Over 100,000 students from around 200 different countries come to London each year to study. Vibrant, eclectic and diverse, London’s student experience rivals any other worldwide city. However, finding student accommodation is not always so straightforward.
When looking for student accommodation in London, it is important to know what to look for. Regular viewers of Channel 4 daytime television may think it is all just about ‘Location, Location, Location’.
With there being over 40 different higher education institutions in London, as well as a number of foreign universities with London branches, many students will want to choose an accommodation located nearby to their chosen university. Other students, however, will be happy to rely on London’s Underground and public transport systems.
Choosing the Right Location for Students
Students may become stressed out if they may want to live in a particular part of London. A Chelsea supporter may want to check the distance from their accommodation to Stamford Bridge.
Likewise, a big music fan may be interested in the viability of travelling from their accommodation to the Brixton Academy or Village Underground. Someone interested in clothing markets may want to be close to Camden or Old Spitalfields.
Transport Convenience in London
Comprising 11 different lines, London Underground serves 270 stations. With Crossrail yet to be completed and the Northern Line due to be extended, Transport for London’s (TfL) tentacular reach is only growing.
Allowing a student to cross London in the time it takes to watch an episode of Game of Thrones, TfL means that – while important- the location of your student accommodation is not everything.
London’s Wonderful Nightlife
London’s nightlife is another factor that will be of interest to many prospective students searching for accommodation. With its own so-called ‘Night Czar’ dedicated to London’s more nocturnal activities, London definitely lives up to its reputation as a 24-hour city. From Leicester Square to Printworks, nightlife opportunities are another factor to consider when choosing your accommodation.
Although it is most certainly important, location is just one of a number of important factors to think about. Many prospective students, for example, may be perturbed by London’s expensive property prices.
Affordable Student Housing Plans
It is for this reason that Downing Students are a proud participant of the Government’s Affordable Student Housing Plan. Aware of the many different student requirements, Downing Students offers a range of different living options, even for those reliant on a maintenance loan.
Holbrook Student Halls in London
Residents at Holbrook student halls, for instance, can choose between a range of shared apartments or studio flats. Similarly located just a 20-minute tube journey away from Oxford Circus tube station, The Lyra is modern, urban, relaxing place to study and call home.
Perfect for those studying at King’s College, Atlas, in addition to a gym, offers a 32nd floor roof garden view of “The many-steepled London sky”. Marinus Studios, meanwhile, is a mere 10-minute walk from the River Thames.
Conclusion
W.E.B. Du Bois, the first African-American to earn a doctorate from Harvard and one of the founders of the NAACP, called university “the organ of that fine adjustment” which “forms the secret of civilisation”.
An essential aspect of the university experience, finding the right student accommodation could not be more important.
