The top 5 student areas in London

Discover the best places for student living in London as we explore what London has to offer. We’ll help you find the best student areas in London for your studies.

Ellie

4 minute read

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15 Aug 2024

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Studying

London is a top choice for thousands of students each year. With so many universities and colleges spread across the city, finding the perfect student neighbourhood in London is crucial. Whether you’re looking for a vibrant area close to campus or a more relaxed area with great amenities, London has something to offer. To help you find the perfect place to live for your studies, we’ll walk you through the top student areas in London and why students love them.

South Bank is an iconic and trendy area popular among students. Its location on the southern bank of the River Thames makes it a beautiful place to live, bursting with culture and a busy social scene. There're plenty of cafes, bars, and restaurants nearby.

South Bank is for sure one of the prettier places to live in London. There’re plenty of waterfront walks, street markets, and galleries to enjoy in your free time.

There’re several universities nearby, including King’s College London and London South Bank University, if you want to be close to campus. If your campus is further away, fear not! South Bank has plenty of excellent public transportation links. You’ll be close to Waterloo Station and have bus, train, and underground links to get around the city.

The average rent you can expect to pay per month in Southbank is:

• For a studio: £1,800 - £2,200
• For a one-bedroom apartment: £2,200 - £2,800
• For a private room: £900 - £1,200

King’s Cross is a London neighbourhood that has seen lots of redevelopment in recent years. It’s become a popular student area with beautiful, modern buildings and plenty of amenities. King’s Cross is centrally located and has plenty of shopping, dining, and socialising opportunities. Granary Square is a beautiful place to take a break between classes on the rare occasions you’ll have sunshine in London.

King’s Cross is a great mixture of historical landmarks and modern amenities. You’ll have incredible culture and great shopping options right on your doorstep.

There’s several universities near King’s Cross, including University College London (UCL) and Central St Martins. If your uni isn’t near King’s Cross, it’s no big deal, as this area has excellent public transport connections via King’s Cross St Pancras. You’ll find excellent rail and underground links here, as St Pancras is a major transport hub in London.

The average rent you can expect to pay per month in King’s Cross is:

• For a studio: £1,900 - £2,400
• For a one-bedroom apartment: £2,400 - £3,000
• For a private room: £1,000 - £1,300

Bloomsbury is a well-known academic area in central London. This area is known for its beautiful Georgian architecture and museums. It’s a historical part of central London where you’ll find many museums, galleries, and green spaces. Bloomsbury is home to Russell Square and Bloomsbury Square, where you can chill between classes.

Bloomsbury is one of the quieter spots in London, so there’s no major nightlife scene here. It’s ideal for academics and those who enjoy a more chilled social scene. You’ll find more cosy cocktail bars than nightclubs here.

In terms of location, Bloomsbury is ideal. It’s close to King’s Cross St Pancras, so you’ll have excellent public transport connections by rail, and the Russells Square Underground station is handy for the underground. The University College of London is nearby. Students of various unis looking for a quieter vibe will opt to live in Bloomsbury and use the excellent public transport connections to get to and from uni.

In terms of rent, the average rent you can expect to pay per month in Bloomsbury is:

• For a studio: £1,700 - £2,200
• For a one-bedroom apartment: £2,200 - £2,800
• For a private room: £950 - £1,200

Vauxhall has quickly become one of London's most popular student spots in recent years following the development of residential buildings and better infrastructure. It’s the best of both worlds in terms of what you can expect from student life in London. You’ll be able to enjoy a bit of peace by the Thames, but it’s also a pretty lively spot. There’re plenty of bars and restaurants around and some chilled cafés to study in.

If you prefer a quieter area, Vauxhall is probably not for you. It can get pretty loud with so many bars and funky nightclubs. Even as a popular party spot in London, Vauxhall is a safe place to live. It’s quite centrally located, so there’ll be a good police presence.

Vauxhall is just south of the River Thames, in a popular area of London. It’s also incredibly well connected with public transport. Living here, you’ll have underground, bus and rail connections right at hand, so getting to any university campus will be a breeze. There’re 9 universities placed along the Victoria line, which passes through here. You’ll be close to the University of the Arts London and London Metropolitan University if you live in Vauxhall.

In terms of rent, the average rent you can expect to pay per month in Vauxhall is:

• For a studio £1,600 - £2,000
• For a one-bedroom apartment: £2,000 - £2,600
• For a private room: £850 - £1,100

The Docklands area in London is known for its busy port, which contains a mixture of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. Its waterside location makes it an aesthetic place to live alongside the modern architecture of the buildings. It has plenty of residential buildings, shopping facilities, and markets. It’s a little bit further from the centre, but you’ll have a much easier time finding a place to live here than in other parts of London.

Canary Wharf, one of the major financial districts in London, is located in The Docklands. Within Canary Wharf alone, there’s a huge variety of entertainment options, so it’s a great place to live as a student as you’ll experience the best of London’s social scene.

The Docklands is a little outside central London, but fear not, as the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will keep you well connected to the rest of the city. The Jubilee Line services also help you make your way around. If you’re studying at the University of East London, you may even have classes in their Docklands campus to save you the journey.

In terms of rent, the average rent you can expect to pay per month in The Docklands is:

• For a studio: £1,500 - £1,900
• For a one-bedroom apartment: £1,900 - £2,500
• For a private room: £800 - £1,000

So there you have it—the top five areas to live as a student in London. Don’t be too worried if the rental prices seem too high; it’s absolutely possible to get by on a student budget in London with a few insider tips. Now that you know where to live, it’s time to find your perfect student accommodation in London.