Find Homestay by School
Choose your school or university and we'll show you the best London areas for your homestay, with transport links and location guides.
How London zones work for homestays
Most London schools and universities are in Zones 1 and 2. Most homestays are in Zones 2 to 4. This is normal — very few families live in central London, and those that do rarely have spare rooms.
A homestay in Zone 3 typically means a 25 to 40 minute commute by tube. That is a standard London commute and what most working Londoners do every day.
A common mistake: Students sometimes ask for Zone 1 or "central London" homestays, expecting to walk to their school. In practice, Zone 1 homestays are extremely rare, significantly more expensive, and often a smaller room in a busier household. Students who choose a Zone 2 or 3 homestay on a direct tube line to their school almost always get a better experience — a larger room, a quieter home, and a host with more time for them.
Click to enlarge Map by Sameboat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. See official TfL zone guide
Universities
London has over 40 universities. Here are the ones our students attend most often, with recommended homestay areas based on transport links and commute times.
University College London (UCL) WC1E 6BT Zone 1
Most students live in Zones 2–3 on the Northern or Victoria line. Direct routes from Balham, Clapham and Wood Green.
King's College London — Strand WC2R 2LS Zone 1
Well connected by Northern, Bakerloo and District lines. Zones 2–3 south or north of the river work well.
King's College London — Guy's Campus SE1 1UL Zone 1
Near London Bridge. Northern line south (Balham, Clapham) or Jubilee line east (Stratford) both work.
London School of Economics (LSE) WC2A 2AE Zone 1
Zone 1 homestays are extremely rare. Students on the Northern or Piccadilly line from Zones 2–3 have the best experience.
Imperial College London SW7 2AZ Zone 1
South Kensington on the Piccadilly and District lines. Zones 2–3 southwest (Wimbledon, Earlsfield) or west (Chiswick) are ideal.
Queen Mary University of London E1 4NS Zone 2
Mile End on the Central, District and Hammersmith & City lines. Stratford and Ilford are close; south London also reachable via the District line.
SOAS University of London WC1H 0XG Zone 1
Near Russell Square on the Piccadilly line. Direct access from Wood Green, and Northern line from south London.
City, University of London EC1V 0HB Zone 1
Near Angel on the Northern line. Good access from both north London (Wood Green, Bounds Green) and south (Clapham, Brixton).
University of Westminster W1B 2HW Zone 1
Near Oxford Circus — one of the best-connected stations in London. Almost any Zone 2–3 area with a direct line works.
University of Greenwich SE10 9LS Zone 2–3
Served by DLR and National Rail. Stratford (DLR direct) is the strongest link. Also reachable from south London via London Bridge.
Middlesex University NW4 4BT Zone 3
Hendon Central on the Northern line. North London areas (Barnet, Wood Green, Enfield) keep your commute short.
University of Roehampton SW15 5PU Zone 3
Bus connections from Wimbledon, Southfields and Putney. Southwest London areas are the natural fit.
Kingston University KT1 2EE Zone 6
Kingston is already a residential area. Rail to Wimbledon in 15 minutes opens up more options.
London Metropolitan University N7 8DB Zone 2
Holloway Road on the Piccadilly line. North London areas are closest; south London via Victoria or Northern lines.
University of East London E15 4LZ Zone 3
Stratford campus — Jubilee, Central and Elizabeth lines. Stratford and Ilford are the closest homestay areas.
Goldsmiths, University of London SE14 6NW Zone 2
Near New Cross and New Cross Gate (Overground and National Rail). South London areas (Clapham, Brixton, Balham) are the natural fit.
Birkbeck, University of London WC1E 7HX Zone 1
Bloomsbury, near UCL. Evening classes mean you travel against the rush. Zones 2–3 on Northern or Piccadilly lines.
London South Bank University SE1 0AA Zone 1
Near Elephant & Castle. Northern line south (Balham, Clapham, Tooting) gives a direct 10–20 minute commute.
University of the Arts London (UAL) WC1V 7EY Zone 1
UAL has six colleges across London — check which campus you will be at. This listing covers the High Holborn headquarters. Central Saint Martins is listed separately.
Central Saint Martins (UAL) N1C 4AA Zone 1
King's Cross. One of London's best-connected stations — Piccadilly, Northern, Victoria, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines.
Ravensbourne University London SE10 0EW Zone 2
North Greenwich on the Jubilee line. Stratford is 8 minutes by tube. Also reachable from south London via London Bridge.
Regent's University London NW1 4NS Zone 1
Regent's Park. Baker Street station nearby — Metropolitan, Jubilee, Hammersmith & City and Bakerloo lines.
University of West London W5 5RF Zone 3
Near South Ealing (Piccadilly line) and Ealing Broadway (Central, District, Elizabeth lines). West London and Wembley areas keep your commute short.
Language Schools
English language schools are spread across London. The best homestay area depends on where your school is and what transport links are nearby.
Speak Up London W1D 2JA Zone 1
Oxford Street area. Well connected by Central, Bakerloo, Victoria and Northern lines from all directions.
ES London WC1H 0AA Zone 1
Near Euston. Northern line from south London or Piccadilly line from north London — both under 30 minutes from Zone 3.
Stafford House London WC1A 2DA Zone 1
Bloomsbury. Piccadilly line direct from Wood Green; Northern line from Balham and Clapham.
Twin English Centre SE10 9GB Zone 2
Greenwich. DLR from Stratford is the most direct route. Also reachable from south London via rail to London Bridge.
EC London NW1 1AD Zone 1
Euston area. Excellent Northern and Victoria line access. Queen's Park and Kilburn are especially close.
Nacel English School N3 1XP Zone 3
Finchley on the Northern line. North London areas mean a short commute — Barnet, Wood Green and Enfield are closest.
CES Wimbledon SW19 3NW Zone 3
Wimbledon on the District line and National Rail. Local areas (Earlsfield, Southfields) mean a very short commute.
Sprachcaffe London W5 3TJ Zone 3
Ealing. Central and District lines plus the Elizabeth line. West London areas keep your commute under 20 minutes.
St Giles International — Central London WC1B 5JX Zone 1
Near Russell Square. Piccadilly line from north London; Northern line from south London.
St Giles International — Highgate N6 5QP Zone 3
Highgate on the Northern line. North London areas are closest — Barnet, Wood Green, Enfield.
Kaplan International London WC1A 2DA Zone 1
Bloomsbury (same area as Stafford House). Piccadilly and Northern lines from Zones 2–3.
BSC London WC1V 7PZ Zone 1
Central London (Holborn area). Piccadilly line from north London; Northern line from south London.
Malvern House London N1 9JP Zone 1
Near Angel. Northern line gives direct access from both north and south London areas.
The London School of English W14 8DZ Zone 2
West Kensington on the District line. Ealing and Chiswick westbound; Wimbledon and Earlsfield eastbound.
Frances King School of English SW7 4SS Zone 1
Gloucester Road on the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines. Southwest London areas (Wimbledon, Earlsfield) are popular.
International House London WC2B 5LQ Zone 1
Covent Garden area. Central, Northern and Piccadilly lines nearby — well connected from all directions.
Wimbledon School of English SW19 4JZ Zone 3
Wimbledon. Local homestays mean you can walk or take a short bus ride. Kingston is 15 minutes by rail.
LSI London Central WC1E 7AH Zone 1
Bloomsbury near UCL. Piccadilly line from north; Northern and Victoria lines from south.
LSI London Hampstead NW3 5QA Zone 2
Swiss Cottage area. Jubilee and Northern lines nearby — north London areas or south via the Northern line.
Oxford International English — Greenwich SE10 8NB Zone 2
Greenwich. DLR from Stratford is the most direct route. Also reachable from south London via rail.
Bayswater College London W2 4SB Zone 1
Near Queensway. Central line gives fast access to west and east London. Queen's Park and Kilburn are nearby.
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