Skylark Point East Village

Skylark Point is one half of Portlands Place, a new build-to-rent (BTR) development in East Village, Stratford, London E20, operated by Get Living. It opened in 2022 and offers studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, connected via an elevated double-height Skybridge to its sister building, Hightail Point. Studios start at around £523 to £530 per week, one-bedrooms run around £630 per week, and the development includes a gym, spin studio, co-working spaces, a screening room, roof terraces and a bookable kitchen for 25 people. Universities within a short walk or tube ride include UCL Here East, Loughborough University London, INTO University of Stirling London and Queen Mary University.

The single most important thing to understand before you book: Skylark Point is a build-to-rent property marketed as student accommodation by some aggregators, not a traditional purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). This changes how it works, what you pay, and how it compares to your other options in East London. The rest of this guide explains that distinction properly, walks through the building and its amenities, and shows where Skylark Point fits in the East London student-housing market.

Skylark Point at a glance

Where Skylark Point sits in Stratford

Portlands Place anchors the eastern edge of East Village, the residential neighbourhood built from the London 2012 Athletes' Village. East Village covers around 67 acres of parkland, sits directly next to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and is served by Stratford station (Jubilee, Central, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, National Rail) and Stratford International (HS1). For most journeys in central London, you are looking at 20 to 30 minutes door to door.

Within East Village, you have 30 independent retailers and restaurants on the doorstep, including cafés, the now-well-known Darkhorse Restaurant Bar (0.2 miles), and the Western Service Yard shopping arcade. Westfield Stratford City, one of Europe's largest urban shopping centres, is under a 10-minute walk. The Lee Valley VeloPark, the Olympic Park itself, and the ArcelorMittal Orbit are immediate. For groceries, a Sainsbury's Local and the Alma Convenience Store cover the everyday needs, with full Sainsbury's, Tesco and M&S options in Westfield.

For broader East London context, the same E20 postcode also covers East Village's residential blocks and is part of the same student-rental cluster that has grown up around the Olympic Park since 2014.

No properties found in london.

The BTR versus PBSA distinction, explained properly

This is the section that matters most before you book.

Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) is what most people mean when they say "student accommodation": buildings specifically designed and licensed for full-time students, sold by the academic year (typically 44 to 51 weeks), priced at the per-bed level, and run by operators like Unite Students, iQ, Yugo or Vita Student. PBSA rents in East London for 2026/27 typically run £250 to £350 per week for a standard ensuite, with studios up to about £400.

Build-to-rent (BTR) is different. BTR properties are conventional private rental homes, designed and managed for long-term renting, available to anyone who passes referencing. Tenancies are typically 12 to 36 months with a break clause. Apartments are priced by the unit, not the bed, and the rent includes amenity access but is set by the wider London rental market.

Skylark Point is a Get Living BTR property. Students can rent here, and aggregator sites list it as "student accommodation," but you are entering a private rental market, not a managed student building. This affects three things specifically:

Price. A Skylark Point studio at £523 per week is roughly £2,260 per month, versus a Stratford-area PBSA studio at around £350 per week (£1,520 per month). You pay BTR market rates, not student rates.

Lease length and timing. BTR leases are 12 to 36 months. PBSA leases are tied to the academic year. Skylark Point will not fit a student returning home for summer unless you are happy paying through the summer or sub-letting.

Application process. BTR requires referencing, a guarantor or larger deposit, and proof of income. PBSA application requires academic enrolment confirmation and a guarantor.

The honest takeaway: Skylark Point makes sense if you are a postgraduate, a working student, a couple, or a small group splitting a 2 or 3-bedroom apartment, and you value premium build quality and amenities. It rarely makes sense for a first-year undergraduate looking for a £250-per-week ensuite room in a sociable PBSA flat.

Inside the apartments

Apartments at Skylark Point come fully furnished with premium interior finishes. Standard features across unit types:

• Open-plan kitchen and living area with floor-to-ceiling windows
• Integrated kitchen with oven, microwave, induction hob, fridge-freezer, dishwasher
• Private balcony or terrace, depending on the apartment
• Wooden floors throughout
• Fitted wardrobe and storage
• Family bathroom with bathtub, shower and toilet (two-bedroom apartments and above)
• En-suite shower room arrangements vary by unit
• Keyless entry
• Hyperoptic Wi-Fi included
• Smart heating and lighting

Two-bedroom apartments are designed for couples, friend pairs or housemates who want more space than a studio offers. Three-bedroom apartments are popular with groups splitting the per-bed cost down to roughly PBSA studio territory.

The Skybridge: Portlands Place's amenity centrepiece

The standout feature of Skylark Point is the double-height Skybridge that connects it to Hightail Point. Both buildings share access to the amenities housed within and across the bridge:

• Gym with full cardio and weights setup
• Spin studio
• Co-working spaces with Wi-Fi
• Screening room for film nights and small events
• Roof terraces with panoramic Olympic Park views
• Bookable kitchen and dining room seating up to 25 people
• Lounges and informal social spaces throughout the communal areas

For residents, this is the genuine quality-of-life upgrade that justifies part of the price differential against an older Stratford PBSA. The roof terraces and the bookable dining room in particular are unusual at any rental in East London.

Real prices and what is included

Prices are based on Get Living and Foxtons listings for the 2025/26 cycle. Rent typically includes Wi-Fi (Hyperoptic), heating, hot water and access to all the amenity spaces. Council tax, electricity and home contents insurance are additional, with full-time students normally exempt from council tax with proof of enrolment.

A five-week security deposit is standard, with a Reposit deposit alternative available through Get Living's partner.

Universities Skylark Point realistically serves

Skylark Point's location makes it strong for east London universities and a viable option for central London with a manageable commute:

Within walking or short cycle distance:

• UCL Here East Campus (in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, about a 10-minute walk)
• Loughborough University London (Here East, about a 10-minute walk)
• INTO University of Stirling London Campus

Short tube ride (15 to 30 minutes):

• Queen Mary University of London (Mile End)
• City University of London (Angel and Holborn campuses)
• University of East London (Stratford and Docklands)
• University of West London via tube interchange
• Imperial College London via Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street and Hammersmith and City line

Manageable but longer commute (30 to 45 minutes):

• UCL main campus (Bloomsbury)
• LSE
• King's College London
• SOAS

For undergraduates at most central London universities, the daily commute from Stratford is reasonable. For postgraduates and PhD students at UCL Here East or Loughborough London, this is one of the closest premium addresses you can find.

Skylark Point and the East London student-housing market

Within East London, Skylark Point sits in an interesting niche.

If your priority is premium new-build BTR with amenities and you can pay £520+ per week, Skylark Point and Hightail Point are the two strongest candidates in Stratford. East Village itself has a number of other Get Living buildings (Glasshouse Gardens, Victory Plaza, Joinery Lane) at varying price points, and the East Village London PBSA cluster also offers more student-focused options.

If your priority is traditional PBSA at student price points, you will find better-fitting options at Canvas Walthamstow further north on the Victoria line, or at smaller PBSA buildings around Mile End and Whitechapel, all of which sit closer to £250 to £350 per week.

The comparison that matters: a 3-bedroom Skylark Point apartment split three ways may bring per-bed cost down to roughly £170 to £210 per week, which makes the building meaningfully more competitive for groups of postgrads or working students.

Who Skylark Point actually suits

A direct read:

Strong fit: Postgraduate students at UCL Here East, Loughborough University London or City University; working students with full-time or substantial part-time income; couples studying together; groups of three sharing a three-bedroom apartment.

Marginal fit: First-year undergraduates with no income support; students who need a 44-week academic lease; students who want the social density of a typical PBSA.

Not a fit: Students on the strictest budget; students who need a guarantor-only structure; students requiring sub-12-month flexibility.

Know More: Chapter Westminster London Student Accommodation

FAQs

What is Skylark Point?

Skylark Point is a 2022 build-to-rent (BTR) apartment building at Portlands Place, East Village, Stratford, London E20, operated by Get Living. It offers studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and shares a Skybridge of amenities with its sister building, Hightail Point.

Where is Skylark Point located?

At Portlands Place, East Village, Stratford, London E20, in the London Borough of Newham. The closest stations are Stratford and Stratford International, both around a 10-minute walk away.

How much is Skylark Point?

Studios start at around £523 to £530 per week (£2,265 to £2,295 per month). One-bedroom apartments are about £630 per week (£2,730 per month). Two and three-bedroom rates vary by unit and floor; confirm current listings with Get Living.

Is Skylark Point student accommodation or build-to-rent?

Both, depending on how you read it. Officially, Skylark Point is a build-to-rent property operated by Get Living. It is marketed as student accommodation by some aggregator sites, but the lease terms, prices and application process are BTR market standards, not traditional PBSA student housing.

Which universities is Skylark Point close to?

UCL Here East Campus and Loughborough University London (about 10 minutes' walk). Queen Mary University, City University, University of East London and most central London universities are 15 to 45 minutes by tube.

What is the Skybridge at Skylark Point?

The Skybridge is a double-height elevated structure that connects Skylark Point to Hightail Point, housing a gym, spin studio, co-working spaces, a screening room, roof terraces and a bookable kitchen and dining room for 25 people.

Is Skylark Point a good option for students?

For postgraduates, working students, couples and groups splitting a 2 or 3-bedroom apartment, yes. For first-year undergraduates on tight budgets, traditional PBSA options at £250 to £350 per week are usually a better fit.

How do I rent at Skylark Point?

Book directly with Get Living via getliving.com, or through a letting agent like Foxtons. Full referencing, proof of income or a guarantor, and a five-week security deposit are required.