Cambridge is a small but interesting city with many activities to do and historical sites to see. If you’ve chosen Cambridge as your place to study you’ll be living in one of the most prestigious university cities in the world.

You won’t need a car as the city centre is accessible only to pedestrians, but you’ll need a place to stay. And your best bet to find comfortable and reasonable student accommodation in Cambridge is Student.com.

You can choose from several student housing options in Cambridge. You can browse university housing by things like price, amenities, reviews, and location with our filters and see where all the properties are located with our map feature.

If you do happen to have difficulties in choosing one of our properties or want further information, don’t hesitate to give us a call or talk to us on live chat.

Get to know Cambridge

The county town of Cambridgeshire in the East of England is home to one of the UK’s elite universities and is rich in stunning architecture. Unlike many other towns in England, Cambridge escaped the destruction of the Second World War, so its historic buildings and narrow, medieval streets give the city a unique character.

These notable buildings, which span several centuries, along with its picturesque streets, gardens and surrounding countryside, make the city a popular destination for tourists and holidaymakers. Its relaxing outdoors and stunning natural beauty provide a feeling of being at one with nature inside a popular city.

Cambridge is a well-known university city so you can expect to meet a diverse array of people from different backgrounds as every year thousands of students from all corners of the globe head to the city to begin a new chapter in their lives. One of the most famous places to study in the world, Cambridge has been home to some of the greatest thinkers of the last 500 years. 

Cambridge is the town where: 

• The atom was first split
• The structure of DNA was first discovered
• Charles Darwin developed the theory of evolution
• Newton developed his theory of gravity
• The electron and neutron were discovered
• Stephen Hawking used to live and work

Cambridge also holds excellent transport links to the rest of the UK and is just 50 minutes away from London by train.

Student life in Cambridge

World-leading education isn’t the only thing that makes Cambridge a great student city.  

The historic and multicultural city is small but vibrant and has a wealth of fantastic attractions, social and cultural activities and events that capture the hearts of many. 

From museums to art galleries, cinemas, theatres, parks, restaurants, and pubs, there’s a lot that students can enjoy in Cambridge.

Cambridge is a place of continuous entertainment during the summer as you get to see the best of Cambridge from the river while travelling through the colleges on unusual flat-bottomed boats called "punts." You’ll definitely want to try punting at some point. Cambridge is one of the most recognisable punting locations in the UK. There are more punts on Cambridge’s River Cam than on any other river in the region.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Anglesey Abbey, The Backs and Wandlebury Country Park are good options for students to enjoy some serenity during their downtime.

Nightlife

A good night out to let off some steam is a big part of the university experience and there’s usually a packed calendar of student events to choose from in Cambridge.

There are over 100 pubs, as well as several nightclubs to head out to with your friends. The perennial student favourite Wetherspoons, Clare Cellars and Fez are all popular nightspots.

Cambridge Junction and the Corn Exchange are just a couple of a number of popular venues that highlight Cambridge’s vibrant music scene. There you’ll find gigs and shows hosting a wide range of major acts, as well as up-and-coming bands.

Festivals

The city is also home to several annual events such as the Folk Festival, the Food Festival and an independent film festival in addition to university-organised community programmes such as the Festival of Ideas and Cambridge Science Festival in April.

But there’s surely no better time for a student to unwind in Cambridge than the first half of June, thanks to Cambridge University’s legendary May Week.

What is May Week at the University of Cambridge?

May Week is the period at the end of the academic year, when students celebrate the end of their exams. A cause for great celebration amongst the students of the university, it is a week littered with parties, rowing races on the River Cam and all-night balls, known as May Balls or June Events.

Universities in Cambridge

If you’re studying in Cambridge, you’re most likely going to be studying at the world-famous University of Cambridge.

Having produced 90 Nobel Prize winners, 117 Nobel laureates, 11 Fields medal winners and some of the most famous British scientists, the university has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence and traditional scholarly values. This crown jewel of the UK universities serves more than 20,000 students from all corners of the globe in 31 colleges, of which two, Murray Edwards and Newnham, admit women only. 

The third oldest university in the world (established in 1209), Cambridge University often ranks among the very top universities in the world for teaching, research, and international outlook. The university is ranked as the 2nd best university in the world in the 2023 QS World University Rankings, and the best one in Europe.

Other universities in Cambridge include for example Anglia Ruskin University, which has a campus in the city, as well as the Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts.

Frequently asked questions about student housing in Cambridge

How do I apply for student lets in Cambridge?

Booking your student accommodation in Cambridge is nice and easy on Student.com. You can utilise the search filters, as well as our comparison and map tools to find the ideal property for you.

Once you’ve picked your favourite property, go to the property page by clicking ‘View rooms’. On the property page, choose your room and click ‘Book Now’ if you’re ready to book or ‘Enquire’ if you’d like some more information on the property. One of our booking consultants will be in touch with you soon to take you through the next steps and answer any questions you might have.

What are the different room types you offer for university housing?

On Student.com we offer three different types of rooms. Please note however, that all the properties we list don’t offer all three types of accommodation.

A Shared Room offers a shared bedroom, shared bathroom and shared communal areas.

A Private Room offers a private bedroom and, in some properties, a private bathroom as well. In others, you’ll share the bathroom with other students living in their own bedrooms. Any additional living spaces like kitchens and communal areas are shared.

An Entire Place offers a fully self-contained studio flat where you’ll have your own bedroom, bathroom and typically a small kitchenette with cooking facilities.

Are the properties furnished?

Most properties we list in Cambridge are fully furnished. However, make sure to check if this is the case with the property you’re interested in. You can see on the property page if the property is rented furnished or not.

Many properties don’t offer bedding or kitchen utensils though, so you’ll usually have to buy these yourself. You can purchase bedding and kitchen packs through our website and have them delivered straight to your accommodation.

Can you arrange a viewing for me?

Yes. If you can get to Cambridge before your course starts and would like to see the property before moving in, our booking consultants can arrange this for you. Many of the properties we list have a great selection of photos and videos on the property pages to give you an idea of what the rooms look like though, so you can easily book even without seeing the place for yourself.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

Yes, to secure your booking with your chosen property, you’ll be asked to pay a deposit. Your booking consultant will provide you with more information about this.