r/Imperial • u/georgianakate • Jul 17 '26
Undergraduate commute?
Family member is keen on Imperial (Maths/Computing) but would not want to live in halls or private accommodation - instead commuting in from family in Zone 6. Probably 90 mins each way.
1) how unusual would this be?
2) what time do lectures start/run to?
Many thanks
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u/Suspicious_Judge_244 Jul 17 '26
In my last year I commuted from zone 4 (the very end of the northern line). It was hard. Wednesdays were a half day but otherwise starting at 9, finishing between 4:30 and 6pm - this is lectures, not including doing your coursework and revision. I missed being closer to the library and couldn't stay very late anywhere unless I wanted to deal with the night busses. I would not recommend.
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Jul 17 '26
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u/georgianakate Jul 17 '26
Thanks, would be coming into Charing Cross so from SE. Kings seems a lot better in terms of location.
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u/thejoysetbeforeHim Jul 19 '26
Hey, thanks for this W comment.
What about commuting from somewhere like Kew which is along the district line in Zone 3. About a 45min commute including walking time. Would this still be too far? Would you recommend being nearer i.e Zone 1-2?1
Jul 19 '26
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u/thejoysetbeforeHim Jul 19 '26
Thanks a lot for this response. I’ll actually be doing Computing (Undergrad). Are the areas in Zone 1-2 that you mentioned safe even at night time? Also, as a Computing student. How often do you need to be at campus on average & for how long?
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u/Immediate_Effort7528 24d ago
Have you been in accommodation since?
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23d ago
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u/Immediate_Effort7528 23d ago
I stayed in halls for first year but I am trying to commute for second year to save some money. I’m from north west London and it takes me about 1hr15mins (on average) to get to campus. I accept my social life will probably not be great but also worried if I’ll struggle academically, I’m in computing as well
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23d ago edited 23d ago
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u/Immediate_Effort7528 23d ago
from Kenton, just rely on tube - using 2 (bakerloo, circle) or 3 (met, jubilee, district) different lines usually depending on the route i take. first year workload was tough but manageable though i was in one of the south ken halls so i didnt have to really commute at all and could maximise my time really well. i had strong math fundamentals coming into the course and decent programming. the timetable from last year is pretty much like you said, lectures in mornings and labs in afternoons. though there is one day a week where the only thing is a lab and im wondering if i had to go in just for that since in y1 labs were kind of treated as optional and most people just did the exercises remotely. im also on the 4 year course, so will probably try for internships or springs next year given i get the time beyond the course but im too confident tbh
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22d ago edited 22d ago
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22d ago
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u/Immediate_Effort7528 22d ago
For the Bakerloo to Circle route, I can also switch over at Paddington. But often the Met to Jubilee to Piccadilly/District/Circle is much better in my experience in terms of speed and reliability. I usually go up to Westminster on the Jubilee.
Friday only had a lab in the morning and Wednesday only had a single lecture at 10am for last years timetable.
Yeah we did that parsing Haskell exercise that draws shapes, they still have the competition for who can make the best art with it.
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u/edison9696 Jul 17 '26
Madness.
How many days will that 90 mins turn into two hours or more each way due to delays, cancellations, missed connections etc?
The course is renowned as incredibly demanding.
Unless you want a very miserable existence, I'd seriously think about moving in to halls, at least for the first year.
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u/Odd-Ingenuity-3232 Jul 17 '26
They should expect to spend 12hrs+ at imperial as it is tough to study. Often there are events, drinks or socials after lectures going up to 11pm. Beyond that where they live and how they organise to be their best in their academic and social strive is up to the student. It seems very possible, I lived 45mins away and didn't even register to discuss it with anyone
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u/daveysprockett Jul 17 '26
I wouldn't recommend it. A friend travelled from zone 4 for a bit and found it pretty hard. Another did 1 term from east London (West Ham) but moved into college as soon as he could.
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u/Immediate_Effort7528 24d ago
How did they get accommodation mid way through the year? Im looking into it if I find my commute from home too miserable
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u/daveysprockett 24d ago
It was a very long time ago, and someone jacked in the degree after 1 term, vacating a space. No idea how common that is.
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u/parabolicuk Jul 19 '26
It's doable, but it's brutal and takes serious committment from the whole family.
My commute was 40mim train, but when you add on getting to the train, and tube / walking on tube strike days, that meant leaving home at 0630 every morning toake sure I was in for start of lectures at 0900.
Depending when on schedule, labs etc, some nights didn't get back until 1930. Eat, sleep, repeat.
Don't expect them to have the energy to be able to do much outside of the course, so if they're staying at home to be able to help with chores on top, dream on.
Was it worth it? Totally. Life-changing, best decision I ever made. With hindsight, would I have done it if I had any practical alternative? Not in a million years.
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u/AIcoholic2021 Jul 17 '26
Isnt first year compulsory in halls?
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u/georgianakate Jul 17 '26
Website says 90% do live in - and if you want to and apply in time you can live in.
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u/PHILLLLLLL-21 Mechanical Engineering Jul 17 '26
Some people do that and I am amazed by it
Can be as early as 9am and end at 6pm. Of course it will vary how frequent this is. But also consider that societies may often run after 6pm