I half considered putting this in the "student" forum, but it's probably better in here.

I'm moving to London in September to start a PGCE at the Institute of Education. I'm finding it really difficult to find somewhere to live (student halls are even more expensive than flats/houses, which is crazy), so I'm trying to put my feelers out as far as possible.

If anyone knows of decent places to search, is also looking for somewhere and would like to perhaps join me, or has a room/a friend with a room, please give me a shout. I know it's a long shot, but I'd be extremely grateful of any help.

My course is at the Institute which is in Russell Square and my placement is on Camden Road (closest tube station Holloway Road). It's going to be an intense course, so I'm really looking for somewhere that would be within half an hour commute so I can just get home at the end of the day.

Thanks so much to anyone who can be of assistance

Sorry I can't help but would like to wish you all the best with your course and move, I love my visits to London and feel quite at home there now despite living 250miles away and being used to a fairly rural area ....

Can't help I am afraid. I do have a spare room in my flat but unfortunatly live at the wrong end of London for you.

I'd suggest looking at Crouch End (north of Finsbury Park and east of Highgate) - possibly a bit further away than you'd like but probably nicer than Finsbury Park, although some of the residential streets off Holloway Road might suit but may not be that cheap. It's a long time since I looked at rentals so I might be shocked if I looked at them now! I'd avoid Archway area - top end of Holloway Road.

Crouch End is on a direct bus route to Russell Square and crosses Camden Road - 91 bus - it's frequent but not necessarily the quickest route but it might be more direct. I think the walk from Holloway tube to Camden Road would be 15 minutes-ish depending where on Camden Road. There are also bus routes from Finsbury Park going along Camden Road.

Holloway Road is very close to where I live so PM me if you want any more info.

I don't know if this site will be of help: http://www.spareroom.co.uk/

I live in North London and can help with vetting areas if you need someone to run things by. Feel free to PM / email me if you like.

Thanks for your help Louise, I will have a look at Crouch End and walking/bus distances etc.

Corenfa, I am already on spare room. It's a good site on one hand, but on the other I have been on it for two weeks and no one has yet responded to my attempted contact... Also thanks for the offer of area vetting; I have a good idea of West/North West from my time at uni, but am not familiar with the rest of the North.

OK- all the best. I know postcodes N4, N19, N7 well I think and N1, N5 less well.

My school was near Russell Sq. I lived at the YWCA opposite Euston Station for the three years. It was clean, cheap, and full of other students. It's the Endsleigh Gardens YWCA.
http://london.enquira.co.uk/government-com...wca-l24211.html

Hi Invidia,

good luck with your course!

Unfortunately my spare room that I rent out is taken at the moment. However, I have always used gumtree to find my lodgers with good success.

I hope you find something soon.

Lis

Maybe you have found somewhere, but if not, I found this web site and thought of you. It's places available in London as a lodger. I think the site is pretty new so there's not too many hosts on there but you might find something suitable.

http://www.roomfortea.com/