Social and green space

On the ground floor there are a variety of study spaces, providing opportunities for students to engage in different modes of informal collaborative working, offering the ability to learn and create in a fun and inspiring way. There are quiet study spaces for individual work and small group huddles, nooks suitable for brainstorming ideas and casual meetings further away from the main circulation areas, where you are less likely to be disturbed. Larger group work and more transient interactions are encouraged in the open plan spaces nearer to the café and main entrance.

The Cheng Kin Ku Building offers several high quality spaces for social interaction. Soft seating can be found in the lower ground lobby and on the two mezzanine levels. The 8th floor pavilion and roof terrace with biodiversity planting are also available when not reserved for meetings/private functions.

Some academic departments and research centres offer their students common rooms and study space. Please check with your department/centre manager to see if any space has been allocated for this by your department or research centre.

This social space in the Library foyer is ideal for relaxing, eating and chatting on your mobile during breaks from studying. 

In front of the main entrance to the LSE Library is John Watkins Plaza, which is an excellent meeting point as it is one of the most spacious areas on campus. It also has ample seating and its own café with a green roof!

Adjacent to the LSE campus is Lincoln's Inn Fields. Numerous park benches and open lawn space make this one of the best places to relax near campus and a lovely place for quiet study under a tree.

By courtesy of the Masters of the Bench this secluded garden is open to the public Monday – Friday from 12 noon – 2.30pm. The main entrance to the garden can be found at the south east corner of Lincoln's Inn Fields, near SAL.

This space in SAW has been established to cultivate an environment of inclusivity, understanding, and collaboration. It is designed for staff and students to, for example, hold events, discussions and to host initiatives that promote inclusivity and intersectionality; and grow relationships with each other.  Users of the space must book it ahead of time, except for weekly regular time slots that are dedicated to socialising. Find more details here...

The Faith Centre, found on the 2nd floor of SAW, is a unique space on campus. It is home to the LSE’s diverse religious activities, transformational interfaith leadership programmes, wellbeing classes, and a reflective space for students away from the noise of campus life. You can find The Cave for meditation, male and female Islamic prayer rooms and a bookable space for all student faith societies.

The Faith Centre is open every day from 9.30am to 5.30pm, with your LSE student card needed for out of hours access. Ask at the Faith Centre reception for more details on our programmes.

Created as part of the Centre Building redevelopment scheme, this landscaped central plaza is at the heart of LSE. The pedestrianised square is used for School events, creates opportunities for social interactions and has also enhanced the biodiversity of the campus.

Informal study space is provided on the ground floor and levels 1 and 2 with an array of furniture types to enable group and individual working, all with charging facilities.There is a café on the ground floor, bench seating, armchairs, pods and windows that open onto the street. On levels 1 and 2 you will find circular seating for large groups and four-seater AV booths that allow groups to share work on large wall mounted screens as well as individual quiet spaces.

There is a music practice room adjoining the Shaw Library, 6th floor Old Building and another located in Lincoln Chambers basement (no lift access).  Three other dedicated music practice rooms are situated in the basement of Marshall Building. To use these rooms you need to be a member of the LSESU Music Society.

Sadler’s Wells Theatre organises most of the shows and events that are held at the Peacock Theatre, which in recent years have featured some of the most popular alternative shows in London. LSE students aged 16 - 30 can purchase £10.00 tickets through our Barclays Dance Pass scheme. (If you are a registered user and are already logged into your Sadler’s Wells account, please log out and return to this page in order to sign up to Barclays Dance Pass.) 

Whether it’s ballet, hip hop, contemporary dance or tap, our theatres are the place to see inspiring, entertaining and outright stunning dance in the UK.  It’s totally free to join, you don’t pay transaction fees and we’ve got your mates covered too, bring a friend aged 16 – 30 for the same price.

Situated on the 4th floor of LRB, this is a dedicated space and services hub for doctoral candidates studying at LSE (LSE swipe card access). It contains a kitchen, eating area and soft seating.

There is a Postgraduate common room on the lower ground floor of SAL with microwave and hot water facilities (LSE swipe card access).

Home to the Students’ Union, LSE Careers and other services. The SU office can be found on the third floor where the reception team and SU staff can help with sports clubs, student societies, campaigns and the Advice Service. The media centre, situated on the second floor, brings together all SU media into one space including The Beaver, Pulse Radio, LooSE TV and Clare Market Review. The building also includes the Gym, Activity Studio and the Denning Learning Café run by the SU, with ample seating and social spaces to relax.  Microwaves are located on the second floor.

You will find a number of break out spaces located throughout the basement,lower ground and ground floors which can be used by students to work or meetsocially and relax. There is a Postgraduate common room on the lower ground floor (LSE swipe card access).

Located on the 6th floor of OLD, this is a comfortably furnished common room and library for all members of the School. It has a pleasant ambience and is a haven of retreat for many (although it is not intended for serious study by students). The Shaw Library is regularly used for School functions. 

The stock can be borrowed by LSE staff and students: up to four items may be loaned for up to three weeks. Newspapers and serials are available for reading in the Library. It is also the venue of the School's long standing free lunchtime recitals and concerts series. Music is an important part of LSE life. The School has its own orchestra and choir: both are conducted by professional musicians, rehearse weekly and give public performances at the end of the Winter and Spring Terms.

If you have any questions about the book collection in the Shaw Library, please email library.enquiries@lse.ac.uk

LSE has 9.5 hectares of playing fields in New Malden, Surrey (a 22 minute train ride out of Waterloo).

Sporting amenities and facilities are available for hire by staff and students of the School and by external users when not in use by the Athletics Union.  More information is available on the LSE Sportsground web page.

This is a designated common room with hot water and microwave facilities for heating and eating your own food.  Located on the ground floor of King’s Chambers, the Salon is accessible between 8am and 10pm with swipe card access control.