First there was the boutique hotel, then the luxury bed and breakfast, the chic hostel and the trend towards spare room rentals.   Now, there's a new trend in travel: university rooms – accommodation in university residences when students vacate for the holidays, from UniversityRooms.com.

Throw away those pre-conceived ideas about student accommodation meaning musty rooms and rock hard beds – over the past ten years universities have been investing:  think crisp white sheets,  en-suite bathrooms, plus perhaps breakfast and three-course dinner thrown in – all for a fraction of the price of a hotel.

UniversityRooms.com is one of the UK's best-kept secrets – where guests can stay in a college or hall of residence for as little as £35 per night out of term time – often in very central locations, sometimes in architecturally stunning surroundings – eating breakfast in the Hogwarts dining hall at Christ Church for example - and what's more, it's always affordable.

 From the grandeur and historical significance of Oxford, Cambridge and Durham to the more modern but equally conveniently located halls in London, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff and Exeter – there's a university room in most of the major UK cities, as well as over 40 cities in Europe, Canada and Australia.

Whether you're looking to immerse yourself in history on a city break for two, put up your relatives for a special occasion or wedding, stay for a reunion, conference or graduation, there's something for everyone.

Follow in the footsteps of politicians and statesmen in historic Oxford, the oldest university in the English speaking world. Visit the newly revamped Ashmolean Museum, take a stroll around Christ Church Meadow followed by drink at your college's bar.  Visit Cambridge, famous for poets and future kings, where a walk through the Backs and taking up punting are a must. Stay in a real castle in Durham, the perfect base for visiting the city's cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

London's hotel accommodation is both in short supply and often eye-wateringly expensive.  For your next visit why not consider the impeccably refurbished Prince's Gardens in South Kensington or the University of London's rooms in Bloomsbury.  UniversityRooms.com offers a diverse collection of rooms in the capital from as little as £40 per night.

 As Charlie Ramsay, founder of UniversityRooms.com explains: “The secret is slowly getting out – thousands of people every year are now booking with UniversityRooms.com for centrally located city accommodation that leaves them with money in their pocket compared to a hotel.  And for Universities this has become a vital income stream, enabling investment in rooms and subsidy of student rates during the term time”.

If you're looking for a lesson in thrift with a good location, fun atmosphere and perhaps history thrown in, UniversityRooms.com can provide it.

Ends

For further information, images , interviews or organised tours and group press trips  please contact Eveleen Hatch at Seriously PR – Eveleen@seriouslypr.co.uk or 01941 822647 or Catherine Warrilow – Catherine@seriouslypr.co.uk - 01491 822645.

Notes to Editors

UniversityRooms.com was set up in 2007 by Charlie Ramsay, an Oxford Alumnus himself. Whilst reading Geography at St. Edmund Hall, he wanted to keep his room to revise in the Easter holidays, a time when most students clear out.  Whilst putting in his request he noticed most of the rooms were empty and could be creating a much-needed revenue stream for the colleges.  UniversityRooms.com was born four years after Charlie graduated.  The first two colleges to join Keble in Oxford and St Catharine's in Cambridge received their first bookings in 2007; the rest, as they say, is history. UniversityRooms.com now has availability in over 400 university colleges and student residences in 75 cities around the world. Whilst most rooms are only available in the holiday periods when they would otherwise be empty, a small number of guest rooms are also available for both short and long term rental during the academic year.

UniversityRooms.com is part of TravelbookingNetwork, a collection of sites which process over 50,000 bookings per year on behalf of bed and breakfasts, hotels, hostels, university residences and holiday rentals in 17 countries. 

http://www.universityrooms.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/universityrooms

Trip Advisor Reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186361-d729849-Reviews-Keble_Colle