London School Of Economics And Political Science Accommodation

LSE was founded in 1895 and has since specialised in the social sciences. Its departments cover economics, law, government, international relations, finance, management, sociology, geography, social policy, data science and related subjects.

The main campus occupies Houghton Street and the surrounding streets between Aldwych, Lincoln’s Inn Fields and the Royal Courts of Justice. The Old Building, Centre Building, Marshall Building, Saw Swee Hock Student Centre and Lionel Robbins Building all form part of the university estate.

The LSE Library, formerly the British Library of Political and Economic Science, holds a major international social science collection. It receives around 5,000 visits from students and staff on a typical day and gives access to extensive print and electronic resources.

The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre contains LSE Students’ Union facilities, study areas, cafés, a gym, exercise space, a student bar and a roof terrace. The compact campus means most course buildings remain close together even when a timetable uses several departments.

The university address is London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE

Use that postcode when checking private rooms. A listing measured from “central London” can look nearby while leaving a slower route to the actual campus.

Quick Facts about the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Who Can Book LSE Accommodation?

LSE guarantees a hall place to new first-year undergraduates and general course students who accept their offer and book by the published deadline. For 2026–27, that deadline was 9 June 2026. Bookings can continue afterwards when rooms remain.

New postgraduate students can apply through the LSE accommodation system, but the university does not guarantee them a room. LSE reserves some residences entirely for postgraduates and opens several mixed halls to both course levels.

The available hall groups include:

LSE halls primarily cater to LSE students, while University of London intercollegiate halls also welcome students from other London colleges/institutions. Independently operated residences may include LSE rooms within larger and mixed-student accommodations.

For many first years, London School of Economics and Political Science accommodation means choosing between the social structure of an LSE hall, the mixed community of an intercollegiate residence and the greater independence of a private building.

LSE Students’ Union supports over 250 cultural, academic, political and interest societies, as well as more than 40 sports clubs. Every registered LSE learner automatically becomes a union member.

The Saw Swee Hock Student Centre houses union services, the Three Tuns bar, study spaces, a gym and event areas. Many society activities take place inside the building or in teaching rooms around campus.

LSE’s public-event programme brings academics, policymakers, writers and political figures to campus throughout the year. Many events remain free, although popular lectures can require advance booking.

Covent Garden, Somerset House, the South Bank and the West End all lie within walking distance. Central access can lower entertainment spending when students use public talks, museums and university events in place of costly nights out.

Sports clubs use campus gyms, nearby courts and LSE’s outdoor sports ground in New Malden. The trip to New Malden takes more planning than an on-campus session, particularly for early fixtures.

Holborn and Covent Garden

• Holborn gives Houghton Street its shortest route. The campus, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the Royal Courts of Justice, Covent Garden and several Underground stations occupy the same compact district.

• High Holborn Residence is approximately 11 minutes away from campus on foot. Grosvenor House is around 0.2 miles away, as shown on the current private-accommodation page.

• A local address can remove almost every weekday travel payment. It also helps when society events, library sessions or group meetings continue into the evening.

• The rent presents the difficulty. High Holborn single rooms cost more than £370 per week for 2026–27. Private studios around Covent Garden begin much higher, with Grosvenor House currently listed from £650 per week.

• Street noise deserves attention. Kingsway, High Holborn and the Covent Garden theatre district remain active after working hours. Ask where the window faces and inspect the route after dark.

Bloomsbury

• Bloomsbury places LSE inside the wider University of London quarter. The British Museum, Senate House, Russell Square and several intercollegiate halls remain nearby.

• Passfield Hall occupies Endsleigh Place and gives campus a walk of roughly 23 minutes. College Hall and International Hall also operate within this academic district.

• The area works well for anyone who wants a central address without paying Covent Garden studio rates. Shared rooms in Passfield can cost considerably less than a private en-suite farther away.

• Private residences cost more. Currently, Janet Poole House in Bloomsbury starts at £376 per week, while available private rooms or studios at Scape Bloomsbury start at around £691. 

• Bloomsbury becomes particularly useful for library access and academic events. The walk to LSE remains manageable, and several buses travel towards Holborn and Aldwych.

Waterloo and the South Bank

• Waterloo provides a direct walk to LSE across Waterloo Bridge. The route places the National Theatre, Southbank Centre, Lower Marsh and the River Thames between home and campus.

• The most westerly Westminster Bridge lies farther west and takes approximately 25 minutes to reach from LSE on foot. Bankside House requires a similar walk from the eastern side of the South Bank.

• This area combines university halls with private residences. Chapter South Bank currently begins at £454 per week, while Manna Ash House begins at £340.

• The route can feel longer in winter wind or heavy rain. A direct bus provides a useful backup, although traffic around Waterloo and Aldwych can slow the journey.

• Waterloo also helps with part-time work and rail travel. National Rail services leave for southwest London and southern England without an additional Underground trip.

Bankside and Borough

• Bankside House stands close to Tate Modern and the river. LSE estimates a 27-minute walk to Houghton Street, a 13-minute cycle or around 24 minutes by public transport.

• The hall has one of LSE’s largest resident communities. Its 595 spaces include single rooms, en-suite singles and shared en-suite twins.

• Six evening meals and one brunch per week form part of the fee during term. That matters when comparing Bankside with a self-catered private room. The rent pays for more than the bedroom.

• Borough lies farther south and includes Sidney Webb House. Its 40-week en-suite rooms begin at £257.25 per week. The campus journey takes about 24 minutes by public transport or 45 minutes on foot.

• This part of London suits anyone who wants Borough Market, London Bridge and Southwark nearby. The journey to university needs more planning than a room around Holborn.

Clerkenwell and Farringdon

• Clerkenwell occupies the area east of Bloomsbury and north of the city. Rosebery Hall lies near Sadler’s Wells and takes approximately 27 minutes to reach from LSE on foot.

• The neighbourhood has cafés, restaurants, offices and quick access to Farringdon. It can work particularly well for postgraduate learners who want a quieter address than Covent Garden.

• A bus or bicycle often gives the easiest campus route. The Underground can add an unnecessary change for a relatively short distance.

• Private studios in this district remain expensive. Lower rents generally require a private bedroom with shared facilities or an address further towards Angel.

King’s Cross

• King’s Cross gives LSE access to the Piccadilly line, frequent buses and a walk of around 30 minutes from many residences.

• Scape King’s Cross currently begins at £679 per week for available studio categories. The area also includes Chapter King’s Cross and several conventional flat shares.

• The location helps anyone who travels regularly by National Rail or Eurostar. The British Library, Euston and St Pancras are also nearby.

• Do not pay a transport premium twice. A costly studio in King’s Cross still requires a daily journey, while a less expensive LSE hall in Bloomsbury may provide a shorter walk.

Angel and Islington

• Rosebery Hall gives the clearest LSE option around the Islington and Clerkenwell boundary. Angel station and several bus corridors connect the area with Holborn.

• The neighbourhood has supermarkets, cafés, theatres and restaurants along Upper Street. It feels more residential than the West End without placing the campus far away.

• Properties described as Islington can extend several miles north. Confirm the exact postcode before accepting a general journey estimate.

Camden and Fitzrovia

• Carr-Saunders Hall and Passfield Hall occupy the Fitzrovia and southern Euston side of this district. Both use 31-week contracts for 2026–27.

• Camden Town and Mornington Crescent add private houses, flats and managed rooms. The Northern Line reaches the central campus area through Tottenham Court Road or Leicester Square, followed by a walk.

• The extra distance can reduce the rent in a shared house. It usually doesn't reduce the cost of a new private studio by the same amount.

The lowest university rates belong to shared bedrooms. A private single room costs considerably more, even inside the same hall.

LSE Accommodation Rent and Contract Details (2026/27)

The figures come from LSE’s published 2026–27 room pages. Availability changes inside the booking portal.

What a 31-Week Contract Means

• Carr-Saunders and Passfield use term-time contracts. Residents move out during the winter and spring breaks, then return for the next term. They must also remove their belongings from the bedroom.

• This format can save several thousand pounds. It works best for someone who has somewhere practical to stay during both vacations.

• The saving becomes less convincing when flights, storage and temporary accommodation cost more than expected.

What a 38- to 41-Week Contract Means

• Bankside, High Holborn and Rosebery include the winter and spring breaks under 38-week agreements. Sidney Webb uses 40 weeks, and the most urbanist Westminster Bridge has a 39-week option for new LSE learners.

• These contracts suit most undergraduate academic calendars. They normally finish in June and exclude the summer.

When a 50- or 51-Week Contract Helps

• Postgraduate courses, internships and London employment can make a longer tenancy useful. Urbanest Westminster Bridge offers 50-week options, while many private properties use 51 weeks.

• The longer contract can add thousands to the annual rent. Calculate the total cost for the entire contract before assuming that the lower weekly price offers better value.

What Is Included in LSE Hall Rent?

The inclusions change between catered and self-catered buildings.

Passfield, Carr-Saunders, Rosebery and Bankside include six evening meals and one brunch each week during term. High Holborn includes five weekday breakfasts.

From 2026–27, residents in several LSE halls also receive one wash and one drying cycle for every contract week through a preloaded laundry balance. Extra cycles cost £2.80 for washing and £1.40 for drying.

Meal value needs a personal assessment A catered hall costs less in practice when you use the food regularly. Someone who rarely eats at the scheduled times gains little from the inclusion.

Weekly Student Budget Beyond Rent

LSE advises learners to plan for at least £1,550 per month for all living costs, including accommodation, food, transport, laundry, study expenses and personal spending. The actual amount changes sharply with the room contract.

The following table gives a practical weekly allowance outside rent:

Catered-hall residents should not add a full grocery budget on top of their rent. They will still need breakfast, lunch, drinks and food during periods when catering stops.

International student visa applicants studying in London currently need to show £1,529 per month for up to nine months, unless an exemption applies. The amount belongs to the visa process and does not describe a typical personal budget.

Triple Room

• A triple room places three people in one bedroom. Passfield Hall offers this format from £155.05 per resident each week.

• The room provides the lowest published Passfield price, but privacy becomes limited. Calls, alarms, guests, sleep and study routines require cooperation between three people.

• The room is approximately 31 square metres. Each resident receives a bed, desk, chair and storage.

Twin Room

• Twin rooms contain two beds and two study areas. The bathroom may be communal or shared privately between the two residents.

• Passfield, Rosebery, Bankside, Carr-Saunders, High Holborn and the urbanest Westminster Bridge all include twin categories. Prices start below £190 in some halls.

• The weekly figure applies to each occupant. A £200 twin therefore brings around £400 into the room each week.

• Examine the layout carefully. Some twin en suites have a conventional shared bedroom. The Carr-Saunders version uses two connected single rooms, with bathroom access through one bedroom.

Single Room with a Shared Bathroom

• This format gives one resident a private bedroom and places showers and toilets elsewhere in the corridor or flat.

• It provides more privacy than a twin without the en-suite premium. Passfield, Rosebery, Bankside, High Holborn and several intercollegiate halls use it.

• Ask how many people share each facility and whether the bathrooms are mixed or single-sex. The answer changes by hall and wing.

En-suite Room

• An en-suite room includes a private shower, toilet and washbasin.

• Bankside, High Holborn, Sidney Webb and the urbanest Westminster Bridge have en-suite categories. Most keep the kitchen communal.

• A private bathroom does not always mean a larger bedroom. Sidney Webb entry rooms measure around 10.2 to 12.1 square metres, even with a queen-size bed.

Studios

• A studio contains a private bathroom and kitchenette.

• Urbanest Westminster Bridge studios start from £450 per week for 50-week agreements. Sidney Webb Studios begins at £382.20 under a 40-week contract.

• Studios support quiet study and independent cooking. They also remove the everyday contact created by a shared kitchen.

Private Flat or House

• A conventional tenancy gives a household greater control over the address and the people sharing it.

• The rent may exclude electricity, gas, water and internet. Landlords can also request a UK guarantor or several months of rent in advance.

LSE operates a rent-guarantor scheme for eligible learners and qualifying properties. The scheme can help people who cannot provide a UK-based guarantor, subject to its rules.

Best for the Shortest Campus Walk: High Holborn

• High Holborn is about 0.5 kilometres from LSE and takes around 11 minutes to walk there. It is the closest main LSE hall.

• The hall uses flats of four or five bedrooms with shared kitchens. Most single rooms share bathrooms, while a small number have en-suites.

• A twin en-suite costs £218.40 per person each week. Single rooms cost substantially more, beginning at £373.10.

• The location earns its premium during late library sessions and early classes. Inside the building, the shared twin offers the best value.

Best Low-Cost Contract: Passfield Hall

• Passfield combines catered student accommodation in London with a 31-week tenancy. Triple rooms begin at £155.05, twins at £188.65 and single rooms at £272.30.

• The full rent for an entry-level triple room is still below £4,800. That figure undercuts most private London rooms by a large margin.

• The resident needs somewhere to go during both main vacations. This condition should decide the booking before the low price does.

Best for a Large Hall Community: Bankside House

• Bankside has 595 bed spaces, making it one of the largest LSE residences.

• The catered contract lasts 38 weeks. Twin en-suite rooms begin at £195.65, single shared-bathroom rooms cost £305.55, and private en-suite singles begin at £325.85.

• The location near Tate Modern and the Thames gives residents a distinct part of London outside the immediate university quarter.

• The campus walk reaches around 27 minutes. A bicycle can cut it to approximately 13 minutes.

Best for Clerkenwell: Rosebery Hall

• Rosebery lies near Sadler’s Wells and Angel. Its 337 spaces include singles, twins and twin en-suites.

• Twin rooms begin at £200.20. A single room costs between £291.90 and £310.45 according to the wing and category.

• Six dinners and one brunch form part of the term-time package. The 38-week agreement also covers both main vacations.

Best for Postgraduates Seeking an En-suite: Sidney Webb House

• Sidney Webb accepts undergraduate and postgraduate residents. Standard en-suites begin at £257.25 over 40 weeks.

• Flats contain six to eight bedrooms around a shared kitchen and dining area. The property lies near Borough Market and London Bridge.

• The room price remains competitive for a private bathroom. The longer route to Houghton Street forms the main compromise.

Best Central Self-Catered Option: Urbanest Westminster Bridge

• The most urban Westminster Bridge is located near Waterloo, Lambeth North and Westminster.

• Twin en-suites begin at £251.92 per person, while single rooms with shared bathrooms begin at £296.57 under the available contract structures. Studios cost above £450.

• The hall has an LSE-designated section and an on-site LSE warden. Kitchens include an oven, hob, fridge-freezer, microwave and dishwasher.

• The river crossing gives campus a 25-minute walk. Buses can reduce the journey to around 11 minutes.

London School of Economics and Political Science Student Accommodation (2026/27)

The closest current private listings start at around £340 per week, although the room type varies from one property to another.

The figures reflect presently displayed starting rates and can change with room availability and tenancy length.

Grosvenor House

• Grosvenor House has the shortest displayed distance from LSE. The property occupies Drury Lane between campus and Covent Garden.

• Its available rooms use self-contained studio layouts. The current starting rate of £650 over 51 weeks creates a full rent of £33,150.

• The address is well-connected, so you do not need most transport during the week. The annual price stands far above every LSE hall example in this guide.

Bloomsbury Janet Poole House

• Janet Poole House lies on Gower Street and currently begins at £376 per week.

• The residence includes private bedrooms and studios, with utility bills included under the listed contracts. A 51-week entry tenancy reaches £19,176.

• The route to LSE stays walkable. Compare the exact room with High Holborn before accepting the longer private contract.

Chapter South Bank

• Chapter South Bank currently begins at £454 per week and lies under a mile from the university in straight-line distance.

• The residence includes private rooms and studios under several contract lengths. Depending on the chosen path, the route either crosses or follows the river.

• A private property with communal facilities should be compared with Bankside House as well as central studios.

Manna Ash House

• Manna Ash House has the lowest displayed rate among the closest eight private buildings, at £340 per week.

• Its Southwark address means LSE is a short walk, bus or rail journey away. Current contracts include 44- and 50-week options.

A 50-week contract at the entry rate would cost £17,000. Passfield, Rosebery, Bankside and Sidney Webb all provide lower full rents under their standard academic-year agreements.

The strongest lower-cost options come from shared rooms in university halls.

A room advertised at £155 does not provide private space. A person who cannot share a bedroom should begin the comparison with Sidney Webb, Passfield singles, Rosebery singles and Bankside singles.

The 31-week contracts create the smallest totals. They transfer vacation housing and storage responsibilities to the resident.

LSE also operates an accommodation bursary scheme for eligible first-year learners. Applicants should review the funding rules alongside the room portal.

Holborn Station

• Holborn serves the Central and Piccadilly lines and takes approximately five to ten minutes to reach from the central campus.

• The Piccadilly line gives direct access to King’s Cross, Finsbury Park and Heathrow. The Central Line provides access to Bethnal Green, Stratford, Shepherd’s Bush and Ealing.

Temple Station

• The Temple station serves the District and Circle lines. The walk to Houghton Street climbs from the Embankment up towards Aldwych.

• The station works well for accommodation around Westminster, Victoria, Hammersmith and east London.

Waterloo

• Waterloo residents can walk across Waterloo Bridge or take a bus to Aldwych.

• The pedestrian route generally takes 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the residence. Strong wind and heavy rain make the exposed bridge less comfortable.

• Waterloo Station also gives National Rail access to southwest London and southern England.

Farringdon and Clerkenwell

• Farringdon provides Elizabeth Line, Thameslink, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan services.

• A bus or bicycle often completes the campus route more efficiently than another train. Walking takes roughly 25 to 35 minutes from most of Clerkenwell.

King’s Cross and Bloomsbury

• The Piccadilly line connects King’s Cross with Holborn. Direct buses also travel south to Aldwych.

• A person based in southern Bloomsbury may reach campus faster on foot than by entering two large stations.

Buses

• Kingsway, Aldwych, Fleet Street and The Strand carry numerous central London services.

• Buses serve Waterloo, Islington, Camden, Clerkenwell and Southwark. Traffic can make arrival times inconsistent, so leave an alternative for examinations and presentations.

Cycling

• LSE has bicycle parking around campus, and protected routes follow parts of the Embankment and central London.

• Cycling can shorten journeys from Bankside, Waterloo, Clerkenwell and Bloomsbury. Secure overnight storage at the residence remains essential.

Student Oyster Discounts

• Eligible full-time learners can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard. It reduces the cost of adult-rate travel cards and bus & tram pass season tickets by 30%.

• The concession does not reduce every pay-as-you-go fare by 30%. A resident who walks to LSE most days may spend less without buying a season ticket.

Airport and Rail Travel

• Holborn gives Heathrow a direct Piccadilly line route. The Elizabeth line can provide a faster option after a connection at Tottenham Court Road or another central station.

• Gatwick and Luton connect through Thameslink. Stansted services leave Liverpool Street, while London City Airport uses the DLR.

• King’s Cross, St Pancras, Euston, Waterloo and Charing Cross are all accessible from campus. Weekend engineering work can alter airport and intercity journeys.