{"id":2959,"date":"2018-01-14T23:07:39","date_gmt":"2018-01-14T23:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/?p=2959"},"modified":"2018-01-14T23:08:43","modified_gmt":"2018-01-14T23:08:43","slug":"a-field-guide-to-st-marys-campus-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/2018\/01\/14\/a-field-guide-to-st-marys-campus-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"A Field Guide to St Mary’s Campus (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I first found out I\u2019d be based at the St Mary\u2019s campus instead of the main Imperial College stamping ground of South Kensington, I was apprehensive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to miss out on college life.\u201d was my first thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes this mean they only serve hospital food?\u201d was the other.<\/p>\n

After a term here, I can happily say that I have not had any cause for FOMO, nor had to eat from any hospital canteens. I am also a bit better qualified to give you an insider\u2019s look at life at St Mary\u2019s. If you\u2019re going to be starting a term here soon, this is your jam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About St Mary\u2019s Campus & Hospital<\/strong><\/p>\n

St Mary\u2019s Hospital was built in 1845 and, by London\u2019s standards, is actually pretty young. These red bricks have seen a lot of history and it can feel like things haven\u2019t changed in a hundred years. At least until you see the mobile MRI machine in the courtyard and start connecting to high speed WiFi.<\/p>\n


\nThe main entrance to St Mary’s campus (Daily Mail<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the place where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, and that knowledge still gives me the chills. In fact, the great man’s original laboratory has been reconstructed and turned into a museum on campus. Less well known is the fact that this is also where heroin was invented, and that gives a slightly different kind of chill. Clearly, there is more to this place than meets the eye.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"20180106_105033\"<\/a><\/a>
\n<\/a>The Imperial College building at St Mary’s. Both penicillin and heroin were discovered here. (Images: 1<\/a>, 2)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Get In<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Rail<\/strong>: St Mary\u2019s campus is located right next to Paddington Station, which means getting here is super easy. Almost every Tube line goes through Paddington, as well as intercity trains from National Rail and Great Western Rail.<\/p>\n

\"20180114_125317\"<\/a>
\n\"20180114_125343\"<\/a>
\nThe Tube exit for the Circle and Hammersmith lines. St Mary’s campus is just a five minute walk from here and more than one Paddington bear will greet you along the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By Bus<\/strong>: No shortage of options but be warned, Praed Street is constantly busy so give yourself some buffer time if you\u2019re taking the bus.<\/p>\n