Royal Holloway, University of London
- Sara Cavalieri
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
When I first caught sight of Royal Holloway, University of London, I actually stopped in my tracks.
The main building looks like something out of a fairytale — a red-brick castle framed by gardens and open lawns.
But what’s even more interesting than its looks is its story.
Here are some of the highlights from my visit to campus!
Campus
Located in Egham, the campus of Royal Holloway is 40 minutes on the train from Waterloo in central London and easy to get to from the London Heathrow Airport as well.
Here, students get a campus experience set in beautiful, leafy surroundings, with London on their doorsteps.
But it's not just the greenery; the Founder's Building is one of — if not the most — beautiful buildings I've seen on any campus in the world.
Founded in 1886 as an all-women's college, Royal Holloway, University of London, was later officially opened by Queen Victoria herself — which explains the “Royal” in the name.
The Founders’ Building, the grand centerpiece of campus, was designed with extra-wide corridors to fit the large dresses of Victorian women.
Inside, there’s an impressive art collection — the largest set of Victorian paintings outside central London.
Students actually take their exams surrounded by these paintings, including one that’s supposedly haunted.
The story goes that the ghostly white polar bear painting now lives on as the school’s mascot, Colossus.
Amazingly, students can also live in the Founder's Building; there are about 300 dorm rooms.
Students who live there also receive a discount in the on-site dining hall, which is gorgeous as well.
More modern housing is nearby on campus, and for students who want to meet people from across the University of London network, it’s also possible to live in intercollegiate halls in central London, though they’re first come, first served.
Even though the Founders’ Building feels straight out of another century, the rest of the campus has kept up with modern student life.
The library and student services building, opened in 2018, feels bright, airy, and purpose-built for long study sessions.
There are also great views of central London and the rest of campus from the top floor of the library!
Royal Holloway is on the smaller side for a UK university, with around 12,500 students, 25% of whom are international (including about 300 Americans).
I loved the way many older buildings were repurposed, like the Boilerhouse that used to power the whole campus.
It's now the site of a cafe and many of the performing arts studios.
On campus, there are plenty of places to eat for very good prices, too.
One of the things that surprised me most was the social scene.
Despite being tucked away in Egham, Royal Holloway has two on-campus nightclubs: one for opens Wednesdays and another for Fridays.
There are a couple local pubs nearby, too.
Academics
Royal Holloway is best known for the humanities.
The Business School is the largest department, but the university ranks impressively high in the arts — 2nd in the UK for Creative Writing, 4th for Music, and top 15 for Drama and Performing Arts.
Other standout areas include Classics and Psychology.
It also offers, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, the only engineering programs available.
There’s also an integrated foundation year now open to Americans, which is perfect if you want to ease into the UK system before starting your degree or do not have the right testing qualifications.
Summary: Royal Holloway, University of London
What I loved most about Royal Holloway is how it balances historic charm with modern student life.
Between the castle-like architecture, the creative energy, and the friendly campus vibe, it’s easy to see why students describe it as a “small university with a big personality.”
If you’re drawn to the arts, humanities, or creative writing, or just want a traditional British campus experience close to London, Royal Holloway is absolutely worth a look.
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