The best areas to live in Canterbury as a student are Hales Place and St Dunstan’s for the University of Kent, Sturry Road and Northgate for Canterbury Christ Church University, and Wincheap for the city centre and UCA. Canterbury is compact, so wherever you live you can walk into town.
Here is what each area is like and which streets have student houses listed on RoomSurfer.
In short
- Hales Place: right next to the University of Kent’s campus, and the classic second-year area for Kent students.
- St Dunstan’s: by Canterbury West station and close to town, with campus up St Thomas’ Hill.
- Sturry Road and Northgate: a short walk from Canterbury Christ Church University’s main campus.
- Wincheap and Martyrs Field: a flat walk into town, on the same south side of the city as UCA.
Hales Place
Hales Place is a residential area on the hill just north of the city, right next to the University of Kent’s Canterbury campus. It is the classic second-year area for Kent students.
You can walk to lectures on the footpaths that link Hales Place to campus. The city centre is a walk or a short bus ride downhill.
Streets with student houses listed include Tenterden Drive, Green Dell, Downs Road, Godden Road, Tunstall Road and Rushmead Close. Most are bigger houses with 5 to 7 bedrooms.
St Dunstan’s
St Dunstan’s sits just outside the old city walls, by the Westgate Towers and Canterbury West station. St Dunstan’s Street and London Road are lined with pubs, takeaways and shops.
Campus is up the hill along St Thomas’ Hill. That makes St Dunstan’s popular with Kent students who want to be close to town as well as uni.
Student houses listed nearby include Knight Avenue and Somner Close.
Sturry Road and Northgate
North-east of the centre, the streets around Sturry Road and Northgate are a short walk from the high street. They are also close to Canterbury Christ Church University’s main campus on North Holmes Road.
Student houses listed here include Sturry Road, New Ruttington Lane, Dickens Avenue, Old Park Avenue, Starle Close and North Holmes Road itself.
Wincheap and Martyrs Field
South-west of the centre near Canterbury East station, Wincheap and the streets around Martyrs Field Road are full of terraced and semi-detached student houses. It is a flat walk into town.
UCA’s Canterbury campus on New Dover Road is on the same south side of the city.
Houses listed include Wincheap, Martyrs Field Road, York Road, Oxford Road, Lancaster Road, Gordon Road, Guildford Road, Tudor Road and Victoria Road.
The city centre
If you want to be in the middle of everything, a few houses are only minutes from the high street. One is Rhodaus Close, near Canterbury East station and the Dane John Gardens.
Which area suits your university?
- University of Kent (UKC): Hales Place or St Dunstan’s.
- Canterbury Christ Church University (CCU): Sturry Road, Northgate or the city centre.
- University for the Creative Arts (UCA): Wincheap, Martyrs Field or the city centre.
Every house listed on RoomSurfer has bills included. See where they all are on the student house map, or browse all the student houses to rent in Canterbury.
When you find one you like, call the letting agent to book a viewing. Their number is on each house page.