What Is a Homestay in London?

A homestay means living as a guest in someone’s home while you study. You get your own bedroom, share the common areas, and live alongside a host where English is spoken as a matter of course, not as a teaching exercise, just as daily life. It’s not a hotel, and it’s not a flat share.

For students on short courses, it’s usually the most practical starting point. Renting privately in London often means deposits, references, and minimum contract lengths that rarely suit an eight or twelve-week stay. A homestay cuts through most of that. You agree dates, you arrive, you’re set up.

Why most students are glad they chose it

The thing that surprises people is how quickly the English moves. You’re using it from the moment you wake up, in the way language actually works: a question about the area, a conversation while the kettle boils, picking up how people here actually phrase things. It’s the best way to turn classroom English into real confidence. Students who’ve lived in halls or house-share setups with other international students often notice the difference immediately.

London is also a big city and, in the first week or two, a genuinely disorienting one. Having somewhere that already feels settled, a host who knows the local buses, someone to ask about transport or local life, makes the rest of it easier to absorb. Regular meals and household routines give you a structure to rely on while everything else is new.

What daily life looks like in a London homestay

Your bedroom is your own. Private and furnished. Beyond that, it depends on the household. Some hosts are sociable; some are quieter. We match students with that in mind, alongside location and travel time to school.

The basic expectations are what you’d have in any shared home: let your host know if you’ll be late or miss dinner, keep shared spaces as you’d want to find them. Nothing more demanding than that.

There’s no curfew for adult students. You have your own key and manage your own timetable for classes and social life. We just ask that you’re considerate about noise if you’re coming back late, the same thing you’d expect from anyone you lived with. For more on day-to-day routines and house rules, see our homestay accommodation guide.

What’s included in a London homestay

Every placement includes:

• A private furnished bedroom with a single bed, desk and study chair, wardrobe or drawers, and bed linen
• Meal plan of your choice: most students book half board (breakfast and dinner)
• Wi-Fi included as standard, for study and daily use
• Household bills: electricity, gas, water and council tax are all covered
• Bed linen and towels provided and changed regularly by your host
• Laundry twice per week (typically one dark wash, one light)
• Use of shared areas: bathroom, living room and garden
• A house key so you can come and go independently

Your weekly fee covers all of this, so there are no surprise bills. It’s one of the things that makes homestay good value compared to renting, where bills, food and laundry are all separate costs.

Meal plans

Most students book half board: breakfast and dinner each day, prepared by your host. Dinner is typically served between 18:00 and 20:00 and might include pasta, roast chicken, curries, baked fish, stir-fries or hearty stews. Mealtimes are also one of the best opportunities for natural English conversation.

Bed and breakfast is a lighter option. Your host provides breakfast and you sort lunch and dinner yourself. Breakfast in British homes is usually self-service: toast, cereal, fruit, yoghurt, tea or coffee.

Self-catering gives you the freedom to prepare your own meals. You’ll have your own storage space in the kitchen and access to cooking facilities. It’s a good choice if you have specific dietary preferences or want more independence around food.

If you have dietary requirements or allergies, let us know when you apply and we’ll match you with a host who can accommodate them. Please also read our food allergies disclaimer.

Full details of each meal plan are on our meal plans page.

Who London homestays are for

Most of our guests are international students on English language courses, typically staying between four and twenty-four weeks. But homestays suit other people too.

• University students starting a degree or doing a semester abroad, who want somewhere settled before finding their own place
• Interns and young professionals on short-term work placements in London
• Medical professionals on clinical attachments or training rotations
• Students aged 16–17: we place under-18s individually, with additional safeguarding measures including enhanced DBS checks on hosts. Learn about our guardianship services
• Groups: schools and agencies book group homestay placements through us, with students placed in homes near each other. Group bookings

If your stay is between two weeks and a year and you’d rather live in a home than a hotel or halls, a homestay is probably the right fit.

“Coming to London I was very concerned about finding a place to live as the university did not have room for me in residence. Coming from another country alone, I wanted to find a place where I would feel comfortable and safe but didn’t know much about London. The options they sent me outlined all the important details and transit lines and I was able to find a homestay in an amazing area and have been having a great university experience due to this.”

— Mackenzie Krueger, university student from USA ★★★★★

“The home I stayed in was top-notch. I enjoyed exquisite meals, friendly people who wouldn’t hesitate to help me, and a beautiful area with public transportation within walking distance. I would definitely recommend it.”

— Tomas A, homestay student from Italy ★★★★★

How a London homestay compares to other options

Homestay vs renting privately

Renting privately gives you more independence, but it’s designed for longer stays. The deposit alone is often around five weeks’ rent, paid upfront before you’ve arrived. You’ll need a UK guarantor or proof of income, and most contracts run for twelve months. For a student here for a term or a summer, the numbers rarely add up.

Homestay vs student halls

Student halls work well for some, but the social mix tends toward other international students, which changes the language immersion side of things considerably. You’ll speak more of your own language than you planned to. Halls are also priced accordingly. A Zone 1 student room can easily run to £500 or more per week, without meals.

Homestay vs a house share

In a house share, you’re renting a room in a shared flat, often with people you haven’t met before. There’s no host looking out for you, no meals provided, and bills are typically split and variable. You won’t know who you’ll be living with until you arrive. For students new to London, it can be an isolating start.

A homestay gives you the structure and support of living with someone who’s chosen to welcome students, the language exposure that comes with an English-speaking household, and a cost that includes meals, bills, and laundry.

How much a London homestay costs

Prices depend on the zone and category of homestay. As a guide:

There’s a one-off booking fee of £50 per placement. General pricing information is on our prices page, and a full personalised quote is provided when you apply, as the final cost depends on your dates, meal plan, and any specific requirements.

How London Homestays works

We’ve been placing students in London homes since 2009 and are registered with the British Council as a homestay provider, one of a small number of agencies with that accreditation.

Here’s how the process works:

1. You apply online. Tell us your dates, school or workplace location, preferred meal plan, any dietary needs, and any preferences. Apply here
2. We find your match. We use your details to find the most suitable host and location, balanced against travel time to your school.
3. You confirm. We send you a full booking summary, including your host’s profile and key details about the home and family.
4. Pre-arrival information. Before you travel, you’ll receive the host’s address, contact details, and travel advice. We encourage you to contact your host and introduce yourself before arrival.
5. You arrive. Your host meets you, shows you around, and you settle in. You discuss routines like keys, bathroom times, and meal arrangements. You have a direct point of contact with us throughout your stay.

Most placements are confirmed within a few working days of applying. If you’re arriving soon, we can usually work to tighter timescales. Just let us know.

We place students across London, from Zones 2 to 6. If you’re not sure which area suits you best, our location guides cover over 80 London neighbourhoods with transport links, journey times, and local information.