Student Accommodation in Bradford

With a lively and inclusive multicultural centre, and the fastest-growing population outside London, Bradford is a brilliant option for students. Last year it was named ‘Most Improved City’, and it’s currently bidding to become the UK City of Culture 2025 (and there’s also the small matter of being crowned Britain’s ‘Capital of Curry’ six years running…).

This enterprising West Yorkshire city has grown from a small market town to a boomtown of the industrial revolution, and the ‘wool capital’ of the world. It offers cheap accommodation, amazing shopping and a buzzing nightlife. Read on to find out more about why Bradford is a great home away from home for uni students from across the UK – and beyond!

Bradford is home to the University of Bradford and Bradford College, which is one of the biggest education providers in the region, providing everything from A Levels to Masters. The college has been centred around teaching for 185 years, while the main university celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016, and features in the UK Top 10 for a number of courses, including Forensic Science, Occupational Therapy, Optometry and Physiotherapy (Complete University Guide 2021). Both of these institutions are a stone’s throw from Wardley House – our student accommodation in Bradford.

The University of Bradford welcomed around 9,000 students in the 2018/2019 academic year. Bradford College is home to around 20,000 students, although not all of these are studying degrees, as the college also offers A Levels, vocational qualifications, community courses and apprenticeships. At our Bradford student halls, we house 290 students.

As one of the larger cities in the UK, Bradford does experience crime, but the levels are no higher than other major cities across the country. Small measures, such as avoiding walking home alone at night or choosing adequate locks for your bike, can greatly reduce the risk of vulnerability.

Popular student areas include the city centre, Great Horton and Frizinghall – but, if you want to be in the heart of the action, city centre student accommodation is the clear front-runner!

Our affordable student housing is situated in the heart of the city, minutes away from the University of Bradford and Bradford College. There’s plenty to do on your doorstep at Wardley House – check out our blog about 10 amazing spots that are only a 10-minute walk from our student flats in Bradford!

Wardley House is the definition of affordable student living with rooms from only £65 a week. To make it a little easier, our double en-suite student rooms come with all bills included, free contents insurance and 50MB Wi-Fi! We also have a spacious common room on-site with BT Sport.

Unfortunately, we don’t currently offer car parking facilities with our student rooms, but we may be able to accommodate your car for a couple of hours during check-in using our contractor and staff car park – subject to availability. With plenty of public transport options a quick walk away, you won’t miss having a car – but if you do want to bring your vehicle, the nearest public car parks are on Sharpe Street and Burrow Street.

Bradford has two train stations and regular buses to a variety of destinations, such as the stunning Yorkshire Dales and the neighbouring cities of Leeds and Manchester. Read more in our Bradford City Guide.

The city centre is a short walk away, with many shops and takeaways to explore.

With 15% of University of Bradford students arriving from more than 130 different countries, Bradford is a great city to be an international student. Here at Sanctuary Students, we’re super proud of our community of students who are studying abroad, and we’re here to make your transition to student living as smooth as possible. There’s a very good overseas intake at all UK universities, and we’ll allocate you a room with fellow international students to help you settle into your new home.

We’re delighted to welcome students who are at all stages of their studies. If you’re a postgrad, we’ll allocate you a room with fellow Masters/PhD students, so you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people in the same position as you. We offer value for money and an easy setup (including all-inclusive bills and on-site cleaners), plus high-speed Wi-Fi, so you can focus on your studies.

Bradford undeniably wears Britain’s curry crown, having been named ‘Curry Capital’ six years in a row. The city is home to some of the finest Indian restaurants in the country – why not have a curry night once a week with your flatmates and discover what’s on offer? You could even visit Mumtaz, one of the most famous Indian restaurants in the UK. And the popular MyLahore restaurant is a hop, skip and a jump from Wardley House student digs.

What’s more – five minutes away from Wardley House, you can check out Centenary Square, a regenerated urban park, where you can grab a bite to eat or drink at Nando’s, Starbucks or the local ‘Spoons: The Turls Green.

Bradford has two shopping districts: The Kirkgate Centre and The Forster Square Retail Park. Both are filled with all your high-street needs, including Boots,TK Maxx and loads more. You’ll be guaranteed to find some great bargains. The Independent Quarter by North Parade offers a vibrant scene of bars, cafés and restaurants, plus an array of independent shops, and further out, there’s the Broadway shopping centre.

New Bradford nightlife venues are springing up all the time, and if you’re looking for a bar or eatery that’s a little bit different, look no further than Sunbridge Wells, an underground food and drink arcade situated in the restored historic tunnels under the city. And let’s not forget the famous ‘West End’ of Bradford – a cacophony of pubs, bars and nightclubs. Take your flatmates along and dance the night away!

But entertainment isn’t just about the nightlife, as there’s an array of museums, theatres and galleries to explore. Cineworld and a Hollywood Bowl bowling arcade are within easy walking distance, while The Alhambra Theatre hosts a fantastic range of performances from musicals and ballets to comedy nights. The National Media Museum is located right next to our student accommodation in Bradford, and is home to historical media collections, traditional and interactive galleries, exhibitions, an IMAX cinema, The Pictureville Bar and the Intermission Café.

Although there’s plenty to do on your doorstep at Wardley House, there's so much to see when you venture further afield in Bradford. There’s the Bradford Industrial Museum, the main art gallery in Lister Park and the historic Wool Exchange, which now houses one of the UK’s most famous Waterstones stores (plus an ale house!).