How many students live in Kingston?

About 18,600 students live in Kingston, which is about 11% of the population of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

How is student life in Kingston?

Student life in Kingston offers a vibrant and diverse experience, with a lively town centre, a picturesque riverside location, and access to a range of cultural activities. With its universities, student societies, and proximity to London, Kingston provides an ideal balance between studies and an engaging social life for students.

What are universities like in Kingston?

Kingston University is known for its diverse academic programs and emphasis on practical learning. The university offers modern facilities, dedicated faculty, and a supportive learning environment. Students can benefit from a range of extracurricular activities and cultural experiences in and around London.

Is Kingston a good location for international students?

Yes, Kingston is a great location for international students. With its diverse and welcoming community, excellent universities, and proximity to London, it offers an optimal environment for international students to study, explore the city, and experience British culture.

Is Kingston safe for students?

Yes, Kingston is generally considered a safe place for students. But it's always important to take common-sense precautions and be aware of your surroundings.

Is aparto accommodation in Kingston close to universities?

Arbury Court, aparto's student accommodation in Kingston, is a 21 minute cycle away from Kingston University.

What is there to do in Kingston?

In Kingston, you can enjoy a variety of activities. You can explore the town centre with its shops and restaurants, take leisurely walks along the scenic River Thames, visit cultural attractions like art galleries and theaters, and engage in recreational activities such as watersports and dance classes.

Are there interesting things to see around Kingston?

Yes, Kingston and its surroundings offer many interesting attractions. Notable sights include Hampton Court Palace, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Kingston Market, and the Thames Path for riverside walks. The nearby towns of Richmond and Wimbledon also offer additional entertainment.

Are there sport and leisure amenities in Kingston?

Yes, Kingston provides a variety of sport and leisure amenities. The area has sports centres, gyms, swimming pools, and recreational facilities. Additionally, the nearby Thames River offers opportunities for activities like boating and kayaking, while parks and green spaces provide spaces for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Are there green areas in and around Kingston?

Yes, Kingston and its surroundings boast several green areas. Richmond Park, Bushy Park, and Wimbledon Common are nearby expansive green spaces. Kingston itself has Canbury Gardens, Kingston Riverside, and several parks that offer pleasant spots for relaxation, picnics, and outdoor activities.

Kingston city guide: student life

Starting university in Kingston? Here is your guide for things to do in Kingston and how to get the best out of student life in this buzzing area.

Kingston’s Arbury Court student accommodation has all the perks of being part of the big city, whilst retaining the charm of a town steeped in history. It doesn’t matter whether you love to go out for a few cocktails or your idea of a good time is a long riverside walk, Kingston student life is pretty good!

Shops

It’s likely that one of the first things you will want to do when you’ve unpacked is head to the supermarket so you don’t have to live on the 10kg sack of rice your mum gave you and shopping is made easy at Arbury Court.

Aldi: located just around from the building, making it easy to do a food shop on foot.

H Mart: stocks all the ingredients you will need to create beautiful Asian cuisine.

Cafés

Grabbing a coffee is a great way to lift your spirits and get a feel for the place once you arrive. Head into the centre for big brand names like Starbucks and Costa, who do reliably good coffee and sweet treats. If you want to push the boat out, convince your family that the only way to send you off in style is a trip to Warren House. The building is spectacularly beautiful and their afternoon teas are the stuff of legend.

(Oh, and also, the very best hangover fry ups are to be found across the road at King Café!)

Pubs

Everyone knows the best way to get settled into a new home is to find a good local pub. Whether you take your dad for a final pint or you’re heading out with your new housemates, finding somewhere to have a quiet drink is essential. Kingston’s best watering holes can be found down towards the river and you’ll soon grow to love watching the boats drift past as you enjoy a drink outside.

Woody’s: has the perfect outdoor terrace overlooking the river

Boaters Inn: if you know a bit about interesting beers

The Druid’s Head: where Jerome K Jerome sat and wrote the famous Three Men in a Boat.

Getting Around

Kingston has great transport connections making it simple to explore and travel into the centre of London. At Arbury Court, we run a free and regular bus service to Kingston University too.

Cycling is both the cheapest and the greenest way to get around with great cycling facilities. Dedicated cycle paths can now be found across the area, with many running through parks and open spaces along the way.

There are several train stations serving the Kingston area, so you’ll have plenty of options if you’re wanting to travel into greater London. New Malden train station is the easiest to get to from Arbury Court. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even get around Kingston by boat!

Kingston attractions

South West London is packed full of exciting activities, wonderful food, and vibrant nightlife, so you’ll never be stuck for something to do. If anything, the biggest problem is choosing where to get started!

Hampton Court Palace: a massive Tudor palace right on the edge of the river. You can even get to it by boat from Kingston if you want the full royal experience. With a superb art collection, famed formal gardens as far as the eye can see, and a fun maze to get lost in, you can easily spend the full day here.

Football stadium tours: Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge offers hour long tours of the stadium, along with a museum visit and tours of the dressing room, press room, and pitch.

Dining Out

Dining out in London can feel a little overwhelming get so much choice! Here are our top picks on a student budget:

New Malden’s Little Korea: the area has a large Korean community and the foodie scene here is getting a lot of attention because of its amazing quality. Check out Sorabol at the end of the High Street for amazing Korean BBQ and kimchi that is out of this world.

Pizza: if you’re heading out of the area, we’d seriously recommend you take a trip to Brixton to soak up the cool vibes and have some of the best pizza you’ll ever eat. Franco Manca is on every London foodie list and all under £10!

Shopping

Shopping is serious business in South West London and the area is famed for its tiny, upmarket boutiques where you’re guaranteed to find something no one else is wearing. Head to Belgravia for cool, concept fashion stores and If you want a department store vibe, head to Chelsea for a look around the world-famous Harrods.

Shopping in Kingston itself is also a great place to indulge in a little retail therapy. The town centre is home to the Bentall Shopping Centre has an amazing range of shops, from the stylish minimalist-chic & Other Stories to fashion’s leading designers such as Chanel and Tom Ford.

If you’re looking for something a little more unique, head to the Ancient Market Place, where there is a market selling fresh fruit, veg, fish, flower, artisan, foods, vintage clothes and more, every day of the week. What’s more, the worn brick pavements, cluttered with old-fashioned market stalls, make for the perfect Instagram pictures.

Drinking

South West London has plenty of trendy nightlife options to choose from, especially in areas like Clapham and Brixton that are just a short journey away from Kingston.

Clapham boasts drinking destinations such as Sugar Cane, where you’re guaranteed to find the cool kids sipping a cocktail to an eclectic playlist.

Sugar Cane: has a slightly different vibe, offering a bit of tiki sunshine on even the greyest of London days. The fabulous selection of cocktails and tacky-chic décor are offset by an amazing mix of music, with everything from hip-hop, jazz, and funk to old school classics.

The Windmill in Brixton: attracting the very best in up-and-coming live bands, you can expect the beer to be cheap and the music to be loud. You never know, you might even discover the next big thing.

Find out more about living at Arbury Court, your perfect student home in this vibrant city.