North London
Hampstead / Finchley Road
University College London is one of London’s most prestigious education institutions. In fact, it’s been ranked the second-best university in London and eighth in the world. It’s been home to some of the UK’s most brilliant and creative minds from David Attenborough to Christopher Nolan to Chris Martin.
And if you’re starting a course at UCL soon, you’re probably about to start searching for a place to live while you study.
UCL’s main campus is in Bloomsbury, where most students study. But it also has a separate medical campus in Hampstead and many institutes around the capital. If you’re moving to London for the first time, either from within the UK or abroad, finding student accommodation can be pretty daunting.
That’s why we’ve put together this complete guide to finding the best neighbourhood for student accommodation near UCL. It’ll guide you through the different university facilities in London and show you some of the best places to live while you study.
University College London has many historic and impressive buildings on the Bloomsbury campus.
If you’re moving to London for the first time, you’re not likely to know where University College London’s campuses are. Luckily, UCL main campus and buildings are located in Bloomsbury, central London, in the eclectic London borough of Camden.
The Cruciform Building is over 100 years old and previously functioned as University College Hospital. It is now UCL Medical School.
Throughout this guide, we will focus on student accommodation close to the main UCL campus in Bloomsbury and the Royal Free Hospital medical campus in Hampstead. We’re focusing on these two campuses as you’re likely to be based at the main campus with only occasional trips to other institutes or facilities.
Now that you’re up to speed with UCL locations, we can start digging into your accommodation options while you study. We’ve picked some of the best neighbourhoods for student accommodation for you to see.
There are few places better to live if you’re a student at UCL than in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury offers a range of affordable student accommodation right on the doorstep of the main UCL campus:
If you need to visit the Royal Free Hospital campus, it’s only 25 minutes on public transport or a 55-minute walk (if you enjoy a long walk taking in the sights).
The Bloomsbury district is one of London's best places to live for students. It’s close enough that you can easily walk or ride your bike to campus, plus shopping centres like Oxford Street and famous London landmarks are all close by. One of the best things about living in Bloomsbury as a student is that you’ll be a 1-2-minute walk from the British Library, giving you access to over 14 million books.
Bloomsbury also has fantastic transport links that mean you can quickly get around London. You have access to Russell Square, Holborn, Tottenham Court Road and Warren Street stations that provide easy ways to get anywhere in London. Plus, with King’s Cross / St. Pancras International just around the corner, you can get anywhere in the UK or Europe.
Euston is just a short walk from the main UCL campus and plenty of excellent transport links
Euston is another excellent location for affordable student accommodation near University College London as it’s just around the corner from Bloomsbury.
The Euston area has everything a student could need. Alongside being incredibly close to the UCL main campus, it’s got excellent transport links. London Euston, Euston Square and Warren Street tube stations are all within walking distance, so you can get anywhere in London easily. Plus, being close to King’s Cross and St Pancras stations makes it one of the best-connected parts of London with easy links to other parts of the UK and Europe.
The local area is a hub for all your needs, from supermarkets and bookshops to gyms and swimming pools. It’s also a thriving area for arts and culture, with plenty of events taking place. Plus, the British Library is only 5 minutes away.
Hamstead is a popular area for students with plenty of green spaces, independent shops and nightlife to explore.
If your course is likely to include time studying at the Royal Free Hospital campus, you might want to consider accommodation in Hampstead. Even if you don’t need to visit the Royal Free Hospital, it’s worth considering student accommodation in Hampstead.
Hampstead is a London neighbourhood best known for its vast green spaces and incredible views. Hampstead Heath, located on 790 acres of meadows with woods, is one the most popular parks in London. With its beautiful green areas and independent shops, living in Hampstead is ideal for students who might be looking for a quieter London experience with less hustle and bustle.
But just because it’s a slightly quieter area of London doesn’t mean it’s more tricky to get around. Hampstead is well-served by transport links with easy access to the Jubilee line at Finchley Road station and overground trains, buses and Thameslink services.
London has a lot to offer when you're looking for student accommodation, and with outstanding public transport available, you don’t need to be on UCL’s doorstep to get to your lectures on time. If you’re considering other locations in London, we’ve put together some of the best areas that are a little further away from UCL.
Pimlico is in the City of Westminster and has excellent transport links to University College London campuses and institutions around London.
West Kensington is an increasingly popular location with students at London universities as it has plenty to offer students and quick transport links to UCL.
Earls Court is a fantastic choice for more affordable student accommodation near the heart of London.
Ready to find your student accommodation near UCL?
We hope that this guide has helped you narrow down your search for student accommodation near University College London. If you’re still not entirely sure, get in touch with us today, and we’ll do everything we can to help.
Before you can sign on the dotted line for your university accommodation, you’ll need to work out a realistic budget and organise some viewings. Take your time with your search so that you can ensure you’ll find the best student accommodation for you.
Student.Studios2Let offers fully-furnished private student accommodation across London, including neighbourhoods close to UCL. We make it easy for you with all-inclusive studio apartments that are usually only a few minutes' walk from campus. If there’s anything else we can help out with, just let us know – our team loves helping students find an affordable place near their university in this great city of ours.
