Canto Court is a private student building at 122 Old Street, London EC1V 9BD, on the border of Shoreditch and Finsbury. Unusually, it is studios only — there are no shared flats at all. Prices start from around £340 per week, and Old Street Underground station is a three-minute walk.
Several of the studios are sized for double occupancy, which makes it one of the few student buildings in London that openly accommodates couples.
What makes Canto Court different?
Most London student accommodation is en-suite rooms in shared flats, with a handful of studios at a premium. Canto Court is the inverse: the entire building is en-suite studios.
That changes the proposition completely. You are not being allocated flatmates. You are not negotiating a shared kitchen. You have your own front door, your own kitchen and your own bathroom.
For some students that is exactly right — postgraduates, mature students, couples, anyone who has already done a year of shared living and does not want another. For a first year hoping to meet forty people in freshers week, it is the wrong building, and you should know that before you book rather than after.
What studios are available?
Three broad sizes, all en-suite, all with their own kitchen.
| Studio type | Size | Features |
| Standard | 20–21 sq m | Large double bed, flat screen TV, extensive desk space, well-designed kitchen, en-suite shower room. Can accommodate a couple |
| Larger | 23 sq m | Defined sleeping and living spaces, generous study area, kitchen with breakfast bar, en-suite shower room |
| Largest | 28–35 sq m | Zoned living and sleeping areas, kitchen dining area with sofa and flat-screen TV, large double bed, en-suite with bath and shower |
Note that even the entry-level studio comes with a large double bed and is described as able to accommodate a couple. That is genuinely unusual in student housing, where a three-quarter bed is standard and double occupancy is often prohibited outright.
The largest option, with a separate bath as well as a shower, is closer to a small flat than a student room.
What does it cost?
Studios start from around £340 per week.
That is expensive, and it should be assessed honestly. £340 per week is roughly two and a half times what a shared room in Sheffield costs and well above a typical London en-suite in a shared flat.
What you are paying for is not just square metres. It is the absence of housemates, a Zone 1 location, and your own kitchen. If you split a studio with a partner, the per-person figure changes the calculation substantially, and that is the scenario where Canto Court is most competitive.
Confirm current rates directly, as published starting prices tend to be for the smallest studio in the quietest part of the year.
The location
122 Old Street sits between Finsbury and Shoreditch, in one of the more interesting parts of central London.
Old Street Underground station is a three-minute walk, putting the Northern line and National Rail at your door.
Universities within easy reach include City, University of London, City Law School, Bayes Business School, the University of Law, UAL, UCL, KCL and LSE. Residents specifically mention the proximity to City Law School and Bayes.
The neighbourhood itself is the draw. Shoreditch is a hub for creative and technology work, with a dense concentration of bars, restaurants, galleries and independent shops. Concert halls and museums are within reach. It is lively rather than quiet.
What do residents say?
Published reviews consistently pick out three things: responsive staff and quick maintenance fixes, the location, and well-maintained rooms.
One review captures the value argument well, describing it as the cheapest studio the reviewer had seen while still being a good size, with a tube station, gyms, grocery stores and City University all within a ten-minute radius.
That "cheapest studio" framing is worth understanding in context. Canto Court is not cheap accommodation. It is comparatively priced for a central London studio, which is a different claim.
Summer accommodation
Canto Court offers summer accommodation as well as full academic year lets. That is useful for a specific set of people: students on summer courses, those doing London internships, postgraduates writing up over the summer, and anyone whose academic-year contract has ended but who needs to stay in the city.
Summer availability in central London is genuinely scarce, so if that applies to you, book early.
Who is Canto Court right for?
Good fit: postgraduates, mature students, couples, anyone at City, Bayes or the University of Law, students who have already done shared living and want their own space, and anyone needing summer accommodation in central London.
Less good fit: first years wanting the traditional halls experience, anyone on a tight budget, and students who would find living alone isolating. An all-studio building requires you to make your social life happen elsewhere.
FAQs
Q: Where is Canto Court?
A: 122 Old Street, London EC1V 9BD, between Finsbury and Shoreditch, a three-minute walk from Old Street Underground station.
Q: Does Canto Court have shared flats?
A: No. Canto Court is entirely en-suite studios, each with its own kitchen and bathroom. There are no shared flats.
Q: How much does Canto Court cost?
A: Prices start from around £340 per week for a studio. Confirm current rates directly, as the starting figure applies to the smallest studio.
Q: Can couples live at Canto Court?
A: Yes. Several studio types are sized for double occupancy, including the standard 20–21 sq m studio, and the larger studios have defined sleeping and living areas.
Q: Which universities is Canto Court near?
A: City, University of London, City Law School, Bayes Business School and the University of Law are all close, with UAL, UCL, KCL and LSE reachable by tube.
Q: Does Canto Court offer summer accommodation?
A: Yes. Summer lets are available alongside full academic year contracts, which is useful for internships and summer courses.
Q: How big are the studios at Canto Court?
A: From 20–21 sq m for the standard studio, 23 sq m for the larger option, and 28–35 sq m for the largest, which has zoned living and sleeping areas and a bath as well as a shower.
