As Britain’s oldest city and one of the best places to study in the UK, it’s no wonder that Colchester welcomes thousands of new students every year. Home to one of the University of Essex’s three campuses, the close-knit, supportive student community keeps this town feeling lively and exciting.

About Colchester

Whether you fancy yourself a bit of a history buff, or you simply want to live somewhere with a storied past, Colchester is the place for you. While much of the appeal lies in this market town’s collection of heritage sites, museums and galleries, rest assured that Colchester has much to offer in the way of modern entertainment and amenities.

Colchester Student Accommodation

You won’t be hard-pressed to find student housing in Colchester that suits your needs. Homes in the city centre come in all shapes and sizes – from new build apartments with modern furnishings to traditional maisonettes designed to accommodate big groups. Whatever you're after, there are properties to suit all preferences.

If you’re eager to live on campus but want to stay close to the action, try the vibrant student neighbourhood of Greenstead. Regular bus links will get you to class in under 15 minutes – they’ll also connect you back to the city centre, where you can meet up with friends and take advantage of the activities this historic town has to offer.

 

Just an hour from London, the historic town of Colchester is home to thousands of students who come from all over the world to benefit from high-quality education standards at the University of Essex.

Student life is more than just lectures and exams; in Colchester city centre you’ll find a wide selection of bars and clubs that keep the nightlife thriving. Love a bit of live music? Start your evening in the Bull, a bar that offers the best of the old charm and modern buzz of Colchester. They host regular open mics for budding troubadours to take the stage. If you fancy yourself a beer connoisseur, grab a pint at Three Wise Monkeys and stay for their famously good BBQ food (the lemon and pepper wings are sublime).

More of a cocktail drinker? You’ll feel right at home in V-Bar, a stylish yet wholesome 2-floor bar that regularly hosts themed nights. To nurse the hangover, pull up a seat at Trotters Bar & Kitchen where you can get a delicious full English on a budget.

From markets and fairs selling one-of-a-kind products to the best loved high street retailers, Colchester has much to offer in the way of shopping. Whether independent boutiques are your thing or you’re a sucker for something designer, the city centre is buzzing with shops to help you to de-stress after a hard-day's study.

If shopping isn’t your idea of a day out, don’t worry – there’s plenty more activities on offer. Make friends with the wildlife at Colchester Zoo, Go Bananas at Colchester’s trampolining park, practise your swing at the bowling alley or soak up the sights with a relaxing stroll through Castle Park.

If you’re the outdoorsy type, you’ll be blessed in Colchester with a selection of hiking and cycling trails that snake throughout the picturesque countryside. If you’re eager to take advantage of the city’s many museums, we recommend the geological exhibits at the Natural History Museum. And, if a weekend trip to London isn’t up your street, you’ll also be a short train journey or bus ride away from Clacton, a gorgeous seaside town that is the place to be in summer for students. 

 

Students coming to study at the University’s Colchester Campus will be pleased to know the community here is one of the best in the UK. And, when it comes to accommodation, there’s a range of options to suit every need. Since the university is located near Wivenhoe, students looking for somewhere scenic to settle down can opt for this quaint riverside village to call home.

Others prefer to live in the heart of Colchester’s city centre, where they're surrounded by independent boutiques, high street shops, student-friendly bars and go-to clubs. If you’re looking to get the best of both worlds, try searching for student homes in Greenstead – the properties here are spacious, affordable and are just fifteen minutes away from both the campus and town centre in either direction. A network of transport links makes getting around Colchester easy, no matter where you choose to live.

UniHomes is always looking for ways to make life easier for current and soon-to-be students. Whether you’re looking for a large property with a number of bedrooms to accommodate a group of friends, or you're just seeking a modern apartment for two, we have a wide selection of student homes in Colchester to suit your needs. All of our properties are within close proximity to local amenities and transport links, so you’ll never have to go too far to get what you need. The best part? We bundle up the cost of bills into the cost of your monthly rent to make budgeting a breeze.