With over 400,000 students at 40 different institutions, London is brimming with other people just like you. The fast-paced, vibrant, bustling nature of the city means it is an incredible place to spend your time studying. If you’ve chosen to go to university in London then well done, you’ve made a great choice.
When you’re moving away from home, to a brand new city and possibly even to a brand new country, it’s super important to find your little slice to call home. We think a great student neighbourhood needs to feel cosy and local, with great options for shopping, eating and drinking coffee in easy walking distance. However, you’ve moved to the Big Smoke to be part of one of the most exciting cities in the world, so you also want to be able to easily jump on a train, bus, or even a boat and be right in the centre of the action.
Of course, it’s your studies that are going to be of the utmost importance, so being able to get to campus easily is going to be high on the list of priorities. With a busy schedule of lectures underway, seminars to attend, and a few late nights in the library clocked up, a good dose of green space is the perfect tonic and London, despite being a busy urban metropolis, is actually overflowing with parks, trees, outdoor swimming spots, hills, and trails.
With such a wide variety of areas to choose from, particularly if you’re not too familiar with the city just yet, picking which neighbourhood is right for you is going to be tricky. Luckily we’ve pulled together our expert knowledge, travelled north, east, south, and west to create this guide to the best neighbourhoods for student housing in London, just for you!
First up we head north to the vibrant and diverse neighbourhood of Finsbury Park. Connected to the city via the Victoria and the Piccadilly line you’ll be able to easily reach the centre and travel to the numerous study spots the city has to offer.
Finsbury Park, the namesake of this area, is a lovely green space that sits at the heart of the community. If you’re a music lover, then this spot could be for you as it hosts an array of massive gigs during the summer months. There’s a great café, pub, and independent restaurant culture locally. We can recommend The Old Dairy for classy pub-grub and regular comedy nights.
In recent years East London has firmly established itself highly on the list of cool neighbourhoods of London. Located near to Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End is a great option for students looking to combine their studies with plenty of socialising, contemporary culture and the odd bar or two. It is just 15 minutes on the underground into the hustle and bustle of one of the best shopping streets in the world: Oxford Street. Or, if laidback cool is more for you, then you’re only a short bus ride away from Shoreditch and Brick Lane.
As we head south of the river to Tooting, we find an up and coming area that’s popular with medical students studying at St George’s, University of London. Located towards the end of the Northern Line, Tooting is well connected to the city with travel times to central London taking approximately 30 minutes on the underground. With a 24 hour service on Fridays and Saturdays, you can quickly get home after a night on the town too! For something a little more local, we recommend sampling the neighbourhood's two indoor markets for a vibrant mix of fruit and veg, fabric shops, and independent eateries from around the globe. If you need a fresh air fix, then Tooting Bec Common and Lido (London’s largest outdoor swimming pool) should give you the break you’ll need from your busy student life.
West London is known for its luxury neighbourhoods which, unfortunately, tend to be a little out of the price range of your average student rental. However, step a bit further west, and you’ll find the cosy neighbourhood of Shepherd’s Bush, filled with old school London charm.
If you’ve secured a place at the University of West London, this could be an ideal base to easily travel to university on study days but still be able to explore the delights of the west of the city on your days off. We recommend heading to nearby Notting Hill and the famous Portobello Market to lose yourself in quirky, vintage finds. So we’ve travelled to each point on the compass, and we’ve found some great options. But what about an area that’s right in the centre of the action, a stone’s throw from major sights like Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, but also cosy, local and relaxed?
Our zone 1, central location is Pimlico and, call us biased if you want, we think it’s one of the best. Located just ever so slightly west of the city centre Pimlico is the ideal location to reach any of the city’s major universities. With great transport links, you can easily travel across the city via bus, underground or even the riverboat! In fact, it’s so close you could also walk or cycle if you’re feeling particularly perky. Imperial College London and Chelsea College of Arts are even closer, so if you’ve got a spot at either of those, then Pimlico is absolutely your top destination.
Located that close to all the action you might be surprised that actually, nestled next to the river Thames, Pimlico is a lovely leafy pocket. Once you’ve established yourself as a local, you’ll be right at home at the gloriously retro Regency Café, famed for its full English breakfast that’s cheap, cheerful, and downright delicious!
If Pimlico has crept up to the top of your neighbourhood list then check out the affordable, contemporary and luxe studio and one-bedroom apartments at Dolphin Square. You’ll get all the luxury of having your own space to study, a pantry kitchen and separate bathroom, whilst being part of a larger, diverse community of other students and professionals. And if the location alone wasn’t enough to sway you, did you know there’s also a private listed garden, a full-size pool, state of the art gym, ultra-luxurious Moroccan spa, and our delicious Bar & Grill right on-site?
Get in touch with us today about finding your new home in the best neighbourhood in London.