HomeLiving in Essex

Living in Essex

A group of students in Essex laughing on the street

Welcome to Essex

Essex is a large English county featuring historic villages, beautiful countryside, pretty coastal towns and at the heart of it all, the lively city of Colchester, home to the University of Essex.

Essex The Meadows Accommodation exterior

Exclusive to Pathways students

The Meadows

This on-campus accommodation has everything you need to feel at home.

Prices
Rooms starting from £205 per week

Room types
Ensuite rooms

Available to:
All students aged 18 and over

Essex accomodation exterior

Exclusive to Pathways students

The Houses

You’ll be based in a relaxing parkland area in this quiet and comfortable student residence.

Prices
Rooms starting from £195 per week

Room types
Ensuite rooms

Available to:
All students aged 16 and over

Exterior view the South Courts residence in Colchester, Essex

Exclusive to Pathways students

South Courts

You’ll feel at home in the student community at this cosy on-campus residence 

Prices
Rooms starting from £210 per week

Room types
Ensuite rooms

Available to:
All students aged 18 and over

Living in Essex

Arts and Culture

Colchester has a lot of history — in fact, it was the first capital of Roman Britain. There are also many museums and galleries to explore, plus events like the Essex Book Festival.

Food

In Colchester, you’ll find cuisine from around the world. Alternatively, take a trip to the seaside nearby and enjoy some fresh seafood or traditional British fish and chips.

Shopping

Colchester is home to both large department stores and quirky independent shops, as well as shopping malls like the Culver Square Shopping Centre and Colchester Retail Park.

Exploring nature

You won’t have to go far to spend time in nature, as the University’s main campus is located in the beautiful 200-acre Wivenhoe Park.

Nightlife

Colchester has a diverse nightlife, with everything from theatres and restaurants to shisha bars and nightclubs. In nearby Southend you’ll find Chinnery’s, a legendary live music venue.

Sport

Take advantage of the Essex Sport Gym Colchester on the University’s campus or watch Colchester United Football Club play at Colchester Community Stadium.


What’s nearby

It’s easy to travel along the Essex coast by train and visit beaches like Southend, Clacton and Frinton-on-Sea.

Your questions answered

Yes. Simply give us the names of your friends when you book and we’ll allocate your rooms together if we can. You will need to all book the same room type and contract length. Read more here.

There are many ways you can access wellbeing support at our residences. You can call the free Student Assistance Programme advice line, or, if you’d prefer to speak to someone in person, there will always be a friendly face on the residence reception team for you to talk to. Finally, we also offer a premium support service, Kaplan Living Special Support in many of our residences. You can learn more on our student support page.

Yes! All residents have access to comfortable social lounges where you can relax with your new friends. We also run social events and activities all year round — you can find out more on our student life page.

Discover more

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How to book?

Check out the steps to book your accommodation.

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Why book with us?

Find out about all the benefits of booking with us.