Main entrance

For many people, this will be their first view of the Goldsmiths campus – the main entrance of the Richard Hoggart Building. Built in 1843, the Grade II-listed building was originally home to a Royal Naval School, before being acquired by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths for its Technical and Recreative Institute in 1891. The University of London acquired the new Institute and re-established it as Goldsmiths College in 1904. The building is named after a former Warden of Goldsmiths, known for being a pioneer of cultural studies, and a lifelong supporter of adult education and the arts.

The forecourt of the building features seating space, and is a great place to catch up with friends or watch the world go by. Across the road you’ll find a Sainsbury’s Local supermarket and Costa coffee shop, as well as lots of local independent cafés, restaurants and pubs nearby. The area is a transport hub, with lots of bus routes passing through (including 24-hour night buses), and it’s just a few minutes’ walk to both New Cross and New Cross Gate rail and London Overground stations.

Inside the building you’ll find spaces and facilities like the Great Hall, Careers Service, Student Centre and Curzon Cinema, as well as the Refectory, Quad, Thirty Five Café, and the Students’ Union shop. The building is also home to the Departments of History, Visual Cultures, Theatre and Performance, and Music. And if you travel all the way through the building, you’ll be greeted by the beautiful and tranquil College Green.

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