🎓 Student Accommodation
The best UK student accommodation sites, ranked from cheapest to most expensive. Each link opens the official site so you can search and book direct.
Cheapest first
Specialises in rooms in shared houses and flats, including rooms in HMOs. You can search by maximum weekly or monthly rent.
Best for: Students who want the cheapest room in a shared house and control over budget.
Visit SpareRoom →Deal directly with landlords rather than always going through a letting agent, which often keeps costs down.
Best for: Students who want to avoid agent fees and negotiate directly with landlords.
Visit OpenRent →Specifically aimed at student accommodation, including private accommodation and shared student houses.
Best for: Students who want a site built only for student lets.
Visit Accommodation for Students →Good for shared houses, rooms and cheaper properties outside the immediate university area.
Best for: Students happy to live slightly further out for a lower rent.
Visit Zoopla Student Accommodation →Very large number of properties, including shared student houses, individual rooms and private halls.
Best for: Students who want the biggest choice of listings in one place.
Visit Rightmove Student Accommodation →Particularly useful for students and international students, although compare prices carefully because it is not always the cheapest option.
Best for: International students or students moving between cities in Europe.
Visit HousingAnywhere →Mainly purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA / private student halls). These tend to be the most expensive option but come with more facilities.
Best for: Students who want private halls with bills included, gyms, and social spaces.
Visit Student.com →Quick tips
- Start with SpareRoom and OpenRent for the lowest rents.
- Filter by maximum rent so you only see rooms within your budget.
- Remember to check if bills are included, PBSA halls often include everything, while shared houses may not.
- Book viewings early; the best cheap rooms go quickly.
City by city
The best sites to use for each major UK student city, ranked from lowest price to highest price. Each button opens a direct search on that platform.
London
📍 Greater London
Zone 2–3 shared houses are the sweet spot for cheaper rent while staying central.
Manchester
📍 North West
Fallowfield and Withington are the classic student areas with plenty of rooms.
Birmingham
📍 West Midlands
Selly Oak and Digbeth have the best student prices and good transport links.
Leeds
📍 Yorkshire
Headingley and Hyde Park are packed with student houses and summer sublets.
Liverpool
📍 Merseyside
Smithdown Road and the city centre both have cheap rooms close to universities.
Glasgow
📍 Scotland
West End and Dennistoun are popular with students and generally cheaper than Edinburgh.
Edinburgh
📍 Scotland
Avoid August if possible, the Fringe pushes prices up sharply.
Bristol
📍 South West
Redland, Clifton and Fishponds are all student favourites with good bus links.
Newcastle
📍 North East
One of the cheapest student cities in England, Jesmond and Heaton are great areas.
Sheffield
📍 Yorkshire
Broomhill, Crookes and Ecclesall Road are student hubs with low rents.
Nottingham
📍 East Midlands
Lenton and Beeston have huge numbers of student houses and summer sublets.
Cardiff
📍 Wales
Cathays and Roath are within walking distance of the city centre and universities.
Brighton
📍 South East
Midweek rooms are much cheaper than weekends; start searching early for summer.
Belfast
📍 Northern Ireland
Queen's Quarter and the Lisburn Road are popular student areas with low rents.
York
📍 Yorkshire
Student housing is concentrated around Heslington and Fulford; book early.
Oxford
📍 South East
Rooms are expensive and scarce, start your search as soon as you have a course place.
Cambridge
📍 East Anglia
Many students live in neighbouring villages and cycle in; expect high demand in the city.
Leicester
📍 East Midlands
Clarendon Park and Knighton are favourites with students and close to campus.
Coventry
📍 West Midlands
Earlsdon and Canley are popular and affordable for both universities.
Southampton
📍 South East
Portswood and Highfield are the main student areas near the university.
Reading
📍 South East
Earley and the town centre have the most student rooms close to campus and the station.
Aberdeen
📍 Scotland
Old Aberdeen and the city centre are convenient for the university and nightlife.
Dundee
📍 Scotland
West End rooms are close to the university and are some of the cheapest in Scotland.
Need a hand finding a room? Email eventswecanhlp11@gmail.com or call 01733 305394.