Accommodation

London is a fantastic city for students. With a vibrant and broad spectrum of cultures, architecture and activities, there is something for everyone, and the inspiration it can provide can be incredible.

Before you begin to look for accommodation, it’s a good idea to think about where you might like to live. The RCM has its own halls of residence in West London, Prince Consort Village (PCV). There is also a large rental market and other commercial options for student living.

Prince Consort Village

The Royal College of Music’s hall of residence, Prince Consort Village, provides high-quality accommodation for more than 400 students. The building, which is situated on Goldhawk Road, opened in spring 2016 and comprises studio apartments, en-suite rooms and standard rooms.

Prince Consort Village is staffed 24 hours a day, and the in-house team and residence manager are dedicated to the pastoral care and wellbeing of residents.

Regular events are organised and the Reception team is on hand daily to make students’ lives as easy and comfortable as possible.

Students who would like to register their interest should contact Campus Living Villages, who manage Prince Consort Village, and not the Royal College of Music. 

Please read the privacy policy from Campus Living Villages for details on how your data is used.

Campus Living Villages privacy policy

Facilities

Prince Consort Village is fully equipped and specially designed for RCM students, with acoustically treated bedrooms allowing you to practise at home. Services include:

• 23 dedicated practice rooms available 24/7
• A film room
• Open mic space
• High speed Wi-Fi
• Laundry
• Reception
• Gym
• Bicycle storage
• Indoor and outdoor communal spaces

Location

Located in leafy south-west London, Prince Consort Village is within easy travelling distance of the RCM; you can cycle or take the London Underground from Ravenscourt Park to South Kensington, and there are regular buses too.

The neighbourhood is ideal, offering the greenery of nearby Ravenscourt Park as well as the convenience of many local shops, cafés and amenities. Prince Consort Village is within easy reach of Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush, which houses leading fashion, home and lifestyle brands alongside cinemas and a fantastic selection of places to eat. Notting Hill – famous for the Notting Hill Carnival as well as Portobello Road and its market – is only a short bus ride away. This part of London is vibrant and dynamic, with many restaurants, bars, shops and music venues.

Transport

There are several bus stops conveniently located outside Prince Consort Village providing connections to Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush, Notting Hill and a range of other locations.

The area is well served by trains too, with three London Underground stations nearby. Ravenscourt Park station on the District line is a 10 minute walk away. Goldhawk Road station on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines is a 10 minute walk or a 5 minute bus ride away. Shepherd’s Bush station on the Central line is a 20 minute walk or 10 minute bus ride away. There is also a London Overground station in Shepherd's Bush.

Alternative accommodation

There are many alternative halls and hostels in London, offering mostly self-catering accommodation, often en-suite. These halls combine secure housing with the benefits of a diverse community and many amenities such as bars and gyms, and often organise events for residents.

Lots of RCM students, particularly after their first year, choose to live in privately rented accommodation. London has a large rental market offering a range of properties in locations across the city.

There is no such thing as a typical landlord. Some are young professionals, graduates, some middle-aged couples, some are retired, some are families with a room to spare. Renting a room privately is often the cheapest option.

During the year our Student Services team produces a list of landlords offering private accommodation to registered RCM students.

Private landlords in England are required to carry out ‘Right to rent’ checks for all prospective adult tenants to make sure the person is not disqualified from renting a property by reason of their immigration status. You have a right to rent if:

• You have valid immigration permission to be in the UK e.g. you have a student visa
• You are an EEA/Swiss national or family member of an EEA/Swiss national with status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme

If you would like more information on how the RCM can provide support for students seeking accommodation, please feel free to talk to the Student Services team by emailing accommodation@rcm.ac.uk.

Local accommodation

RCM students are eligible to apply for accommodation at local student halls. Find out more in the dropdown section below.