Student Accommodation near School Of Advanced Study

The School of Advanced Study is part of the University of London and serves as the UK's national centre for research in the humanities and social sciences. Established in 1994, SAS brings together nine specialist research institutes, including the Institute of Historical Research, which dates back to 1921.

SAS is based mainly at Senate House on Malet Street in Bloomsbury. Its postgraduate-focused environment is quite different from that of a large undergraduate university, with students working across subjects such as history, English studies, philosophy, law and modern languages. The school offers programmes including MA, MRes, LLM, MPhil and PhD degrees.

Senate House Library is also based within the building, giving students direct access to an important research collection. The location adds another practical advantage: the British Museum, British Library and several other University of London institutions are all within reach.

SAS students have a somewhat different experience from those at large undergraduate universities. The school is research-focused and postgraduate-led, so social life tends to extend beyond the institution itself and into the wider University of London and Bloomsbury community.

Academic and Social Life

The University of London network gives SAS students access to a broader academic community, while the central location means there is no shortage of talks, exhibitions, lectures and public events nearby.

Bloomsbury itself has a long connection with education and publishing. Senate House Library is particularly important for SAS students, especially those whose research requires regular access to specialist collections.

Evening Life

Students do not need to travel far for a quiet evening. Bloomsbury has traditional pubs, cafés and restaurants, while King's Cross offers a larger selection of bars and places to eat.

Students wanting a busier night can travel towards Soho, Shoreditch or the South Bank. Central London's transport network makes these areas accessible without requiring a long cross-city journey.

Shopping and Markets

Tottenham Court Road is close to Bloomsbury and is useful for electronics, household purchases and everyday shopping. King's Cross adds Coal Drops Yard, where independent shops, restaurants and design-led businesses occupy the redeveloped railway arches.

For regular groceries, students have access to supermarkets throughout Bloomsbury and neighbouring districts.

Culture and Green Space

The British Museum is one of the most obvious cultural attractions near SAS, while the wider West End offers theatres, cinemas and galleries.

Russell Square provides a nearby green space when you need a break from reading or research. The British Library is also within easy reach, adding another useful resource for students whose work involves extensive library research.

Healthcare

Students should register with an NHS GP near their term-time address after moving into their accommodation. The most suitable practice will depend on where you eventually live.

Bloomsbury is a busy central London district, so normal city precautions are sensible, particularly when travelling late at night.

The central location of Senate House gives SAS students plenty of choice when looking for a place to live. You can stay close enough to walk to campus, or move a little further out and use London's transport network to bring the weekly rent down.

King's Cross / Bloomsbury

The King's Cross and Bloomsbury area is one of the more obvious choices for students who want a short journey to SAS. The accommodation data places properties in this area roughly 0.92 to 1.38 miles from Senate House, with walking and Underground connections available.

PBSA rents in this part of London generally sit between £299 and £650 per week. The higher end reflects the central location and newer accommodation, while lower-priced rooms can still be found if you are willing to compare properties carefully.

Living here also puts you close to university buildings, libraries, museums, cafés and transport links. For a postgraduate student who expects to spend long hours at Senate House or in the library, cutting down the daily commute can be worth paying a little more.

Properties such as Grosvenor House, Chapter Kings Cross and Romano Court are among the House of Student options associated with this area.

Waterloo

Waterloo offers another central option, with the accommodation data placing it around 1.84 miles from the SAS campus reference point. The area has strong rail and Underground connections, so the commute does not have to be lengthy even though it is farther away than Bloomsbury.

Weekly PBSA rents in the supplied data start at around £200, making Waterloo worth considering for students who want a central London address without paying the highest rents found around Bloomsbury.

The South Bank is also close by, giving students access to theatres, restaurants, riverside walks and cultural venues. AXO Waterloo is one of the more affordable properties listed for students considering this part of London.

Islington

Islington sits around 1.85 miles from the SAS campus reference point in the supplied accommodation data. Its location gives students access to central London while offering a neighbourhood feel that differs from the immediate Bloomsbury area.

Rent varies by property, but the supplied figures put some PBSA options in the £200-£299 weekly range. The area has plenty of cafés, restaurants, independent shops and evening venues, while Underground connections make the journey towards Bloomsbury manageable.

Student Living Heights and Chapter Islington are two options worth comparing if you would rather live north of the River Thames than in the immediate university quarter.

Which Area Should You Choose?

There is no single answer for every SAS student. The better choice depends on what matters most to you.

Area	Approx. distance	Typical PBSA rent	Suits students who want
King's Cross / Bloomsbury	0.92-1.38 miles	£299-£650/week	A short commute and an academic setting
Waterloo	~1.84 miles	£200-£299/week	Central living at a lower starting price
Islington	~1.85 miles	£200-£299/week	A local neighbourhood with good transport

If keeping your commute short is the priority, King's Cross and Bloomsbury make the most sense. Students working with a tighter budget can look towards Waterloo or Islington, where the starting rents in the supplied data are lower.

Rent will usually take the largest share of a student's budget in central London, but it is far from the only expense to consider. Food, transport, mobile phone costs and social activities can add up quickly, particularly for postgraduate students spending long periods in libraries, archives or research facilities.

Excluding rent, a reasonable weekly estimate for living expenses in London is around £150-£220.

Weekly expense	Estimated cost
Groceries & food	£30-£60
Transport	£31-£37
Eating out & socialising	£12-£25+
Mobile plan	£5-£6
Research/course-related costs	Depends on course

Groceries and Food

Around £30-£60 per week is a useful starting point for groceries, although your actual spending will depend heavily on how often you cook. Buying ingredients from budget supermarkets and preparing meals at home can keep the figure towards the lower end.

Students living around Bloomsbury also have plenty of cafés and restaurants nearby, but eating out regularly can push the weekly budget up quickly.

Transport

London's transport network can make living outside Bloomsbury practical, but daily journeys still need to be included in your budget. The supplied figures estimate around £31-£37 per week for students using an 18+ Student Oyster photocard.

Senate House is within reach of several central Underground stations, including Russell Square and Goodge Street, so students living in nearby areas may be able to walk to campus and keep transport spending lower.

Household Bills

The treatment of bills depends on the type of accommodation you choose. Many PBSA properties include utilities and internet within the rent, whereas a privately rented room or shared house may require separate payments.

Check exactly what is included before comparing weekly prices. A room with a slightly higher rent may work out cheaper overall if utilities and internet are already covered.

Socialising and Going Out

Bloomsbury has plenty of pubs, cafés and restaurants, while nearby areas such as King's Cross and Soho provide more choices for evenings out. A casual meal may cost around £12-£25, but entertainment spending varies considerably between students.

Postgraduates who spend most of their time studying may have a very different social budget from someone who regularly attends events, eats out or travels around London.

Course and Research Costs

Postgraduate study can bring expenses that do not appear in a standard student budget. Depending on the course and research topic, you may need to account for archive access, conference fees, academic travel, books or other research materials.

International students should also distinguish ordinary living costs from the UK Student visa maintenance requirement. The supplied figure for students living in London is £1,529 per month, or roughly £352 per week, for the relevant nine-month period. This is a visa requirement rather than an estimate of what the average student actually spends.

The right room type depends largely on how much privacy you want, how much you are prepared to spend and whether you would rather live independently or share your day-to-day space with other students. For postgraduate students at SAS, the choice can also come down to how much quiet space you need for reading, writing and research.

Shared or Cluster Flats

A shared flat gives you a private bedroom within a larger student apartment, with the kitchen and usually the living space shared with other residents.

An en-suite room comes with its own bathroom, while a non-en-suite room means sharing bathroom facilities with one or more flatmates.

Typical price: Around £200-£250 per week at the lower end of the London market.

Best suited to: Students who want to keep rent down while still having other people around. It can also work well for postgraduates who are new to London and would rather not live alone.

Things to consider: Shared kitchens require some coordination, particularly around cleaning, cooking and storage. Noise can also depend on who else lives in the flat.

Studio Flats

A studio combines your sleeping, living and cooking areas within one self-contained unit, with a private bathroom.

Typical price: Around £290-£350 per week at the lower end, with central London studios costing considerably more.

Best suited to: Students who value privacy or expect to spend a lot of time studying from home. A studio can also suit couples where dual occupancy is permitted by the property.

Things to consider: The extra privacy comes with a higher weekly rent. You also have less day-to-day interaction with other residents than you would in a shared flat.

Private Rooms in Shared Houses

Private rented houses and flats provide another route for students who want their own bedroom without paying for a self-contained studio. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are shared with housemates.

Best suited to: Students who prefer a more independent, residential setup rather than a large PBSA building.

Things to consider: Bills may sit outside the advertised rent, and you may have more responsibility for household arrangements, maintenance and communication with the landlord.

The supplied student accommodation London data includes both lower-cost shared options and premium studios, so it is worth comparing the total weekly cost rather than looking at the room price alone.

For SAS students, distance matters because postgraduate study can involve long days at Senate House, particularly for students using the library or working on research projects. The properties below cover a broad range of prices and travel times, from a short walk away to options that require a longer journey across London.

Property	Distance	Walk	Transit	Starting price
Grosvenor House	0.92 miles	15 min	17 min	£650/week
Chapter Kings Cross	1.30 miles	26 min	17 min	£335/week
Romano Court	1.38 miles	30 min	21 min	£240/week
AXO Waterloo	1.84 miles	38 min	18 min	£200/week
Student Living Heights	1.85 miles	33 min	23 min	£432/week
Chapter Islington	2.38 miles	51 min	22 min	£334/week
Chapter Old Street	2.44 miles	52 min	29 min	£294/week
Manna Ash House	2.45 miles	48 min	26 min	£340/week
Chapter Westminster	2.46 miles	50 min	31 min	£516/week
Flora Building - Hoxton	2.85 miles	62 min	37 min	£299/week

Grosvenor House

At 0.92 miles from the SAS reference point, Grosvenor House has one of the shortest distances in the supplied list. The estimated walk is 15 minutes, while transit takes around 17 minutes.

The starting price of £650 per week puts it firmly at the premium end of the selection. It is therefore more relevant to students who place a high value on location and higher-spec accommodation than those working with a tight budget.

Chapter Kings Cross

Chapter Kings Cross sits 1.3 miles away, with an estimated 26-minute walk or 17-minute transit journey. Rooms start from £335 per week.

Its King's Cross location gives students access to one of London's major transport areas, which can be useful if you expect to travel regularly for research, events or personal commitments.

Romano Court

Romano Court offers a noticeably lower starting price of £240 per week while remaining just 1.38 miles from SAS. The estimated journey is 30 minutes on foot or 21 minutes by transit.

For students trying to keep accommodation costs under control without moving too far from Bloomsbury, this is one of the more useful options to compare.

AXO Waterloo

AXO Waterloo starts at £200 per week, the lowest price among the properties in this section. It is 1.84 miles from the SAS reference point, with an estimated 38-minute walk or 18-minute transit journey.

That combination makes it particularly relevant to students who would rather put more of their budget towards living costs, travel or research expenses.

Student Living Heights

Student Living Heights is 1.85 miles away, with a 33-minute walk and a 23-minute transit journey. Its starting price of £432 per week places it considerably above AXO Waterloo and Romano Court.

The property may make more sense for students who are prepared to spend more on accommodation and want to live in a well-connected part of London.

Chapter Islington

Chapter Islington is 2.38 miles from SAS. The estimated transit journey is 22 minutes, compared with a 51-minute walk.

Starting prices are listed at £334 per week. Its position in Islington gives students the option of living outside the immediate Bloomsbury area while retaining a manageable commute.

Chapter Old Street

At 2.44 miles from SAS, Chapter Old Street takes approximately 29 minutes by transit. Rooms start from £294 per week.

Old Street is particularly well connected to other parts of London, making this a reasonable option for students who want their accommodation to work for more than just the journey to Senate House.

Manna Ash House

Manna Ash House is listed at 2.45 miles from SAS, with an estimated 26-minute transit journey and a starting price of £340 per week.

It offers another option for students who want to remain within central London while looking beyond the immediate Bloomsbury area.

Chapter Westminster

Chapter Westminster is 2.46 miles away and has an estimated 31-minute transit journey. At £516 per week, it sits towards the premium end of the selection.

The property may suit students for whom location and accommodation standards carry more weight than keeping weekly rent as low as possible.

Flora Building - Hoxton

Flora Building - Hoxton is the furthest property in this particular list at 2.85 miles. The supplied figures put the journey at around 62 minutes on foot or 37 minutes by transit.

Rooms start from £299 per week, making it less expensive than several of the closer premium options while still giving students access to East London's well-connected neighbourhoods.

A central London postcode does not necessarily mean paying the highest available rent. Students willing to accept a longer journey can find starting prices around £200-£263 per week in the supplied accommodation data.

The important comparison is between the weekly saving and the extra time and transport cost involved.

Property	Distance	Transit	Starting price
AXO Waterloo	1.84 miles	18 min	£200/week
Chelsea Lightfoot Hall	3.79 miles	43 min	£225/week
Townhall Camberwell	4.94 miles	45 min	£230/week
The Cube Ealing	9.26 miles	58 min	£235/week
Romano Court	1.38 miles	21 min	£240/week
Surrey Quays Landale House	5.97 miles	39 min	£245/week
Creek Court	6.87 miles	78 min	£245/week
Grand Felda House	10.07 miles	39 min	£246/week
Ewen Henderson Court	6.64 miles	54 min	£258/week
Portobello Garrow House	4.18 miles	35 min	£263/week

AXO Waterloo

At £200 per week, AXO Waterloo has the lowest starting price in the supplied list. It is also only 1.84 miles from SAS, with an estimated 18-minute transit journey.

That makes it one of the strongest options for students who want to stay relatively central without taking on one of the higher weekly rents.

Chelsea Lightfoot Hall

Chelsea Lightfoot Hall starts from £225 per week and is 3.79 miles away. The estimated transit time is around 43 minutes.

The longer commute is the main consideration, but the lower starting rent could make the property worth comparing for students whose accommodation budget is limited.

Townhall Camberwell

Townhall Camberwell starts from £230 per week and sits 4.94 miles from SAS. The supplied journey estimate is around 45 minutes by transit.

It offers a way to reduce rent while moving further south of central London. Students should factor the daily travel time into their decision.

The Cube Ealing

The Cube Ealing is considerably farther away at 9.26 miles, with an estimated 58-minute transit journey. Rooms start from £235 per week.

The price is competitive, but the distance means this is better suited to students who are comfortable spending more time travelling to Senate House.

Romano Court

Romano Court stands out among the lower-cost choices because of its proximity. At £240 per week, it is only 1.38 miles from the SAS reference point and takes around 21 minutes by transit.

For students who want to keep rent below £250 while remaining close to Bloomsbury, it deserves particular attention.

The remaining options, including Surrey Quays Landale House, Creek Court, Grand Felda House, Ewen Henderson Court and Portobello Garrow House, bring the weekly starting price into the £245-£263 range. Their longer distances show the trade-off clearly: lower rent can mean more time spent travelling.

Senate House is centrally located on Malet Street, so SAS students have several ways to reach campus. For those living nearby, walking is often the simplest option.

Walking

Students living in Bloomsbury or around King's Cross can often walk to Senate House. Russell Square and Goodge Street Underground stations are also within walking distance of the campus.

The supplied accommodation data shows how this works in practice. Grosvenor House is listed at a 15-minute walk, while Chapter Kings Cross takes around 26 minutes on foot.

Underground and Bus Travel

Students living farther away can rely on the London Underground and bus network. AXO Waterloo, for example, has an estimated 18-minute transit journey despite being 1.84 miles from the SAS reference point.

The actual route will depend on the accommodation address, time of day and service conditions, so students should check the route from the exact property before booking.

Cycling

Cycling is another option for students living within a few miles of Senate House. Bloomsbury's central position makes it possible to reach several surrounding neighbourhoods without relying entirely on public transport.

Students considering this option should check whether their accommodation has secure cycle storage and whether their usual route suits them.

Rail Travel

King's Cross St Pancras is particularly useful for students who travel outside London. King's Cross serves national routes, while St Pancras International provides Eurostar connections to mainland Europe.

The station is close enough to Senate House to make it useful for students travelling home during university breaks or attending academic events elsewhere in the UK.

Airport Access

Heathrow can be reached from central London using the Underground, with the Piccadilly line providing a direct route from stations including Russell Square and King's Cross St Pancras.

For students arriving in the UK with luggage, the journey time and number of changes can vary depending on the accommodation location. It is worth checking the route before booking, particularly if you expect to travel several times internationally during your course.

For students comparing the School of Advanced Study London accommodation, the main decision is therefore not simply how close a property is to Senate House. Rent, travel time, bills, room type and your expected study routine all matter. A property slightly farther away can make sense if it saves enough each week, while a more expensive room close to campus may be worthwhile for students who expect to spend most of their time at SAS.