The best halls in Brighton depend on your campus: Varley Park suits most University of Brighton first years, and Norwich House is the cheapest room we found at Sussex. University-run rooms in this guide start at about £120 a week, while private en-suites start at £194. Both universities guarantee first years a room if they apply by the deadline.
Our picks for student halls in Brighton
These are Unifresher's editorial picks, based on the prices, contracts and locations listed below. No hall paid to be here.
It has rooms from £173 to £290, sits within walking distance of Moulsecoomb and Falmer, and has the most on-site outdoor and common space of the Brighton-run halls we checked.
Rents of about £120 to £124 a week are the lowest in this guide, with bills included and a 39-week contract.
The operator puts Falmer campus less than a five-minute walk away, the shortest stated walk we found for a University of Brighton hall.
With more than 2,000 rooms, a 24/7 reception and pool and table tennis tables, it gives you the most people and shared space at Sussex.
Its listed rooms are studios from £250 a week, the highest starting price of any Brighton hall here.
Brighton halls compared on price
The weekly figure is only half the story, because contract lengths differ. The table below multiplies each rent by its charged weeks so you can compare what a year really costs.
Lowest listed weekly rent. Prices are for the latest year each provider has published, so compare the years shown. Your room type and contract may cost more.
| Hall | Type | From/week | Weeks | Contract total | Food | Bills in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich House | University | £119.842026/27 | 39 | £4,674 | Self-catered | Yes |
| Varley Park | University | £1732026/27 | 39 | £6,747 | Self-catered | Yes |
| Brighthelm | University | £188.092026/27 | 39 | £7,336 | Self-catered | Yes |
| East Slope | University | £1892026/27 | 39 | £7,371 | Self-catered | Yes |
| Paddock Field | University | £1922026/27 | 39 | £7,488 | Self-catered | Yes |
| Abacus House | Private | £1942027/28 | Check | Check | Self-catered | Yes |
| Stanmer Court | University | £196.832026/27 | 39 | £7,676 | Self-catered | Yes |
| Sawmills | Private | £1992027/28 | Check | Check | Self-catered | Yes |
| Great Wilkins Halls | University | £2102026/27 | 50 | £10,500 | Self-catered | Yes |
| Phoenix Brewery | University | £211.502026/27 | 39 | £8,248 | Self-catered | Yes |
| Holden Court | Private | £2272026/27 | Check | Check | Self-catered | Check |
| Crown House | Private | £2502026/27 | Check | Check | Self-catered | Check |
The best student halls in Brighton
Jump to a hall
Varley Park
Varley Park is a dedicated student site with a wide spread of rooms, from £173 shared-bathroom singles to rare £290 one-bed flats. Its common room, hammocks, BBQ area and gardens give it the most to do on site of the Brighton-run halls we checked, which is why we rate it so highly for first years. You give up easy access to town in return.
Worth knowing: You rely on buses for town and shopping, and the university's pages conflict on whether cars are allowed.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Brighton
Where: North of the city centre
Getting in: Within walking distance of Moulsecoomb and Falmer campuses; the university gives no walk time. City centre about 15 minutes by bus.
Best for: First years wanting a real halls community
Paddock Field
Everyone at Paddock Field pays the same £192 for a single en-suite of 11.8 square metres, so there is no lottery over room quality. Woodland at Westlain Plantation sits right beside it, and picnic benches are about as social as the outdoor space gets. It is a calm choice for Falmer-based courses.
Worth knowing: No common room is listed, and shops and the city centre need a bus or train.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Brighton
Where: Falmer
Getting in: At Falmer, with Falmer the nearest station. Brighton city centre about 10 minutes by train.
Best for: Falmer students who like quiet
Great Wilkins Halls
Great Wilkins gives you a double bed and en-suite under five minutes from Falmer lectures, in flats of up to six. The 50-week contract is the catch, because the total bill is far higher than a 39-week hall even though the weekly rent looks similar. We would only choose it if you want to stay over the summer.
Worth knowing: The listed room is on a 50-week contract, and cars are not allowed.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Brighton
Where: Falmer
Getting in: Less than 5 minutes' walk to Falmer campus. Moulsecoomb is 30 minutes by bus or 10 minutes by train.
Best for: Staying near Falmer over summer
Phoenix Brewery
Phoenix Brewery is the one to pick if you want to live in town rather than out by the campuses, with Aldi and the centre about five minutes away on foot. Rooms are compact at 10.2 square metres with a single bed, so you are paying for the postcode. A common room with pool and table tennis helps you meet people.
Worth knowing: A £211.50 rent buys a small room with a single bed.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Brighton
Where: City centre, near Brighton station
Getting in: City centre about 5 minutes' walk. A resident on the university page says the City campus is a ten-minute walk.
Best for: City campus students who want town life
Sawmills
Sawmills works for either university because the bus journey to both is about 15 minutes. Its en-suite at £199 has a single bed and 11 square metres, so studios are where the extra money goes: premium studios reach 17 to 18 square metres. You get a common room, TV lounge and study space on site.
Worth knowing: Limited availability on the cheapest en-suites.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Brighton, University of Sussex
Where: Brighton
Getting in: 14-minute bus from the University of Sussex and 16-minute bus from the University of Brighton
Best for: Either university, with a short bus ride
Abacus House
Abacus House has the lowest private en-suite price we found in Brighton, and its Bronze rooms have a small double bed and 13 to 14 square metres. That compares well with the smaller en-suite at Sawmills for £5 less a week. The lounge, games room and courtyard give you places to meet people.
Worth knowing: iQ mentions building works planned for 2027/28, so ask how they affect your block.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Brighton, University of Sussex
Where: Brighton
Getting in: 14-minute walk to the University of Brighton; 23-minute bus to the University of Sussex
Best for: Getting more room for private rent
Crown House
Crown House is the studio option on this list, so you are paying from £250 a week for a kitchen and bathroom to yourself. That is a premium over any en-suite here, and only worth it if you actively want to live alone. The old operator name you may see, CRM Students, has given way to Prestige Student Living on current listings.
Worth knowing: We could not open the operator's own page, so check rent and contract directly before booking.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Brighton, University of Sussex
Where: Brighton
Best for: Living alone in a studio
Holden Court
Holden Court was listed as sold out for 2026/27 when we checked, so treat it as one to look at early for next year. A £227 starting price for a shared-bathroom room looks poor value next to the en-suites at Abacus House and Sawmills. Its studios at £240 are the better reason to consider it.
Worth knowing: Sold out for 2026/27 and no 2027/28 price was listed.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Brighton, University of Sussex
Where: Hollingdean Road
Best for: Lower-cost studio if rooms reappear
Norwich House
Norwich House is the budget choice in Brighton by a long way, at about £120 to £124 a week on campus. That rent means corridors of 12 rooms, a kitchen shared with around 11 others and a bathroom shared with about four. If you want a big social corridor and low costs, it is hard to beat.
Worth knowing: A very small number of rooms sit beside the West Slope building site.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Sussex
Where: Falmer campus
Getting in: On campus: Student Centre 0.1 miles and library 0.3 miles
Best for: Cheapest rent and a big social corridor
Brighthelm
Brighthelm is 300 rooms in five-person houses, each with two shared bathrooms and its own washer and dryer. Being in a small house makes it feel more like a shared home than a corridor. You pay close to en-suite money without getting an en-suite, so it is a lifestyle choice rather than a bargain.
Worth knowing: £188.09 is a lot for a shared bathroom when Norwich House is about £65 less.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Sussex
Where: Falmer campus
Getting in: On campus: Student Centre 0.1 miles and library 0.4 miles
Best for: A small house feel on campus
East Slope
East Slope is the big one at Sussex, with more than 2,000 rooms in flats and townhouses of 6 to 12 people. Reception is staffed around the clock, there are pool and table tennis tables, and rooms come with a small double bed. For meeting people on campus, we think its scale and shared spaces make it the strongest Sussex option.
Worth knowing: West Slope construction continues through 2026/27 and beyond, on weekdays and Saturday mornings.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Sussex
Where: Falmer campus
Getting in: On campus: Student Centre 0.1 miles and library 0.3 miles
Best for: Sussex first years who want a crowd
Stanmer Court
Stanmer Court is a good fit if trains matter, as it sits beside Falmer station and houses 4 to 6 people to a flat. The room sizes vary enough that it is worth comparing floor plans before you rank it. Note that studios are generally reserved for students with medical requirements.
Worth knowing: Sussex warns that traffic and train noise may be audible.
Key facts
Popular with: University of Sussex
Where: Falmer campus, by the station
Getting in: On campus: library 0.3 miles and Student Centre 0.5 miles
Best for: Regular train users at Sussex
Will the maintenance loan cover it?
The maximum loan for a student in England living away from home outside London is £10,830 for 2026/27. Most students get less, because it is means-tested. Here is how the cheapest and dearest contracts on this page compare with that maximum.
Norwich House: £4,674 over 39 weeks leaves £6,156 for everything else.
Great Wilkins Halls: £10,500 over 50 weeks leaves £330 for everything else.
Where students live in Brighton
Falmer
Sussex students and University of Brighton students on Falmer courses. All the Sussex halls here, plus Paddock Field and Great Wilkins, are on or beside the campuses, with a station at Falmer.
Worth knowing: Brighton city centre is about 10 minutes away by train, and West Slope construction continues on the Sussex campus.
Varley Park
University of Brighton first years who want a full halls site within walking distance of Moulsecoomb and Falmer.
Worth knowing: About 15 minutes by bus to the city centre.
Moulsecoomb
University of Brighton students based here. The university's newest halls, Mithras, have en-suites from £243 and a new Students' Union bar, though they sit outside our top 12.
Worth knowing: Mithras has some of the highest university rents in Brighton.
City centre
City campus students and anyone who wants shops and nightlife close by. Phoenix Brewery is the university hall here, and Abacus House is a 14-minute walk from the University of Brighton.
Worth knowing: Rooms cost more, and Sussex students face a bus ride of 14 to 23 minutes.
When to apply for Brighton halls
- March onwardsSussex sends offer holders details of how to reach its housing portal.
- AprilUniversity of Brighton booking opens by email invitation.
- Within three days of a Brighton offerPay the first instalment to secure your University of Brighton room.
- 31 JulyDeadline for University of Brighton bookings and, for 2026 entry, Sussex applications to keep the guarantee.
- Within two days of a Sussex offerAccept your Sussex housing offer or it may be cancelled.
of the 500 UK students in our 2026 Student Experience Survey had hit at least one housing issue. Housemates (34%), the property itself (32%) and Wi-Fi (29%) came up most, so read the contract and ask about repairs and internet before you commit.
Keep planning your move to Brighton
FAQs
What are the best halls in Brighton?
We would start with Varley Park for University of Brighton students, as it has the widest range of rooms and the most on-site social space. At Sussex, East Slope has the most people and shared space, while Norwich House is the cheapest. Abacus House and Sawmills work well if you want a private hall near town.
What are the cheapest student halls in Brighton?
Norwich House at the University of Sussex is cheapest, at £119.84 to £124.11 a week for 2026/27 on a 39-week contract. At the University of Brighton, Varley Park starts at £173 with a shared bathroom. The cheapest private en-suite we found is Abacus House, from £194 a week.
Are first years guaranteed a room in Brighton halls?
Yes, at both universities if you meet the conditions. University of Brighton students must make it their firm choice and book by the deadline given, with 31 July listed. Sussex guaranteed a single room to new undergraduates who applied before midnight on 31 July 2026. Your preferred hall is not promised.
Are there catered halls in Brighton?
We did not find any catered option in the halls covered here. Sussex says all its accommodation is self-catered, and the University of Brighton's hall pages describe shared kitchens and tell you to bring your own cookware. Budget for your food and kitchen kit on top of rent, whichever hall you choose.
When should I apply for Brighton student accommodation?
University of Brighton booking opens in April by email invitation and runs until 31 July, and it says allocation is not first come, first served. Sussex sends portal details from March, with 31 July the guarantee deadline for 2026 entry. Private halls such as Abacus House are already showing 2027/28 rooms.
What is Varley Park like, and how much does it cost?
Varley Park is a University of Brighton residential site north of the city centre, costing £173 to £290 a week on 39-week contracts with bills included. It has a common room, gardens, hammocks and a BBQ area. It is within walking distance of Moulsecoomb and Falmer, with the centre about 15 minutes away by bus.
Is Paddock Field a good hall?
Paddock Field suits Falmer students who want a straightforward en-suite and a quiet setting. Every listed room is £192 a week for 39 weeks, with bills included, and it sits beside Westlain Plantation woodland. The university lists no common room there, so it offers less social space than Varley Park or Great Wilkins.
Official resources
- University of Sussex accommodation Official halls information
- University of Brighton accommodation All Brighton halls and rents
- University of Sussex on-campus housing Every Sussex residence and price guide
- Sussex provisional rents for 2027/28 Next year's provisional campus rents
- Brighton Boost Up to £1,000 towards halls
Run student accommodation in Brighton?
Put your rooms in front of students choosing where to live. Talk to us about clearly labelled partner placements and campaigns.
How we built this guide: prices, contract lengths and facilities come from university and operator websites where they publish them, and from named listing sites otherwise. We checked them in November 2026 and each price links to its source. Rent for the contract is our own sum of the lowest listed weekly rent multiplied by its charged weeks, before any deposit, booking fee or discount. Rooms sell out and prices change, so confirm with the provider before you book. How we compare student accommodation.