Student Accommodation

London

Education

London is home to eighteen universities with some being the most top-rated not only in the UK but the world. From the University of London to the Imperial College London to King’s College London to Queen Mary University or university college London, you’ll be provided with the best learning experience with great support available to you. No matter if you’re a UK student or an international student, rest assured you’ll have the best time at some of the best educational institutions!

University of London

The University of London is the oldest institution of higher education in the UK, and its roots can be traced all the way back to 1836. It grew out of the merger between various colleges – the University Colleges of London and Middlesex – with King’s College, which was granted a royal charter in 1829.

Now it is made up of three constituent universities, UCL, King’s College London, and Queen Mary University of London, as well as a number of central academic bodies and research institutes. Together they make up the largest university in Europe, with more than 130,000 students in its 24 institutes. The University of London is known across the globe for its world-class facilities and award-winning teams of staff.

King’s College London

King’s College London is the third-largest university in the UK and is one of the top 25 universities in the world. Founded in 1829, it is one of the two founding colleges of the University of London. It offers courses at multiple locations, such as the St Thomas campus in central London on the Thames River and Guy’s Hospital. Students can also take some courses at King’s College, or have a student exchange there. Internships are available too, as well as student societies that cover everything from drama and fashion to politics.

University of Westminster

The University of Westminster has a 180-year history, and you can take advantage of studying in the very heart of the City of London. It is home to over 19,000 students from all over the globe and is a modern, forward-thinking place to study with a view to providing courses aimed at focusing student minds on specific careers and not just with a view to being awarded a degree at the end of the course.

There are four large libraries, each with an extensive collection of books, journals, and specialist materials. Careers support is also extensive, with plenty of volunteering options and mentoring support programmes, work placements, and employability workshops.

Specialist facilities include access to Bloomberg Financial Markets Suites for those students studying Finance, Accounting, and Business. The Architectural studios have advanced facilities including a range of 3D printers and laser cutters.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT UNIVERSITY

Regents University of London is the only, not-for-profit university in the nation’s capital city. It is set in 11 acres of secluded private gardens and provides a supportive learning environment for students who wish to become leaders of the future and entrepreneurs.

Regents is a smaller university with an intimate feel of only 5,000 students on campus, despite welcoming students from over 140 countries. The dedicated Careers and Business Relations staff are on hand to offer expert advice and guidance about all things education, student finance, and careers counselling, as well as placements and internships to help build a future career.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Goldsmiths University has a rich history of academic excellence dating back to 1891 and has a reputation for the best in arts and creative disciplines, humanities and social sciences. Students at Goldsmiths are encouraged to take a step back and take a different look at the world than they would at a ‘conventional’ university and to explore new ideas and concepts.

The libraries are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and there are several extensive student support services running throughout the university and the Students’ Union (which has over 100 clubs and societies).

Food and Drink

There are food and drink options across the entire city so no matter your taste buds, you’ll always find great places to sit back and enjoy amazing cuisine and refreshments. The best part about student living in our student accommodation London is you’ll be on the doorstep of tons of casual eats, cafes, restaurants and bars.

Street Food

One of our favourite places that are worth mentioning is the best street food market in North London, Camden Market! There are loads of yummy food stalls to choose from and at a decent price too.

Another street food market is Borough Market in South London, it’s an absolute foodie heaven! Other notable mentions are the amazing rooftop bars in the city centre such as the iconic Sky Garden, Bar Elba, The Rooftop and Radio Rooftop.

THE BIGGEST MARKET

Borough Market is, without doubt, the biggest and the most well-known food market in the whole of London. It is open every single day of the week, but the main market is open every Thursday through Saturday, so that is when you should head down to experience the full impact. It is definitely full of tourists, crowded, and can be a bit expensive, but it is the place to be if you want to get your hands on speciality ingredients.

Head to Monmouth Coffee for some great caffeine hits (if you can survive the queue), or over to Kappacasein for some life-changing raclette. There is pretty much something for every taste, so you are always going to be as happy as can be and missing out at the same time!

INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS

Brixton Village has become one of the standout areas of London for independent restaurants, with highlights Honest Burgers and Franco Manca, as well as some incredible food from the likes of El Rancho De Lalo and Mama Lan. Broadway Market on the other hand has had a recent resurgence due to a plethora of new and exciting food traders in recent years and an emphasis on local talent.

Violet Cakes is one of those selling a range of tasty cakes, whilst Climpson & Sons specialise in coffee. The Broadway Bookshop is the best place to while away some time attempting to fill your bookshelves with brand-new reads.

BRICK LANE

When most food markets in London have packed away for the weekend you’ll find Brick Lane going strong on a Sunday. Brick Lane is an area in general where you can find some of the best curry houses in the world, with a whole host of magnificent Bangladeshi restaurants to choose from. The market dates back to the 17th century and is centred around The Old Truman Brewery, hosting stalls selling all sorts. The Rib Man can be found here, specialising in spicy ribs that are out of this world.

CHINA TOWN AND MORE

If you are after new places to eat where you can sit in a traditional restaurant then, of course, there is plenty to explore in London, as well as Brick Lane for curry, head to China Town for some of the best Chinese restaurants in the city (as you would expect), and up to North London for some of the best Turkish cuisine around, or down to Stockwell for some amazing Portuguese food.

Living in London as a lover of food is basically just exploring and heading to new areas all the time to find hidden gems and tasty treats on every corner. Search for Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB) restaurants to cut down on the cost, and always stay on the lookout for student promotions and discounts wherever you are.

History, Art and Culture

There are plenty of cultural sites to explore for history lovers at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington or the British Museum. If you’re more into the arts, there are tons of art galleries like The National Gallery and The Tate Modern to fall in love with. More of a nature lover? There’s so much outdoor space for students to enjoy at Regent’s Park and Hyde Park, take a picnic and relax with your flatmates.

South Kensington

For museums and art, there is no better place to start than South Kensington where you can find three museums (all with free entry) that are some of the finest examples the world over of each subject matter. The Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum (art and design) can take up a full weekend all on their own. Other amazing museums and art galleries that always have exquisite collections to visit include the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the Tate Modern.

Student Life

In a 2019 census, those living in a London student accommodation were counted towards a student population of over 400,000! It’s no wonder there’s so much on offer for a great student nightlife.

London is widely known as being a great night-out no matter what you enjoy doing from comedy to gaming to live music venues, there’s so much to keep you busy after dark. There are places on every corner and campus from Waterloo Campus to St Thomas Campus to Stratford Campus – your student union bar will have a great nightlife too!

If you want to experience the vibrant nightlife in the London there’s a ton of traditional pubs and big nightclubs to explore whilst living in your new student accommodation in  London. We’ve done our research and know the best places which offer a great student night in London, so keep on reading!

Something for Everyone

Tiger Tiger is a popular venue with six rooms playing all types of music, whilst the Piccadilly Institute (PI) is a big name venue with a labyrinth of rooms and themes to suit all moods and tastes. The student-specific night is there every Thursday.

Fabric is one of the most well-known clubs in the entire world and is a place to go for all your dubstep, grime, techno, house, DnB, and Hip-Hop needs. There isn’t a specific student night at Fabric, but you can get in at a discounted rate with your student ID.

If you are more into your Indie hits and alternative music head down to Camden for many a cool venue, loads of live music, as well as Propaganda at The Electric Ballroom. G-A-Y and Heaven are the places to go to soak up the LGBTQ+ nightlife around Soho.

Ministry of Sound

Ministry of Sound is located in the South of London and offers the biggest and longest-running weekly student night, ‘Milkshake Tuesday’. It’s a great night out for all university students with resident DJs, cheap drink prices (for London anyway), and guest events. There is discounted entry for students on Friday and Saturdays, and specific student club nights semi-regularly on a Tuesday night.

Lightbox

Another great student night is ‘Lights On’ which is the city’s biggest student rave which takes place every Thursday at Lightbox. Party the night away in this unique venue for only £4 entry. If you fancy some time away from your student accommodation in London then you just HAVE to go to these places!

A QUIET ONE

For a quieter night at the cinema you might be forgiven for thinking it would be way too expensive but the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square often has cheap tickets and seasonal specials, so keep an eye out for those. You can always keep an eye out for local student club nights in your area, go to watch BBC shows being recorded (these are often free to attend), or do something completely different and check out Museum Lates where museums stay open late with a bar and DJ on the last Friday of every month.

SAM SMITH’S PUBS

London can be an incredibly expensive place to live as a student, but remember, if you are heading on a night out or just fancy a few pints after university there are ways to have a good time on a budget. With pubs in particular, look out for Sam Smith’s pubs in central London and you’ll always find a much cheaper pint than in almost every other boozer around.

Events and Festivals

London’s event calendar is full of exciting things to do throughout the year, so you’ll never be short of a good time. Some of the annual events that take place in the capital include the world famous Notting Hill Carnival, Trooping the Colour, St Patrick’s Day, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and London Marathon.

There are plenty of event options to keep everyone interested and keep your calendar busy from parades to festivals to sports to art exhibitions. If you’re worried about your student budget, there are tons of free events taking place daily!

West End

In the London West End you’ll find some of the finest examples of theatre in the entire world, from classics such as Henry VIII and My Fair Lady to popular shows such as Disney’s The Lion King, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Moulin Rouge. There are many different venues of all sizes and types offering live comedy and improv, live music, and some of the biggest sporting events in the world, from the O2, to Royal Albert Hall, Alexandra Palace, and Hammersmith Apollo, it really is the UK capital of entertainment.

HARRY POTTER TOUR

With public transport so great and far-reaching in London, even a day out to the outskirts brings some adventure at The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros Studio Tour, Legoland Windsor, or Thorpe Park. London is expensive but it is definitely a city that you can fall in love with, and once you have become used to using public transport and finding your way around with ease you can make the most of free and cheap events every day of the week.

A HAVEN FOR SPORTS FANS

If you are planning to make your student accommodation in London your new home and are a big sports fan, then you’re in luck! It is a leading sport city and has even hosted the summer Olympics three times. There’s loads of things to do and see for sports fans to take part in whilst studying at one of the many universities in the city.

CLUBS AND GYMS

There are sports clubs and societies as well as gyms on and off of campus with great facilities to help stay fit or just keep you busy. Some of our London student accommodation even have on-site gyms so you don’t have to worry about paying for a membership or trekking around – workout at home!

If you’re interested in watching live sports in the city, there’s events showcasing the best of football, rugby, cricket, tennis and other sports at world-famous venues like Wembley Stadium and Wimbledon.

PREMIER FOOTBALL

For those into spectator sports however, London is an absolute dream. Let’s start with the most popular sport in the land, football. There are so many football clubs based in London, with many playing in the Premier League and regularly at the top of the European stage, such as Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea, and West Ham.

You really do have your pick of going to watch as much football as you like when living in London, with an experience at a non-league club such as Dulwich Hamlet a completely different day out to a trip to the Emirates to see Arsenal or see Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

HOME TO RUGBY

Twickenham Stadium is home to the English Rugby Union team (they play in the 6 Nations every single year here), and there is also plenty of club-level rugby to be found in London, including Harlequins and Saracens.

TEST CRICKET

Lord’s and The Oval are home to Middlesex and Surrey County Cricket Club respectively, and you can watch England Test cricket, T20 cricket, and One Day Internationals at the cricket grounds in the capital.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon is the home of tennis and is one of the four major grand slam events of tennis each year, with the world’s best players battling out on the famous grass courts of SW19. Other annual big sporting events to look out for include the London Marathon and the Varsity Boat Race, attracting thousands of people into the city.

Retail Therapy

As a student living in our student accommodation in London, you’ll always be able to get some retail therapy. London is home to many fantastic shopping destinations such as Carnaby Street, a popular tourist hotspot in Central London. You’ll find tons of quirky independent stores and big name brands.

Other shopping havens are Regent Street and Oxford Street, two most recognisably London high streets to mention. Here, you’ll be able to find the original, flagship stores for many of the big brand names that you know and love and that can be found on most high streets around the country. These include H&M, Primark, River Island, and Topshop. Stores such as these are immense in size, and alongside them, you’ll discover some amazing high-end designer labels and pretty much every type of clothing brand you can think of.

Shopping on a Budget

If you’re looking for a place with shops to cater for a student budget, then Westfield Stratford City in East London is your place to go for all your shopping needs. There are 250 shops to choose from and 70 places to eat and drink in – It’s the largest shopping centre in Europe! Although, it is a bit far out from the central of London but there is bus and tube routes to take you right there.

BIG BRAND SHOPPING

Selfridges is a world-famous department store, as is Harrods.  Throughout the city, there are plenty of big shopping centres that allow you to buy food, tech, and other items that you need whilst living away from home. Depending on where exactly your student accommodation in London is you could head over to Westfields Shopping Centre, Brent Cross or Canary Wharf, or one of the other shopping centres that number in the dozens.

HIDDEN GEMS

If you want to try your hand at finding hidden gems and look for a treasure trove of vintage and retro items on the other hand, there are a few places that we would recommend to you. Camden is an absolute assault on the senses (in a positive way) at times, and you’ll spend a good time jumping in and out of various independent clothing stores and vintage boutiques. Other options for alternative shopping experiences include Covent Garden, Boxpark, Spitalfields Market, and Carnaby Street.

Vintage

Always keep an eye out for vintage markets (especially those where you can pay by weight rather than per item), and we would recommend that you first get to know your local area for shopping. It is important that you learn early on how to budget accordingly when living in an expensive city like London, so get to know your local shop owners and supermarkets and you’ll soon find what you are looking for at a decent price.

London Underground

A great part of receiving a London education is that you’re always close to public transport links so you can easily get to your lectures or see the city. With the London underground you’ll be within easy reach of some of other main universities, such as University of Westminster, Imperial College London, University College London, Regent’s University of London, and Goldsmiths University.

There are transport links close to our student housing to destinations across the country from train stations like King’s Cross to make those all-important trips home that much easier. International students can make use of London’s six major airports or take a Eurostar journey.

Oyster Card

We would always recommend getting an Oyster card as soon as you arrive to your student accommodation in London and get used to travelling around London via Tube or Bus. It can be daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it you’ll absolutely fall in love with the best city on the planet.