iQ Astor House is a student residence at 163 Notte Street, Plymouth PL1 2AQ, in the city centre near the waterfront. Rooms start from around £155 a week with all bills included, and it is a 12-minute walk to the University of Plymouth and about 11 minutes to Arts University Plymouth.
Upper floors have views across Plymouth Sound. There is a sky lounge, a cinema room and a games area. And in at least some studios, there is no conventional oven — only a combination microwave and a small hob.
That last detail is not in any listing, and if you cook, it should change your room choice.
Last verified 28 July 2026.
The oven issue, explained
A resident review describes a Bronze Studio in detail — clean, well-kept stairwells, lift in the block, helpful reception staff — and then this:
"The only slight problem is that the studio doesn't have an oven, it only has a combi microwave oven. It does have a small hob."
Worth understanding what that means day to day. A combi microwave will roast and bake to a degree, but it is small, and it is not the same as a conventional oven. If you batch-cook, use trays, or make anything that needs a proper bake, you will find it limiting over a full academic year.
Note the contrast: other iQ Astor House room descriptions specifically mention an oven. So the fitting varies by room type, and the listings do not tell you which is which.
What to do: before you book, ask which specific room type you are being offered and whether it has a conventional oven or a combi microwave. Ask by room type name — Bronze Studio, Silver Studio, and so on. This is a thirty-second question that will affect your cooking for a year.
For students who mostly reheat and use a hob, it is a non-issue. For anyone who actually cooks, it is the single most useful thing on this page.
What rooms are available at iQ Astor House?
Astor House has an unusually wide range. Agents list up to 16 room types, including:
| Category | Types |
| En suite | Bronze En Suite, Bronze En Suite Plus, Silver En Suite, Gold En Suite, Platinum En Suite |
| Studio | Copper Studio, Bronze Studio, Silver Studio, Silver Studio Premium, Studio Silver Plus, Gold Studio, Platinum Studio |
En suite rooms have a private bedroom with a double bed and private bathroom, with a shared kitchen.
Studios are self-contained with private kitchen and bathroom.
Rooms come with a small double bed with underbed storage, a study desk and chair, noticeboard, wardrobe, chest of drawers and a mirror. Free regular kitchen cleaning is included, which is a genuine benefit in shared flats and is not universal across providers.
Prices start from around £155 to £157 a week depending on which agent you check. Confirm current rates with iQ directly.
The naming is confusing — "Silver Studio Premium" and "Studio Silver Plus" appear as separate types on the same listing. Ask for a floor area in square metres rather than trusting the name to tell you anything.
Where is iQ Astor House and what is the commute?
| Destination | Journey |
| University of Plymouth | 12 minutes' walk |
| Arts University Plymouth (Plymouth College of Art) | 10–11 minutes' walk |
| City College Plymouth | About 1.4 miles |
| Plymouth Hoe | A short stroll |
| City centre | Easy walk |
Everything you need is walkable. For a coastal city of Plymouth's size, a city-centre building within twelve minutes of both main institutions is about as convenient as it gets.
Plymouth Hoe is the thing that makes this building. It is the grassy headland overlooking Plymouth Sound, and it is a few minutes away. Upper-floor rooms look out over the water. One resident:
"You can see the watch house and ocean view from the Top floors in the buildings."
If you are choosing between rooms at similar prices, ask for a higher floor with a sea aspect. It costs nothing extra to ask and it is the difference between a room and a room with a view of the English Channel.
What facilities does iQ Astor House have?
- Sky lounge with city and water views
- Cinema room
- Games area
- Internal courtyard
- Study spaces
- On-site laundry
- Bike storage
- Reception with parcel collection
- 24/7 on-site staff
- Secure key entry
- Regular social events
- All bills and high-speed Wi-Fi included
The sky lounge is the standout. A top-floor communal space with views over Plymouth Sound is a genuinely different proposition from a ground-floor common room, and residents mention it consistently.
The internal courtyard gives you quiet outdoor space that is not the street, which matters in a city-centre building.
Do you pay council tax at iQ Astor House?
Full-time students in the UK are exempt from council tax, and at iQ Astor House this is normally already handled and included in your rent.
If your council does ask for evidence, download a council tax exemption certificate from your university and submit it. Straightforward, but worth knowing it exists so an unexpected letter does not panic you.
The booking process and fee
iQ Astor House's booking fee has been listed at £149.
Note that this differs from other iQ properties — iQ Grove in Edinburgh has been listed at both £100 and £225. iQ booking fees are not standardised, so do not assume a figure you have seen for another building applies here.
The process:
- Pick your room type and tenancy length, using the interactive floor plan
- Room held for 72 hours
- Pay the booking fee within that window
- 7 days to sign the tenancy agreement
- Booking confirmed only on signing
What do iQ Astor House residents say?
The feedback is consistently positive on staff and service, and specific enough to be credible:
"I chose Astor for the previous 2 years because of their exceptional customer service and great rooms. Quality is not compromised, and you get what you pay for."
"Very friendly and helpful staff and the security is great too. Always have events going on and give out free stuff here and there."
"The studios were spacious and a few minutes away from the university."
Two residents mention returning for a second or third year, which is a meaningful signal — people vote with their renewals.
One review notes a detail worth flagging positively: "every room has a heater, even though it wasn't mentioned at the time of booking." Good news, and also a reminder that iQ's listings do not describe everything.
The criticisms are minor and specific: the oven issue above, and that is broadly it in published feedback.
Is Plymouth good value for students?
Yes, relative to most UK university cities. Plymouth sits well below Bristol, Edinburgh and London on student rents, and £155 a week for a city-centre room with bills included, twelve minutes from campus and a short walk from the sea, is competitive.
What you are trading is scale. Plymouth is a smaller student city than Manchester or Leeds, with less nightlife and fewer options. What it has instead is the coast, Dartmoor within reach, and a genuinely walkable centre.
Who is iQ Astor House right for?
Good fit: University of Plymouth and Arts University Plymouth students, anyone who wants a sea view, students who value a walkable city centre, and anyone who wants an all-inclusive building with 24/7 staff.
Less good fit: serious cooks who end up in a combi-microwave studio without checking first, and students wanting big-city nightlife.
Compare against other iQ properties and see what student accommodation costs across the UK. If you travel home from Plymouth regularly, our student railcard guide is worth ten minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Where is iQ Astor House Plymouth?
163 Notte Street, Plymouth PL1 2AQ, in the city centre near Plymouth Hoe and the waterfront.
How much is iQ Astor House Plymouth?
From around £155 to £157 per week depending on room type, with all bills, Wi-Fi and contents insurance included.
How far is Astor House from the University of Plymouth?
About a 12-minute walk. Arts University Plymouth is roughly 10 to 11 minutes on foot.
Do iQ Astor House studios have an oven?
It varies by room type. At least one studio type has a combination microwave and a small hob rather than a conventional oven. Ask about your specific room type before booking if you cook.
Does iQ Astor House have sea views?
Yes, from upper floors. Residents describe views across Plymouth Sound. Ask for a higher floor with a water aspect.
What is the iQ Astor House booking fee?
Listed at £149. iQ booking fees vary between properties, so confirm the current figure directly.
Do I pay council tax at iQ Astor House?
No. Full-time students are exempt, and this is normally already handled. If asked, submit a council tax exemption certificate from your university.
