Homestay and student accommodation in London 2026/27

What a host-family room, a university hall and a shared flat cost in London in 2026/27, how the Student Oyster card works, what you need to enter the UK and how to avoid rental scams.

Updated 06/11/2026 · Gomfy

See all accommodation in London Host families in London

Homestay, residence or shared flat in London?

London is expensive, and which option is cheapest depends on how long you stay. A room in a shared flat averaged 915 pounds a month across Greater London in the second quarter of 2026 (979 in inner London, 794 in outer London), according to SpareRoom, and those figures include bills. University residences work out dearer per week but come with a fixed contract. A room with a host family is the one option you can take by the week.

Which option suits your situation
Your situation	Usually the simplest
English course of a few weeks or months	Ask your language school first, then a room in a host home with breakfast.
One semester, internship or first weeks looking for work	A room in a home booked by the week, then a shared flat once you know the area.
Full degree, first year	University residence; shared flat from the second year.

Homestay and host families in London

A homestay means a room in someone’s home, usually with breakfast or half board. You arrive to a bed, a desk and wifi, you open no utility accounts, and you speak English every day. A London agency, London Homestays, lists single rooms with breakfast from 205 pounds a week in zone 3 and beyond, 245 in zones 2-3 and 280 in zones 1-2, plus a 50 pound booking fee. In its example, half board adds 35 pounds a week. The page says that summer, Christmas, stays under four weeks and placements of under-18s carry supplements, but it does not give the amounts or a year, so treat these as a guide and ask for a quote with your dates.

Expect a shared home, not a hotel: agree meals, schedule, guests, keys and the kitchen before you book.

If you come for an English course, check what your school offers first: schools usually have their own host families. If you are not enrolled in a school, or you prefer to choose the home and talk to the host beforehand, look for independent hosts.

University residences

The University of London’s intercollegiate halls cost between 301.59 and 455.71 pounds a week for 2026/27, on a 40-week contract from 13 September 2026 to 19 June 2027. The cheapest is a single room with a shared bathroom and meals at International Hall (301.59); the dearest a double ensuite with meals at College Hall (455.71). Self-catered rooms at Garden Halls start at 318.72. The contract is directly with the University of London. Private residences are priced by building: Unite Students shows a “from 199 pounds a week” price on its London page, but for 2027-28, so check the 2026/27 price of the exact building.

Shared flats

Per SpareRoom, a room in a shared flat averaged 794 pounds a month in outer London and 979 in inner London in the second quarter of 2026 (about 183 and 226 pounds a week), bills included. Within inner London the cheapest district was E12 (Manor Park) at 729 pounds a month and the dearest SW7 (South Kensington) at 1,599. A shared flat means viewing the room, signing a tenancy and often a long commitment, which is hard to do from abroad.

Transport costs by zone

From March 2026, pay-as-you-go travel is capped each day at 8.90 pounds in zones 1-2, 10.50 in zones 1-3 and 12.80 in zones 1-4. A 7-day Travelcard costs 44.70, 52.50 and 64.20 pounds for the same zones. Living further out is often cheaper overall, even after the fare.

The 18+ Student Oyster photocard gives 30 % off Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes. It costs 22 pounds, and you need to live in a London borough during term time and be on a full-time course of at least 15 hours a week, Monday to Friday, for at least 14 weeks, at an institution on the TfL scheme. A short evening or part-time language course usually does not qualify.

Entering the UK as a student

Most European visitors need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which costs 20 pounds and allows stays of up to six months. As a Standard Visitor you can take a course of up to six months, but you cannot do paid or unpaid work. For longer study you need a Student visa. Check your own case on gov.uk/check-uk-visa before you book.

Avoiding rental scams

Scams target people searching from abroad. The signs repeat:

a price far below similar rooms in the same area;
a landlord who is “abroad” and cannot show the room;
pressure to pay quickly because “other people are interested”;
payment by transfer to a personal account, gift cards or cryptocurrency;
a refusal to do a live video call from inside the home.

In England, a holding deposit for a tenancy is capped at one week’s rent, and a tenancy deposit at five weeks’ rent when the annual rent is under 50,000 pounds. The official guidance does not say whether this covers a lodger who lives with the landlord, so ask Shelter or Citizens Advice if you are unsure. Do not pay before you have seen the room, in person or by live video, and keep the conversation on the platform.

What Gomfy offers in London

Honestly: Gomfy has no active host in London at the moment, so no listings appear below. Students do search Gomfy for homestay in London, which is why we are looking for hosts there. Check our London page before you book, because new hosts appear there first. On Gomfy you choose your dates, you can talk to the host through Gomfy’s messages before booking, and the host’s price plus Gomfy’s service fee is shown before you book. There is also a guide in Spanish and a guide in French on staying in London.

Live in London and have a spare room?

Students and language-course participants look for rooms in homes every year. On Gomfy you decide who stays, for how long and at what price, and listing your room is free. In the UK, the Rent a Room Scheme lets you earn up to 7,500 pounds a year tax-free from letting furnished accommodation in your home (3,750 if you share the income), according to GOV.UK; check your own case with HMRC.

Rooms and host families on Gomfy in London

There are no listings in London on Gomfy right now. See the nearest options or post your search on our city page.

See all accommodation in London

Want to take a course too? Language courses in London on LanguageBookings

Have a spare room in London?

Host a student and earn money. Listing your room is free.

Become a host family

Frequently asked questions

How much does homestay cost in London?

A London agency lists single rooms with breakfast from 205 pounds a week in zone 3 and beyond, 245 in zones 2-3 and 280 in zones 1-2, plus a 50 pound booking fee. Half board adds about 35 pounds in its example, and supplements apply in summer and at Christmas. Ask for a quote with your dates.

How much does a university hall cost in London?

The University of London intercollegiate halls cost 301.59 to 455.71 pounds a week for 2026/27, on a 40-week contract from 13 September 2026 to 19 June 2027.

How much is a room in a shared flat in London?

According to SpareRoom, rooms averaged 979 pounds a month in inner London and 794 in outer London in the second quarter of 2026, bills included.

Is there a student discount on transport in London?

The 18+ Student Oyster photocard gives 30 % off Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes. It costs 22 pounds and needs a full-time course of at least 15 hours a week for 14 weeks or more at an institution on the TfL scheme.

Do I need a visa to study English in London?

Most European visitors need an ETA (20 pounds, up to six months). As a Standard Visitor you can study on a course of up to six months but cannot work. Check your case on gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

Sources

Prices and rules change: check the source before you decide. Information read on 06/11/2026.