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Hello to your new home in London

Hello to your new

home in London

Your guide to housing in London
London is a truly global city, bringing together cultures, ideas, and opportunities from around the world. With its rich history, diverse neighbourhoods, vibrant food scene, and outstanding career prospects, it offers an inspiring environment both inside and outside the classroom.
This guide should be read in conjunction with our blog regarding some of the best accommodation options based on what you are looking for here.

Before you start

What is different about UK housing for international students?

London offers a wide range of accommodation options for international students, but housing in the UK can feel quite different from the US or other countries. Understanding these differences early will help you make confident, informed decisions about where to live and what to expect.
Note: The prices shown are “all-inclusive”. They include resident support, utilities and access to shared facilities eg study spaces, social spaces, gym, cinema room, etc. For many that offer laundry rooms, the use of machines are paid for separately.
The resident support does not qualify as parental responsibility for students under 18, and our selected providers do not provide that service. Additionally, the prices shown are for 51-week leases (year-round), unless specified otherwise. Move-in dates will typically fall in late August to mid-September.

Key differences are

You don't live on campus
Most students live in private accommodation across the city rather than directly next to campus. If you choose a private provider catering exclusively for students, this means you enjoy safe, but independent living, with fellow students from a variety of London universities.
Commuting via public transport is the norm
In London, travelling to university is part of daily life, across the underground “tube”, bus, and rail networks. The London Underground alone regularly carries around 3.7 to 4 million passenger journeys per day on weekdays.
Two-part experience

Students often get to know their campus area and then the area they live, rather than everything being centred in one place.

What are the accommodation types? 

Two main options for students include:

Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) which houses only students. ASU London has provided details of these providers. They have two room types:

En-suite rooms  

Private bedroom and bathroom, with shared kitchen and living space.

Studio rooms

Fully self-contained with private bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette.
“Find it yourself” private accommodation where you deal with a landlord or rental agency directly or you can go through the University of London Housing Services (ULHS).

What accommodation does ASU London offer?

Like most institutions in the UK, we don’t have our own accommodation building. So we have researched a number of the student accommodation providers-all-purpose built just for students (PBSA). ASU London students also get access to discounted pricing for a number of providers.
Got questions?  Our team will happily discuss these options with you and even connect you with ASU London students via our online events to get insights on neighbourhoods, lifestyle, rooms, and the commute.

London dedicated student housing providers 

We work closely with trusted and well-established student accommodation providers across London. These options offer secure, professionally-managed living spaces with large student communities.

Because our campus is located in Clerkenwell in central London with excellent transport links, you’ll have flexibility in where you choose to live, whether that’s close to campus or in another neighbourhood that suits your lifestyle. Note suburbs or neighbourhoods are called boroughs in London.

Below are some recommended accommodation providers to choose from, each has something different to offer. We highly recommend visiting each of their sites, looking at their virtual tours and reading their reviews to see which would suit you best.

How did we evaluate international student housing providers? 

We’ve toured and reviewed a number of providers including all the ones listed here. Read our blog regarding some of the best accommodation options based on what you are looking for here.
All shortlisted properties were visited and evaluated using the following criteria:  
  • Price
  • Onsite facilities
  • Travel time to campus
  • Local area amenities
  • Student reviews (StudentCrowd)
  • Value of commercial offer (discounts/reserved rooms)
What we looked for: 
  • Safe, reputable PBSA providers
  • Onsite resident teams
  • Community programming & events
  • Secure buildings
  • Membership in ANUK National Code (sector quality standard)
Your closest to campus option: IQ City
Busy and in the thick of it all.  Modern, central London living with cafés, culture, and campus right on your doorstep. 
Location
Clerkenwell
Travel
~5-minute walk
ASU London preferred rates
Yes
Private room with ensuite: £366.71/week
Studio: £425/week
Community overview:
  • Large building
  • Strong shared spaces
  • 45 rooms reserved, ASU London discounted rates
Facilities:
  • On-site gym
  • Cinema room
  • Games room and karaoke room
  • Common lounges and social spaces
  • Private dining rooms
  • Dedicated study rooms / quiet study areas
  • Outdoor courtyard for relaxing or socializing
  • Modern bathrooms (screened showers)
Neighborhood vibe:
  • Clerkenwell area, not many green spaces
  • Shops, restaurants, lively but not chaotic
Your heritage option: Urbanest, Victoria
In the heart of exclusive, traditional London surrounded by culture, shops, cafes, green spaces, and the Royals (Buckingham Palace).
Location
Victoria
Travel
35–40 min train
ASU London preferred rates
No
Private room with ensuite: £424/week
Private room:  £345/week 
Studio: £531/week
Community:

• Boutique feel
• Mansion-style building

Facilities:

• High natural light in study spaces and shared living spaces
• Shared kitchens and dining areas
• Common rooms / lounges
• Study areas or quiet workspaces

Neighborhood:

• Prime and exclusive central London
• Many big shops and restaurants nearby
• Quieter area just off the main street
• Close to Buckingham Palace, St James’s Park, Westminster Abbey and Parliament
• Theatres such as Victoria Palace Theatre and Apollo Victoria Theatre

Your space option:  iQ Tufnell House
Spacious, quiet, leafy, relaxed, and residential with a classic North London feel.
Location
Tufnell Park, North London
Travel (Nearest Station: Tufnell Park)
35–40 min train
ASU London preferred rates
Yes
Private room with ensuite:  £307.77/week
Community:

• Large, American “campus-like” feel
• Lots of green space. Less in the way of shops in the surrounding area of Tufnell, but there is a big park and sports grounds next to the property.
• Building has a resident cat
• 15 rooms reserved, ASU London discounted rates

Facilities:

• Large modern property but slightly older pod bathrooms
• On-site gym / fitness centre
• Games room (often with pool, table tennis or similar)
• Common lounge / social spaces
• Dedicated study rooms or library
• Garden / BBQ area
• Communal kitchens (for en-suite rooms)
• Regular social events for residents

Neighborhood:

• Residential
• Adjacent park and sports grounds, including Hampstead Heath

Your inexpensive option: Unite Blithehale Court
Offers better value while keeping you in East London’s creative orbit in an up-and-coming East London area.
Location
Bethnal Green, East London
Travel (Nearest Station: Bethnal Green)
30 min train
ASU London preferred rates
No
Private room with ensuite: £279/week
Rooms available:

• Private ensuite rooms, private bathroom with shared kitchen/lounge
• Studios. private bathroom and kitchenette

Community:

• Smaller building
• More traditional halls experience

Facilities:

• Study area / quiet study room
• Common room with sofas and TV
• Games area (pool, table football, ping-pong)
• Outdoor courtyard with picnic tables and a large chess set
• Shared kitchens and lounges for en-suite flats

Neighborhood:

• Bethnal Green, residential, improving area, young and edgy.
• Still centrally located and not too far from green spaces. 10mins walk to Victoria Park

Your modern option: Unite Stratford One
For those who prefer modern, high-rise areas vs heritage. New area built for the 2012 Olympics, big shopping, big student energy with 1000 students.
Location
Stratford
Travel (Nearest Station: Stratford)
35–40 min train
ASU London preferred rates
No
Private room with ensuite: £308 (51 wk) / £313 (40 wk)
Community:

• Very large, high-rise building
• Lots of other university students
• Modern

Facilities:

• Games lounge with pool table, ping pong, table football, and arcade games
• Cinema room and karaoke room and entertainment lounge
• Gym
• Common room / social lounge for relaxing and meeting other residents
• Bookable sky lounge with panoramic views of London Stadium and Olympic Park
• Multiple rooftop terraces with views of the Olympic Park
• Large internal courtyard for outdoor gatherings
• Outdoor social spaces

Neighborhood:

• Stratford (major transport hub)
• Across the street from Westfield Shopping Centre
• Close to West Ham Football Stadium & Olympic Park

Your beautiful riverside option: Fresh Spring Mews
Modern riverside neighbourhood with new apartments, restaurants, cultural venues and good for walks along the Thames with gorgeous views.
Location
Vauxhall (Near the River Thames)
Travel (Nearest Station: Stratford)
40 min train
ASU London preferred rates
Yes
Private room with ensuite: £330–£351/week
Studio: £485–£532/week
Community:

• Modern and pretty but still with heritage
• Large property has generous amenities

Facilities:
  • Indoor swimming pool exclusively for residents
  • Fully equipped on-site gym with weights and training equipment
  • Dance / fitness studio for classes or exercise sessions
  • Large communal lounge / social hub
  • Cinema room for movie nights
  • Games area with pool table, table tennis, shuffleboard and table football
  • Gaming stations with consoles such as Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation
  • A unique Tube-carriage themed study/social space
  • Private dining room for group meals or events
Neighborhood:

• Vauxhall, central, well-connected riverside district
• 1 minute from the Thames and views of Big Ben and London Eye

This property also accepts students who are 17 years old, so if you are an international
student under 18 this a great option for you.

Want more? Here are other options:

We visited several other options, all of which met our criteria and are centrally located. Here is a summary of alternative options for international student accommodation:
Property
Rent per week*
Room Type(s)
Commute Time
East Central House

Unite East Central House

 (Old Street)

From £381
En Suite
10 mins (walk)
iQ Hoxton

IQ Hoxton

£379.64
Studio 
15 mins (bus)
Hayloft Point

Unite Hayloft Point

(Aldgate)

From £449
En Suite
20 mins (train)
King’s Cross

Urbanest Kings Cross

£444
£594
En Suite
Studio
35 mins (train)
*Current pricing for 2026/2027. Check with your preferred provider for latest pricing.

Which area suits my vibe?

Not sure which option will suit you best? Check out our table below to see what we think of each of the locations in London.

Area

Best for

Social scene

Green space

Commute ease

Overall vibe

Clerkenwell

Walking to campus

Strong

Limited

Excellent

Central & energetic

Vauxhall

Lifestyle amenities

Moderate

Riverside

Good

Modern & scenic

Tufnell Park

Calm & greenery

Moderate

Excellent

Moderate

Residential

Stratford

Retail & connectivity

Strong

Olympic Park

Excellent

Big & modern

Victoria

Landmarks & prestige

Moderate

Hyde Park

Excellent

Elegant

Old Street

Nightlife & tech

Very strong

Limited

Excellent

Creative

Aldgate

Food & East London culture

Strong

Limited

Excellent

Urban & diverse

Bethnal Green

Budget & park life

Moderate

Excellent

Good

Relaxed

Hoxton

Youth culture

Very strong

Limited

Good

Trend-driven

King’s Cross

Transport mobility

Moderate

Canal walks

Excellent

Well-connected

Still not sure? Read our blog written by a local London expert to see her thoughts on all the accommodation options and locations.

Read Locations Guide
Please note:
  • ASU London visited the providers listed and has checked them to make sure they meet student standards.  
  • Any contractual agreements will be made directly with the provider – not with ASU London. ASU London is not involved in these agreements and is not responsible for them.  
Download our printable map

Next steps for your accommodation? 

Next steps for

your accommodation?

Start your research 
Start your research  mobile
Start your research 
Once you accept your offer, you’ll receive guidance from our team, including recommended providers, listed below and what to consider when choosing where to live in London.
Explore your options 
Explore your options mobile
Explore your options 

We’ll help you understand different housing choices so you can compare locations, commutes, and budgets. We’ll provide you the contacts for you to connect directly with the provider of your choice. 

Connect with fellow students 
Connect with fellow students 
Connect with fellow students 
Want to connect with fellow ASU London international students and see who else is looking at accommodation options?  Ask your enrolment advisor for access to one of private groups for our 2026 intake. 

Accommodation FAQs

Do you have any ASU London Accommodation?

Like many higher education institutions in London, ASU London does not own and operate its own student accommodation, however we have recommended providers, for purpose-built student accommodation in London.

As soon as you accept your offer, we would recommend you start looking for your student accommodation options, some providers have ‘early bird’ rates, so you can save by booking early. Contact your enrolment advisor for the ASU London discount codes for bookings.

Yes, the accommodation providers we have listed above will endeavour to house ASU London students together. When booking, let them know you are an ASU London student
Most bills are included with the weekly rent, however, check the specifics with your chosen provider.
Some of the providers listed have special arrangements for students who are under 18 at the start of their course, check directly with the providers on what you need to do.
ASU Welcome Week starts on the 21st of September 2026, we would expect you to arrive the week before to get settled in.

Of course. If you need help finding your own apartment or share-house, the University of London Housing Services provides free advice on everything from landlord disputes to housing rights. Find out more

Yes. Our enrolment advisors can walk you through your options, explain neighborhood differences, help you compare commute times and costs, and answer questions about contracts or room types.
Absolutely. The student residences we recommend are professionally managed, offer secure entry, and typically include onsite staff and 24/7 support. These are the same providers used by universities across the UK and are designed specifically for student safety and wellbeing.
Our campus is located in central London with excellent transport links. Most students live within a short bus or Tube ride, or choose neighbourhoods slightly farther out that offer great value and quick commutes.
You’ll submit your application directly to the accommodation provider you choose with access to preferred pricing discount codes from your ASU London enrolment advisor. 

As a full time student, you’ll not be required to pay council tax. You’ll be able to apply for this once you are fully enrolled as a ASU London student. For this you’ll need a letter of proof that you are a student which we’ll be happy to provide upon request, after you have enrolled.