found 11 places to stay
Kingston upon Thames is a town and royal borough in south-west London, around 12 miles from Central London. Located on the banks of the River Thames, it has grown from a historic market town into a lively centre for shopping, education and student life. According to HESA, the city has a student population of 18,815, of whom 14,690 are domestic, and 4,125 are international. These students choose Kingston upon Thames for its peaceful riverside setting, excellent transport links and close proximity to Central London. The town is home to Kingston University London, and students enrol at the university for top courses in art, design, fashion, business, science, and engineering.
Kingston upon Thames has a competitive student accommodation market, with demand often higher than the available supply of purpose-built student accommodation. Because of limited university halls, students usually look for private student accommodation close to campus. Popular properties are usually booked well before the September intake, so students who book at least 3-4 months in advance have a better chance of finding accommodation within their budget and preferred location. At UniAcco, students can compare verified student accommodation in Kingston upon Thames, explore different room types and prices, and receive 24/7 support to find the right student home.
|
Overview |
Details |
|
Average Weekly Rent (UniAcco internal Booking Data) |
£280/week |
|
Student Population (HESA Student Data 2024-25) |
18,815 students |
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Top Universities |
Kingston University |
|
Popular Student Areas |
Norbiton, City Centre, Surbiton, Kingston Hill, New Malden |
|
Best Room Types |
Ensuite, Studio |
|
Best Time to Book |
January–May for the September intake |
Average rent is based on live UniAcco listings and may change by room type, availability, and intake season.
Students choose accommodation in Kingston upon Thames for its proximity to campus, vibrant town life, excellent London connections, modern amenities and safe environment. Many student accommodation properties are just a short walk or bus ride from Kingston University's campuses, with areas like Kingston Town Centre and Kingston Hill keeping students close to lectures, shops and everyday essentials. Kingston also offers more than 300 shops, riverside cafés, restaurants and entertainment venues, so students can spend weekends by the River Thames, explore nearby Richmond Park or enjoy the town's lively shopping and dining scene. Kingston railway station provides direct trains to London Waterloo in around 30 minutes, making it easy for students to travel for internships, part-time jobs or weekend trips across the capital. Today's PBSAs in Kingston upon Thames include utility bills, Wi-Fi and contents insurance in the rent, and many buildings also have study rooms, gyms, communal lounges, games rooms and 24/7 security. Kingston upon Thames is known as one of London's safer boroughs, and many student accommodation providers offer secure entry systems and on-site support, helping students feel comfortable throughout their stay.
|
Room Type |
What It Includes |
Price |
|
Ensuite Room |
Private bedroom with shared kitchen and living area |
£269/week |
|
Studio Room |
Private bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette in one self-contained space |
£328/week |
Affordable student accommodation in Kingston upon Thames can be hard to find because the demand for private student housing is high and university halls are limited. Many students look for rooms close to campus, making popular properties fill up early. The options below on UniAcco offer different room types and prices, with all-inclusive bills helping students manage their accommodation costs.
The best student housing in Kingston upon Thames gives students a choice of locations, room types, amenities and prices. With limited university halls, private accommodation is an important option for students in the area. The properties below on UniAcco are verified stays that can be compared based on budget, room preferences and location.
Norbiton has a relaxed residential feel and is close to both Kingston town centre and Richmond Park. Norbiton Station makes it easy to travel towards London, while local shops and cafés cover everyday needs. Kingston University is around 19 minutes away by bus.
For students who like having everything nearby, Kingston town centre is a strong option. The area has the Bentall Centre, Kingston Market, restaurants, cafés and the River Thames. The university is also about a 14-minute walk away, so getting to campus is simple.
Surbiton is known for its excellent rail connections, with direct trains to London Waterloo. The area also has a busy high street, independent cafés, restaurants and green spaces. Kingston University can be reached in around 12 minutes by bus.
Kingston Hill offers a quieter setting away from the busy town centre. It is close to Kingston University’s Kingston Hill Campus and has green spaces nearby, making it a good fit for students who prefer a peaceful place to live. The campus is around 21 minutes away by bus.
New Malden has a lively high street and is well known for its large Korean community, with many Korean restaurants and food shops. The area is mainly residential but has good transport links to Kingston and London. Kingston University is around 21 minutes away by bus.
|
Institution / University |
QS World Ranking 2027 |
Location |
Main Focus Areas |
Top Student Accommodation Near the University |
|
Kingston University |
686 |
Kingston upon Thames (Penrhyn Road, Kingston Hill, Knights Park & Roehampton Vale Campuses) |
Business, Health, Education, Engineering, Aerospace, Art, Design, Architecture |
Davidson House, Bright House and Tribu Kingston |
Kingston upon Thames is easy to get around by walking, cycling, bus and train. Most places around the town centre are close together, while TfL buses connect students to nearby areas at £1.75 per journey. Kingston University’s intersite bus links its campuses and halls for £2.20 a day. For longer trips, trains from Kingston and Surbiton can take students into London, with the journey to London Waterloo taking around 30 minutes.
|
Area |
Kingston University |
|
Norbiton |
Bus – 19 min |
|
City Centre |
Walk — 14 min |
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Surbiton |
Bus — 12 min |
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Kingston Hill |
Bus — 21 min |
|
New Malden |
Bus — 21 min |
|
Mode |
Best for |
Cost / Pass |
Key tip |
|
Walking |
Around Kingston town centre — most locations are close together |
Free |
Kingston and Surbiton stations are each about 10–15 minutes' walk from the nearest campus |
|
Cycling |
Local trips around campuses and town |
Free (bike ownership cost separate) |
Secure cycle parking is available at all campuses |
|
Bus (TfL) |
General London-borough travel |
TfL standard fare: £1.75/journey. 18+ Student Oyster Card gives 30% discounted TfL travel |
Apply for the 18+ Student Oyster if you're a London resident student for ongoing savings |
|
University Bus (KU Intersite Bus) |
Travel between all four Kingston campuses and halls of residence at a discounted price |
Kingston Uni - Single — £1.10 |
From September 2026, the fleet becomes fully electric under new operator Falcon Coaches — check the KU app for the latest timetable |
|
Train |
Weekend travel home, trips into London |
Kingston to London Waterloo: about 30 min. 16-25 Railcard: ? off, £35/year (16-25railcard.co.uk) |
Surbiton station tends to have more frequent trains than Kingston station — worth checking both |
Students often study in the cafés along the River Thames or around Kingston town centre. Independent coffee shops and university libraries provide quiet spaces for coursework and revision throughout the year.
There are over 60 active student societies at Kingston University, run by the Kingston Students' Union. These societies have a wide range of clubs and societies covering sports, music, culture, business and volunteering. These activities help students make friends and enjoy university life beyond lectures.
Kingston is one of London's best shopping destinations outside the city centre. Students regularly visit The Bentall Centre, high-street stores and local markets, while supermarkets such as Tesco, Lidl and Sainsbury's make grocery shopping convenient.
Students have access to university sports facilities, gyms and fitness classes. Richmond Park and Bushy Park are also nearby for walking, cycling and outdoor activities.
Kingston has a lively student atmosphere with riverside pubs, restaurants, cinemas and live music venues. Students also enjoy spending evenings along the Thames or taking a short train ride into Central London for concerts, theatres and major events.
The best student accommodation in Kingston Upon Thames comes to those who book before the rush. The best-located, most affordable properties in areas like Norbiton and Kingston Town Centre tend to sell out early, especially for the September intake. Check out the recommended booking period below:
|
Intake |
Recommended Booking Period |
|
September |
January–May |
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January |
August–October |
Follow the steps below and get your favourite student accommodation abroad.
Step 1: Compare prices and properties
First, choose the destination where you want to book the accommodation. Then, from 338 verified listings, shortlist the accommodation that suits your needs and lifestyle by comparing prices and properties.
Step 2: Fill in your details
Once you have shortlisted your accommodation, fill in your basic details, such as your name, mobile number, and email address. Make sure the information you put in is correct.
Step 3: Talk to our expert and get the confirmation
Once you fill in the information, our student expert team will reach out to you within hours. They will guide you through contracts, deposits and rental agreements. Basically, they will be there for you 24/7 till you move into your accommodation.