell out well before results day. International students should factor in visa processing time and book early enough that a delayed decision doesn't leave them scrambling for a room close to move-in. Most bookings require an advance rent payment, and it's worth checking the specific cancellation terms in case your university offer or visa situation changes after you've reserved a room.
Who Kendrick Hall Suits Best
Kendrick Hall is the clear choice for students studying at the London Road campus, particularly Education, Architecture, and Typography students who benefit most from the one-minute walk. It also suits healthcare students on placement at Royal Berkshire Hospital. Whiteknights-based students can still make it work, but should weigh the 20-minute commute against buildings closer to the main campus before committing.
Getting Around from Kendrick Hall
Reading's town centre layout means most students at Kendrick Hall rarely need transport for daily life, given the one-minute walk to London Road and the 15-minute walk into town. For the Whiteknights campus commute, the university runs a regular shuttle bus service alongside Reading Buses' public routes, both of which stop within easy reach of Crown Place.
Reading station itself, a short walk from Kendrick Hall via the town centre, is one of the best-connected stations outside London, with direct lines to Reading, Oxford, Basingstoke, and the wider Thames Valley in addition to the fast London Waterloo and Paddington services. This makes Kendrick Hall a genuinely convenient base for students who want to explore beyond Reading during reading weeks or term breaks, without needing to plan around limited transport options.
Conclusion
Kendrick Hall's location is genuinely hard to beat if your course is based at London Road, and the range of room types means there's usually a price point that fits most budgets. The trade-offs are minor but worth knowing in advance: bring your own bed linen, and check the exact commute time if you're studying at Whiteknights rather than London Road.
FAQs
Q: Where is Kendrick Hall located?
A: 4 Crown Place, Reading, RG1 5AE, directly opposite the University of Reading's London Road campus.
Q: How far is Kendrick Hall from the University of Reading?
A: About a 1-minute walk to the London Road campus, and around 20 minutes to the main Whiteknights campus.
Q: How much does Kendrick Hall cost per week?
A: Rent has typically ranged from around £198 to £218 a week depending on room type and contract length.
Q: Are bills included at Kendrick Hall?
A: Yes, rent is all-inclusive of water, gas, electricity, and Wi-Fi, and contents insurance is included.
Q: Does Kendrick Hall provide bed linen or basics?
A: No. Several reviews note that students need to bring or buy their own bin bags, bed sheets, and similar essentials.
Q: Is Kendrick Hall good for medical students?
A: Yes, it's about a 5-minute walk from Royal Berkshire Hospital, making it convenient for students on clinical placement.
Q: How far is London from Kendrick Hall?
A: Reading station is roughly a 15-minute walk from Kendrick Hall, with trains to London taking under 25 minutes.
Q: Does Kendrick Hall offer single-sex flats?
A: Yes, single-sex flat options are available on request, subject to availability.
