Student Living: An Honest Oadby Review

As all Leicester University students will know, Oadby, i.e. the mother-ship, is the Leicester suburb home to the majority of our University’s halls. I have a lot of love for Oadby, primarily because most of my first year was spent, when not at the University itself, pottering around the various flats and other facilities there; so I thought I’d do a summation of some of the pros and cons of living in Oadby, considering the many offerings and grievances I have experienced.

Pros:

– The Majority of Residents Are Freshers: Pretty self-explanatory but pretty much everyone is in the same first-year boat, and chances are most of the friends you make on your course will live somewhere in Oadby Student Village.

– Convenient Facilities: It’s a Student Village, hence everything you need is only a short walk away, with study rooms, music practice rooms, launderettes, a postal system, and a village pub if you’re that way inclined. As the student village is well known it’s also easy to get deliveries from supermarkets or takeaway places, if the weather is too poor to walk to the nearby Asda.

– Helping Hand: With a 24 hour reception it’s easy to get help immediately, particularly in pressing situations. Maintenance are also on hand to help you with issues within your building or specific flat; often small issues will be solved within a couple of hours but be aware this isn’t applicable for some problems, particularly if contracted work is required. A good Wi-Fi system also helps when researching your queries.

–A Bit of Home: Although I’ve aptly adjusted to city life, being a country girl made many University accommodation sites feel like lifeless concrete. Oadby is green and spacious, with the Botanical Gardens a few minutes walk away, there’s always somewhere to go and escape the crowded city.

Cons:

– Going the Distance: Oadby is not close to main campus, and is approximately a 45 minute walk, without knowing shortcuts to shave off some time. There is of course the fairly reliable bus service, meaning you can reach campus in 15 minutes, but traffic, late buses and the price of the bus pass do make things a little more tricky. Not for those who want a bit more sleep.

–Luck of the Draw: Not all Oadby accommodation is the same, whether looking at price, size or how old the buildings are. I intend to explain this in detail another time, but always be prepared that the shiny flat you viewed in John Foster Pavilions isn’t always what you’ll get.

–The Fresher’s Fracas: More applicable at night-time but it’s worth remembering, just because you’re not partying, doesn’t mean other people aren’t. I lived in a third floor flat and still had many late nights, due to the amount of noise other people were making on the ground below; investing in some earplugs is worthwhile.

– The Phony Phone Signal: Not a problem for everyone but make sure you have an internet handle to contact family members and friends, as reliable phone signal is very hit and miss from one flat to another. My flat had practically no signal, so I would have to stand outside to text someone, which isn’t ideal in winter.

So there you go, there’s plenty more I could say for both sides of this argument but hopefully this can give you some perspective as to whether Oadby living is right for you. I couldn’t imagine my first year without Oadby, it made it for me, even if my block became notorious for setting off the fire alarm!

Take Care Everyone, Talk to You All Soon!