This is the ultimate guide for choosing your Cardiff University accommodation for freshers

Your first year accommodation will never be picture perfect, but there are definitely ones at Cardiff University that I would pick over others.

There are so many things you need to consider before picking your choices, but the main thing you need to make sure is that you are comfortable. No matter where you stay in a first year accommodation you are bound to have a memorable experience (good and bad), so it’s probably better you have it somewhere you like.

Most of the accommodations in Cardiff Uni are great, but there are definitely some I’d stay away from. The main things you want to be near are the SU, Bute Park, and definitely a pub, but these preferences are definitely different for everyone. So let me break down the accommodations I’d recommend (as a first year about to move out) and the ones I would kindly direct you away from.

Talybont Student Residences

These are by far the most popular accommodations at Cardiff University. Being en-suite, self-catered and near a big Tesco, Aldi, PureGym and a McDonald’s nothing could be better.  But if I had to rate them it would go Talybont Court, Talybont South, Talybont Gate, Talybont North. The walk from these accommodations to the SU range from 15 to 30 minutes but they back on to a beautiful park which is amazing in the second semester.

Talybont Court from £6,871.20/year

Taly Court is a nice in-between. The sofas in the kitchen are just a part of the catch but Taly Court can be a great place to host a pres and also isn’t a crazy loud place to live.

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You can get your peace and fun all in one accommodation. I may be biased having lived there in my first year, but I would rate it the best Taly, if not the best Cardiff University accommodation. The flat sizes are definitely bigger than the other Talys and the shower isn’t a wet room which is always a pro.

Talybont South from £6,211.32/year

If you’re looking for party land in your first year, Taly South is the place to go. Anytime you walk through South you can hear music blasting and funny jokes in people’s window and it is the best place to meet friends.

If you are a gap year student both South and Court are known to have gap year students so don’t worry if you feel out of place – everyone’s new to this!

Talybont North from £5,507.60

Taly North is one of those places you’ll never understand but you’ll stay there for the plot. Although it isn’t the nicest accommodation out of all the Talybonts, you still get an en-suite and the people there are lovely. Plus, you’ll have a great view of the Talybont Sports Grounds.

Talybont Gate from £6,871.20

Finally, Taly Gate. This accommodation is definitely one of the nicer ones, and you’re right next to McDonalds.

The only downside to this accommodation is that you’ll be a longer walk to the SU, but none of that will matter because you’re still living in Taly.

You also get bigger beds but it is known to be a tad posher, lovingly called Tory Gate by students.

University Halls from £5,507.60

Personally, this is an accommodation that I would steer away from.

Obviously, the people you meet can make it better. But the 40 plus minute walk  from the SU might just make it a little bit worse.

This accommodation is self-catered with shared bathrooms (some are en-suite though).

I have heard good things so don’t worry if you get this accommodation but do anything you can to choose another (especially if you’re in JOMEC – that walk will be treacherous).

There is also a bus that goes to Park Place but it’s not super frequent.

Colum Hall from £6,417.60

via Google Maps

This accommodation is opposite Aberconway Hall, and they are both located on Colum Road.

When you come to Cardiff Uni you will learn all about the journeys that are made on Colum Road. On every walk down you will witness something you never thought you’d see, and you’ll get to know the people living there through their rubbish bins scattered across the road (but that’s just Cathays).

Although that doesn’t sound pleasant, Colum Hall is a lovely accommodation that is both self-catered and en-suite and is a perfect walking location to all of the buildings located around the SU.

This accommodation is also one of the smaller ones, only housing 112 students, so noise won’t be a big deal, other than the few stumbling back from a late night. Plus, you’ll have a great chance to make the Wednesday night YOLO queue before 10pm. So, I wouldn’t cross this one off your list just yet.

Senghennydd Court/Senghennydd Hall

Senghennyd Court from £5,507.60

Senghennyd Hall from £7,162.40

These two accommodations are located in the heart of Cathays. They both have a close walk to the SU and the city centre but the main difference between them is cost and that Senghennydd Court offers self-catered along with the part-catered. They both also offer en-suite rooms, which is a huge win.

For those doing maths, engineering, physics, astronomy or computer science these accommodations are in good walking distance from you, unlike many other halls.

Being situated in Cathays, you’re also only a five minute walk from the SU and Park Place, as well as a couple of mins away from your nearest Spoons.

5. Adam Street Gardens from £7,766.00

This is considered one of the nicer accommodations, owned by Unite not Cardiff University so you are getting both self-catered and en-suite.

This accommodation is located in the city centre, so you are close to all of the shops, but it also isn’t too far from the SU and the rest of Cathays.

You are blessed with a double bed in this accommodation and an on-site gym so you can definitely do that workout you’ve been wanting to do for a while. On top of all of this there is also a common room in the building, which is a great place to meet people, especially during Freshers’ Week, because going out out isn’t for everyone, and a night-in can always be better.

This accommodation definitely goes in the top five, but if you’re looking for a party atmosphere, we’d still recommend Taly over Adam Street Gardens.

6. Ty Pont Haearn from £7,436.00

Also, it’s close to St Mary’s Street and and St David’s so you’ll always have something to do.

Ty Pont is a self-catered accommodation with en-suites, and again a double bed which you can probably tell are quite rare at university.