Finding student accommodation in London can feel overwhelming, especially for international students moving to the UK for the first time. We’ve travelled throughout London to provide our “best of” housing options. Here are the reviews from the ASU London team including ones that offer preferred rates for ASU London students.
Unlike many U.S. universities, London does not operate as a traditional campus city. Students typically live in one neighbourhood and commute to their university by Tube, bus, or train.
This guide reviews popular student-only housing options for ASU London students, including:
- Accommodation near campus
- Areas popular with international students
- Safe and secure housing with excellent and clean facilities
- Variations in commute times and lifestyle considerations
Our goal is to help you choose the London neighbourhood and accommodation type that best fits your lifestyle and budget.
Remember, our article reviews dedicated, student-only accommodation (if you want a private rental agreement or shared space contact University of London Housing Services (ULHS) and to be clear we haven’t seen every single option available or else it would take months to review! We have specifically reviewed options with student (and parents!) criteria in mind:
- Is the accommodation safe and secure?
- Is it clean and well-maintained?
- Is it in a location that has everything at your doorstep – ie cafes, shopping, supermarkets, nightlife, libraries, museums?
- Is it in a nice location?
- Are there parks and greenery and quiet spaces for relaxing nearby?
- Does the facility or area have fitness options?
- Are the rooms somewhere you could easily live in?
Important Disclaimer
ASU London does not own, manage, or control any of the accommodation providers listed below.
The properties featured in this guide have been visited and reviewed by ASU London representatives, but the university accepts no legal responsibility for bookings, contracts, tenancy agreements, or services provided by third-party accommodation providers.
Students and families should conduct their own due diligence before signing any housing agreement.
The ASU London accommodation: “top 5: best of” list.
Every student is different with different tastes, so these are not in order.
Fresh Spring Mews – Vauxhall
For modern riverside student living a bit away from the hustle and bustle
Our review: Lovely rooms, great facilities, good transport links, live by the Thames. See Big Ben when you walk down the street. If you want some peace and quiet but still be in the heart of London, this is a great spot. Modern building, feels more residential than inner-city life.
Commute: ~40 minutes
Google Reviews: ~4.2 / 5
Neighbourhood: Vauxhall / Battersea
Why students choose it
Pros:
- Pool, gym, games areas, and modern amenities
- Discounted ASU pricing
- Lovely riverside location along the Thames and close to parks
- Larger rooms for the price
Cons:
- Longer commute to campus
- Slightly quieter weekday atmosphere
Area spotlight: Vauxhall, Battersea & the South Bank
Vauxhall offers riverside London living. Step outside and you can walk along the Thames toward Westminster, passing the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. Across the river, Battersea Power Station has transformed into a social hub filled with restaurants, shopping, and rooftop bars. You’re also one short train stop from Victoria, unlocking fast access to Oxford Street, King’s Road in Chelsea, and the West End. The area feels slightly more grown-up and residential, but it balances that with easy access to some of London’s most iconic landmarks.
What to do:
- Riverside runs
- Battersea nightlife
- South Bank events
- Weekend brunch culture
iQ City – Clerkenwell
Closest to campus and in the hustle and bustle of East London
Our review: Super close to campus within a 5-to-8-minute walk. Good facilities and very good transport links. If you want cafes, bars, restaurants, nightlife, this is a perfect location. Very centrally located, modern building and many fellow students with lots of student housing options in the area.
Commute: 5-minute walk
Google Reviews: ~4.1 / 5
Vibe: Inner city
Why students choose it?
Pros:
- Closest major student residence to ASU London
- Modern facilities including gym, cinema and study rooms
- Preferential ASU student rates
- Surrounded by cafés and restaurants
Cons:
- Large building environment
- No large green spaces or parks close by
- Typical central London city noise
Area spotlight: Clerkenwell & Farringdon
Living in Clerkenwell places you in one of London’s most central East London neighbourhoods. Located close to vibrant districts like Old Street, Shoreditch and Hoxton you are surrounded by food, nightlife and entertainment options. Exmouth Market becomes your weekday coffee run, while weekends might mean wandering to Shoreditch for street markets or rooftop bars. This is London at its most energetic, ideal if you want to feel fully immersed in the city from day one.
What to do
- Rooftop bars in Shoreditch
- Theatre nights in the West End
- Market lunches at Exmouth Market
- Easy nightlife access without long commutes
Urbanest Victoria Victoria student accommodation, London – book for 26/27
Beautiful, boutique, classic London setting
Our review: Surrounded by all the icons of London, Buckingham Palace, beautiful green parks, you may be lucky to catch the King’s Horse Parade on a walk up to London’s best shopping street, Oxford Street. Beautiful, historic building, though with slightly smaller rooms but high ceilings this is very lovely accommodation where the kitchen is cleaned for you. This place is surrounded by so many things to do, the building doesn’t need anything to entertain, so facilities are not many.
Commute: 35–40 minutes
Google Reviews: ~4.3/5
Vibe: Elegant & prestigious
Why students choose it?
Pros
- Mansion-style, period architecture
- Walk to Buckingham Palace
- Smaller community feel
Cons
- No gym onsite
- Smaller facilities
Area spotlight: Victoria and Westminster.
Victoria is as central as it gets. You can walk to Buckingham Palace, St James’s Park, and Westminster in minutes. Hyde Park is nearby for weekend walks or summer picnics. Oxford Street is just a short Tube ride away for shopping, and King’s Road in Chelsea is easily accessible for cafés and boutique browsing. The West End theatre district is also close, making spontaneous show nights very realistic. Living here means ticking off major London landmarks simply by walking home.
What to do
- Hyde Park, Green Park, St James Park picnics
- West End musicals
- Chelsea café culture
- Oxford Street shopping
Elegant mansion-style residence
- Walk to Buckingham Palace
- Smaller community environment
iQ Tufnell House – Tufnell Park
Best for green space, modern facilities in a traditional London residential neighbourhood
Our review: This option is more typical of a big U.S campus. It offers a quieter student living experience while keeping you connected to central London, though it is further away. Located in the residential area of Tufnell Park, the building combines modern student facilities with access to some of London’s best green spaces in Hampstead Heath (home to many of the UK’s best known tv and movie stars).
Commute: 35–40 minutes
Google Reviews: ~3.9/5
Vibe: Residential, relaxed
Why students choose it?
Pros
- Near Hampstead Heath
- Quieter environment though still many cafes, restaurants and pubs
- More traditional student feel
Cons
- Older bathroom pods
- Less central buzz
Area spotlight: North London
Tufnell Park gives you something rare in London: breathing room. Hampstead Heath, one of the city’s most famous parks, is nearby, offering skyline views from Parliament Hill and swimming ponds in summer. Camden is a short bus ride away for markets and music culture. This area feels more traditionally “London residential”, less tourist-heavy, more local. You trade some central buzz for calmer streets, independent cafés, and weekend park life.
What to do
- Parliament Hill sunsets
- Camden nightlife
- Park study sessions
- Independent pubs
Unite Stratford One – Stratford
High rise modern building in a new area, best for connecting to a large student community
Our review: One of London’s redeveloped areas built for the 2012 Olympics, Stratford One offers students modern facilities in a large high rise building, green spaces (but not traditional parks) for exercising, a very large shopping mall and many international students in the area. The many amenities and more affordable pricing make this an attractive option.
Commute: 35–40 minutes
Google Reviews: ~4.0/5
Vibe: Big, energetic, modern
Why students choose it?
Pros
- Next to Westfield (huge retail hub)
- Olympic Park green space
- Strong transport links
Cons
- Very large building
- Commercial feel
Area spotlight: Stratford, East London
Stratford, developed for the Olympics in 2012, has become one of London’s fastest-evolving districts. Westfield Stratford City, one of Europe’s largest shopping centres, sits on your doorstep, meaning everything from Zara to Shake Shack is five minutes away. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park provides huge green space for running, cycling or relaxing between exams. You’re also well connected: the Central Line gets you to Oxford Circus quickly, while Hackney Wick’s creative nightlife scene is nearby. Stratford offers modern (but not quaint or historic) London, fast, connected, and practical.
What to do
- Olympic Park workouts
- Westfield food halls
- Hackney Wick clubs
- Fast Central Line access
Final advice for international students moving to London
All of the options meet our criteria, and for all we asked “would we stay here ourselves?” and the answer was yes. We do encourage you to do your own research, check out their social pages, their reviews, and their websites. Remember we are not responsible for your decision as these are 3rd party providers and we can only comment on what we saw on our tours.
Also note that complaints involving shared kitchens being dirty are often the fault of the fellow students, not the management as cleaning of your room, your private bathroom, and shared kitchens can be, in some locations, the responsibility of the students living there. Some providers offer cleaning services for a fee.
If you want to be connected to other ASU London international students to choose a location together, please ask your enrolment advisor about joining one of our online groups. And get in early and book your preferred provider by contacting them with the links we provided here (link to Accommodation – ASU London