Cardiff University accommodation

How important it is to be near campus totally depends on you- do you want to be able to roll out of bed half an hour before lectures start? Or do you want to be closer to all the shops and bars in the city centre? There's really not much to do up around the Heath apart from the odd pub, but some people like that.
In terms Uni owned accommodation Liberty House is by far the closest as it's about a 15 minute walk. Talybont (North or South) is generally about a 20-30 minutes and University Hall it's slightly further away, but there's a free bus (although I've been told that it's unreliable and only runs once an hour?).
Any other student accommodations, whether they're Cardiff Uni ones or private, would be closer to the city centre, which is walking distance but would take quite a bit longer than the others (and isn't particularly fun when you have to be in for a 9am in bad weather). Being a big hospital the Heath has good transport links so if you don't mind catching the bus it's easy to commute in from the city centre. I live in Lumis Student Accommodation which is private student halls on the opposite side of Cardiff to the Heath, and catch the bus in which takes about 20 minutes on a good day (35/45 on a bad day) and costs £1.60 each way with the Cardiff Bus App. The buses run every 15 minutes so it's pretty easy to commute, and I like living in the centre of everything.
Hope this helps.

I'm looking into Lumis for accommodation as a masters student, would you recommend it? I'm also considering Eclipse, Arofan House or The Fitzalan so any advice would be great!

Hi I’m a current at lumis and I’ll be staying a second year too I love it here and can answer any questions you have. The accommodation team is amazing and so so helpful everything is personal and generally amazing ( if you ignore the whole covid bit) I’m staying a second and probably third I really recommend it.

ahh that's brilliant! Did you have a look at any of the others I mentioned or just saw Lumis and knew it was the right move? Also if you don't mind me asking what room type did you go for/ would recommend?

I actually looked at all the ones you mentioned, and Liberty, hello fresh student and bridge street exchange (something like that) you could say I really shopped around but time. I’m in a studio apartment and I love it but I have friends in clusters who are happy and made amazing friends. I find studios are quieter and less sociable between apartments but we can socialise with the events that are held. I’m in a standard studio and I actually paid for the whole year over the summer with the intention of staying in uni to work (wow irony there). The security guards will learn your name and remember you if you visit often enough and the reception team go out the their way to talk to you and improve your day. They do pizza days (but get down there fast) and if you have an allergy/ dietary will order you allergy/dietary friendly usually and free of charge (lucky me). I can’t comment on summer events obviously but everything up to lockdown was awesome, anything in particular you’d like to know?

Thank you that's so helpful! What made you choose Lumis over the others? Because of Covid I won't be able to go round and have a look so I'm using your judgement! Do you find it's a good location in the city? I've seen a few people say it's in an ugly spot but if it's easy enough to get to the more beautiful bits of Cardiff I don't mind. Did your friends find it to be really noisy being in shared accomodation? Thank you!

Thank you that's so helpful! What made you choose Lumis over the others? Because of Covid I won't be able to go round and have a look so I'm using your judgement! Do you find it's a good location in the city? I've seen a few people say it's in an ugly spot but if it's easy enough to get to the more beautiful bits of Cardiff I don't mind. Did your friends find it to be really noisy being in shared accomodation? Thank you!

I was about to say exactly the same thing as anonymous! I did quite a lot of research into location and prices, and viewed a few (including Fitzalan, Livin, and Lumis). I'm also in a standard studio at Lumis and I absolutely love it! The staff are really friendly and are always happy to have a chat if you're down by reception. Any issues with maintenance are sorted really fast and the whole place just generally has a really nice feel to it.
I chose Lumis because it was insanely good value for money compared to the other accommodations (especially Uni owned) and I get my own space with a studio and my own kitchen. It's actually cheaper per week if you book 51 weeks instead of the shorter one (although you obviously pay more in the long run). I've booked in to stay in second year too in the same room.
Location is good- it's pretty quiet for a city centre location (unless you're in north block facing onto the rail tracks) as it's near offices so no nightclub noise etc. It's a bit industrial if you're walking towards Splott way but you're so close to St Davids and everything in the centre I've never felt like it mattered. There's also a nice(ish) walk towards the bay along Atlantic Wharf which is only about 20 minutes.

thank you so much for this! I’m definitely putting Lumis as my first choice, there is a waiting list for studios so I’ve been added to that but as a back up what was your next favourite accommodation? Would you go with one of the CRM accommodations or the hello student ones?

I was about to say exactly the same thing as anonymous! I did quite a lot of research into location and prices, and viewed a few (including Fitzalan, Livin, and Lumis). I'm also in a standard studio at Lumis and I absolutely love it! The staff are really friendly and are always happy to have a chat if you're down by reception. Any issues with maintenance are sorted really fast and the whole place just generally has a really nice feel to it.
I chose Lumis because it was insanely good value for money compared to the other accommodations (especially Uni owned) and I get my own space with a studio and my own kitchen. It's actually cheaper per week if you book 51 weeks instead of the shorter one (although you obviously pay more in the long run). I've booked in to stay in second year too in the same room.
Location is good- it's pretty quiet for a city centre location (unless you're in north block facing onto the rail tracks) as it's near offices so no nightclub noise etc. It's a bit industrial if you're walking towards Splott way but you're so close to St Davids and everything in the centre I've never felt like it mattered. There's also a nice(ish) walk towards the bay along Atlantic Wharf which is only about 20 minutes.

Hi, do you know if the other ones are for postgraduates too?

Thanks!

This is where I find out we are on the same floor 😂 I love The team downstairs and H and L and K are so lovely (keeping it to initials for privacy Ofc). Obviously covid threw a spanner into my 51 week stay but it’s okay I know it’s not lumis’ fault and I also fully recommend them. South block is so quiet I hardly ever get noise it’s fantastic!

thank you so much for this! I’m definitely putting Lumis as my first choice, there is a waiting list for studios so I’ve been added to that but as a back up what was your next favourite accommodation? Would you go with one of the CRM accommodations or the hello student ones?

Haha I wont say room number for obviously reasons but I'm on the 4th floor in South block- it's so quiet isn't it?! You'd honestly never know there are 200+ people living in each block haha The team are so lovely! I can't wait to get back- it's such a shame not being there over the summer but looking forward to everything being back to normal.

I’m on second that’s to funny I found someone on head rooming so close to me lmao. I love the team so much and I honestly can’t wait to return “home” - I also left all my stuff there so I really can’t wait to be back!

Here*

Hi I’m a current at lumis and I’ll be staying a second year too I love it here and can answer any questions you have. The accommodation team is amazing and so so helpful everything is personal and generally amazing ( if you ignore the whole covid bit) I’m staying a second and probably third I really recommend it.