[HDNG]IN COLLEGE:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Catered: 19% [BULL] Cost: ú66 (30wks) [BULL] Self-catering: 7% [BULL] Cost: ú65 (48wks)[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] The University guarantees accommodation to 1st years subject to some [ITAL]fairly strict [EITAL]conditions (early application, non-Londoners only). In practice, just under 2/3 live in. That leaves few places for 2nd years, finalists and postgrads. There are 3 catered halls and a block of self-catering flats (mainly for postgrads and not available for 1st years). [ITAL] The centres of sociability and spirit in the University revolve around the halls, or, to home in more accurately, around the halls' bars.[EITAL] Northampton or 'Notty' Hall (490 places), just a mile from Northampton Square right by the Barbican, is the largest; in fact, it's the tallest student building in Europe. The Finsbury Residency (325 places) is a bit closer. All the rooms are single but halls are all mixed, although some floors are single sex. The self-catering flats in the Pear Tree block are very modern and well-equipped, but there are nowhere near enough to go round.[HDNG]EXTERNALLY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Ave rent: ú60[ESTAT][PARA]London Transport (buses, tube and trains) splits the city into several 'zones' which are concentric circles from the centre. Zone 1, for example, is the area within a radius of about 21/2 miles of Trafalgar Square. Zone 2 is the next 3 miles and so on. Obviously, rents get cheaper in the outer zones, but then travel costs to the centre go up accordingly.[ITAL] [EITAL]Travel costs should be taken into consideration when looking at rents because a Travelcard from Zone 3 to the centre costs more than ú15 a week.[PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Contrary to popular belief, it's really not that difficult to find accommodation in London, just buy a copy of the Evening Standard and there are hundreds of places. It is however a challenge of epic proportions to find anywhere that is both affordable and inhabitable. There's very little housing in Zone 1 even for yuppies, and students come a lot lower in the pecking order. Zone 2 is a bit better, particularly for single rooms in shared flats or houses in places like Wandsworth, Putney and Fulham and wherever the tube system is lacking. Zone 3 is relatively promising, but the catch is that it can take upwards of an hour to get to the centre. Zone 4 and beyond are not popular for the same reason, but, as they say, homeless students can't be choosers. Although there are many thousands of people living, quite literally, in cardboard boxes on London's streets, they aren't students. In fact, many students manage to find very comfortable flats for almost reasonable rents. There is also a growing number living in squats. To be safe, students coming to London should work out where they're going to stay first.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][GRPH]A3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Renting: 74%[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Housing help:[EBOLD] The University Accommodation Office helps students find housing in London. Camden, Finsbury Park and Islington are popular areas.[PARA][PARA]
