Student Accommodation Nottingham: Areas, Costs & Guide (2026)

Quick links:

• Where to live in Nottingham? Breaking down the city’s best student neighbourhoods
• Average rent costs
• Average student accommodation rent by area in Nottingham
• Private student housing vs. Purpose-built halls: Which is right for you in Nottingham?
• Making sense of student bills
• Student bills packages
• Notts student life sorted

Nottingham is a student favourite. It’s got great live music, loads of independent food spots, and plenty of culture and green spaces.

Home to two universities: the University of Nottingham (Uni Park and Jubilee Campus, west of the city) and Nottingham Trent (city centre), plus a few colleges, the city is home to thousands of students from all over the UK and beyond.

Nottingham student accommodation is typically cheaper than London or even Manchester, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to sacrifice any of the student experience.

It’s also super easy to get around Nottingham, with reliable trams and buses connecting the student-friendly neighbourhoods. Getting from lectures to your student house, and then on to socials, is pretty low-stress compared to bigger cities.

This guide breaks down the best Nottingham neighbourhoods for students, typical rent costs, and how to stay on top of your student bills. You can also check out our student moving guide or explore our guides to other cities if you’re still weighing up your options.

Keep reading to learn more about student accommodation in Nottingham.

Where to live in Nottingham? Breaking down the city’s best student neighbourhoods 🗺️

Nottingham’s a major city in the East Midlands with solid transport links. It’s busy without being too hectic, and there are loads of parks and green spaces around when you need a break from city life.

There are student hubs scattered across Nottingham, and each one has its own vibe. Here are some of the most popular areas for students:

Lenton: Classic student hotspot 📍

• Right next to the University of Nottingham’s main campus
• A 10-15-minute bus journey into the city centre for Nottingham Trent students.
• Mostly traditional student houses, plus a few modern student accommodation blocks.
• Loads of takeaways, pubs, and convenience shops, so everything you need is within walking distance
• Generally cheaper than living in the city centre, which is why it’s a top pick for second- and third-year students in house shares

Beeston: Chilled and well-connected🚊

• Just outside the city centre and right by the University of Nottingham, especially handy for Uni Park and Jubilee Campus
• Great tram links straight into town for Trent students
• Loads of cafes, pubs, shops, and independents along the high street
• Often better value for money than central areas, making it a solid choice if you want a bit more space (and peace)

Hockley: Trendy and central 🌆

• Part of the city centre, Hockley is one of Nottingham’s trendiest areas, packed with bars, cafes, vintage shops, and street food
• 10-minute walk to Nottingham Trent campus, and 10-minutes on the bus to UoN’s main campus
• Mostly flats and apartments rather than houses, including many purpose-built student accommodation blocks
• Lively day and night, especially popular if you love going out and being where the action is
• Usually pricier (and louder!) than outer student areas, but being amongst everything is what you’re paying for

West Bridgford: Quieter, but still close 🌳

• Just south of the city centre, with easy bus links straight into town
• Around a 10–15 minute walk to Trent’s Clifton Campus, and roughly 20–30 minutes by bus to the University of Nottingham
• More residential and relaxed than areas like Lenton or Hockley
• Close to loads of green space, including the Embankment along the River Trent
• Usually a bit pricier than classic student areas, but ideal if you want a calmer vibe and a bit more space

When it comes to choosing student accommodation in Nottingham, it mostly depends on which uni you’re at and the kind of lifestyle you want.

If you’re studying at the University of Nottingham, areas like Lenton and Beeston are popular thanks to short commutes to Uni Park and Jubilee Campus and a tight-knit student community.

For Nottingham Trent University students based at the City Campus, living in or around the city centre in places like Hockley or the Lace Market is super convenient.

If you’re at Trent’s Clifton Campus, areas to the south of the city, like West Bridgford, can make life a lot easier.

Wherever you end up, it’s important to be realistic about what you’ll pay. Let’s break down the average student accommodation costs in each area.

Average rent costs 💷

Let’s take a closer look at how much it costs to live in each area:

Types of student housing in Nottingham 🏘️

(Average rent costs as of December 2025)

Bills Included vs. Rent-Only?

There are two ways to pay your bills as a student: have them included in your rent or organised separately. With halls and purpose-built student apartments, you usually have bills included, which means you only have one payment to worry about each month.

In traditional student accommodation, you’ll most likely have to organise your own bills. If it’s your first time sorting your bills it can be confusing,, but you could make it easier with a Fused bills package.

Need help with budgeting and sorting bills yourself? Find out what to expect in our Nottingham student bills guide.

Average student accommodation rent by area in Nottingham🌲

Here’s what you can expect to pay for housing in each area:

(Average rent costs as of January 2026)

Private student housing vs. Purpose-built halls: Which is right for you in Nottingham? 🌇

Choosing student accommodation in Nottingham really comes down to three things: where you’re studying, how much you want to spend, and your lifestyle.

Student halls are a go-to for first years, especially if it’s your first time living away from home. It’s easy to budget, and you’ll meet friends easily. By the second year, most students are ready for the whole student house experience.

Not sure which option’s right for you? Here’s a quick breakdown of the two main types of student accommodation in Nottingham and how they stack up.

Purpose-built student halls (PBSA)

Student halls are either run by the university (most common for first years) or by private providers, which are popular with international students or anyone after self-contained living.

In Nottingham, most PBSA is based in Hockley and the wider city centre. That’s perfect if you’re an NTU student, especially at the City Campus, as everything’s walkable. If you’re studying at the University of Nottingham, you’ll usually be looking at a short bus or tram journey to campus instead.

Most halls come with bills included, on-site security, and en-suite rooms, so there’s very little to sort when you move in. It’s an easy, low-stress option if you’re new to uni life.

Guest policies can be pretty strict, so while overnight stays are often allowed…there are usually limits. They’re dead convenient, but often pricier than living in a student house and might not give you the level of independence you’re after.

Starting uni for the first time? Check out our uni packing guide to make sure you don’t forget the essentials.

Student housing

Sharing a student house or flat with your mates is a huge part of the uni experience.

Nottingham has loads of student-friendly spots, including Lenton, Beeston, Mapperley, and West Bridgford. It’s a pretty small city compared to the likes of Manchester, Birmingham, and London, so even if you choose to live further out, you’ll have no issue getting around.

Your student bills depend on your tenancy agreement. Some student houses include bills, but it’s most common to have to sort them yourself. You can either organise your own bills or create a bills package, which can be easily split between housemates.

House hunting 101: A checklist for group shares ✅

1. Start the house search ASAP
The best houses go first, so grab your mates and start looking for a house between November and January for the next academic year.

2. Find a guarantor
You’ll need a guarantor to sign for a student lease. This is a person who takes legal responsibility for the rent if you can’t pay. It’s usually a parent or guardian.

3. Gather your deposit
Each housemate needs to pay a deposit, usually this is around five weeks’ rent. Your landlord places this in a deposit protection scheme, and you’ll get it back at the end as long as there’s no damage to the house or inventory.

Moving from one house to another? Check out our guide to getting your deposit back.

4. Furnished or unfurnished?
Nottingham student houses usually come furnished with the basics like a bed, desk, and wardrobe. Not sure what to take? Read our guide on what to pack.

5. Check off the inventory on move-in day
Before you settle in, go around the house, take photos of absolutely everything, and check the inventory to ensure it's correct. You’ll need these pics as evidence if there are any disputes at the end of your tenancy.

Making sense of student bills 🧮

Found your dream student house? Woohoo! Don’t order that celebratory pizza just yet… you’ll need to sort the bills first.

Nottingham students need to budget for:

• Power: Gas and electricity
• Water
• Broadband
• TV Licence

As a student, you’re exempt from paying council tax, but you’ll need to tell Nottingham City Council, or you’ll get a bill in the post. Here’s how to let them know you're a student.

Average student bills in Nottingham 💳

Let’s take a quick look at the average bills for students in rent-only student houses in Nottingham:

Total bills per person per month (split between four housemates): £74

Student bills packages 📦

The last thing you want is to be chasing your housemates for their share of bills. A student bills package keeps things simple by rolling everything into one easy monthly payment.

With a Fused bills package, you can scroll, stream, and study with no hassle thanks to superfast broadband deals from providers like Virgin Media, BT, and Sky.

Keeping any student house warm can still get expensive. An unlimited energy package means no surprise bills, and no stress or arguments about turning the heating on when it’s freezing outside.

Notts student life sorted ☑️

Nottingham is a great shout for students. It’s affordable but still has plenty to do, and is home to two great unis.

University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are based in different parts of the city, so commute times, rent, and overall living costs can vary quite a bit depending on where you choose to live.

Whether you’re moving into halls in first year, house hunting in your second or third year with friends in places like Lenton or Beeston, or going for city-centre living, planning ahead makes the whole thing way less stressful.

Once you’ve found the right place, sorting your bills doesn’t have to be another thing on your to-do list.

Keep things simple with Fused. Bundle energy plus your choice of broadband, TV package, and TV licence into one simple monthly payment, split evenly between housemates.

No more awkward money chats, and more time to actually live your best Nottingham student life.

A-Z of student accommodation in other cities

• Birmingham student accommodation guide
• Bristol student accommodation guide
• Glasgow student accommodation guide
• London student accommodation guide
• Manchester student accommodation guide