London rent is the biggest single cost of studying there, and the numbers you find online are often years out of date. These figures come from the 207 London student properties on GoDorm in October 2026, so they're what rooms actually cost to book right now.
Weekly rent by room type
Each figure is the cheapest room of that type at each property, so it's the realistic starting price, not the premium penthouse. "Middle half" means half of all properties fall in that range.
| Room type | Typical (median) | Middle half | Cheapest we list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared room | £272 | £148–£326 | £98 |
| Private room, shared bathroom | £274 | £244–£336 | £170 |
| En-suite in a shared flat | £338 | £282–£406 | £121 |
| Studio | £412 | £376–£514 | £199 |
| Whole apartment | £487 | £401–£553 | £246 |
The cheapest rooms are usually further out or on shorter contracts with fewer rooms left, so treat them as the floor, not the norm.
What a full year costs
Student contracts in London are priced per week but run for most of the year. On GoDorm, 85 London properties offer 51-week contracts and 71 offer 44-week contracts.
| Room | 44 weeks | 51 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| En-suite at £338/week | £14,872 | £17,238 |
| Studio at £412/week | £18,128 | £21,012 |
A 44-week contract covers the academic year. A 51-week contract lets you stay over the summer, which matters if you plan to work, intern or simply don't want to move your things twice.
Bills are usually included
181 of the 207 London properties on GoDorm include bills in the weekly rent: electricity, water, heating and Wi-Fi. Most also include a gym, study rooms and 24-hour security. When you compare a student residence with a private flat share, add the cost of bills to the flat share before deciding which is cheaper.
Does being near your university cost more?
Less than you might think. Looking at the cheapest room in every property we measure distances for, the typical starting price near each university is within about £35 a week:
- Queen Mary University of London: £347
- King's College London: £375
- University of Westminster: £379
- Imperial College London: £380
- London School of Economics: £380
- University College London: £383
What changes more is the commute. A room 2 km from campus that you can walk to often costs less overall than a cheaper room that needs a Travelcard every week.
Other costs to plan for
- Deposit: many residences take a deposit or a booking fee upfront. The amount is shown on the property page wherever the property publishes it.
- Rent in advance: without a UK guarantor, properties usually ask for some rent upfront, sometimes the whole year. Ask before you reserve.
- Transport: an 18+ Student Oyster card gives you 30% off Travelcards and bus passes.
- Contents insurance: sometimes included in student residences; check before buying your own.
Ways to pay less
- Book early. The best-value rooms in each building go first. For a September start, start looking in February or March.
- Choose an en-suite over a studio. It saves about £75 a week at the median, around £3,800 over a 51-week contract.
- Look one or two Tube stops further out. Stratford, Wembley and Elephant & Castle have good-value buildings with fast links into the centre.
- Match the contract to your course. Don't pay for 51 weeks if you're going home for the summer.
Get exact prices
Prices change with availability, and the same building can have several price points for one room type. Browse London student rooms or tell us your university and budget, and a GoDorm housing expert will send you the exact prices for rooms that fit.