London offers one of the best university experiences in the world. With a student population of over 400,000 (according to the London School of Economics), the UK capital hosts many of the country’s top universities, and many with exceptional global reputations. If you’re planning on studying here and are looking for the very best student accommodation London has to offer, look no further. The list below highlights many of the most exciting, stylish and convenient developments suitable for students across London. Whether you’re looking to buy or rent, there’s something for everyone.
Literally just a few minutes’ walk from the university itself, 190 Strand is an ideal King’s College London accommodation spot. This flagship development from St Edward offers a collection of three-bedroom apartments, suites and penthouses spread across six buildings that slope down towards the River Thames.
Fenman House is a collection of 51 one, two and three-bedroom apartments. With Camden Town on its doorstep and the university within an easy 20 minute walk / tube journey away, this development is ideal for new students at King’s College London.
Mount Anvil and Clarion Housing Group partnered to bring Lexicon – also known The Chronicle Tower – to the Islington borough, and its 115 metres and 36 storeys make it the area’s tallest. For LSE accommodation, it is appealing to students thanks to its great transport links and access to central London nightlife. You can be get from Angel to Temple Underground Station within 15 minutes, making for an easy commute to LSE.
Brewhouse Yard is near Clerkenwell Road, close to Farringdon, Barbican and Chancery Lane stations. Well served by excellent local pubs, bars and restaurants, this development is a 25-minute walk to LSE, or you can head down to Barbican and take the Underground to Temple within 15 minutes.
Mount Anvil’s The Landau is a stylish residential development of 90 apartments, including 26 duplexes, set in sought-after Fulham. This is an excellent Imperial College London accommodation option, as it’s an easy 15-minute journey door-to-door from the university via the District Line.
MyLo at Fulham Riverside is a collection of premium rental apartments. Pet friendly and with excellent access to nearby South Park, Imperial Park and Parsons Green, it offers a very attractive prospect for Imperial College London students. It’s a relaxed 20-minute direct cycle to the university with roughly the same time for a combined walk/tube journey.
Abell & Cleland is a Berkeley development comprising one, two, three and four-bed luxury apartments, plus a collection of three to four-bedroom duplex penthouses. The development is located in the heart of Westminster at the hub of London’s local and national transport network. This prime University of Westminster accommodation prospect offers plenty of transport options to the university, all well under 20 minutes.
Fizzy Poplar E14 is one of a number of popular rental developments from operator Fizzy Living. Near the much-loved Chrisp Street, this development comprises one, two and three-bedroom pet-friendly apartments. Getting to the university requires only a 20 minute journey on the Hammersmith and City Line.
High Point Village is a residential development from the Ballymore Group designed by Rolfe Judd. It comprises a selection of studio, one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments. This development offers excellent rail and main road transport links too, making it ideal for Brunel University students.
Near to High Point Village, Fizzy Hayes is a residential development of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. It also benefits from being right next to Hayes & Harlinton Station, and is just a short drive from London Heathrow Airport. The development also sits between two popular green spaces – Minet Country Park and Lake Farm.
Situated just a mile away from St Mary’s University Twickenham, accommodation options at Twickenham Gateway include one, two and three-bedroom homes. Residents enjoy easy access to Twickenham station with its variety of transport links. You can even cycle to St Mary’s within 5 minutes. In addition, there is a public plaza with shops close by, as well as a convenience store and a cafe.
Located in Ashford, West Plaza is a rental only residential development. With Ashford Station nearby, this development offers residents excellent rail connections, including an easy 3-stop journey to Fulwell Station, close to the university. In addition, the development is next to the Staines Reservoir, which is a part of the picturesque Stanwell Moor.
Clerkenwell Quarter is a highly convenient option for anyone looking for City University London accommodation. It’s barely a 20-minute walk from the university itself and only a 10-minute walk away from Barbican station, served by Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines.
There are 104 rental-only one, two and three-bedroom apartments at Dressage Court. The development offers easy access to Bethnal Green’s tube and rail stations, putting it within a 6-minute Underground journey of Angel, followed by a short walk to City University London. Accommodation offers excellent views towards the City and Canary Wharf.
This outstanding development is situated only one mile away from Goldsmiths University London. Accommodation options range across 300 homes with a mix of private and social housing apartments. Deptford and nearby New Cross are both thriving areas with excellent amenities and nightlife.
Just over the river from Deptford lies 10 George Street, rising 37 storeys above Canary Wharf’s new Wood Wharf district. The development comprises 327 apartments, which overlook waterside gardens and boardwalks below. In addition, residents have exclusive access to “Club Vertus.” This includes access to a 24/7 gym studio, self-service bar, private dining room, lounge and more.
Situated right next to the US Embassy, this stylish development is a short walk and 5-minute tube ride – or a direct 15-minute cycle – from London South Bank University. Accommodation options include luxury apartments designed by HAL Architects and Sir Terry Farrell CBE. The prime setting in the waterside Nine Elms district makes Embassy Gardens an exciting but relaxing environment for its residents.
Another Nine Elms District option, this development offers 648 rental homes comprising one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. The development is adjacent to Vauxhall Underground, bus and rail station, offering rapid access to Oxford Circus via the Victoria line and Waterloo Station.
Queen Mary’s Place is in a countryside setting, surrounded by the greenery of Richmond Park and Putney Heath, and close to Putney and East Putney stations. A collection of apartments and houses, the complex is neighboured by another well-known residential development – the Grade I-listed Roehampton House. It’s also right on the doorstep of the University of Roehampton, making it a breezy couple of minutes’ walk onto campus.
While this development is in neighbouring Wandsworth, it’s still a viable 20-minute cycle to the University of Roehampton. The development itself is a new, mixed-use property with commercial space available on the ground floor and 172 residential units above. L&Q are providing a wide selection of apartments, from one to three bedrooms. Southside Wandsworth shopping centre is moments away, as is Wandsworth Town train station.
The nearest stations to The Avenue – Queen’s Park and Kilburn – are less than a five-minute walk away. This allows residents to take a 15-minute ride via the Bakerloo Line to University College London. Accommodation at The Avenue is in the form of one, two and three-bedroom apartments located in Queen’s Park.
Situated right on top of Archway Underground station, Vantage Point offers a 10-minute tube ride to University College London. Accommodation in the 118 apartments all offer access to a 24-hour onsite team, a roof terrace, games room and exercise room. Check out the full development page to read the rave resident reviews.
190 Strand is a flagship development by St Edward, part of Berkley Group Holdings and designed by GRID Architects. It offers a collection of three-bedroom apartments, suites and penthouses, which are spread across six buildings that slope down towards the River Thames. It’s also an easy 1-stop tube ride to Russel Square, which is right next to Birkbeck University, or you you could take a more leisurely walk/cycle to uni.
Folio London at St James is a large development of flats, maisonettes and houses designed in the 1980s. These homes range from one to four bedrooms and are located close to the local amenities of Old Kent road, within in walking distance to Green Park and Charing Cross, making them for an easy commute to Birkbeck.
West End Gate is a Berkeley development comprising one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Situated just moments from the prestigious neighbourhoods of Marylebone, it’s only a few minutes’ walk from Embankment tube station, and from there it’s a short hop to Baker Street. Alternatively, directly biking to London Business School takes less than 5 minutes.
The Quarters Kilburn is conveniently located a short walk from Kilburn Park Underground Station, making for an easy commute to London Business School. There are 82 self-contained studios at The Quarters Kilburn, allowing residents to enjoy a secure, managed environment. This is created by the on-site Management Team, on-call maintenance, and also CCTV security.
The Mansion is a collection of luxury apartments in the heart of the capital, in between Mayfair and Marylebone. It benefits from easy walking/cycling access to the Royal Academy of Music, as well as the likes of Oxford Circus and Bond Street, not to mention top tourist attractions such as Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace. Bond Street and Oxford Circus tube stations are a three and eight-minute walk from the development.
Folio London at St James benefits from being a short walk from Green Park station, putting the Royal Academy of Music within easy striking distance. The development itself is a large development of flats, maisonettes and houses designed in the 1980s. These homes range from one to four bedrooms and are located close to the local amenities of Old Kent road.
Hopefully, this list will give you plenty to think about when planning your big move to the capital for an unforgettable academic adventure. If you already know which university you (or your child) plan to attend, then it’s always worth exploring their dedicated student support and advice services. Here, you can find all sorts of valuable information regarding housing options on and off-campus.
Despite inflation falling, the cost of living crisis is still biting hard across the UK, especially in London. In our guide to London’s living costs, you can see that it’s not cheap to live in the capital. However, there are ways to reduce your outgoings, get some immediate financial assistance and make student life in London an enjoyable prospect, not just a liveable one. The following are a couple of tips to consider before making the big move.
Student loans: Every London university will have a dedicated channel for providing its students with advice and guidance when it comes to loans. Get in contact with your new university well ahead of your start date, and see what they say about the loan amount, repayment terms and potential income-based assistance you can receive. Maximising the value and financial sense of your student loan is an essential part of making student life affordable.
Rent: If you’re not staying with friends or family, than a sizeable proportion of your monthly outgoings will be dedicated to rent. However, just because rent is expensive in London, that doesn’t mean you can’t make savings. When viewing rental properties, look for options that support students, such as the increasingly popular build-to-rent practice of including utilities as part of the overall monthly rent. Similarly, co-living options can really drive down rental costs, while offering a social, enjoyable student lifestyle.
Gig economy: Freelancing, “side hustles”, gig work, whatever you want to call it, highly targeted part-time work can be an invaluable way for students to make money and finance their academic studies. London is an ideal location for gig economy work, as it has a large, diverse population, excellent public transport networks and is plugged into the latest cultural and technological trends. Whether you’re a budding artist, cycle courier, aspiring actor or you simply want to put your skills to work, gigs can be a great way to fit in some paid work around your studies.
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