Leicester has a healthy and varied private student accommodation scene, with options ranging from affordable en-suite rooms close to both universities to fully self-contained studios in the heart of the city centre. The two universities sit in different parts of Leicester, so where you choose to live will often depend on which campus you are studying at.
For students at De Montfort University, several of the most convenient options are listed here. Queens Court is just a one-minute walk from the DMU campus and offers some of the most affordable rooms on the page, with shared flats and studios available. The Grange sits directly on the DMU campus with en-suite rooms and studios, and Primus Place and Edge Apartments are right on the corner of the campus, also within easy reach of Leicester Royal Infirmary for medical students. 41 Castle Street is around an eight-minute walk from DMU and offers a range of room types with communal areas, a games space, and an outdoor courtyard.
For students at the University of Leicester, Regents Court on Rawson Street is a short walk from campus, set in a gated community on a quiet residential street with a sunny courtyard and social spaces. Study Inn Reynard House on Welford Road offers a wide range of room types with strong on-site facilities. Dover Street Apartments provides modern en-suite rooms with good city centre access.
For students at either university who want to be based in the city centre, iQ Grosvenor House on Newarke Street offers en-suite rooms and studios at one of the most competitive price points on the page. The Summit on Eastern Boulevard and The Aspen on Millstone Lane both offer modern rooms within easy reach of both campuses. St Georges Tower and 73 Princess Road East round out the city centre options for students wanting a central base. Lumis Leicester on Southgates sits between the city centre and Castle Park, with over 500 en-suite rooms and a gym, games room, and cinema on site.
Leicester is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in England, with roots stretching back over 2,000 years to a Roman settlement on the River Soar. That long history is still very much present in the city today, from the ruins of the Jewry Wall, one of the largest surviving pieces of Roman masonry in Britain, to the remarkable story of King Richard III, whose remains were discovered in a city centre car park in 2012 and now rest in Leicester Cathedral. The King Richard III Visitor Centre next door to the cathedral is one of the best museum experiences in the East Midlands and well worth a visit.
But Leicester is equally a city shaped by the present. It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the UK, and that diversity is one of its greatest strengths as a place to live. Belgrave Road, known locally as the Golden Mile, is lined with some of the finest curry houses and South Asian sweet shops in the country, and the city’s annual Diwali celebrations are the largest outside India, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the streets each year. Leicester also has a long tradition of Caribbean culture and hosts an annual Caribbean Carnival, as well as a lively Pride parade.
The National Space Centre is one of Leicester’s most distinctive attractions, with interactive galleries and the UK’s largest planetarium housed within a striking 42-metre rocket tower. The Curve Theatre in the Cultural Quarter puts on a full programme of musicals, drama, dance, and opera throughout the year, and the Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre on Midland Street is the city’s independent cinema and arts hub, popular with students. The New Walk Museum and Art Gallery on New Walk is free to enter and has collections ranging from ancient Egypt to German Expressionism. For something more contemporary, the Attenborough Arts Centre on the University of Leicester campus hosts exhibitions, performances, and events.
Food is a serious business in Leicester. Beyond the Golden Mile, the city has a reputation for its vegetarian and vegan offering, a reflection of its diverse population, and independent cafes and restaurants are spread across the city. The Lanes, a cobblestoned shopping district near the city centre, is good for boutiques, vintage clothing, and independent food spots. The weekly Leicester Market, one of the largest outdoor covered markets in Europe, has been trading for over 800 years and remains a genuine part of daily city life.
Leicester has a proud music heritage. Kasabian and John Deacon of Queen both have roots in the city, and the live music scene remains strong, with venues like The Shed hosting local and touring acts. The nightlife, while not as large in scale as Nottingham or Birmingham, has a loyal following among students, with a mix of clubs, indie bars, and old-school pubs. Sport is central to the city’s identity too, and King Power Stadium, home of Leicester City Football Club, is a short walk from the city centre.
For green space, Victoria Park sits immediately adjacent to the University of Leicester campus and is one of the most used open spaces in the city, popular for studying, socialising, and the annual summer music festival. Abbey Park, further north, covers around 89 acres along the River Soar and has the ruins of a 12th-century abbey within its grounds.
Leicester is a compact city and easy to navigate. Both universities are walkable from the city centre and from the main student neighbourhoods, and the cycling infrastructure has been steadily improved over recent years.
By bus
Several operators run bus services across Leicester, with frequent routes connecting the city centre to the main student areas. For students travelling to the University of Leicester, services including the 31, 48A, and X6 serve the area around campus, though there is no stop directly at the university’s main entrance, so a short walk is usually involved at the other end. The city’s buses are affordable and reliable for getting between residential areas and campuses, particularly from Highfields and Clarendon Park.
By bike
Cycling is genuinely popular in Leicester and one of the quickest ways to get around the city. The council has invested significantly in cycle paths over the years, and most student accommodation in Leicester has secure bike storage. The Santander Cycles Leicester hire scheme operates across the city for students who don’t have their own bike. Both university campuses and the main student neighbourhoods are easily connected by bike, and the River Soar corridor offers a pleasant traffic-free route through the city.
By train
Leicester railway station sits on the Midland Main Line, with frequent direct services to London St Pancras in around an hour. It is also well connected to Nottingham, Birmingham, Coventry, and Sheffield. The station is around a 15-minute walk from both university campuses and is useful for travelling in and out of the city rather than for getting around locally.
Clarendon Park
Clarendon Park is consistently the most sought-after student area in Leicester. Centred on Queens Road, this neighbourhood about 15 minutes’ walk south of the University of Leicester campus has the feel of a proper village high street, with independent cafes, bookshops, pubs, and restaurants. It is popular year-round with both students and long-term residents, which gives it a more balanced atmosphere than some purely student-dominated areas. Properties here tend to go quickly once the letting season opens.
Highfields
Highfields is one of the most popular areas for student accommodation in Leicester, sitting between the city centre and the University of Leicester campus. It is more affordable than Clarendon Park, and its position makes it convenient for both university and city centre. The area has a diverse range of restaurants and takeaways, and Victoria Park is on its doorstep, making it a particularly good choice for University of Leicester students who want to be close to campus without paying city centre prices.
City centre
The city centre attracts students from both universities, thanks to its central location and easy access to shops, nightlife, and transport links. De Montfort University’s campus sits within the city centre itself, making it a natural base for DMU students in particular. The Lanes, Leicester Market, and the majority of the city’s bars and restaurants are all on the doorstep, and several of the private student accommodation buildings listed on Mystudenthalls.com are based here.
Evington
Evington is a quieter residential area to the east of the city, popular with students looking for more affordable rents and a calmer environment. It is further from both campuses than Highfields or Clarendon Park, but bus routes into the city centre and out to the universities are regular. Evington Park is a pleasant local green space, and the area has a good range of local shops and takeaways.
Stoneygate and Knighton
Stoneygate and Knighton are leafier, more residential neighbourhoods south of Clarendon Park, occasionally chosen by postgraduate students or those who prefer a quieter base. They are further from the city centre but offer attractive Victorian housing and easy access to the green spaces in south Leicester.
Leicester’s student letting season tends to move a little later than in some other university cities. Most students begin searching from October or November, with demand peaking around November and most students having secured accommodation by February. First-year students and international students looking for private student accommodation in Leicester should ideally start searching in January at the latest, as the best rooms in popular areas like Clarendon Park and Highfields fill up quickly. That said, rooms remain available throughout the year, and if you are searching later in the cycle there are still good options.
Leicester is consistently well-regarded by students. It regularly appears in top student city lists, with strong scores for affordability, social life, and cultural offer. The combination of two universities, a diverse and welcoming city, strong public transport, and some of the lowest accommodation costs of any major UK student city makes it an easy place to settle into. The size of the student population, around 45,000 across both universities, means there is always plenty going on, but the city never feels overwhelming.
The most popular areas for student accommodation in Leicester are Clarendon Park, which is the most competitive and sought-after neighbourhood particularly for University of Leicester students, Highfields, which offers good value and easy access to campus, and the city centre, which is especially popular with De Montfort University students given that DMU’s campus sits within it. Evington and Stoneygate are also used by students looking for quieter or more affordable options.
The University of Leicester campus is located south of the city centre, next to Victoria Park. It is a traditional campus university with a compact, self-contained site and its own sports centre, arts facilities, and green spaces. De Montfort University is based in the city centre itself, with buildings spread across the western edge of the city core, close to the Newarke and Castle Park areas. This means DMU students tend to be right in the middle of things from day one, while University of Leicester students benefit from a more classic campus feel with the city a short walk away.
Leicester is one of the most affordable student cities in the UK. Accommodation costs are lower than in cities like Bristol, Leeds, or Manchester, and day-to-day living costs, from food and transport to nights out, are very manageable on a student budget. The Golden Mile on Belgrave Road, Leicester Market, and the city’s wide range of independent food options mean that eating well without spending much is straightforward. Students who cycle rather than rely on buses can reduce their transport costs further.
The private student accommodation listed on Mystudenthalls.com in Leicester includes en-suite rooms in shared flats, self-contained studios, and shared apartments. En-suite rooms typically give you a private bedroom and bathroom with a shared kitchen and communal areas, while studios are fully self-contained with your own kitchen and bathroom. Most private student accommodation in Leicester includes all bills in the rent, covering electricity, gas, water, and broadband. For students who want more independence or are in their second year or beyond, privately rented houses are also widely available across Clarendon Park, Highfields, and Evington.
Most private student accommodation providers in Leicester will ask for a UK-based guarantor, usually a parent or guardian, as part of the booking process. If you are an international student or do not have a UK guarantor, many providers will accept a larger payment of rent in advance as an alternative. Guarantor services such as Housing Hand are also accepted by a number of Leicester providers for students who need a third-party option. It is worth checking the specific policy with each provider before applying.
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