Dinwiddy House is an undergraduate hall at 189–205 Pentonville Road, King's Cross, London N1 9NF. It houses around 523 SOAS first year students in flats of five to seven en-suite bedrooms set around a landscaped courtyard. It is operated by Sanctuary Students, and the booking catch is that you must apply through SOAS rather than booking it directly.
That last point trips people up constantly, so let's start there. If you're also comparing locations, explore our Student Accommodation near King's Cross guide to find properties with excellent transport links and easy access to London's top universities.
Can anyone live at Dinwiddy House?
No. Dinwiddy House is a SOAS undergraduate hall for first year students, and applications go through SOAS, not through Sanctuary Students directly.
This causes real confusion because Sanctuary Students lists Dinwiddy House on its own website alongside properties you can book directly, such as Manna Ash House, Coopers Court, Don Gratton House, The Craft Building, Paul Robeson House, Alliance House and Lillian Knowles House.
If you have found Dinwiddy House on a booking marketplace and want to reserve a room, check your SOAS status first. If you are not a SOAS first year, look at the other Sanctuary properties in the same portfolio instead. Several are similarly located.
What are the rooms like?
The building has 510 single en-suite bedrooms plus 10 double en-suite rooms with a double bed and private bathroom, taking it to around 520, with studios on top to reach the 523 figure SOAS quotes.
Flats are arranged as five, six or seven bedrooms clustered around a shared kitchen and dining space, set around a landscaped courtyard. All rooms are en-suite.
Studio options exist but are very limited: SOAS describes two single studios and one double studio, while Sanctuary lists one small, one medium and one large studio. Either way, three studios in a building of 523 people. Do not plan around getting one.
| Room type | Detail |
| Single en-suite | 510 rooms, private bathroom, shared kitchen/dining |
| Double en-suite | 10 rooms, double bed, private bathroom |
| Studios | Three, in varying sizes |
Reported rents have started around £237 per week, but that figure comes from a marketplace listing and is not current. Get the actual rate from SOAS accommodation, since that is where you apply anyway.
How far is it from SOAS?
| Method | Time |
| Walk | 20 minutes |
| Bus | 10 minutes |
| Tube | 5 minutes |
Twenty minutes on foot to the SOAS campus in Bloomsbury is a genuinely walkable commute, and most residents do walk it in reasonable weather.
Paul Robeson House, the other SOAS residence, is less than five minutes away, which matters more than it sounds. Your friends allocated to the other hall are not across the city.
The King's Cross location
This is the strongest argument for Dinwiddy House and it is worth being specific about why.
King's Cross–St Pancras International is a few minutes' walk. That single station gives you six Underground lines, mainline rail north, and the Eurostar. You can be in Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam without going anywhere near an airport.
For an international student, or anyone who wants to travel in Europe during reading week, that is a material advantage over almost any other London hall.
Locally there is a large supermarket, a wide range of restaurants, a VUE cinema and an O2 Academy. A bus stop outside the station runs regularly to Camden Town and its market. Angel and Camden are both close.
The honest counterpoint: Pentonville Road is a busy arterial road. This is not a quiet residential setting, and if you are a light sleeper, ask about which side of the building your room faces.
What is included?
- All-inclusive bills
- Free contents insurance
- 250 Mb/s Wi-Fi, with additional broadband ports in each bedroom
- Common room with large screen TV
- On-site laundry
- Bike storage
- Electronic entry, CCTV and 24-hour staff cover
The 250 Mb/s figure is a published speed rather than a vague "high-speed internet" claim, and the wired broadband ports in bedrooms are unusual. If you do anything bandwidth-heavy, that matters.
Sanctuary also offers competitively priced overnight accommodation at Dinwiddy House for visiting family and friends, which is a genuinely useful feature for international students whose parents visit.
Who is it right for?
Dinwiddy House is self-catered and a mixed residence, though SOAS will consider applications for single-sex flats where possible.
Good fit: SOAS first years who want an en-suite, international students who value the Eurostar and rail links, anyone who wants a large hall with a proper social scene, and people who want to be near central London without paying Zone 1 studio prices.
Less good fit: light sleepers who would struggle with a main road, and anyone who wants a quiet residential neighbourhood. If that is you, ask SOAS about the alternatives.
Practical advice for applicants
Apply through SOAS as soon as you firm your offer. Allocation is tied to the SOAS accommodation timeline, not to Sanctuary's booking system.
Ask about flat size. A five-bed flat and a seven-bed flat are noticeably different living experiences, particularly around kitchen use at 7pm.
Ask about aspect. Courtyard-facing and Pentonville Road-facing are different propositions.
Note the cancellation terms. In the last 45 days before your tenancy starts, you can only cancel if a suitable and eligible replacement tenant is found and you have notified the accommodation office. Read the full agreement before signing.
FAQs
Q: Which university is Dinwiddy House for?
A: SOAS, University of London. It is an undergraduate hall for first year students, and you apply through SOAS rather than booking directly with Sanctuary Students.
Q: How many students live at Dinwiddy House?
A: Around 523, in flats of five to seven en-suite bedrooms plus a small number of studios.
Q: Where is Dinwiddy House?
A: 189–205 Pentonville Road, King's Cross, London N1 9NF, a few minutes' walk from King's Cross–St Pancras International.
Q: Are all Dinwiddy House rooms en-suite?
A: Yes. There are 510 single en-suite rooms and 10 double en-suite rooms, plus three studios.
Q: How far is Dinwiddy House from SOAS?
A: A 20-minute walk, 10 minutes by bus, or 5 minutes by tube.
Q: Are bills included at Dinwiddy House?
A: Yes. Rent covers all bills, free contents insurance and 250 Mb/s Wi-Fi, with additional broadband ports in each bedroom.
Q: Can I book Dinwiddy House directly with Sanctuary Students?
A: No. You must apply through SOAS. Sanctuary's other London properties, including Paul Robeson House and Lillian Knowles House, have different booking routes.
