Finding the perfect student accommodation for September 2021

Moving to London to start your university degree is a seminal time in a young person’s life, whether you’re moving for the first time or you’re already familiar with the city, accommodation is the next biggest decision, after choosing the initial degree course.

London is a diverse, dynamic metropolis offering unlimited culture, attractions and nightlife but it can also be daunting. So, ask yourself some questions: do you want to share a flat or house or live alone? Do you want to be within five minutes of your university or prefer a commute? If you’re new to London, it’s worth coming to walk around the area surrounding your university, so you get an idea of how far it is to the nearest tube station or bus stop. You will also feel more confident if you’ve recced the surrounding streets and blocks so you can recognise names on a map when looking at potential accommodation online. Also, you’ll learn that somewhere you thought you had to jump on the tube to get to, is just a few minutes’ walk away, passing major sights you’ll be glad you spotted.

Another major question is does the rental need to be furnished? This brings us neatly to student furniture packs. Many companies package up the basic elements from beds to mattresses, wardrobes and those all-important desks. Hudsons works with Space Consultancy to create an on-trend selection of furniture. Their Tier 1 pack costs £1,950 (excluding VAT) and combines all the essentials from a three-seater sofa and dining table to a bed and chest of drawers. Extras such as curtains can be added, plus it’s worth researching companies offering student discounts such as Dunelm, who are offering 10% discount when you spend over £40 or more with your student card / UCAS acceptance letter this September.

You want someone who knows the area and can use their knowledge and expertise to find the perfect accommodation. Hudsons will assign an agent who’ll hold your hand throughout the whole process, from sourcing the best places for you to live, to advising on what’s needed financially and legally. We’ll also check on you once you’ve moved to make sure you’ve settled in and run through any questions that may arise. Most of our properties have video tours so you can start the tour virtually if necessary.

Hudsons has properties across central London, specialising in Bloomsbury, Marylebone, Mayfair, Covent Garden and Fitzrovia. Our team know the streets of our ‘patch’ like the back of our hands, and we love to help people make choices based on this accumulated knowledge.

Here’s a selection of our current rentals suitable for students.

Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia £695 pw (£3,012 pcm)

This light and airy one-bedroom period property with warm wooden floors and high spec furniture on the corner of Charlotte and Tottenham Streets offers space to relax and study in the lovely dual-aspect living space. You’ll be a short stroll from the UCL Bloomsbury campus, Bloomsbury is a neighbourhood with a literary past, writers from Virginia Wolf to Oscar Wild lived in its Georgian squares, and it’s also home to the British Museum, one of the oldest and best museums in the world.

Eastcastle Street, Fitzrovia £500 pw (£2,167 pcm)

Enjoy the sense of space in this bright one-bedroom duplex flat in lively Fitzrovia, just north of Oxford Street in the heart of the West End. The handsome, historic portered mansion block belies the modern interior with light-filled living space complete with dining table and a desk by the wide bay window. The neat kitchen comes with a washing machine – so trips to the launderette – climb the stairs to a glamorous double bedroom with multiple wardrobes and a marble-lined en-suite bathroom.

Tavistock Street, Covent Garden £475 pw (£2,058 pcm)

If you’re studying close to Covent Garden, home to the London Film School and University of the Arts Central St Martin’s, also near to UCL and LSE, you’ll enjoy living in this furnished one-bedroom flat steps from Covent Garden Piazza, lined with multiple restaurants, boutiques and street entertainers. Take inspiration from former resident Charles Dickens, among the high-spec wooden floors and streamlined open-plan living-kitchen space. Characterful fireplaces and period sash windows add charm.

For more properties in central London, expert advice and useful blogs see Hudsons Property