North London
Hampstead
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of moving away for university. Whether you’re leaving your hometown in the UK or travelling overseas to study, you’re in for an incredible experience.
Even more so if you’re moving to London for university. London is absolutely packed with opportunities to explore and learn with its hard-to-match cultural history. Whatever you’re into, London’s got you covered. Art? Check. Theatre? Check. Shopping? Nights out… you get the point.
But while there’s a tonne of stuff to look forward to when you move to London for uni, adjusting to a new city, new university, new accommodation, and new people can be a lot.
But don’t panic.
As the beloved London-based bear, Paddington said, “In London, everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in.” So you’ll feel at home in no time. But if you’re eager to settle in quickly, we’re here to help. We’ve put together eight of the best ways to make your student accommodation in London and the city itself feel like home and keep homesickness at bay.
Let’s get stuck in.
While you’ll be out and about a lot in London while you study, you’re going to spend a lot of time at your student accommodation. One of the best ways to make your accommodation feel like home is to personalise your living space.
Whether you’re living in a shared flat, halls room or private student accommodation, adding some personal touches to your space can go a long way to making it feel more like home.
Here are a few things you can do:
How you personalise your space is entirely up to you, but make sure you feel comfortable there.
Top tip: Be sure to check your accommodation agreement before personalising the space to see what you and cannot do. Some accommodation providers have rules about decorations, i.e. you can only use battery-powered fairy lights.
There’s nothing quite like a home-cooked meal, and it’s something that a lot of students miss from home when they’re studying (unsurprising considering a lot of students live on pasta, pot noodles and pizza).
Being away from home, especially when studying abroad, can be a challenging experience, and food is a great way to keep any pangs of homesickness at bay. There’s something about cooking comforting, familiar food that you’ve grown up eating that helps us feel more connected with home.
For that reason, it’s always good to have some of your favourite home comforts on hand. Whatever it is, just having it in the cupboard will make you feel more at ease, and when you decide to cook, your digs will smell like home. Plus, it’s a chance to connect with the other people in your accommodation – invite them over to try what you’re cooking up.
Top tip: If you can’t find the ingredients or products you’re looking for, look around for international and specialist shops. London is packed with different cultures, so you’re more than likely to find what you’re looking for (when you do, stock up!).
Speaking of connecting with the people you live with, getting to know your flatmates or other people in your building is a great way to feel more at home in London. Building a sense of community wherever you live makes you feel a lot more at ease and comfortable.
We won’t lie, at first, getting to know people might be a bit awkward, and it’s natural to feel a bit nervous. But the good news is that everyone is a bit nervous and wants to make the right impression. Just be yourself, and you’ll be fine!
Check to see if there are any mixer events to meet everyone. If there’s not, organise something yourself. It doesn’t need to be much, you could arrange a meet up in a local cafe, pub or restaurant or a game night in a common area. Once you’ve met a few times, you’ll be able to get out, explore and enjoy the city together
Top tip: If you’re moving into student accommodation in London, see if you can connect with others moving to the same place before moving day. That way, you’ll already have friends when you get your keys.
It’s a big decision to move to a new city on your own for university, and moving away from your family and friends can be tough. The good news is that there are so many ways for you to keep in touch and stay with everyone and connected with home.
One of the best things to do is to schedule regular catch-ups with your friends and family over Zoom or another video calling platform. Just by catching up for 10-15 minutes a week with your loved ones, you’ll be able to feel much more at home. Plus, they’ll love to hear about your adventures in London.
There are plenty of other ways to stay connected with home, too:
Whatever it is, find a way to stay connected with home, and you’ll feel more at ease in your new home.
Top tip: Before you go to uni, see if anyone you know lives in London. Maybe you’ve got friends or family already there or know someone that’s moving there to study. If so, try to meet up with them regularly.
One of the best ways to make a new city feel like home is to make new friends. Alongside getting to know the people you live with, it’s a good idea to try and meet people with similar interests or backgrounds. Luckily, universities have tonnes of societies designed for that exact purpose, and there’s something for everyone.
Just look at some of these university societies from around the UK:
Whatever you’re into, whether it’s sports, music, art…, you’re bound to find a society that suits you. Joining a society or team at uni can be a great way to meet new, like-minded people and start feeling more at home in London.
Top tip: If you can’t seem to find a society that suits your interests, look around London to see if there are any non-university groups.
(Before we get started, we know this one is a bit boring, but trust us, it helps.)
Moving to a new city for university means that your daily routine and lifestyle are going to be disrupted. While this offers you countless new opportunities and experiences, it can also cause anxiety and even depression.
When you move to London, try to find a new routine that works for you. You’ll need to adapt to London, but you can incorporate familiar elements into your routine, so it feels a bit more normal, and you’ll feel at home in no time.
It’s also a good idea to create a budget pretty quickly after you move. London is a very exciting place to live, but it can be expensive. By creating a budget, you can make sure you’re enjoying yourself within your financial means. The last thing you want to do is blow all your cash in the first week of term and be stuck at home for the rest of the semester!
Top tip: Leave some wiggle room in your budget for those spontaneous events. Check out our guide on creating a budget while you’re a student in London.
Finally, one of the best ways to make London feel like home is to get out and explore the city. See the sights, meet new people and make incredible memories. There’s so much to do in London that when you finish your course, you’ll still feel like you’ve barely scratched the surface.
You’ve probably already got a list of places you want to go when you’re in London, but if you’re looking for inspiration, here are a few things to check out:
Read our guide to some of the best things for students to do in London.
Top tip: Make sure to check if you can get a student discounts on anything you do in London. A lot of museums and galleries are free to enter, but it’s always worth checking before going.
Feeling homesick and struggling to adjust to a new environment is a common experience for many students, especially when studying abroad. If you're struggling to adjust, don't hesitate to reach out for support.
There are several charities in the UK that offer mental health support specifically for students. Some of the most well-known ones include:
Many universities in the UK also have their own mental health support services for students, so it's worth checking with your university to see what support is available to you.
London is an amazing city, but finding the perfect student accommodation can really make it feel like home sweet home. You’ll have a lot of accommodation options available when you choose to move to London, including private student accommodation.
Private student accommodation is definitely worth considering. You get your own private space – no more worrying about noisy roommates or sharing a bathroom. Plus, there are communal areas where you can chill with other students and make new friends.
But one of the best things about private student accommodation is the choice of locations. At StudentStudios2Let, we have accommodation options available in all of the student hubs in London, including:
So whether you want to be close to campus or in a specific area, we’ve got you covered.
We offer a range of accommodations at all of our buildings, so you’re bound to find student accommodation that suits your needs and budget and makes your feel right at home. All of our options include:
But that’s not all we do, we also do everything we can to help you settle in by putting guides together on all aspects of student life in London:
Find your new home in London by exploring our different student accommodation options today. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with the StudentStudios2Let team, and we’ll be more than happy to help however we can.
