Where to live in London after you graduate

On this page you will find:

• Information on North London
• Information on South London
• Information on East London
• Information on West London

Please note that prices will have increased since this was written in February 2022.

Worried about what's next whilst living in London after you graduate? Unsure of whether you'll be able to live like the student life you were living before? Well, we've got you covered.

We have chosen 8 locations in London that we feel are the most student and graduate friendly as rated by our top chosen criteria, including cost of living, transport, food, shopping and of course not to forget - the entertainment side of things. 

As dictated by the points of the compass, we've gone with - North, East, South and West London areas. Within each part of London, we have picked 2 locations. One a little closer to the centre and one a little further out. Take a further look below - there is something for everyone, no matter where you're situated in London!

North London

Camden

• Average cost of renting a room - £743 - £859 per month
• Cost travel pass from Zones 1-2 - £147.50 per month
• Types of big supermarkets nearby (within 1km of Camden Town Station) - Tesco Express, Sainsbury's, Aldi Local
• Activities and entertainment (within 1km of Camden Town Station) - Mission Breakout: Escape Room, London Transport Museum, Camden Market, London Zoo, The Boma Garden Centre, Amy Winehouse Statue, FEST Camden, Simmons Bar Camden Town
• Green space/Parks - (within 1km of Camden Town Station) - Primrose Hill, Camden Gardens, Regents Park, St Martins Gardens, Castle Haven Community Park

Camden is possibly the most popular place for students and young people living in London. Being in the heart of London, it's renowned for some of London's most eccentric clothing, old cobbled streets and celebrity spotting. 

It's perfect for shopping, with many main high street retailers and independent shops in sight. Of course not to forget the entertainment aspect with Camden being home to one of the many hot spots where London's best night life takes place.

"Camden is a lively, bustling part of London, famed for its market, nightlife and music scene. There is always something interesting happening, even if you’re just people watching! Camden is well connected, with the Northern Line making it easy to get back into central London as well as being a stone’s throw from Hampstead Heath where you can enjoy long walks and views back across London." - Owain.

Finsbury Park

• Average cost of renting a room - £678 - £745 per month
• Cost of monthly travel pass from Zones 1-2 - £147.50 per month
• Types of big supermarkets nearby (within 1km of Finsbury Park Station) - Tesco Express, Finsbury Food Market, Lidl, Sainsbury's Local
• Activities and entertainment (within 1km of Finsbury Park Station) - Rowans Tenpin Bowl, Emirates Stadium, Muslims in Britain Museum, Finsbury Park Tennis Courts, Finsbury Leisure Centre, Park Theatre, The Castle Climbing Centre, Park Theatre
• Green space/Parks (within 1km of Finsbury Park Station) - Finsbury Park, Woodfall Park, Isledon Gardens

Known as one of London's most sprawling areas, Finsbury Park moved from being a largely Irish area to a mix of communities over the past 50 years. Finsbury Park is very popular amongst students and new graduates in London. The area has pretty much all the main high street stores you're familiar with as well as lots of independent shops from around the world selling unique and delicious produce. So if one night you fancy a takeaway, whether that's Indian, Italian or Chinese, you'll have it all within walking distance!

The area has been going through a recent boom with its entertainment value, meaning there have been lots of cool bars and pubs popping up which just adds extra fun to evenings. Not to forget, Finsbury Park is a popular area for its transport links, with direct access to the Victoria line, which is widely regarded as the fastest tube line in London - no more excuses for being late!

"Just a few stops further north is Finsbury Park, a multicultural neighbourhood with Victorian houses, traditional pubs, Arsenal football club and of course the legendary Rowans Tenpin Bowling Alley." - Owain.

South London

Brixton

• Average cost of renting a room - £685 - £778 per month
• Cost of monthly travel pass from Zones 1-2 - £147.50 per month
• Types of big supermarkets nearby (within 1km of Brixton Underground Station) - Sainsbury's Local, Tesco Superstore, Iceland, Marks & Spencer's 
• Activities and entertainment (within 1km of Brixton Underground Station) - Ritzy Cinema and Cafe, Brixton Library, Black Cultural Archives Museum, Stockwell Skate Park, Brixton Village, POP Brixton, Brixton Brewery Tap Room, Big Splash Mural House Brixton
• Green space/Parks (within 1km of Brixton Underground Station) - Loughborough Park, St Matthew's Garden, Max Roach Park

Brixton is one of London's most popular areas, whether it be for renting or for nightlife. Located at the end of the super quick Victoria Line, you can get in to central London within a maximum of 15 minutes. The area is busy with some of the best restaurants and bars in South London.

Did you know Brixton once had its own local currency, known as the 'Brixton Pound'?!  Although not around anymore, it's a testament to the independent nature of Brixton which is why so many people are drawn to it.

"Brixton is a vibrant place to live and has a young population! The huge variety of shops, bars and restaurants mean you're never bored! You are truly spoilt for choice. It is also very well connected by bus, tube (Victoria line) and train so travelling around London is easy" - Alix. 

Tooting

• Average cost of renting a room - £589 - £647 p/m 
• Cost of monthly travel pass from Zones 1-3 - £173.60 p/m
• Types of big supermarkets nearby (within 1km of Tooting Underground Station) - Tooting Supermarket, Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local, Mark's and Spencer's
• Activities and entertainment (within 1km of Tooting Underground Station) - Tooting Leisure Centre, Hurricane Room, All Steps First Dance School
• Green space/Parks (within 1km of Tooting Underground Station) - Tooting Gardens, The Gate House, Gorringe Park

Tooting is still in its upcoming stages but has a lot to it. Just down the road from Clapham Common, Tooting provides direct links via the Northern Line, which makes getting in to central London fairly easy. Tooting is known for its own unique culture and vibe that has been found to suit the young adult generation in London. 

The entertainment value is made up for by the variety of food options that Tooting has to offer. From world food stores and supermarkets to a wide variety of restaurants, Tooting is bound to fulfil all your food cravings!

"Tooting really does blend that line between central London and great open space. Feels a bit like a village with the commons and parks surrounding it, plus Tooting Market. Also, you can be in central London in 20 minutes using the Northern Line." - Alix.

East London

Mile End

• Average cost of renting a room - £589 - £620 per month
• Cost of monthly travel pass from Zones 1-2 - £147.50 per month 
• Types of big supermarkets nearby (within 1km of Mile End Tube Station) - Low Cost Supermarket, Co-op Food, Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local
• Activities and entertainment (within 1km of Mile End Tube Station) - Mile End Climbing Wall, Mile End Leisure Centre and Stadium, Mile End Concrete Bowl and Skate Park, Revolution Karting, The Ecology Pavilion Mild End Park, PlayFootball, Grand Regent Tower
• Green space/Parks (within 1km of Mile End Tube Station) - Mile End Park, Chinese Pagoda, Meath Gardens, Victoria Park

You'll find that Mile End is full of students. Being the home of a Russell group university, Mile End has a lot to offer. Just down the road from the hustle and bustle of Liverpool Street and Aldgate, Mile End has all the amenities you would need. From supermarkets, to superb eateries and great transport links. Mile End is situated on the Central Line, which gets you to central London in just 10 minutes - however be prepared for one hell of a journey if you're travelling during peak times! 

"Mile End is seeing that upward swing of trendiness that Shoreditch saw 10-15 years ago. You get a great mix of students and young professionals, which creates a cool vibe. Having the Central Line, Hammersmith Line and District Line makes it really accessible too!" - Chris

Stratford

• Average cost of renting a room - £647 - £711 per month
• Cost of monthly transport pass from Zones 1-3 - £173.60 per month
• Types of big supermarkets nearby (within 1km of Stratford Tube Station) - Lidl, Sainsbury's Marks and Spencer's, Morrison's
• Activities and entertainment (within 1km of Stratford Station) - Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Westfield Stratford, The Cage, ZAP space Trampoline Park, All Star Lanes Stratford, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Amuse East, London Aquatics Centre, ArcelorMittal Orbit, Junkyard Escape Room, Copper Box Arena Raemers Skatepark
• Green space/Parks (within 1km of Stratford Tube Station) - Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, West Ham Park, Hackney Marshes, Wetlands Walk

The recent investment that has been made in Stratford has resulted in incredible modern touches to all aspects of the area. From great accommodation to excellent transport links, Stratford has a lot going on! 

Being not so far from the Olympic Park where the London 2012 Olympics were held, the area has been developed further on, especially with its activities and entertainment value. You will always find something to do there.

"Stratford is a big transport hub; being linked up to the Central line, Jubilee Line, DLR and TFL Line; making it easy to get in and out quickly. UCL is also opening its East London campus there in 2022/2023 so you're always going to have that UCL link. Westfield Centre has sooo much going on and you won't run out of things to do there." - Chris

West London

Shepherds Bush

• Average cost of renting a room - £554 - £685 per month
• Cost of monthly travel pass from Zones 1-3 - £173.60 per month
• Types of big supermarkets nearby (within 1km of Shepherds Bush Tube Station) - Waitrose, Lidl, Sainsbury's Local, Tesco Express, Marks and Spencer's
• Activities and entertainment (within 1km of Shepherds Bush Tube Station) - Westfield White City, Puttshack, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, Kensington Leisure Centre, Meat and Co Restaurant, K West Spa, Brew Dog Shepherds Bush, Vue Cinema Westfield, Kensington Palace
• Green space/Parks (within 1km of Shepherds Bush Tube Station) - Holland Park, Hammersmith Park, Avondale Park, Shepherds Bush Green, Fukushima Gardens

Shepherds Bush is the ideal location for those who want a bit of both - the city life and the town life. Surrounded by close links in to central London, you also have quick access to the more homely areas like Chiswick and Fulham. Whether it's large supermarkets and stores, great transport links or Westfield Shopping Centre  (the largest shopping centre in Europe), you'll find it all on your doorstep here. 

Not only with its added amenities, will you find a great sense of community and a wide variety of culture here with so much always going on. 

"West London has been my hometown since birth and for me it's always been improving and developing more and more. Shepherds Bush has great Underground and Overground connections and is a place I'm always visiting especially with Westfield Shopping Centre being right next to the station! I love going to Puttshack with my friends and playing some indoor mini-golf from time to time. Shepherds Bush is also right next to Kensington, so you have a good travel distance of whether you'd prefer to be in the city or if you'd prefer to stay local in town." - Nabihah

Hammersmith

• Average cost of renting a room - £566 - £671 per month
• Cost of monthly travel pass from Zones 1-3 - £173.60 per month
• Types of big supermarkets nearby (within 1km of Hammersmith Tube Station) - Iceland, Sainsbury's Tesco Express
• Activities and entertainment (within 1km of Hammersmith Tube Station) - Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, Lyric Hammersmith, Hammersmith Library, Fun Station Hammersmith, Brook Green Tennis Courts, Taco Bell Fast Food, Holland Park Japanese Gardens
• Green space/Parks (within 1km of Hammersmith Tube Station) - Ravenscourt Park, St Paul's Green, Holland Park, Furnivall Gardens 

One of the most attractive things about Hammersmith is that you are in a very close contact with the city but get to avoid the inner city rent prices. Being around the corner from Kensington, Fulham and Shepherds Bush and close to Richmond, Hammersmith is ideally located. You have the shops of Kensington and Shepherds Bush, the open spaces of Richmond and the excellent bars and pubs of Fulham. Hammersmith is definitely the place to be if you want to experience both the business of the city life but also the (somewhat) quiet of the town life. 

"Hammersmith is a good local town that has great connections direct to the city through the Hammersmith Line and District Line as well as the Piccadilly Line. Hammersmith is close to some lovely green spaces including Richmond Park, which is one of my favourite parks to visit in West London." - Nabihah

So what do you think? Of course all the costs are subject to change and are dependent on your individual situation. Living in the London can be super pricey but it can also be fairly affordable if you do your research and stay in search of the best and most cost effective deals in all aspects of your living.

Good luck!