Our students live across Durham City and beyond into the wider North East of England, including the city of Newcastle. Choices are made dependent on priorities - whether that’s budget, lifestyle or distance from campus.
Durham is a small city – so there is student accommodation within walking or cycling distance, or a short bus journey, from the city centre. There are several areas of the city, each with their own character and services. It’s important to look at what an individual property has to offer, not just where it's located.
Find out more about the different types of living out accommodation.
Take a look at the different areas of Durham and the wider North East, which each have something to offer:
The historic heart of Durham, with easy access to shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. It is home to several colleges, the Cathedral, Palace Green Library, and the Assembly Rooms Theatre. Housing in this area is highly sought after, but the largely pedestrianised streets make it unsuitable for students with cars.
Close to the city centre and the Waterside Building (Business School) Waterside Building, Claypath offers easy access to shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. It is close to Freeman’s Quay leisure centre and swimming pool and the Gala Theatre.
This neighbourhood is within a short walking distance of the main University campus and the city centre. The area offers convenient access to bus and rail stations, as well as the Riverside shopping and restaurant complex, making it a practical and well-connected place to live.
Home to Durham Students' Union and many University buildings and Colleges, Elvet is a well-connected area with good walking, cycling and bus links. While some parts are further from shops and supermarkets, it remains a popular location due to its proximity to University facilities.
Gilesgate has excellent bus links into the city centre, while still being accessible on foot. It is close to a number of retail parks, offering a wide range of shops and amenities. The area has a number of larger supermarkets including a Tesco Extra, Lidl and Aldi.
The Nevilles Cross area is within a reasonable walking distance of both the city centre and the main University campus, and on various bus routes. Ustinov College is located at nearby Sheraton Park, contributing to a strong student community in the area. Amenities are more limited but a Sainsbury’s local serves the area.
This map gives you an idea of where students are living – the darker the shading, the higher the percentage of students in the postcode.
These popular residential areas offer good bus links to Durham city centre and are close to the Arnison Centre retail park, which includes a Sainsbury’s supermarket, shops, restaurants, a gym and other everyday amenities.
Belmont and Carrville are close to Durham City Retail Park, with a range of supermarkets, shops and gyms. Frequent bus services provide convenient connections to the city centre.
These communities offer a balance of city and countryside living, with access to walking and cycling routes, green spaces and local amenities. Regular bus services make it easy to travel to Durham, while the surrounding area appeals to students who enjoy outdoor activities.
Quieter locations with good transport links to Durham, Shincliffe and Bowburn are well placed for students regularly using the Sports and Wellbeing Park at Maiden Castle. Both offer easy access to the main University campus by bus.
Some students choose to live in Newcastle to take advantage of everything a larger city has to offer, including shopping, cultural attractions, entertainment, and nightlife, while also benefitting from potentially lower accommodation costs .
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