Campus highlights

Historic Buildings

Richard Hoggart Building

The Richard Hoggart Building is the Grade II-listed, main entrance building for Goldsmiths. Opened in 1844 as the Royal Naval School, it now serves as the central hub for the campus.

Inside you will find key teaching spaces, lecture theatres, the Great Hall, and food and drink options. Walking through the building, leads you to the College Green, and the wider Goldsmiths campus.

St James Hatcham Building

The St James Hatcham Building is a former 19-century church that has been transformed into Computing labs and facilities. The building is also used as an exhibition space throughout the year.

Deptford Town Hall Building

This Grade II-listed building is one of the most historic on campus, having been opened in 1905 as the Town Hall of the former Borough of Deptford. 

The building contains teaching rooms and the old Council Chamber, which is regularly used as a performance venue for music recitals. Law students use the Deptford Town Hall Building for mock trials to practise what it’s like in the courtroom.

The building was acquired by Goldsmiths in 1998. It reflects the area’s maritime connections, and on its front stand four statues with links either to Britain’s role in slavery or the colonial system that supported it. This symbolic decoration raises difficult questions about how to deal with historic celebrations of those who wielded imperial power and the College is developing a programme of work to explain and interpret their modern-day significance.

Find out more at explore.gold/statues.

Laurie Grove Baths

A late victorian bathhouse, now houses undergraduate Art studios. Acquired by Goldsmiths, in 1991, the baths were transformed, however many of the buildings historic features still remain including walls lined with white and blue ceramic tiles.

The baths are open to all students and the public as part of our summer degree shows season.

Green spaces 

College Green

The large College Green is a favourite campus spot among students, offering a rare spot of tranquillity in busy New Cross. Tucked behind the Richard Hoggart Building, it’s the perfect place to meet friends or play sports on a warm day.

Anthropology garden

A peaceful spot that includes an allotment where students grow fruit and vegetables. 

Arts and culture on campus

Goldsmiths CCA

Opened in 2018, the Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) was designed by Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble, and hosts free-to-visit, worldclass exhibitions by international artists.

Formerly a Victorian bathhouse, the CCA aims to engage with students and the general public and draw upon the research excellence of the university.

'The Squiggle’ 

This iconic two-storey metal sculpture sits on the top of the Ben Pimlott Building and dominates the New Cross skyline. 

It weighs 27 tonnes and would be 534 meters long if stretched out – higher than The Shard, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building.

During the degree show season, you can stand beneath the Squiggle and take in views of the London skyline.

Chromorama

Installed in 2025, Chromorama is a 21-metre tall artwork which features 35 primary colour lightboxes, created by renowned artist and Goldsmiths’ Emeritus Professor of Art, David Batchelor.

You can find the artwork located outside the Rutherford Building.

Events on campus

Our academic schools and subjects run regular events programmes throughout the year, meaning our campus is constantly abuzz with exhibitions, performances and talks from guest speakers. 

Food and drink

Café Thirty-Five 

A stylish café at the heart of the campus. Café Thirty-Five serves hot drinks, sandwiches, salads, breakfast rolls, pastries and cakes throughout the day.

Benugo

This café serves hot and cold food in a spectacular light-filled atrium.

The Refectory

Catch up with friends for lunch in our food court-style canteen. From roasts to wraps, there’s lots of choice to keep everyone happy.

Study spots

First floor of the Professor Stuart Hall Building (PSH) 

The mezzanine here offers comfortable seating and panoramic views of the campus. With comfortable seating, its a great spot to read or study with friends.

The Quad

You’ll find the open-air Quad in the middle of the Richard Hoggart Building, next to the Refectory. Long tables and benches provide a peaceful spot to study at on a sunny day.

The Library

Here you will find a range of study spaces to suit your needs. On the ground floor is our communal study spaces for working with friends while you chat. If you are looking for a quiet space to study by yourself, you will find silent study seats on the first and second floor.

You can also book a study room, for when you need to focus or work together as a group.

For postgraduate students, we have a dedicated study room to use as well.

University of London benefits 

As a Goldsmiths student, you’ll also be able to access University of London facilities in London, including Senate House Library. 

Find out more about the other libraries you will have access to.