Student Accommodation in Hatfield

Hatfield, located in Hertfordshire just 20 miles north of London, is a town with roots in aerospace history and home to the historic Hatfield House. Its modern identity is heavily defined by the University of Hertfordshire (UH), whose two main campuses are located there, making it feel distinctly like a university town during term time.

Hatfield is presented as a great destination for students due to several key factors:

• Affordability: It offers a significantly lower cost of living, especially for housing, compared to nearby London.
• Student Community: The large student population from UH creates a built-in social network and student-focused environment.
• University Facilities: Students have access to the extensive modern resources of the University of Hertfordshire.
• Excellent Transport Links: Frequent and fast train services connect Hatfield directly to London King's Cross/Moorgate (approx. 20-25 minutes), providing easy access to the capital's opportunities. Good road and local bus connections also exist.
• Local Amenities: The town includes The Galleria outlet shopping centre (with shops, restaurants, and a cinema) and leisure facilities.

Student life in Hatfield is largely centred around the University of Hertfordshire and its activities.

• Culture and Diversity: The University of Hertfordshire attracts a large and diverse student body, including a very significant number of international students (over 16,500 from non-EU countries reported in recent data) from over 140 countries. This creates a multicultural environment on campus, with events and societies reflecting this diversity. The university actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion.
   
• Student-Friendly Neighborhoods: Most student life revolves around the College Lane and de Havilland campuses. On-campus accommodation houses thousands of students, creating vibrant hubs. Off-campus housing is often sought in areas immediately surrounding the campuses or within easy reach by bus or walking, such as parts of South Hatfield or near the town centre. The focus is typically on convenience for accessing university facilities.
   
• Nightlife: Student nightlife primarily takes place on campus at venues run by the Hertfordshire Students' Union (Herts SU).
  • The Forum Hertfordshire: A large, dedicated entertainment venue on the College Lane campus hosting club nights, live music gigs (Ed Sheeran has played there!), and student events.
  • SU Bars/Pubs: Venues like The EleHouse, The Font, The Loft, and Seventy7 (names may vary over time) offer more casual pub/bar environments on campus.
  • Off-Campus: While there are pubs in Hatfield town centre and Old Hatfield, the main student nightlife is concentrated on campus. However, the easy train journey into London means students have access to one of the world's biggest nightlife scenes just 25 minutes away.
     
• Cafes, Libraries, and Student Hangout Spots:
  • On Campus: Multiple cafes (including chains like Starbucks, Subway, and university-run cafes like Café Ambition), SU shops, common rooms within halls of residence, and social learning spaces provide plenty of places to meet, eat, and study.
  • Libraries: The University's Learning Resource Centres (LRCs) on both campuses are the main academic hubs, offering extensive book collections, digital resources, computer access, group study areas, silent zones, and often cafes. They typically have long opening hours, including 24/7 access during key periods.
  • Off-Campus: The Galleria offers various chain restaurants and cafes. Some independent cafes and traditional pubs can be found in the town centre and Old Hatfield village.
     
• Student Population: The presence of the University of Hertfordshire, with over 34,000 students, means that students make up a very large proportion of the town's population, especially during academic terms. This significantly influences the local atmosphere, services, and economy.

Old Hatfield: Retains many historic buildings and is considered a nicer area.

Around the Station: Convenient for transport links to London.

Birchwood: Mentioned as a nice area to live.

The Ryde: Considered lovely and trying to disassociate and be more like Welwyn Garden City.

Hatfield House, Park & Gardens: A grand Jacobean stately home with beautiful gardens and historical significance (childhood home of Queen Elizabeth I). The Old Palace on the grounds is also worth exploring.

Mill Green Museum and Watermill: An 18th-century working watermill with a museum showcasing milling history.

The Galleria: A designer outlet shopping center built over the A1(M) motorway, with shops, restaurants, and a cinema.

Ellenbrook Fields: A large open grassland on the site of the former Hatfield Aerodrome, good for walks and cycling. It was also used for filming parts of "Saving Private Ryan" and "Band of Brothers".

Hatfield Beacon: A navigational device on the roof of the former London Aeroplane Club, a reminder of Hatfield's aviation history.

Statue of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland: Located near the University of Hertfordshire's College Lane campus, commemorating a key figure in British aviation.

Art and Design Gallery (University of Hertfordshire): Showcases contemporary art.

The Weston Auditorium (University of Hertfordshire): A performance venue hosting various events.

Student travel in Hatfield relies on a combination of trains and buses, primarily due to the presence of the University of Hertfordshire campuses. Here's a breakdown:

Train: Hatfield (Herts) Station: Located on the Great North Road (AL9 5AB), this station has regular services to London King's Cross (approximately 25 minutes) and other destinations like Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, and Cambridge.

Bus: Uno Bus: This is the University of Hertfordshire's own bus company, offering discounted fares for students. You'll need your student ID card to purchase these tickets.

Book with House of Student and become a part of the largest global community of students accomodation with us. Know why students love us!

Safe Spaces, No Exceptions 
Student-only, fully vetted homes 

365 days, 24/7 genuine support 
Your concierge aka ivey.ai and our global team of real humans are there to help you.  
 
Lowest Prices, Best Deals Guaranteed 
No hidden costs or platform fee   
 
Thrive Inside Out 
Mental health & wellbeing support always available throughout your tenure.

Grow Anywhere 
More than 1 million student rooms across 1000+ student cities 
Reserve now.  
 
Pay Later, Free Cancellations  
Change of mind? No questions asked cancellations within the specified period