UniHomes guide to

Colchester

Key Points Key Points Universities Universities FAQs FAQs All photos All photos

Uni Life in Colchester

Over 10,000 students call Colchester, the UK's oldest city, home. Housing the largest campus of the University of Essex, Colchester is student-oriented, offering fantastic on-campus facilities, bars, and much-needed affordability for those on a budget.
Student accommodation in Colchester can be found across the city. The city centre is popular, featuring houses with varying numbers of bedrooms to suit different groups. What’s more, there are a number of homes further out of the centre in the best student areas, including Old Heath and Wivenhoe, so have a research and take your pick!

Key reasons to study in Colchester

  • 1
    Affordable living

    As Colchester welcomes thousands of students to its streets each year, it certainly does its best to cater to them when it comes to affordability! Here, you can find reasonably priced student accommodation, get an affordable weekly food shop at Aldi or Lidl, and seek out a cheap pint at The Playhouse.

  • 2
    Efficient transport links

    Colchester city centre is fairly walkable, although there are also frequent buses from town to campus. If you want to go further afield, fast service trains can get you into London in under an hour. You can get to gorgeous Cambridge in under two hours, and you’ll be just a stone’s throw from the centre of Chelmsford.

  • 3
    Lively nightlife

    Colchester student life can be as vibrant as you want it to be with the city’s array of pubs, bars, and clubs. Rubix Bar & Nightclub is popular on Friday and Saturday nights, while The Silk Road Lounge & Cocktail Bar offers some fantastic signature cocktails if you’re looking for a bit of class. Alternatively, Sub Zero will serve you up some great deals right in the heart of campus.

  • 4
    Diverse activities

    The University of Essex features more than 70 student-led societies, so there’s always something to get involved with, whether you like anime, origami, Spanish, theatre arts, or anything else! Elsewhere, you can find fun activities like indoor climbing at Colchester Climbing Project, spotting animals in Colchester Zoo, or getting some retail therapy at Culver Square.

  • 5
    Green spaces

    Colchester student life can be spent trying to catch rays after lectures in the warmer months, most notably at the city’s award-winning Castle Park. Bourne Valley features lovely woodland walks, and High Woods Country Park is definitely something to snap for the ‘gram.

  • 6
    Arts and culture

    Art and history lovers will feel right at home in Colchester, with free exhibitions at Firstsite and the chance to wander the Norman Colchester Castle. Colchester’s Natural History Museum offers the perfect way to spend a rainy day, and students may also be interested in the Colchester Arts Centre.

Rubix Bar & Nightclub is popular on Friday and Saturday nights, while The Silk Road Lounge & Cocktail Bar offers some fantastic signature cocktails.

UniHomes City Guide

Universities in Colchester

University of Essex (Colchester Campus)

Picture of University of Essex (Colchester Campus)

The University of Essex’s Colchester Campus is this institution’s main campus, drawing in around 10,000 students from over 140 countries worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Colchester student life is highly regarded for its affordability, nightlife, and culture. It features quite a close-knit student community and lots to get involved with on campus.
The nightlife is a highlight of student life in Colchester, and the best thing is that it is diverse, featuring everything from traditional pubs to lively nightclubs. Triology is said to be Colchester’s largest nightclub, where you can dance the night away until 3 AM on the weekend.
With its vast array of amenities, it's unsurprising that the city centre is typically the most searched for student area in Colchester. However, Old Heath, Greenstead, and Wivenhoe are also popular if you're looking for something a little more out of the hustle and bustle.
Whilst the University of Essex's Colchester Campus has plenty of study spaces, as well as the Albert Sloman Library, you can find many student-friendly coffee shops to hit the books in town. The Passage House, Cafélato, and The Little Cafe are all top picks.

What students are saying about us

Trustpilot