Accommodation Details
Accommodation arrangements for Speakeasy students are made by Britannia Student Services and Hosts International. The types of accommodation offered are as follows:
Homestays
Homestays are the ideal type of accommodation for an English language student. All of our host families live in West London near stations or bus routes in Zone 2, 3 and 4 with easy access to the school as well as the centre of London.
If you book a homestay with us, we will confirm the profile of your family and their location before the booking is completed. All homestay hosts speak English, although they can be from different ethnic backgrounds. Your hosts can be single people, couples, widows, widowers, older couples, single mothers, with or without children, etc. They can live in houses, apartments / flats with or without gardens.
You can book our homestays with different meal plans. Here are the options:
Breakfast (BB): Includes a continental breakfast, normally consisting of cereal, toast/bread with butter and marmalade/jam, fruit juice and tea/coffee. Light kitchen use (microwave/toaster) is sometimes available.
Breakfast and Dinner (HB): Includes continental breakfast as above, plus an evening meal consisting of a main course (meat/fish) with vegetables/salad and potatoes, rice or pasta followed by dessert/fruit. Special diets, e.g. halal or vegetarian can be catered for.
Self-catering (SC): includes full use of the kitchen, as no meals are provided.
The following will be included in your homestay booking:
- Bathroom and shower facilities
- Internet access
- Bed linen and towels
- One load of washing per week
Please remember, homestays offer a taste of Britain and you may have to adapt to different homestay environments and food while you are in the UK. You should not expect a replica of your own home.
Homestays are not hotels. You will be living in somebody else’s house, so if you prefer to be more independent during your stay in London, you might prefer to book a residence halls or house share.
Halls of residence
This type of accommodation is a perfect option for language students who prefer an independent lifestyle and a chance to socialise with other students. The halls of residence can be booked for a minimum of 4 weeks on a self-catering basis only. There are single and twin rooms available, fully equipped shared kitchens on every floor and a student lounge with TV.
The following will be included in your residence halls booking:
- Shared bathroom and shower facilities
- Weekly cleaning of all areas, including bedrooms,
- Weekly change of bed linen and towel
- Modern furnishings
- Free WiFi internet
- Free on-site laundry
- Private garden
- CCTV and live-in manager
House shares
House shares are also better suited for more independent travellers. House shares can be booked for a minimum of 4 weeks on a self-catering basis. There are single and twin rooms available, which the students have to clean themselves. The kitchen is shared with the other house members, but fully equipped with a washing machine, cutlery, and crockery and cooking utensils. Bed linen is provided, but no towels.
Also included in the booking:
- Shared bathroom
- Free wifi access
- Private garden or outside area
- Living room with TV
- Weekly cleaning of common areas and bathrooms
Other accommodation
Other accommodation such as studios and flat shares cannot usually be pre-booked from overseas.
We recommend that long-stay students requiring this type of accommodation initially book to stay in homestays or hostels. We will be happy to help arrange alternative accommodation after arrival.
We can also provide information about good centrally-located hostels and budget hotels for you to stay at. Please ask us for details.
Terms & Conditions
Payment
All bookings must be pre-paid and an accommodation booking fee of £25 per person is applicable. Payment for the entire period of stay is due on application.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your accommodation 30 days or more prior to the booked arrival date – we will refund your fees in full (minus the £25 handling fee). Within 29 days to 8 days prior to the booked arrival – one week’s cancellation charge will apply. Within 7 days to 3 days prior to the booked arrival – two week’s cancellation charge will apply. No refund will be given for cancellations received 2 days or less prior to arrival or for no-shows. Booking fees are not refundable in all cases. Please note, HALLS of RESIDENCE cancellations, postponement or curtailments of stay received 4 weeks prior to arrival will incur a cancellation charge of 4 weeks.
Curtailment
If you have to cut short your stay, accommodation charges, once paid for, are not refundable. In the case of your accommodation being unsuitable, you will be relocated to a suitable alternative.
