[HDNG]IN COLLEGE:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Self-catering: 10% [BULL] Cost: ú25-45 (52wks)[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] There are 3 developments, with a total of 1,275 places. Students are accommodated at Woodlands (overlooking West Ham tube station) and Park Village (next to an international freight terminal) each about 20mins walk from the Stratford site[ITAL]. [EITAL]There are 508 places on the Barking site, which includes some purpose-built rooms for disbaled students. Kitchens are shared between 6 people.[PARA][BOLD]Car parking: [EBOLD]It's far enough from central London to be free and adequate, although a permit is needed.[HDNG]EXTERNALLY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]A3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Ave rent: ú60[ESTAT][PARA]London Transport (buses, tube and trains) splits the city into several 'zones' which are concentric circles from the centre. Zone 1, for example, is the area within a radius of about 21/2 miles of Trafalgar Square. Zone 2 is the next 3 miles and so on. Obviously, rents get cheaper in the outer zones, but then travel costs to the centre go up accordingly.[ITAL] [EITAL]Travel costs should be taken into consideration when looking at rents because a Travelcard from Zone 3 to the centre costs more than ú15 a week.[PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Contrary to popular belief, it's really not that difficult to find accommodation in London, just buy a copy of the Evening Standard and there are hundreds of places. It is however a challenge of epic proportions to find anywhere that is both affordable and inhabitable. There's very little housing in Zone 1 even for yuppies, and students come a lot lower in the pecking order. Zone 2 is a bit better, particularly for single rooms in shared flats or houses in places like Wandsworth, Putney and Fulham and wherever the tube system is lacking. Zone 3 is relatively promising, but the catch is that it can take upwards of an hour to get to the centre. Zone 4 and beyond are not popular for the same reason, but, as they say, homeless students can't be choosers. Although there are many thousands of people living, quite literally, in cardboard boxes on London's streets, they aren't students. In fact, many students manage to find very comfortable flats for almost reasonable rents. There is also a growing number living in squats. To be safe, students coming to London should work out where they're going to stay first.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][GRPH]A3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Ave rent: ú40[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Availability:[EBOLD] Most students are mature and have their own homes already sorted. East London is cheaper than many other parts of the capital and at UEL, it's possible to live quite far out (and so more cheaply) and still be right on the doorstep. 150 places at the local YMCA are usually reserved for students. [ITAL]Stratford itself is a likely locale, as are Leyton, Forest Gate and East Ham. Also Leytonstone and Walthamstow, but they're quite a trek. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Housing help:[EBOLD] There are 2 accommodation services, 1 at each site, which between them employ 1 full time and 3 part time staff and several computers. They provide vacancies boards and newsletters.[PARA][PARA]
