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.

Looking for student accommodation in Canterbury yourself? UniHomes has you covered. From terraced houses right by the University of Kent campus to contemporary student flats in Canterbury’s city centre, you’ll have a wide range of options to choose from. Plus, we keep things simple for students, packaging up the utility bills as part of the weekly rent so you know exactly how much to set aside for your accommodation from the get-go.

The Canterbury student housing market: everything you need to know

How much does student accommodation in Canterbury cost?

According to UniHomes, student housing in Canterbury averages out at around £143 per person per week, but can cost as little as £103 PPPW or as much as £297 PPPW. Don’t forget – all rent prices you see on the UniHomes website also cover the cost of utilities, leaving you free to focus on studying and socialising.

When does the Canterbury property season run from and to?

When it comes to Canterbury student accommodation, the letting season starts off strong in early November; this month is one of the most popular amongst students for house hunting, and 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.

Demand continues throughout December before skyrocketing in January, where we see a strong surge of students who have returned after the Christmas break, all full of vigour and determination to score next year’s home-away-from-home.

Which areas of Canterbury are most popular with students?

Student housing in Canterbury is most popular towards the north of the city in Hale’s Place, close to where the University of Kent's sprawling campus sits, as well as being where most of Canterbury's student accommodation is located (according to Canterbury City Council and the Planning Advisory Service). Don't just take it from us that Hales Place is popular, though – in 2024, Canterbury City Council shared that the whole of 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, Hale’s 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.

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 lie in the heart of the city, sitting in the shadow of the historic and grand Canterbury Cathedral. They offer a slice of living that’s nothing short of cultural and lively, thanks to the abundance of museums, pubs, cafés, bars and bookshops that line the medieval streets. Anyone living in Canterbury student houses in these areas is bound to fall in love with the charm and history that envelops the city centre and the King’s Mile.

Which house sizes are most in demand with students from Canterbury?

4-bedroom places are definitely the most popular type of student accommodation in Canterbury, followed by 3-beds and 5-beds. It’s clear that the students of Canterbury value living with a handful of the nearest and dearest – those friends-for-life that you make in uni and never let go of.

You’re in luck if you fancy living it up at either end of the spectrum, though, as it’s both those huge 7-bedroom mini-mansions and those cosy 1-bed student flats in Canterbury that are the least popular with students in this city. If you’re after one of these kinds of Canterbury student houses, you’ll have more time than most to find the perfect home for yourself (and your mates, if that’s what you’re going for).

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.

Canterbury is also lucky enough to be home to two train stations, meaning that even bigger and louder nights out (or shopping-fuelled day trips) in nearby London are only a short train ride away.

This city really is the place to be. Don’t just take it from us, though; check out UniHomes Brand Ambassador Lucy’s videos showing Canterbury in autumn and spring to see for yourselves just how gorgeous and lively Canterbury is.

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.”