Student Accommodation in Canterbury

Nestled between England’s dazzling south-east coast and the lush Kent Downs National Landscape, Canterbury is a wonderful window into the Britain of old. As a cathedral city and UNESCO world heritage site, Canterbury is a deeply historical place whose streets are scattered with perfectly-preserved structures such as Roman walls, medieval churches and Middle-Aged pubs.

It’s this history that attracts students to flock in their thousands to Canterbury every year. Tempted to the city by the cultural scenes that surround the University of Kent, the University for the Creative Arts' Canterbury campus, and Canterbury Christ Church University, students from all over the world stay here in order to soak in Canterbury’s vibrant energy and become a part of history themselves.

Why UniHomes?

UniHomes' mission is to make student living stress-free, and since launching in Canterbury in 2021 we've helped thousands of students like you find their next student houses and flats with bills already included.

We work with a wide range of Canterbury letting agents so we can showcase the city's best student accommodation in one platform. With UniHomes it's far easier and quicker to compare listings from across the market and filter by number of bedrooms, bathrooms, area and price.

Plus, to make things even easier, utility bills are already packaged up in the weekly rent prices you see on UniHomes so you know exactly how much to set aside for your accommodation from the get-go. When you move in, we'll set you up with utility suppliers, saving you time and hassle.

The Canterbury student housing market: trends explained

With at least 9,000 students rushing to rent a student house or flat near their Canterbury campus each year (as stated by Canterbury City Council), you can imagine that the competition gets pretty fierce pretty quickly when student housing begins to be advertised on UniHomes in October and November.

Hales Place's popularity stems from its proximity to Kent Uni's sprawling campus and the wide range of student accommodation available there: it's especially good for finding 3-5 bed student houses, but you'll also find some flats and apartments.

In fact, in 2024, Canterbury City Council reported that the St Stephen's ward (which covers Hales Place) had been ranked by the Office for National Statistics as having the 17th highest proportion of student households out of all wards in England and Wales. It's no wonder that this pocket of Canterbury is so sought after amongst students; after all, Hales Place is a quiet, green suburb that’s only 20 minutes away from Kent Uni, 30 minutes away from the city centre on foot, and situated right on the doorstep of the lush Kent countryside.

Housing around St. Dunstan Street is also hugely popular with Canterbury students, owing to its proximity to both the city centre and Canterbury Christ Church University. This cosy part of Canterbury is home to a variety of cafés, takeaways and pubs, making it the perfect place to catch up with your mates and relax after a long day of lectures.

After somewhere more central? You can’t get any more central than the city centre and the King’s Mile; both of these areas sit in the shadow of the historic and grand Canterbury Cathedral, with an abundance of museums, pubs, cafés, bars and bookshops that line the medieval streets.

Last but not least, Wincheap's student housing's increasing popularity in recent years is due to its handy location near both Canterbury Christ Church Uni's Students' Union and Canterbury East train station, as well as being just south of the city centre.

More resources about student life in Canterbury

For such a small city, Canterbury manages to be jam-packed with pubs, bars and clubs – your student essentials, really. With a wide range of vibes to suit everybody, Canterbury’s buzzing nightlife scene consists of sticky dancefloors and thumping DJ sets at Club Chemistry, indie rock nights and themed cocktails at Tokyo Tea Rooms, and speakeasy vibes and sophisticated drinks at Privy.

Want something a little more laidback and quiet? Head over to the Parrot for a friendly atmosphere and some seriously good pub grub, or visit the Long Rest, Canterbury’s own board game café.

The wonderful thing about Canterbury is that all of these places are so easy to get to, no matter where you live. Most student areas are within walking distance of the city centre, and everywhere you go, you’ll find regular and accessible buses ready to take you to your destination.

• Our ultimate guide to student life in Canterbury
• UniHomes Brand Ambassador Lucy's TikTok tour of Canterbury in Autumn
• Lucy's highlights of Canterbury student life in Spring

Did you know?

Aside from being a deeply historic place, having been established as a settlement since prehistoric times, Canterbury also has a claim to fame in its many famous inhabitants, including (but not limited to): Pirates of the Caribbean actor Orlando Bloom, famed playwright Christopher Marlowe, and renowned children’s icons Bagpuss and Rupert Bear. Even singer Ellie Goulding and adventurer Steve Backshall attended university in Canterbury. Just think, you could be the next star to come out of this city.

What students in Canterbury say about using UniHomes

Trustpilot user Mbuso says:

“Excellent platform that’s easy to navigate. I appreciate the ability to search around a specific area.”

Trustpilot user Bolaa says:

"Great for people moving to Canterbury. It was helpful and allows me to see different properties."