Shared rooms at universities across the UK are excellent alternative budget accommodation options in pleasant, historic and often exciting surroundings.
During the holiday periods, which include the Easter and Christmas holidays, as well as the summer holidays (mid-June to September), you can choose to stay in a medieval residence, a 12th-century castle, or an architecturally impressive building in a new campus.
Accommodations generally include large English breakfasts, plus cereals, breads, fruits, and juices, taken in magnificent dining rooms from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries (Hogwarts Great Hall comes to mind). Inexpensive lunches and dinners may also be available.
Here and there you can also find suites with several rooms and shared kitchen facilities, perhaps suitable for traveling with a family.
And, most are available for the same price as reasonable quality hostel rooms.
Bedrooms are not what they used to be
Expect daily housekeeping services, private shower rooms or baths in many bedrooms, broadband internet, linens and towels, and sometimes coffee and tea making facilities. There was a time when dormitories also offered phones activated by calling cards that you could buy, but in this age of smartphones, very few do.
Of course, there is a downside to everything. So, this is what you can expect:
Advantages of staying at Uni Digs
- Private rooms Close the door and you will be alone, unlike hostels, where you may have to share with strangers.
- Brilliant locations Dorms are often in the city center or in the heart of bustling student districts, with all the pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants, shops, theaters and cinemas you could wish for.
- Access to sacred precincts In the most historic and prestigious universities in the United Kingdom there are fascinating areas: private courtyards and courtyards, chapels, old dining rooms, which are not open to the public. When you book a room, you get a brief inside look at places like Oxford and Cambridge.
- Lie down where the great and the good, as well as the rich and famous have been before you . In his day, these rooms were occupied by presidents, princes and prime ministers; scientists and philosophers; artists, musicians, writers and actors. And, if you are lucky enough to find a chatty doorman, they will probably tell you all about who lived in your room before you.
Cons of staying in dorms
- Seasonal limits on availability Rooms are only available outside of school hours, when students are away. The exact dates vary from university to university.
- Rooms cannot be reserved far in advance. Available rooms are generally listed two to three months in advance. If you’re a nervous guy who likes to have all the details pinned down a year in advance, these may not be for you.
- Most of the rooms are singles, obviously uncomfortable for couples traveling together. But there are some double rooms and (for a price) Durham Castle, part of Durham University, has some spectacular state rooms, decorated with four elegant posters and ornaments, that can be had for some celebration or special event.
- Simple Furniture These are student rooms, so with the exception of a handful of specialty accommodations, like the state rooms at Durham Castle, don’t expect a boutique hotel setting. Furniture tends to be good, basic institutional quality with generous storage space.
- You could find yourself in the middle of a multitude of lectures. Booking university rooms for individual travelers is relatively new to UK universities, but they have been renting out their shared rooms for conferences and seminars for years. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself in the middle of one.
- Occasional Shared Restrooms While the move into newer college housing is for private or semi-private restrooms, some of the more historic buildings can’t accommodate that. And the cheapest rooms may have a shared bathroom. If you want to end a day of sightseeing with a long soak in your own bathtub, you may be out of luck.
How to book a university room in the UK
There are several ways to find and book university rooms at UK universities:
- University Rooms.com can help you locate and reserve rooms at approximately 50 UK universities, as well as university accommodation throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. In the UK, the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, Bristol, Nottingham and Newcastle are on the list along with several London academic locations. The website has photos of the campuses, rooms, and hall facilities, as well as up-to-date information on availability and prices. Before opting for historic Oxbridge, visit 170 Queen’s Gate in South Kensington, with access to Imperial College’s 25-meter swimming pool and sports center, or Nottingham’s Jubilee campus.
- Search the university’s websites. Durham, for example, offers 1,500 ensuite rooms and 3,000 standard rooms, but you have to look a bit to find them. For whatever reason, the University’s Individual Traveler website occasionally takes you to a Google page. But it persists. The rooms are very nice and great value for money, ranging from £ 46 to £ 100 per night in 2018, depending on size and campus. Single, Twin and Twin rooms are available and include full English breakfast. Accommodation is on the Collingwood College and University College campuses. The Castle, part of University College in Durham, has its own website dedicated to Durham Castle accommodation. Castle State Rooms are available all year round and due to their special character, they are considerably more expensive than normal rooms. But there’s also a good selection of student rooms, starting at around £ 38 a night for a single, with breakfast in the Castle’s Great Hall. And guests who reserve dorms at Durham Castle will also receive a free tour of the castle.
