Sundial Court is the hall of residence for the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, located on Chiswell Street in the City of London. It houses 173 bedrooms across 38 flats and sits just a few minutes' walk from the School's Silk Street building at the Barbican, which makes it the closest and most convenient place to live for Guildhall students.

If you are about to study at Guildhall, or you are researching student accommodation in the area, this guide covers everything that matters: where Sundial Court is, what the rooms and facilities are like, who is eligible, how allocation works, a bit of its surprising history, and what to do if you cannot get a room there.

Sundial Court at a glance

Where is Sundial Court?

Sundial Court is on Chiswell Street in the heart of the City of London, around the corner from the Guildhall School's Silk Street building and close to Milton Court. The walk to the School takes only a few minutes, which is a genuine advantage for music and drama students carrying instruments or heading to early rehearsals.

The location also puts you in one of the best-connected parts of London. Barbican and Moorgate underground stations are both a short walk away, and Liverpool Street, Farringdon and St Paul's are all within easy reach, giving you the Underground, the Elizabeth line and national rail. Shoreditch and Clerkenwell, with their food, bars and nightlife, are right on the doorstep.

Rooms and flats

Accommodation at Sundial Court is arranged as self-catering flats, each with three, four, five or six single bedrooms. Every flat shares a communal kitchen with a dining area, a shower room and a separate toilet, which is a sensible layout for a busy household of students.

The rooms are furnished to a high standard and all have internet access. A detail that sets Sundial Court apart from ordinary halls is that some bedrooms are large enough to hold an upright piano, and music students are permitted to practise in their rooms during set hours. For a conservatoire, that is a meaningful perk. There is also a wheelchair-accessible flat with a specially adapted kitchen and bathroom, and a Deaf Alerter system for residents who are hard of hearing.

Facilities and support

Beneath the residence is an area known as the Basement, which is the social and practical hub of the building. It houses the School Bar, a self-service laundry, practice rooms and a communal television room, so a lot of daily life happens without leaving the building.

Support is a real strength here. A reception service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, looking after the safety and security of the building. A team of Residential Assistants live on site to provide peer support and build community, organising everything from film nights and exercise clubs to museum and market trips across the year. Sundial Court is also licensed under the Student Accommodation Code, which sets standards for management, safety and maintenance.

Who can live at Sundial Court?

Sundial Court is reserved for Guildhall School students, and because there are only 173 rooms, not everyone who applies can be offered a place. Anyone offered a place on a full-time course at the School is welcome to apply, and part-time students with medical or disability needs are also eligible.

Allocation follows clear priorities. First-year students are prioritised, including overseas first-year undergraduates, who are given priority because they are moving the furthest. Priority is also given to students with medical or disability support needs, and to those who are care experienced or estranged from their families. If rooms remain once first years are housed, they are offered to new postgraduate students, with priority going to those living furthest from the School.

How to apply for Sundial Court

If you have an offer to study full time at the Guildhall School, you apply for a room through the School's accommodation process rather than through a private booking site. Because demand outstrips the 173 rooms available, it is worth applying early and reading the priority criteria carefully so you know where you stand. The School's Student Services team can advise on the process and on alternatives if a room is not available.

A short history of Sundial Court

Sundial Court has a more interesting past than most halls. In 1993, the Corporation of London leased a nearby courtyard of buildings that, in the 18th century, had formed the centre of Samuel Whitbread's first brewery. These were renovated and converted to create the School's hall of residence. So the students practising scales and learning scripts today are doing so on the site of one of London's historic breweries, which is a fittingly characterful home for a conservatoire in the old City.

Living in the City of London as a student

The area around Sundial Court is rich in culture and convenience. The Barbican Centre, one of Europe's largest arts venues, is on your doorstep, and the West End theatres, the Southbank Centre and Covent Garden's Royal Opera House are all close by. As a Guildhall student you can also access concessions on entertainment tickets and discounts on shops, restaurants and transport.

Day to day, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and sports facilities are all within walking distance, and the creative energy of Shoreditch and Clerkenwell is minutes away. It is a central, stimulating place to live, though it is worth remembering that the City quietens at weekends when the office crowd leaves.

Pros and cons of Sundial Court

Pros

• Just minutes from the Guildhall School, ideal for instrument-laden commutes
• Rooms that fit a piano and allow in-room practice during set hours
• 24/7 reception and live-in Residential Assistants for support and community
• On-site bar, laundry, practice rooms and TV room in the Basement
• Excellent central location and transport links

Cons

• Only 173 rooms, so a place is not guaranteed
• Self-catering rather than catered
• The City of London can feel quiet at weekends
• Reserved for Guildhall students, so not an option for others nearby

What if you cannot get a room at Sundial Court?

Because Sundial Court cannot house every student, many Guildhall students live in external accommodation, and the School's Student Life team supports the search. The good news is that the area around the Barbican and the City has plenty of purpose-built student accommodation and private options within a short commute. If you are looking beyond Sundial Court, focus your search on the City of London, Shoreditch, Old Street and the wider east-central area, all of which keep you close to Silk Street and Milton Court.

In short

Sundial Court is a well-located, well-supported and characterful hall of residence that gives Guildhall students the rare luxury of living minutes from a world-class conservatoire, with rooms designed for musicians and a strong community built around them. Apply early if you want a place, and if you miss out, the surrounding City offers plenty of alternatives close to the School.

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FAQs

What is Sundial Court?

Sundial Court is the hall of residence for the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, on Chiswell Street in the City of London, a few minutes' walk from the School's Silk Street building.

Where is Sundial Court located?

On Chiswell Street in the City of London, close to the Barbican and around the corner from the Guildhall School's Silk Street and Milton Court buildings.

How many rooms does Sundial Court have?

It has 173 bedrooms arranged in 38 self-catering flats, each with three, four, five or six single rooms sharing a kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Who can live at Sundial Court?

Full-time Guildhall School students can apply, with priority given to first years, overseas first-year undergraduates, and students with medical, disability, care-experienced or estrangement needs.

Can you practise music at Sundial Court?

Yes. Some bedrooms are large enough to hold an upright piano, and music students are allowed to practise in their rooms during permitted hours. There are also practice rooms in the Basement.

Is Sundial Court catered?

No. It is self-catering, with each flat sharing a communal kitchen and dining area.

How do I apply for Sundial Court?

Students with a full-time offer apply through the Guildhall School's accommodation process. Apply early, as there are only 173 rooms and demand is high.

What facilities does Sundial Court have?

A 24-hour reception, live-in Residential Assistants, and a Basement housing the School Bar, a self-service laundry, practice rooms and a communal TV room. All rooms have internet access.