Getting Started
STEP 1
Complete Our Online Booking Form
To find your ideal homestay, firstly complete the simple online homestay booking form. We need to understand your specific requirements, including:
- When you plan to arrive and how long you’ll stay
- Your preferred location and type of accommodation
- Meal plan preferences
- Any special requirements (dietary, medical, or personal preferences)
- Your study or work location in London
On the booking form, you can also obtain a pricing estimate for your stay. Remember – the more information you provide and the more flexible you can be, the better we can match you with the right host family!
STEP 2
Initial Processing
Our dedicated team will begin working on your booking right away:
- Our team receives your form within minutes
- We begin matching you with suitable hosts
- We’ll check current availability
- We carefully consider all your requirements and preferences
STEP 3
Host Family Profiles
We’ll email you profiles of hosts that match your requirements on our system. Each profile provides detailed information about the host family, their home, and the local area, helping you make an informed decision about where you’d like to stay.
View a sample map showing some example host family profiles..
Please note that we have removed the option for directions, street view and to request host family preferences on this example
Note: For urgent bookings, we may offer one suitable matching homestay, in order to speed up the process.
Finding your host
STEP 4
Review and Choose
Take your time to review the options we send you. Each profile has been carefully selected to match your requirements:
- Look through the host family profiles
- Feel free to ask us any questions about the families
- Tell us your preferred options in order of priority
- Consider the location and travel time to your study/work place
STEP 5
Host Family Confirmation
Just as each student has their preferences, host families also choose which bookings they accept. This two-way matching process helps ensure a positive experience for everyone. We will:
- Contact your preferred hosts in priority order
- Confirm if they can accept your booking
- Let you know as soon as one of your preferred hosts accepts
- Keep you updated throughout the process
Please note: neither we nor our competitors offer a viewing service prior to making reservation. This is to protect the students, the host families and our agency. We have a team of trained accommodation assessors visit our host families to ensure they are suitable hosts and their accommodation is of a high enough standard.
Confirming Your Stay
STEP 6
Payment
Once a host family has accepted your booking request:
- We’ll send you an invoice for your stay
- Full payment is needed to confirm the booking
- Be sure to keep in touch if you need time to arrange payment
- We accept various payment methods for your convenience
STEP 7
Confirmation
Before we send your confirmation, please ensure you understand and accept our Homestays Rates, Student Guidelines and have read the Student FAQs (frequently asked questions) for homestays. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.
Once payment is received and all documents are reviewed, we’ll send:
- Official confirmation letter
- Host family contact details
- Arrival instructions
- Local area information
STEP 8
Contact Your Host
Start building a relationship with your host family:
- Introduce yourself by giving your host a call, dropping them an email or a WhatsApp message
- Arrange arrival time
- Share any dietary requirements or preferences
- Let them know if you have any questions about your stay
STEP 9
Prepare for Your Stay
Get ready to experience London life with your host family! We recommend:
- Planning your journey from the airport/station
- Packing appropriate clothing for the season
- Bringing any important documents you might need
- Making sure your travel insurance covers you for all eventualities
- Getting excited about your London adventure!
