Ask any second or third-year Bath student where they live and there is a good chance the answer is Oldfield Park. It has been the most in-demand student area in Bath for years running, and the 2026/27 letting season has followed the same pattern. The demand is not hard to explain: Oldfield Park sits close enough to the city centre to walk on a dry evening, has direct bus routes to both universities, and is dense with the kind of terraced HMO houses that groups of three to seven students actually want to rent together.
This guide covers what Oldfield Park looks like as a place to live, what rents look like in 2025/26, how the transport connections work, what you will find locally, and what you need to know to secure a house before the better properties disappear.
For a full view of verified student accommodation in Bath across all areas and price ranges, Acolyte Living lists options from private providers alongside the area guides.
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What Makes Oldfield Park Popular?
Oldfield Park sits to the south-west of Bath city centre, about 1.4 kilometres from the main shopping streets. It is not a purpose-built student village -- it is a mixed residential neighbourhood that happens to have a very high concentration of student houses, its own railway station, a busy high street, and bus stops served by the U1, U2, and U3 routes to both universities.
The reasons students keep choosing it come down to a few things that matter in practice:
Location. It is close to the city without being in it. You can walk to the centre in 15-20 minutes, or cut that to under five minutes by train from Oldfield Park station. When the night bus is running late or the hill up to Claverton feels too steep after a long day, the proximity to everything else makes up for it.
Supply of group houses. Oldfield Park has more HMO student houses than anywhere else in Bath. Four and five-bedroom terraced houses on streets like Moorland Road, Vernon Terrace, Lymore Avenue, and Coronation Avenue form the core of the student market here. Groups who want to live together from second year onward consistently find more options here than in comparable areas.
Dual university access. Both the University of Bath and Bath Spa University are reachable from Oldfield Park without needing to change bus or travel through the city centre first. That makes it one of the few areas in Bath that works logistically for students at either institution.
Established community. Oldfield Park is not a sterile student zone. It has independent cafes, a library, GP surgeries, pharmacies, a post office, supermarkets, pubs, and a mix of residents that includes families and long-term locals alongside students. That combination gives it a feel that is livelier and more settled than some quieter suburban areas.
Types of Accommodation Available
The vast majority of student accommodation in Oldfield Park is private HMO houses. You will rarely find purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) blocks here -- the area's stock is almost entirely Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing that has been converted or let to student groups.
3-bedroom houses -- less common in Oldfield Park than further out, but available. Suited to tighter friendship groups or students who want more space per person. Costs tend to be proportionally higher per head than larger houses.
4-bedroom houses -- the most searched-for size in Bath. A lot of the standard terraced houses in Oldfield Park fit this mould: three floors, four double bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, a kitchen-diner, and a small rear garden. This is the default for most second-year groups.
5 and 6-bedroom houses -- also widely available. The larger Victorian terraces with extended rear rooms suit bigger groups well. Bills can be trickier to split and the kitchen situation is worth checking before committing: some five-bed houses only have one bathroom, which at peak morning hours is noticeable.
7 and 8-bedroom houses -- less common but exist. Mostly found on longer terraced streets. These work well for larger friendship circles but need a clear agreement on communal spaces before signing.
Individual rooms in shared houses -- some landlords and agents advertise single rooms in existing shared houses, which is useful for students who need accommodation without a pre-formed group, or those arriving later in the cycle.
Studio apartments and small flats -- a smaller portion of the Oldfield Park market, mostly suited to postgraduates or couples. More expensive per person than a shared house of equivalent size.
Students looking for modern managed options rather than traditional HMO houses can also consider private PBSA properties elsewhere in Bath. Some properties in the city offer en-suite rooms and all-inclusive bills with management on site -- read verified resident reviews at The Brook Bath to get a sense of what that living experience looks like compared to a private house.
Rent Prices and What Is Included
Oldfield Park rents have risen over recent years alongside the wider Bath market. Current listings for 2026/27 show a broad range, depending on property size, condition, and whether bills are included.
Private HMO houses (bills excluded)
| Bedrooms | Approx. rent per person/week | Approx. per person/month |
| 3-bed | £165-185 | £715-800 |
| 4-bed | £160-190 | £695-825 |
| 5-bed | £155-185 | £670-800 |
| 6-7 bed | £150-180 | £650-780 |
These figures exclude bills. Adding gas, electricity, water, and broadband typically adds £50-100 per person per month, more in older properties with poor insulation or electric heating.
Bills-included listings
Some landlords and agents now advertise Oldfield Park properties with all bills included, priced at around £215-230 per person per week. These are more straightforward to budget with and remove the risk of an unexpectedly high energy bill in a cold winter, but the weekly figure looks higher than an equivalent bills-excluded property until you add up the utilities.
What to check before signing
- Council tax. Full-time students are exempt. If all housemates are full-time students, the property owes no council tax. You will need to apply for an exemption certificate through Bath and North East Somerset Council and provide proof of enrolment from the university.
- Internet. Even when gas, electricity, and water are included, broadband is sometimes listed separately. Confirm this before signing.
- Deposit. Most private landlords ask for a deposit equal to one month's rent per person, held in a government-approved deposit protection scheme. Check which scheme is being used before handing money over.
- HMO licence. Properties let to three or more unrelated tenants in Bath are required to hold an HMO licence from Bath and North East Somerset Council. Legitimate landlords will be able to provide this on request.
- Contract length. Most private student tenancies in Oldfield Park run 12 months from around July or August to the following July. That means you are paying rent over summer. Some students find part-time work in Bath over summer to offset this; others sublet if their contract permits it.
For a broader breakdown of rent by area across Bath, read our Bath student accommodation budget guide and prices by area.
Commute Times to Both Universities
Oldfield Park is one of the only areas in Bath where students from both the University of Bath and Bath Spa University actively compete for the same houses. The bus connections to each campus are genuinely good.
University of Bath (Claverton campus)
| Route | Journey time | Notes |
| U3 | ~25-35 minutes | From Oldfield Park via Lower Bristol Road to Newton Park |
| U5 | Indirect | From Lower Bristol Road -- may require connecting from Oldfield Park |
Bath Spa students in Oldfield Park have a slightly longer commute to Newton Park than University of Bath students have to Claverton. The U3 is the most direct option and runs via Newbridge Road toward Newton Park. If you are a Bath Spa student choosing between Newton Park on-campus halls and a house in Oldfield Park, the time difference is worth factoring in -- Newton Park is completely commute-free for on-campus residents, while Oldfield Park adds 25-35 minutes each way.
For a full comparison of Newton Park on-campus living versus off-campus options, read our guide to Bath Spa University student accommodation at Newton Park.
Train and walking
Oldfield Park has its own railway station on the Great Western Railway line. Bath Spa station is two to three minutes away by train, which is useful for early morning commutes into the city, weekend trips to Bristol (around 12 minutes) or London, or simply cutting the walk to the city centre. A 16-25 Railcard reduces most rail fares by a third.
Walking to the city centre takes about 15-20 minutes on flat ground. The route along the Lower Bristol Road is straightforward. Walking to Claverton campus directly is possible but involves a steep climb and takes 35-45 minutes -- most students take the bus in the morning and sometimes walk back down after afternoon sessions.
Student Amenities and Local Scene
Moorland Road is the commercial spine of Oldfield Park and the main reason the area functions well for students on a daily basis. It is a short high street with enough variety that you do not need to go into the city centre every time you run out of something.
Food shopping. A Sainsbury's Local and a Lidl are both within easy walking distance of most Oldfield Park addresses. For larger shops, the city centre Sainsbury's or Tesco on Lower Bristol Road are accessible by bus or foot.
Cafes. The Grumpy Baker is one of the more popular stops on Moorland Road, known for its coffee and cakes. Velo Lounge does all-day brunch and has a loyal student following. Several independent coffee shops and bakeries fill the gaps.
Pubs. The Moorland Gate is a local gastropub on Moorland Road that gets a regular student crowd. There are several other pubs within a short walk. For nightlife proper, most students head into the city centre, where the main clubs and live music venues are concentrated.
Healthcare. Oldfield Park has GP surgeries and pharmacies on and around Moorland Road. It is worth registering with a GP in Bath as soon as you move in rather than waiting until you need one.
Green spaces. Linear Park runs through the area -- a narrow corridor of greenery following the old Somerset and Dorset Railway line, popular with joggers and cyclists. Brickfields Park is close by and used for informal sport and outdoor relaxing. Both are well-maintained and easy to reach from the main student streets.
Gym. PureGym Bath is accessible from Oldfield Park and popular with students for its flexible membership terms. CrossFit Bath is also nearby for those who prefer a more structured training environment.
Library. Moorland Road Community Library is a small local branch useful for quiet study closer to home. For more extensive resources, the University of Bath library on Claverton campus is the main option.
Shopping. Moorland Road has a range of independent shops, a post office, charity shops, and a butcher. For anything else, the city centre is close enough that it never feels far.
Students who want to compare Oldfield Park house living with managed PBSA options in Bath can read resident reviews at The Exchange Bath for a view on what the managed accommodation experience looks like.
afety and Community
Oldfield Park is a safe area to live as a student. Bath has a relatively low overall crime rate compared to other UK cities of similar size, and Oldfield Park benefits from being a mixed residential area with a genuine local community -- not an isolated student enclave.
The area is well-lit, walkable, and busy enough in the evenings that it does not feel isolated. The university bus routes run through until late in the evening and the U1N night service connects Claverton campus to Oldfield Park for students returning after late events.
Bath city centre holds Purple Flag status, a formal recognition from the Association of Town and City Management that the city centre nightlife environment is actively managed for safety. Most of the main clubs, bars, and live music venues are in the centre, and Oldfield Park is close enough that getting home after a night out is straightforward.
Standard sensible precautions apply: secure your house when you leave, avoid walking alone through unlit spaces late at night, and make sure your contents insurance covers student possessions. Many standard renters' contents insurance policies will cover student belongings in a shared house -- check this when setting up your tenancy.
How to Book Student Accommodation in Oldfield Park
The single most important piece of advice is: start early. This is not a cliche in Oldfield Park -- it is operationally true. The most popular streets and the best-maintained houses at reasonable prices tend to go between November and February for the following September intake.
Typical timeline for second-year students
- October-November (first year): Start discussing who you want to live with. Groups of four to five students most commonly start forming at this stage.
- November-December: Begin viewing properties. Some agencies in Bath open the new letting cycle as early as October.
- January-February: Most popular properties in good condition are agreed or under offer. This is the latest you want to be signing for a September start.
- March-April: What is left is either overpriced, in worse condition, or in less desirable locations. Still possible to find something, but choice narrows sharply.
- May onwards: Very limited stock. You are likely looking at individual rooms rather than whole houses at this stage.
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FAQs
Is Oldfield Park a good area for students in Bath?
Yes. Oldfield Park is consistently the most in-demand student area in Bath. It has its own train station, direct bus routes to both Bath universities, a busy high street on Moorland Road, and a dense supply of HMO houses suited to groups of three to seven students.
How much is rent in Oldfield Park Bath for students?
Private HMO houses in Oldfield Park average around £160-230 per person per week in 2025/26. That is roughly £695-1,000 per person per month before or including bills depending on the contract. Some older properties with bills excluded come in lower.
How far is Oldfield Park from University of Bath?
Oldfield Park is approximately 1.5 miles from University of Bath's Claverton campus. The U1 and U2 buses connect the area directly to campus in around 10-15 minutes.
How far is Oldfield Park from Bath city centre?
About 1.4 kilometres. A 15-20 minute walk or a two-to-three minute train ride from Oldfield Park station to Bath Spa station.
What bus goes from Oldfield Park to University of Bath?
The U1, U2, and U3 all serve Oldfield Park. The U2 is direct to Claverton and the fastest option for University of Bath students. The U3 also links to Bath Spa University's Newton Park campus.
When should I start looking for student houses in Oldfield Park?
November to December of your first year. Most of the better properties in Oldfield Park are agreed between January and March for the following September. Waiting until spring leaves noticeably less choice.
Are student houses in Oldfield Park safe?
Yes. Oldfield Park is a safe area. Bath as a whole has a lower crime rate than many comparable UK cities, and the mixed residential character of Oldfield Park means it is not an isolated student zone.
What size houses are available in Oldfield Park for students?
Three to seven bedroom HMO houses are the most common. Four and five-bedroom properties are the most in demand. Some landlords also advertise individual rooms for students who need accommodation without a formed group.
Do Oldfield Park student houses include bills?
It depends on the property. Some include bills, some do not. Always confirm what is covered before signing, and check broadband separately as it is sometimes excluded even when other bills are included.
Is Oldfield Park good for Bath Spa University students too?
Yes. The U3 connects Oldfield Park to Newton Park campus via Lower Bristol Road in around 25-35 minutes. Many Bath Spa students choose Oldfield Park as a base, particularly if they want access to the city and good transport in both directions.