4 days ago
Brits left gobsmacked by lavish student accommodation that comes with room service, private club memberships and a cinema - but it costs a steep fee!
When thinking about student accommodation in the UK, tiny box-shaped rooms with little natural light might first spring to mind.
However, a new London-based residence, Fifty One London, is challenging that stereotype, and its long list of amenities might just make it one of the most luxurious student accommodations in the country.
Fifty One, located in the ultra-exclusive South Kensington, goes beyond a typical home and offers its lucky residents referrals to some of the most sought-after private members' clubs, including Annabel's and Soho House.
In addition to helping its occupants access some of London's most upscale venues, frequented by celebrities and royalty, students can also enjoy a daily cleaning service, security and concierge services.
It's for that reason that the accommodation has caused a storm on social media, with clips showing life in the luxurious settings racking up thousands of views. One said, 'Crying because where was this when I was a student.'
A second added, 'I love that students have this option now.' Another wrote, 'Recent graduate here but niche idea, congrats to you guys.'
A fourth user was shocked with the offerings, questioning, 'Sorry, student accommodation?'
While the average weekly cost of student accommodation is £166, according to Complete University Guide, residences at Fifty One can cost up to a staggering £1,440 a week.
The most expensive room, dubbed the Superior Mezzanine, boasts a split-level design, elevated bedrooms, and views of the Natural History Museum. The room option appears so popular that there are only a few remaining for next year, according to the website.
Other options include a Deluxe Mezzanine for £1,380 per week, Bespoke Editions for £1,325 per week, and Superior Studios, which cost £1,200 per week and are currently sold out.
Most rooms come with air conditioning, a gym membership, a study room, a double bed, 24-hour security, and are pet-friendly.
Cleaning and cooking won't be a concern for students since there is a weekly cleaning service and room service options that hungry students can order via the ultra-fast WiFi.
Elsewhere in the building, there's a cinema room, co-working space decked out with velour sofas, and smart room services, which provide feedback on air quality, temperature, and energy usage.
In addition to the home itself, residents can access free therapy sessions, members' events with CEOs and venture capitalists, career and mentorship services, and airport transfers.
One TikTok reads, 'When you live in Fifty One London and end up landing your dream internship. Thanks to their career advice and networking.'
Fifty One's success on social media comes after a study by Knight Frank/UCAS Student Accommodation Survey found that, by the end of the decade, second and third year students will mostly be selecting to live in, purpose-built student accommodation (known as PBSA) - or 'private halls'.
But they aren't cheap, with some of the purpose-built accommodations costing more than the average UK annual wage, per year.
Parents can expect to fork out more than £34,963 per year for their children to live in expansive complexes that come fully equipped with coffee bars, bean bag filled study areas, cinema rooms and onsite gyms.
The average accommodation cost for a student in the UK is currently £166 a week, while in London, the average is even steeper £212 for university accommodation and £259 for rooms in the private sector.
Students hoping to escape the grim dwellings today have to spend roughly £7,356 per year to live in private halls.
According to the Student Accommodation Survey by SaveTheStudent, private halls are the most expensive student accommodation in the UK.
However, accommodation costing less than £200 will become a thing of past, according the the study, as young people increasingly choose well-located homes with gyms, cinemas, and fully kitted amenities.
According to students who answered the survey, the biggest selling point in an accommodation now is one that supports their 'wellbeing' and 'mental health', which they put down as being important or very important.
One example of the opulent new student housing market is at St Mary's in Bristol, where university goers can expect to pay £417 a week for access to work rooms with trendy industrial exposed walls and boardroom style tables. And the 'expensive room' costs an even more eye-watering £513.
Viewers have taken to the comment section to share their thoughts on the luxurious student housing
Rooms at St Mary's boast fully kitted kitchens - a faraway dream for most 18-year-olds - a concierge service, and the building is perched side-by-side with some of the best shops, restaurants, and even a nature reserve.
And well-to-do students won't need to worry about their MacBooks and designer regalia as the cost of the room even includes contents insurance.
A slightly cheaper alternative is on offer for students in Edinburgh, with studios costing £347 to £387 a week for the luxury of their chic interior including a slatted timber roof terrace with a shadow of Edinburgh Castle.
Another is Hayloft Point in London, offered to students at Kings College London and Queen Mary University of London, that provides a gym, outdoor social space and even a cinema, for those willing to pay from £395 for a bed.
The central London accommodation, located just outside Aldgate Tube Station, comes with a posh outdoor area from students to socialise, as well with an 'exhibition area' and self-described 'stylish common areas'.
Another luxury home offering is in Aberdeen, where students can get access to an onsite gym, common area and communal study spaces.
A fraction of the price of bedrooms in England, the Scottish dwelling offers en-suite rooms for just £138, with studio rooms costing £221.
The former school offers chic loft-style studios with mezzanine floors, and a communal rooftop terrace for students to gather at the end of a long day of studying.
While most universities promise to house all of their first year students in halls, recent years have seen instances of students struggling to find beds.
Attempting to remedy the problem is the UWE Bristol, who built a 900-bedroom student village at their Frenchay campus.
Though young people will have to cough up far more than the average price of £166 a week, with rooms starting from £187.91 a week for an eight-bedroom shared flat - with one bathroom to be shared between two students.
Those hoping for some peace and quiet should look no further than a self-contained studio or four-bed premium en suite flat - costing a nail-biting £274.80.
One reason for the increased demand in posh property, is that young people are increasingly using social media to search for their future student digs.
According to research from eWord, students have increasingly turned to their favourite apps to find housing with 80 per cent of them saying they used Instagram for housing research.
A significant 60 per said had used TikTok while 45 per cent had used YouTube, a far cry from the former days spent flicking through the accommodation pages of prospectus leaflets.
The chief investment officer at ESP, Will Atkinson, told The Times that there are broadening gaps between what different calibers of students need in their homes.
He said: 'There is a deep pool of demand from domestic and international students for well-located accommodation at higher price points in the UK's leading university towns and cities, provided PBSA operators can provide value for money through exceptional amenity spaces, customer service and an extensive student experience package.'
