Less than a year since the service was introduced, the first ever strikes on the Night Tube are scheduled to take place on two Saturday nights – April 8 and April 29. Probably best not to wish someone “a great weekend” on those dates, especially if they’re an international student living out in zones 3 and 4!
The arrival of the All Night Tube on the London Underground last summer has been just the ticket (or should that be the Oyster card?) for international students. Trains generally run every 10 mins right through Friday and Saturday nights on the Central, Victoria, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
It means that trying to get home after a late night out should no longer be the hassle it once was, no matter in which travel zone a homestay accommodation is located. All Night Tube fares are set at the “off-peak” price, and Day Travelcards can be used for journeys starting before 4.30am the following day.
This is obviously good news for everyone living in the outer suburbs of the capital. No one wants to leave a concert early or a party just as its getting going because you have to rush for the last train. The thought of using an all-night bus can be a daunting prospect if you’ve only been in London a short time and you’re also by yourself. It’s unlikely that your student budget will stretch to an Uber account! Even if you’re with a group of friends, sharing the cost of a cab fare can lead to all sorts of unexpected arguments and a major falling-out!
Three levels of accommodation according to travel zone
The Night Tube definitely does open up new horizons for all those students who seek a better quality yet affordable place to live while continuing their studies in London. In a number of cases, “the bank of Mum and Dad” will either step in or be called upon to help fund more comfortable living quarters if the period of study is short, say an English Speaking course. So what are the different options available by tube zone for hosted accommodation?
Generally, overseas students are offered three levels of hosted family accommodation, which tend to be categorised by which travel zone they are in. As with nearly all types of property locations, the relationship with travel links and ease of access to the city centre is as equally as important, if not more so than the standard of amenities offered.
While a high-end living space, such as an Executive Accommodation is more likely to be based in the inner city zones of 1 and 2, the more affordable Standard Accommodation is usually reached by heading out to zones 3 and 4. Somewhere inbetween can be found a Superior Accommodation, usually straddled across zone 2 and 3. But will the differences between the three types of accommodation and use of the Night Tube eventually have any impact on affordability for all international students?
Key difference is whether facilities are shared or for private use
Apart from the transport links, a key difference is the level of facilities and whether or not they are shared or for private use. Where a standard accommodation means having a private bedroom while still sharing the facilities of the rest of house as a family member, an executive accommodation can provide a students with their own private bathroom, private lounge or even a kitchen too. The superior accommodation may also offer a private bathroom while another type of higher standard accommodation may mean sharing the bathroom with one other student of the same sex or even with the family.
Since the launching of The Night Tube with the Central and Victoria lines in August 2016, the other lines were only rolled out in stages, with the last – the Piccadilly line – just last December. Thus, it may still be too early to assess if there has been any significant rise in interest for homestay accommodation in the outer zones as a result of easier weekend travelling to and from central London.
Will a student from abroad who’s thinking of applying to a college in Central London next year be more tempted by the ease of access to a more affordable outer zone accommodation? “Not if there are more strikes they won’t”, might be one cynical answer. But as the UK prepares to leave the EU, and predicted inflation rises affect property prices and landlord rents, we may very well see a pattern emerge.
A hosted accommodation has long been a lifeline to international students seeking a comfortable, secure ‘home from home’ living space. The five lines of the Night Tube were always going to be life savers for getting home in the early hours. Just don’t forget to tell your accommodation host what time you expect to be back home!