Vita Student Portland House is a studio-only building on Longbrook Street, about a minute's walk from Exeter's high street and roughly 15 minutes on foot from the University of Exeter's Streatham Campus. It is run by Vita Student, a premium UK operator whose pitch is "all-in" living: rent covers bills, weekday breakfast, weekly studio cleaning, a gym and events.
That bundle is the whole story here. Portland House is one of the most expensive options for student accommodation in Exeter, so the real question is whether those inclusions are worth it to you.
Editorial note: Prices below are for 2026/27, taken from booking platforms in November 2026, when every room type was listed as sold out. 2027/28 prices had not been published. Treat all figures as estimates and confirm with Vita Student.
new-york City properties
Find your perfect student accommodation
Portland House at a Glance
- Operator: Vita Student
- Address: Vita Student Portland House, Longbrook Street, Exeter EX4 6AH (some platforms list 23 Longbrook Street, EX4 6AB)
- Size: 156 studios over seven floors
- Room format: Self-contained studios only, no shared flats
- Contracts: 44 or 51 weeks for 2026/27
- Bills: Included
- Deposit: None
- Guarantor: Not required
A detail most guides miss: Portland House was not built as student housing. It is a converted office development, refurbished into studios in a project awarded to Create Construction in 2013 (reported at around £17m). That explains its slightly irregular room sizes across the five studio grades.
Location: Longbrook Street and the Neighbourhood
Longbrook Street runs north-east from the top of Sidwell Street and the high street, between the city centre and the residential St James area. You are on the edge of the main shopping district rather than in a student enclave, which means:
- Shops, cafés and restaurants are on your doorstep
- Gandy Street, Exeter's independent shopping lane, is a short walk away
- The Guildhall shopping centre and Princesshay are within about 5 to 10 minutes
- Evenings can be busier and noisier than in residential streets
Exeter is compact and hilly. Distances look short on a map, but the climb towards Streatham Campus is real, so factor that into your daily walk.
Student Accommodation Near University of Exeter: Realistic Travel Times
Walking times are based on Vita Student's figures and booking platforms. Bus times are estimates and depend on route and traffic.
University of Exeter, Streatham Campus (main campus)
- Walking: about 15 minutes, partly uphill
- Bus: around 10 to 12 minutes via city-centre services towards the campus
University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus (Medicine, Sport, Education)
- Walking: roughly 15 to 20 minutes east across the city centre (estimate)
Exeter College (city centre sites)
- Walking: around 10 to 15 minutes (estimate)
Rail links
- Exeter Central station: under 10 minutes on foot
- Exeter St Davids (mainline to London and Bristol): about 15 to 20 minutes on foot (estimate)
Most residents walk to Streatham, which saves on bus fares. If you have mobility needs or early labs, check the bus option before you commit. For a full picture of housing around campus, see our guide to student accommodation near the University of Exeter.
Exeter Student Studios: Every Room Type at Portland House
Every studio at Portland House includes its own kitchen, en-suite bathroom, study space and storage. Vita Student's own site lists Classic, Premium, Deluxe, Ultimate and Accessible rooms; booking platforms also list a Premium Plus grade for 2026/27. Sizes below are approximate and come from third-party listings.
Classic Studio
- Around 17m²
- Standard Vita studio with all core features
- The entry price point at the property
- 2026/27: from about £309/week (51 weeks) or £339/week (44 weeks)
Premium Studio
- Around 19m²
- More floor space than Classic
- Dual occupancy listed on some platforms (confirm with Vita)
- 2026/27: from about £312/week (51 weeks) or £333/week (44 weeks)
Premium Plus Studio
- Listed by booking platforms, not on Vita's current building page
- Layouts vary as a result of the office conversion
- 2026/27: from about £348/week (51 weeks) or £383/week (44 weeks)
Deluxe Studio
- Around 19 to 20m²
- Extra storage and living space
- 2026/27: from about £349/week (51 weeks) or £384/week (44 weeks)
Ultimate Vita Studio
- Around 28m², the largest studio type
- Most space for a separate living and sleeping area
- 2026/27: from about £433/week (51 weeks) or £476/week (44 weeks)
Accessible Studio
- Around 28m²
- Bigger bathroom, step-free access and adaptable features
- 2026/27: from about £374/week
Portland House Price Summary (2026/27, Estimated)
| Studio type | 51-week contract | 44-week contract |
| Classic | ~£309/week | ~£339/week |
| Premium | ~£312/week | ~£333/week |
| Premium Plus | ~£348/week | ~£383/week |
| Deluxe | ~£349/week | ~£384/week |
| Ultimate Vita | ~£433/week | ~£476/week |
| Accessible | from ~£374/week | Not confirmed |
Shorter contracts cost more per week but less in total. A Classic studio works out at roughly £15,760 for 51 weeks versus about £14,900 for 44 weeks. Prices flagged for editorial review.
Inside the Studios: Kitchen, Bathroom and Furniture
Based on Vita Student and consistent platform listings, studios include:
- Kitchenette: fridge, microwave, oven and hob
- Bathroom: private en-suite shower room
- Sleeping: double bed, with bedding pack provided
- Study: desk and dedicated study area
- Storage: wardrobe and shelving
- Tech: smart TV and high-speed Wi-Fi
- Kitchen pack: cookware and utensils provided
Exact furniture and layouts vary between grades and floors, so ask for floor plans if space matters.
Facilities and Amenities
Portland House facilities confirmed across Vita Student and multiple platforms:
- On-site gym, included in rent
- Private study rooms and a communal hub
- Coffee lounge and dining area
- Cinema room
- Games area with pool table
- Laundry room
- High-speed Wi-Fi throughout
- Bike storage
Because every room is a studio, the communal hub is where most socialising happens. It is the main way to meet people in a building with no shared kitchens.
What "All-In" Actually Includes
Vita's all-inclusive package is what separates it from most Exeter PBSA. Included in rent:
- Electricity, water, heating and Wi-Fi
- Free weekday breakfast (grab-and-go)
- Weekly studio cleaning
- Gym access
- Social and wellbeing events
- Contents insurance (listed by platforms; confirm in your licence)
Things to budget for separately:
- Laundry machine costs (check current arrangement on site)
- Food beyond breakfast
- Any damage charges at check-out
Security, Reception and Support
- Key fob entry throughout the building
- CCTV
- On-site staff at reception or patrolling 24 hours a day
- Lettings and customer engagement teams for booking and contract questions
The University of Exeter's own wellbeing services remain available to its students regardless of where they live.
Bills, Deposits, Payments and Contracts
- Bills: All included
- Deposit: No security deposit; you pay for any damage before check-out
- Advance Licence Fee: The first two weeks' rent is paid on booking and is non-refundable once your contract starts
- Instalments: One annual payment or four instalments
- Guarantor: Not required, which helps international students
- Payment methods: Cards and bank transfer, including local-currency transfers for many countries
- Cooling off: 48 hours for bookings made from 27 May 2026 onwards (five days before that)
- No Place, No Pay and No Visa, No Pay: Full refund if you miss your grades for an Exeter university or your UK visa is refused, subject to deadlines and evidence (16 August for visa refusals in 2026/27)
- Leaving early: You remain liable until a replacement student takes over
Plan the rest of your budget with our student cost of living calculator.
Shops, Food and Essentials Nearby
- Groceries: Several supermarkets and convenience stores along Sidwell Street and the high street, within a few minutes' walk
- Shopping: Guildhall Shopping Centre, Princesshay and the high street
- Food and drink: Gandy Street's independents, Cathedral Green cafés and high street chains
- Culture: Exeter Cathedral, Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Northernhay Gardens nearby
- Transport: Bus stops outside the building, Exeter Central station under 10 minutes away
- Day trips: Rail links to the Devon coast and Dartmoor for weekends
Vita Student Portland House Reviews: What Students Say
Verified review volume for this specific building is modest, so read individual scores carefully:
- StudentCrowd lists only a handful of verified reviews for Portland House
- Casita shows a 4.3 average from 36 reviews
- Vita Student quotes a 4.7 Google rating, but this covers its buildings collectively, not Portland House alone
Recurring themes across those sources:
- Staff and housekeeping are praised most often, with the on-site team frequently named as a highlight
- Facilities feel high quality for a building of this size
- Location is valued for city-centre convenience and a walkable campus commute
- Price is the main criticism; it is among the costliest studios in Exeter
- Studio living can feel isolating unless you use the communal spaces and events
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Genuinely all-inclusive: breakfast, weekly cleaning, gym and bills
- Every room is a private studio
- No deposit and no guarantor needed
- One minute from the city centre, about 15 minutes' walk to Streatham
- 24-hour on-site staff
- Clear No Place, No Pay and No Visa, No Pay policies
Cons
- High weekly rent, particularly on 44-week contracts
- Uphill walk to Streatham Campus
- City-centre location can be noisy at night
- Small building (156 rooms) sells out early; 2026/27 was fully sold by November
- Studio-only layout means less built-in socialising than shared flats
Who Portland House Suits
Book it if you are:
- A postgraduate or final-year student who wants privacy and quiet focus
- An international student who values no guarantor, no deposit and services included
- Someone who would rather pay more than manage bills, cleaning or a gym membership
Look elsewhere if you are:
- On a tight budget; options like Hill View Place near Streatham Campus start considerably lower
- A first-year wanting a lively shared-flat experience
- Comparing studio buildings; also look at Renslade House riverside studios and The Printworks Exeter
Wassup
Instagram??
FAQs
How far is Vita Student Portland House from the University of Exeter? About 15 minutes on foot to Streatham Campus, partly uphill, or around 10 to 12 minutes by bus. St Luke's Campus is roughly 15 to 20 minutes' walk.
What room types does Vita Student Portland House Exeter offer? Studios only: Classic, Premium, Premium Plus (listed by platforms), Deluxe, Ultimate Vita and Accessible. All have a private kitchen and en-suite.
How much does Vita Student Portland House cost? For 2026/27, studios ranged from about £309 to £476 per week depending on room type and contract length. These are estimates; check Vita for current pricing.
Are bills included at Vita Student Portland House? Yes. Utilities and Wi-Fi are included, along with weekday breakfast, weekly studio cleaning, gym access and events.
Do I need a deposit or guarantor? No. Vita Student charges no deposit and does not require a guarantor. You pay the first two weeks' rent when you book.
Can I cancel if I don't get my visa or university place? Yes, under Vita's No Visa, No Pay and No Place, No Pay policies, provided you meet the deadlines and evidence rules in your licence agreement.
Is Portland House good for international students? It is one of the simpler options for international students: no guarantor, local-currency payments, services included and 24-hour staff. The trade-off is cost.
What other student accommodation in Exeter is similar? Other studio-led buildings include Renslade House and The Printworks. Browse all student accommodation in Exeter to compare prices and locations.
Final Verdict
Vita Student Portland House is a polished, well-run studio building with an unusually complete package: you are paying for breakfast, cleaning, a gym and round-the-clock staff on top of a private studio, a minute from Exeter's centre. For students who value privacy and convenience, and especially for international students who want to avoid guarantors and deposits, it delivers.
It is not good value if you will not use the extras, and the uphill walk to Streatham and city-centre noise are worth weighing. With only 156 rooms and 2026/27 already sold out, plan early for 2027/28. If you want help comparing Portland House against cheaper Exeter studios, talk to the Acolyte Living team for free.