
Ultimate Student Guide to Leeds
Not sure where to live next year? Get opinions from real students about the area.
View GuideStudent areas in Leeds
Student Accommodation in Leeds
Leeds, a bold and lively city perfectly encapsulated by the Leeds United football chant ‘Marching On Together’, is hugely popular with students from all over the world thanks to its five universities – the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds Art University, and the University of Law (Leeds).
It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to looking for somewhere to live in a city this big, but as the biggest dedicated website for Leeds student accommodation, we at UniHomes are here to help you feel right at home.
Simply browse our selection of properties from over 50 Leeds student letting agents and filter by size, area and price to find the perfect place for you to live during your studies. Your next student house in Leeds has never been closer. Search it, secure it, sort it.
The Leeds student housing market: everything you need to know
How much does student accommodation in Leeds cost?
Student accom in Leeds can cost as little as £36 or as much as £434 per person per week, but it averages out at around £145. As with everything you’ll find on UniHomes, all bills are included in the price of rent, giving you one less thing to worry about and making the search for student housing in Leeds that much easier.
When does the Leeds property season run from and to?
Be warned – the hunt for student houses in Leeds starts early, meaning that competition becomes fierce as soon as October hits. Things don’t slow down until March, either, with November being particularly hectic when it comes to searching for student housing in Leeds.
If you want to avoid the stress of racing to find the perfect student house for next year, start scouring the UniHomes website in early October; better yet, join the early birds who begin searching in September.
Which areas of Leeds are most popular with students?
Hyde Park is definitely the most desirable location for student homes in Leeds. As well as being home to actual park Woodhouse Moor, it’s also a bustling student hub with plenty of residential accommodation to go around. If you live in student housing in this Leeds area, you’ll find yourself only a short 15 mins walk away from the University of Leeds in one direction, and an even shorter walk away from some very popular social spots – Hyde Park Book Club (which is actually a bar) and music venue Brudenell Social Club (which hosts a mix of local and internationally-renowned bands) are particularly great places to start your night out right.
A bit further out of the city you’ll find Headingley. This popular suburb is famous for a few things, namely its cricket and rugby stadiums, its great range of pubs and restaurants, and for being the starting point of The Otley Run. There’s a reason Headingley is often the first choice for student homes in Leeds.
Other areas you might look at include Woodhouse, which puts you right on the edge of the UoL campus, or the City Centre itself. Where the Woodhouse scene is more relaxed (think community pubs such as The Chemic Tavern), the City Centre is a thriving social hubbub filled with clubs and bars like Mean Eyed Cat and Viaduct. Love checking out new music? Give The Key Club a go for alternative/emo vibes, or head to Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen for indie gigs and great food. Imagine living in a Leeds student house right around the corner from all this…
Which house sizes are most in demand with students from Leeds?
The most popular student houses in Leeds are undeniably 4-beds, with 2-, 3-, 5- and 6-bedroom places not far behind. 1-bed flats for students in Leeds aren’t as in demand though, so you’ve got a little more time to look for somewhere if you’re after living by yourself. The same goes for 7-bedroom homes – clearly that cramped and crowded living style is not the way to go in Leeds, but if it is for you then you should find it easier than most to bag somewhere with your friends for next year’s accommodation.
Student life in Leeds
Life in Leeds is never dull. It’s such a vibrant, lively city that it would take forever for us to list everything that there is to do here, and, well, who has the time? Instead, let us give you a quick snapshot of life in Leeds – from retailers to restaurants, bookshops to bars, there’s no denying that the world (or rather Leeds) is your oyster.
To start with, shopping is no joke in Leeds. The City Centre offers loads of high-end and household brands, nestled on the high streets and tucked away in vast malls like the Trinity Shopping Centre, the Merrion Centre and the Victoria shopping arcade. If you head further out of the city you’ll find the White Rose Shopping Centre which is hugely popular for both shopping and dining.
If you prefer shopping small, keep your eyes peeled for the hundreds of independent retailers that are hidden round every corner in Leeds. In fact, the Corn Exchange is a great place to start for this; this Victorian trading venue has been beautifully transformed into a creatively-driven mall that houses indie plant shops, homeware stores and fashion retailers, all spanning two floors of this stunning building. Need to spruce up your uni room? Give the Corn Exchange’s On The Wall a visit for an extensive and carefully-curated selection of posters, prints and postcards.
If you’re after a spot of culture, then head on over to the First Direct Arena, the O2 Academy, The Brudenell, Leeds Playhouse or Leeds Grand Theatre for everything from live music to West End shows and comedy.
Leeds also has more places to eat and drink than you could possibly tick off during a three-year degree, but we encourage you to try! If you fancy a proper meal to fill you up before going out for the night, then make sure you book a table at Sarto for amazing handmade pasta dishes and cocktails.
Hearty plates like the ones served at Sarto really are ideal for lining your stomach before giving the 17-pub Otley Run a go, trust us – though you might get some funny looks if you show up to your reservation in the famous pub crawl’s standard fancy dress uniform…
To find out more about student life in Leeds, check out UniHomes Brand Ambassador (and current Leeds student!) Jomana's video recapping her 2024 in Leeds.
Did you know?
We’ve all been there and spent way too much whilst on a night out, don’t worry. Luckily, if you’re a Leeds Beckett student you no longer have to panic over how you’re going to afford getting home to your Leeds student housing safely – take advantage of the uni’s partnership with the taxi company Veezu, where all you have to do is show your student ID and the SU will cover your fare for 72 hours. It’s reassuring to know that if you’ve blown your budget for the night, LBU and Veezu have your back and will make sure you get home safe and sound.
Read more about student life in Leeds
Check out our blog posts on fun things to do in Leeds while you're a student and the most Instagram-worthy places in Leeds.
What students in Leeds say about using UniHomes
Trustpilot user Nathan says:
"Best services for university housing. I used UniHomes in Leeds while I was studying there and the service provided was perfect. Now I'm looking for a house in Sheffield since moving university and the experience has been fast, alongside great customer service. Could not recommend them enough!"
Aidan says:
"Helpful and easy to use. The website was very clear and presented all the important information concisely. I found there was no information I needed that wasn’t already listed. I also found the search filters were very helpful, which made narrowing down options a lot easier. There wasn’t anything I really found wrong during my experience."
Elenor states:
"UniHomes is fantastic for filtering the kind if student home me and my friends were looking for, including the area of Leeds we wanted to stay, the price and how many bedrooms we wanted. It is easy to get into contact with agencies and landlords, with a fast response."
