the royal hosp/whitechapel

**elz** · 16-07-2011, 11:59 PM

hey guys, i was wondering if you can tell me what the royal hosp is like and the area in general. im thinking about doing my elective there in paediatrics. Also how long would you say it takes to get into centre of london ie oxford street from there and is it easier by tube or bus? Also any ideas on accommodation? The new hospital building, does some of that open in 2012? The website said 75% of it would be finished in 2012 but wasnt quite sure what that meant. Is there a uni building in whitechapel for computers/books or anything?
thanks!

**snakefisch** · 17-07-2011, 02:01 AM

Hi elz, I went to the QMUL the other week and they told us it would be opening next year (but I'm not sure if this is part or the whole thing).
I know the area very well as I used to live there, you can get into London (West End) on the tube or by bus. I'd say max half hour by tube. It's very close to the City though. There is a big medical campus, part of Barts, in Whitechapel so you'll have no problem there. As for accommodation I'd search around or post on here for shared flats as rent is definitely going to be alot more than you're used to!
Hope this helps

**CanadianBartsDude** · 20-07-2011, 12:02 PM

The area is quite gritty (in a good way) and diverse. Depending on when you do your elective, you'll either be in the old hospital (before around January 2012) or the new hospital. The old hospital is quite worn down and maze-like. I believe the new hospital should be ready for paediatric services in early 2012. The only sites that will take longer to complete will be the new Dental Hospital (where the A&E now is) and the Cardiac Wing over at the Barts Hospital site. The medical school library is right beside the hospital, and it has lots of computers and books (and it's situated in a church!). I'm not entirely sure on this, but I believe that elective students can stay at nearby hospital accommodation, but you should probably check with the med school first.
Enjoy your elective.

**elz** · 20-07-2011, 08:46 PM

thats great thanks guys. The only prob is they make you pay with your application and say its non refundable so have to see what the deal is, if your application wasnt accepted dont know what youd be paying for. sounds like itl be an amazing hosp thoughl

**malevolent_elephant** · 15-08-2011, 12:46 AM

hi elz. it's pretty near oxford street etc. the 25 bus goes there but the journey time depends on traffic. it's about 20 minutes on the tube i think.

whitechapel is indeed "gritty". but you get loads of international foods and things for really cheap because of it. the market is absolutely AMAZING. there's a huge sainsbury's across the road from the hospital.

as for accomodation, when is your elective? if it's during the summer term time, you should have no problem getting accomodation right next to the hospital (and medical library, where you'll find your "computers and books"). it's called "floyer house".

**purple_monkey** · 10-09-2011, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by elz

hey guys, i was wondering if you can tell me what the royal hosp is like and the area in general. im thinking about doing my elective there in paediatrics. Also how long would you say it takes to get into centre of london ie oxford street from there and is it easier by tube or bus? Also any ideas on accommodation? The new hospital building, does some of that open in 2012? The website said 75% of it would be finished in 2012 but wasnt quite sure what that meant. Is there a uni building in whitechapel for computers/books or anything?
thanks!

Originally Posted by elz

hey guys, i was wondering if you can tell me what the royal hosp is like and the area in general. im thinking about doing my elective there in paediatrics. Also how long would you say it takes to get into centre of london ie oxford street from there and is it easier by tube or bus? Also any ideas on accommodation? The new hospital building, does some of that open in 2012? The website said 75% of it would be finished in 2012 but wasnt quite sure what that meant. Is there a uni building in whitechapel for computers/books or anything?
thanks!

The Royal London is the oldest hospital in london so it's pretty rundown, however they are slowly moving all the wards to the new building that's going to be open pretty soon.
It's a pretty decent hospital in the sense that there are alot of patients with exceptional cases. It is extremely busy and there is lots going on all the time, most of the people there are from multi-ethinic backgrounds and quite alot of people dont speak english.
The area is pretty multi-racial, as you exit whitechapel station you have whitechapel market, there is an array of asian shops and resturants around to eat at and also every PFC you could possibily dream of! (Most foods are quite cheap for london)
To oxford street it would take roughly an hour via the 25 bus which has a bus stop just outside the hospital or you can take the hammersmith and city line to liverpool st and change for the central line to oxford street. This will take roughly 20 mins depending on how well the services on the hammersmith and city line are (in my experience the worst line ever!!)
Accommodation wise most flats to rent there range from £100-120 per month, the further you move outta central london the cheaper it is. Landlords are a bit of a hassle to deal with in east london and are kinda dodgy so I suggest student housing just to be on the safe side. If the rent is too good to be true it probably is!!!
The new building is practically finished, they're just slowly transfering each of the wards one by one.
Whitechapel library is a refurbished church right next to the Royal London, it contains a wide range of Medical, Nusing and Dental textbooks and CDs, there are computers on the ground and basement floors (which I'm writing this on now :P)
There is also a private section for professional that work in the NHS.
Also if you get ID access for whitechapel library you're also able to access Mile End Library (alot bigger, with books on all subjects) and West Smithfield (in Barbican located inside St. Barts hospital in the centre of London)

Hope that answers all your questions if you have any querys give me a PM

**malevolent_elephant** · 11-09-2011, 12:37 AM

although mile end library is crap if you want to study medicine

**purple_monkey** · 11-09-2011, 03:56 AM

Book wise mile end isn't the best place to study but it's a vibrant place that makes a change from the serious dead silent studying that is whitechapel.