The Myth of the ‘Best Accommodation'

Your first-year accommodation is one of the most exciting and important parts of your university experience. It’s the place where you’ll sleep, study, relax, and spend many of your first memories at university. Because of this, it can feel like there’s a lot of pressure to get it “right.” You may find yourself scrolling endlessly through forums or social media, comparing different halls and asking other students which one is the best.

Here’s the secret: there’s no such thing as the “best accommodation.” What really matters isn’t the exact building you live in, but the experiences you have there and the people you share them with.

For many of you, moving into university accommodation is the first time you’ve ever lived away from home. Suddenly, you’re cooking for yourself, doing your own laundry, and trying to manage a weekly food shop. At first, this can feel overwhelming, but the brilliant thing is that everyone around you is figuring it out too. Whether you live in a large flat, a cosy house, or even a studio, you’ll be surrounded by other first-year students who are just as new to this experience as you are. That shared sense of excitement and uncertainty creates a real sense of community and even a newfound family. Therefore, you’ll quickly find that most people are keen to meet others, make friends, and settle into their new home together.

One of the most common worries new students have is, “What if I don’t make friends in my accommodation?” It’s completely natural to feel nervous about who you’ll be living with, but there are countless opportunities to meet people at university. Some students do become very close with their flatmates, while others form their strongest friendships through their course, societies, or even a chance meeting in the laundry room. The important thing to remember is that accommodation is just one part of your social experience. It might be the first place you meet people, but it certainly won’t be the only one.

One of the best things about living in student accommodation is the diversity of people you’ll meet. Your flatmates could be studying completely different subjects, come from different parts of the country, or even from other parts of the world. For example, you might share a kitchen with a medical student, a future engineer, and an international student with fascinating stories about life in their home country. These are people you might never have crossed paths with through your course or hobbies alone. Accommodation offers a unique chance to broaden your horizons and make connections with people you wouldn’t normally meet, which I have found is truly special.

Once you move in, you’ll realise that what’s considered “best” is completely subjective. Some students thrive in a busy flat full of people, while others are happiest in a smaller, quieter space. What matters most isn’t the building itself, but the memories you create there. It’s the laughter shared over your first flat dinner, the late-night conversations in the kitchen, and even the funny stories that come from small mishaps. These moments are what make accommodation special and turn it into a real home.

Choosing where to live in your first year can feel like a huge decision, but it’s worth remembering that wherever you end up, you’ll have the chance to make it your own. Every hall, flat, or house is full of students who are just as eager to start this new chapter as you are. Instead of focusing on finding the so-called “best” accommodation, think about what matters most to you, whether that’s having lots of people around, a quieter space to study, or a balance of both.

No matter where you live, the friendships you build, the independence you gain, and the memories you create will shape your university experience far more than the type of accommodation itself. The real “best accommodation” is the one that becomes your home because of the people you will meet and the life you will build there.