Ivy is a difficult place to review. The staff are absolutely lovely and its obviously the cheapest option. HOWEVER, there had been problems with mice throughout the entire year I was there (2018), some rooms were ridiculously small but I personally had a decent sized room, the area, Cricklewood is...temperamental...this isn't exactly Mdx's fault or Ivy's but it was heavily suggested that girls travel and walk around in groups as there were a few incidents, I'm sure you can guess the nature. None of these incidents were in Ivy, just in the surrounding areas. Although a bit dodgy, Cricklewood literally has everything you could need. It has: Poundstretcher, B&Q, small tesco, 3 Co-ops (one is rather large), a wicked pizza place literally 2 mins walk (Sky's Pizza) open late, way too many bus stops, a McDonalds, KFC, Burger King and a Wetherspoons. Kilburn is pretty cool too and just extends the list, there's a massive Tesco 10 min bus ride away too. You'll have to make your own mind up :)
Middlesex University Hall Rankings
| Arch View House | #5 |
| Platt Hall | #6 |
| Charles Morton Court | #7 |
| Depot Point | #8 |
| AXO Islington | #9 |
| AXO Seven Sisters | #10 |
| Wood Green Hall | #11 |
| iQ Tufnell House | #12 |
| North Lodge | #13 |
| Ivy Hall | #14 |
*Minimum 10 reviews required to be ranked.
StudentCrowd University Rankings
See full league table...
Ivy is a difficult place to review. The staff are absolutely lovely and its obviously the cheapest option. HOWEVER, there had been problems with mice throughout the entire year I was there (2018), some rooms were ridiculously small but I personally had a decent sized room, the area, Cricklewood is...temperamental...this isn't exactly Mdx's fault or Ivy's but it was heavily suggested that girls travel and walk around in groups as there were a few incidents, I'm sure you can guess the nature. None of these incidents were in Ivy, just in the surrounding areas. Although a bit dodgy, Cricklewood literally has everything you could need. It has: Poundstretcher, B&Q, small tesco, 3 Co-ops (one is rather large), a wicked pizza place literally 2 mins walk (Sky's Pizza) open late, way too many bus stops, a McDonalds, KFC, Burger King and a Wetherspoons. Kilburn is pretty cool too and just extends the list, there's a massive Tesco 10 min bus ride away too. You'll have to make your own mind up :)
Q&A
Ask a new question about Ivy Hall
Read Ivy Hall Reviews
Rooms can be quite big, most staff are friendly and there were weekly events done. Travel links aren’t too bad, and even though coop is EXTORTIONATE it is convenient to have so close. Areas were kept very clean by the amazing cleaners. Security guards are also lovely. Group chat is kinda hilarious. Ethernet ports available in most rooms from what I gathered. Team were very quick to replace any broken appliances in the kitchens. Cons: Fires alarm every Wednesday at 2 pm FOR HALF AN HOUR CONSTANTLY washing machine service extremely expensive and rarely even worked properly Guy brought a gun in (a BB gun which looked like a realistic pistol) and posted it on the group chat as a threat with the accom team in AND WAS NOT REMOVED?? Constant invasive room checks Unreliable Wi-Fi Threats of fining to all residents in a kitchen if one person was leaving a mess Fights between residents handled extremely poorly Security is not very effective Mice became a real problem in kitchens
Smells like s***.Fake personal.Horrible place.Do not move in this hall.Make your university in your country! Do not move in this s*** hole place. They have that smile on their faces.Talking b******** with you.For sure I will not ever experience this. Better for you to not experience the smell and the fake atmosphere.Do not move here!This is a warning that you really need to listen!
actually terrible here. wifi barely works, washing machines stop working sometimes, cleaners clean the kitchen randomly so sometimes u cant eat before a lecture as they don’t let you come into the kitchen while they clean, condoms and faeces left in public showers, no social life at all, radiators randomly stop working sometimes, courtyard looks like a prison, rooms are poorly decorated and small, maintenance staff are rude, it’s in a dodgy area so i don’t go out at night, no night life or fun nearby, messy public spaces, staff just enter ur room whenever they want (one day when i was asleep a man just unlocked my room and came in to check my shower), no privacy and overall it’s just terrible here. don’t come here if you don’t want to live miserably. such a scam and waste of money as we don’t even get basic services that we pay for like good wifi and working radiators.
Ivy halls is a hellish student accomodation run as though it were a prison… which is exactly what it looks and feels like. Any student digs are better than these. I was assaulted. Everything was broken. The kitchen was filthy and full of flies. There are no indoor communal areas only a rec area that even HMP could give a glow up. I’ve lived privately and nothing has come close to the mismanagement and rude and unprofessional staff I encountered here. I’m an atheist and after living here for 14 weeks I need Jesus.
It’s old and there are condoms everywhere.
Ivy Halls was...interesting. I loved it, but only because I had amazing flatmates. We made the best of the situation and had some great laughs. The halls are located in Cricklewood, which is not a fantastic area, but it's a short bus ride or walk to West Hampstead or Golders Green, so it's not terrible. If you're willing to make friends and go out, you'll do just fine. The internet would sometimes go out, but then make up for it by downloading games at 171 mb/s, so its very hit or miss!
Ivy is a difficult place to review. The staff are absolutely lovely and its obviously the cheapest option. HOWEVER, there had been problems with mice throughout the entire year I was there (2018), some rooms were ridiculously small but I personally had a decent sized room, the area, Cricklewood is...temperamental...this isn't exactly Mdx's fault or Ivy's but it was heavily suggested that girls travel and walk around in groups as there were a few incidents, I'm sure you can guess the nature. None of these incidents were in Ivy, just in the surrounding areas. Although a bit dodgy, Cricklewood literally has everything you could need. It has: Poundstretcher, B&Q, small tesco, 3 Co-ops (one is rather large), a wicked pizza place literally 2 mins walk (Sky's Pizza) open late, way too many bus stops, a McDonalds, KFC, Burger King and a Wetherspoons. Kilburn is pretty cool too and just extends the list, there's a massive Tesco 10 min bus ride away too. You'll have to make your own mind up :)
It is a good and friendly hall. The kitchen is big enough and there are enough parking space for students. However, it would be great if spaces are provided for drying clothes.
AVOID!!!!! There was a mouse in my room. Yes a RODENT. got laughed at when I reported it even though I was scared. Also many of my flat mates saw mouse sightings in the kitchen. Like one day when I was going ina girl screamed running out cause she saw one run by the bin in the kitchen. Little/no social experience or night life, no communal area. Courtyard is the only outdoor space which looks like a place where prisoners would be allowed to get some fresh air. Also was 2 mice (on video) in my friends room, and another in someone else’s. kitchen had cockroaches at the start of the year. Didn’t even know they existed in England. Only good things: internet is good, maintenance come fast when somethings broke. Cute tame squirrel that comes outside the windows (best part). I expected uni to be social and gatherings/parties in the kitchens like other unis. But it’s dead unfortunately. TheyDon’t actually listen to major complaints like mice/cockroaches until you contact the people above them.
STAY CLEAR!!do not move to ivy!!, Reasons why:From leakings roofs,to mice and coackroaches(yep and staff dont care),blocked sinks (everyone is charged),paying for laundry (doesnt clean your clothes properly),looking and feeling like a prison,emergency vehicles every night (good luck if your on placement),dirty kitchens (cleaners wont even bother often),awful staff (management are useless and security sleep on the job or jerk off,no really),20 people share the kitchen and bathroom,regular fights(theft),food,heating problems.
Honest review here from a former student i lived there for 3 years,in 4 simple words avoid at all cost!!the place is a prison !crawling with mice,(no for real),there was an emergency vehicle there everynight cos everyone smokes in their rooms,if the sinks get blocked everyone is charged (yep u too and its often),everyone is superficial and peoplr come from different backgrounds so there are a lot of fights,the kitchens are often dirty as f**k that the cleaners refuse to clean them,and everyone steals,oh yeah and people doing drugs which management turn a blind eye,worse decision i ever made in my life was come there so dont go you’ll regret it honest!there are so many more horror stories!!
The manager on site is Donna, and she is fantastic. The WiFi is pretty decent. That's where the good stops. Ivy Halls is in cricklewood, which is 30 minutes by bus from uni, and is also not a very safe area. There is little security and the CCTV is a joke, as it only covers one small section. There were many incidents at Ivy this year that we're either poorly handled or ignored. When the representative from Optivo (the company that owns and operate Ivy) was approached, she refused to answer her emails or phone calls. If there are any issues, they are hidden to make this place look better. I'd highly advise going to Platt, Usher, or looking for private accommodation.
The manager on site is Donna, and she is fantastic. The WiFi is pretty decent. That's where the good stops. Ivy Halls is in cricklewood, which is 30 minutes by bus from uni, and is also not a very safe area. There is little security and the CCTV is a joke, as it only covers one small section. There were many incidents at Ivy this year that we're either poorly handled or ignored. When the representative from Optivo (the company that owns and operate Ivy) was approached, she refused to answer her emails or phone calls. If there are any issues, they are hidden to make this place look better. I'd highly advise going to Platt, Usher, or looking for private accommodation.
Cockroaches to mice, leaking roofs to security sleeping on the job. Would not recommend to anyone in fact would tell them to steer clear. Complaints are not dealt with properly and you will often be told your lying by the staff with excuses always found once they realise your telling the truth. Excuses that don't count like building work next door being the reason for mice in top floor kitchens and bedrooms. If you chose to stay here, good luck you'll need it. P.S. The students union don't care either.
The halls are awful. DO NOT MOVE HERE. Mice are in all the bedrooms and kitchen. Security laugh and say it’s only a mice. They think by putting down a few mouse traps it’s fine but all rooms are full of mice ! The management are rude and unhelpful. Also if you live on top floor you must not leave your window open if you aren’t in as the squirrels come in. The first month of my stay we had cockroaches in the kitchen and now mice. I
Get an en-suite if you can, so much better. People are nice, but little/NONE night life unless you force it. dead as there’s no where near to go unless you travel to uni for student nights(once a month) or to camden/central. May also be because there is no communal room just a small sofa and dining table in the kitchen where people don’t often hang out. Kitchens shared between about 17-22 people! Sounds a lot but the most people you will see at once in there is about 6. Usually no one or a couple of people so it’s cool. Locked cupboards for your stuff in kitchen which is great, and designated space In fridge and freezer. Everyone complains about their cutlery and stuff being used in the kitchen, but if you lock it away you won’t have a problem. Food in fridge/freezer never ever been stolen. Really quiet halls unless you’re facing the courtyard I’ve heard can get noisy...but for me it’s peaceful in my room Whenever I study etc. Overall nice but dead unless someone organises a drink up
Before coming to ivy, I read almost every single review and most wasn’t so good. So I as a bit gutted. But after living there for a year it honelsty was a pretty decent place, the kitchens was fairly decent and all the bath rooms and showers for standard rooms were always clean and quite spacious, compared to other halls that Middlesex has to offer ivy had the biggest rooms by far! They were massive, I could have 4 people doing push ups in my room if I wanted. The court yard can get nosiey at times but it’s not too bad. Personally if you’re a social person you’ll get along absolutely fine at ivy, but if your a bit quite or so you’ll also be fine, I met loads of people that didn’t want to party or drink all the time. All the blocks are so close to each other you’ll pretty much know everyone from most blocks. Ivy is minutes away from shops down the road and there’s a gym right next door which helps with motivation. Eaither way I loved ivy, I wish I could go back
DO NOT live here. it LOOKS and FEELS like a prison. I could think of more bad things to say than good. I got picked out the standard room a week after freshers so I was late with moving in amongst everyone else who already has. As soon as I arrived, security staff were RUDE and disrespectful and saying that I couldn't move in, leaving a student stranded for the night??? Until a nice residential student helped out and managed to get me a room otherwise I would of been on the streets. So I had a room for the night, then moved into my official one the next day which was a lot bigger for a standard room. Bedsheets were gross (bring your own). Furniture is so outdated. shared 2 TINYYYYY BOX ROOM bathrooms amongst 10 students and it was SO disgusting most of the time. Staff were generally rude. I was walking to my room and one lady said "I don't remember you?" LOL. I'm glad to be moving out as I didn't feel comfortable in my own "home". choose Wembley unite halls (more modern and clean)
Alright, honestly..after almost a year living here, I am so happy to leave. I was able to have an ensuite room which is an advantage. However, if other residents using shared bathroom leave the mess in their bathroom, YOU as a resident are going to be charged for it as well. This happens way too often. Sometimes it is a miracle to get running warm water. The electricity goes down at least once a week, including all the fridges and freezers and you are the one that should go and resolve it, if you don't want your food to go bad. In addition, when it is 30 degrees outside, the management is perfectly useful while keeping the temperature in each room above 35,40 degrees. When it is needed(Winter or during those cold days), they don't care. None of your heaters will work - I got ill 3 times this year because of this, especially when it shuts down during your sleep. They don't do anything about noise complaints so students basically do what they want. Office=1 young polite lady;1 mean lady
The halls are good except being so far from the university campus and getting loads of noise complaints haha
Looks like a prison. If you're facing the courtyard you have no chance of sleeping. Walls are thin you can hear everything. Management team are condescending and rude. The "secure" main gate will open if you give it a push which allows anyone to get in. The plus side is that it allows you to meet other people usually with the same interests, they tend to put people on the same course in the same blocks. It is, as always, what you make of it.
It's an ok halls, kitchens and shared bathrooms get cleaned Monday to Friday, if you can get an ensuite, get it!!!!! The rooms are an average size. The down sides of these halls is its a 20 minute bus journey to the uni, you constantly have people/contractors coming in to your room to 'check' things, especially the ensuite room and the shower is leaking. Some of the security staff are useless. Overall it's a good halls very secure and the daytime main office staff are helpful. Hope you enjoy your time there.
The bathrooms are usually short of hand towels and 14 people in the same kitchen means it is a mess. Good location and close to the center. 15 mins away with train and bus from middlesex.