- 21 mins
- 5 mins
- 13 mins
Reception staff are so kind and helpful, they are always there whenever you need them. The rooms are also really nice and is great value for money :)
Cambridge Hall Rankings
Castle Hill | #1 |
Brunswick House | #2 |
Castle Street | #3 |
The Railyard | #4 |
Anglia House | #5 |
Trinity Hall | #6 |
Swinhoe House Hall | #7 |
Peter Taylor House | #8 |
CB1 | #9 |
Sedley Court | #10 |
*Minimum 10 reviews required to be ranked.
Reception staff are so kind and helpful, they are always there whenever you need them. The rooms are also really nice and is great value for money :)
The Railyard Information
Postcode | CB1 2JH |
Amenities
Popular
- Common Room
- Gym
Features
- Common Room
- Communal Kitchen
Internet Access
- WiFi
Laundry
- Coin-operated Communal Laundry
People/Staff
- Courtesy Officer (24-hour Patrol)
Recreational Facilities
- Entertainment Room
- Gym
Security & Safety
- CCTV / Surveillance Cameras
Services
- Contents Insurance
Special Policies
- No Smoking
TV
- TV in Room
Transport
- Bike Storage
Travel Times
University of Cambridge
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
Q&A
Ask a new question about The Railyard
All the Answers You Need About Student Accommodation
What tenancy length do I need?
Some students choose to stay during the academic year, whilst others – particularly international students – require a tenancy that covers the entire year. You can also find student accommodation that is available for one or two terms, classified as a “short stay” on our search filters.
Should I stay in catered student accommodation?
This is totally up to you! Catered accommodation means you will be served meals at set times in a dining hall, and you’ll likely have access to fewer kitchen facilities than if you were to stay in self-catered accommodation.
What is a guarantor and do I need one?
A guarantor is a person who signs a contract to agree to pay your rent if you are unable to. Most university accommodation requires a guarantor, and this applies to both domestic and international students.
Will I need to pay a deposit on student accommodation?
Most likely, yes, you’ll need to pay a deposit. This will be refunded at the end of your stay as long as there is no damage to the room or property.
What bills will my rent include?
If you are staying in university-run accommodation or private halls, your rent should include any utilities such as electricity, gas, water, and internet. Students are not required to pay council tax, however you may need to fill in an exemption form so make sure you check with your local council.
What is purpose-built student accommodation?
Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) are residential buildings designed for students. They are often located close to campus, boast modern facilities, include all bills, and often have staff on site to assist residents.
Will my student accommodation be furnished?
Student accommodation is typically fully furnished. Your room should include at least a bed, clothes storage, desk and chair. You’ll likely need to bring things such as bedding and kitchen utensils, but we have a full list here of everything you’ll need.
Read The Railyard Reviews
Reception staff are so kind and helpful, they are always there whenever you need them. The rooms are also really nice and is great value for money :)
I loved living here during my first year of uni!
The railyard is an ideal accommodation for students. The rooms and social spaces are very clean and modern looking and the location is perfect with the railways station being so close and lots of shops within a 2 min walk
I started my tenancy at the railyard in September and have been consistently impressed with the facilities, rooms and staff. The rooms are big and the beds are extremely comfortable! I would definitely recommend the railyard to others looking for student accommodation.
Amazing student accommodation. Very clean, modern and excellent student accommodation! Fantastic customer service and perfect location. I am very happy and I recommend the Railyard very much.
I have had some issues here and there from the oven not working to disgustingly messy flat mates, the oven got fixed in about an hour after I moved in and after the reception staff did their best my flat mates have eventually cleaned up properly. The students living here are clearly treated as a priority. All of the staff and I mean all of them are lovely! Truly a great accommodation!
The Railyard, Cambridge, is located in a great place! The Railyard location is superb and very convenient for travelling, shopping, eating and so on. Staffs also are so kind and supportive; I highly recommend it!
It's a suitable property for students, it has all facilities including a gym and very helpful staff
Ive been in the Railyard for 2 years and I am planning to stay atleast one more year. My experience has been pleasant and the staff is friendly, always a warm welcome and shows intrest.
I recommend to live in here, great location with a lot of buses to go anywhere, great staff, prices could be lower
Very nice location and very helpful staff, living here my whole studying life in Cambridge!
Pros: - friendly reception staff - nice facilities - good location Cons: - heat is shut off during the day, so living spaces regularly fall below 19 degrees as of November. So far, we haven't had any days below 0 outside but I'm worried about the room temperature when we get to that point. - reported maintenance problems do not get fixed (of this review, it has been 3+ months of waiting) - you get a combination microwave/oven, so the oven is not really functional besides use as a toaster oven
For a first time living on my own in a studio - being at home to then moving and having my own space wouldn’t of been so easy if it wasn’t for welcoming, friendly and engaging staff in reception and night guard. A sense of security and feeling welcomed into a new environment was established from the get go. Wouldn’t have changed a thing nor do i have any improvements or issues to put forward. So i’d like to take the opportunity to say thank you to everyone for how much of a big help they have been during this drastic change in life :)
I’ve lived at the railyard all the way through university and I’ve never had any issues. Any problems I have are seen to promptly. Booking to live here has always been straight forward. Good location as it is in the city centre so close to everything, especially the train station.
Incredible staff and maintenance. Everything is always dealt with quickly and the communication is very easy. For sure one of the best accommodations in Cambridge - even when it comes to rooms, which feel comfortable and modern. I have nothing but good things to say so far.
Amazing, will be living there for my third year
I can happily say the railyard is an amazing student accommodation. The price is very generous considering it’s Cambridge. The location is a short walk to town and right next to the station. The staff are amazing, John, Rachel and Alanis always welcome us with a smile and a friendly chat, they all go out of their way to host events for all students including ethnicities and religions. We have a studio which is well equipped and homely. I would gladly recommend this accommodation to anyone.
Really nice place to live and short walk to ARU
Excellent student accommodation. Receptionists are very friendly and caring . Definitely worth value for money . Love the fact that in reception there is sometimes free refreshments and they host student parties and welcome events .
Staff are really really kind and helpful! Rooms are good!
I am confident to say that The Railyard, Cambridge is the best student accommodation there can be in Cambridge. A very professional and welcoming team. Been with the Railyard, Cambridge through my undergraduate and now postgraduate studies. Couldn't ask for more.
The staff is wonderful and so is the building. Great amenities and activities for Freshers when they begin. Can't stress enough how amazing staff is, would always be there when you need something. Also in a very good location.
As soon as I got to the railyard it felt like home, the rooms and communal areas are top standard. One thing that really stands out to me is how welcoming and amazing the staff are, couldn't fault them at all
My experience at the Railyard has been brilliant. The accommodation itself is kept to a beautiful standard and the reception team is always welcoming. John, Rachel, Alanis have been absolutely brilliant throughout the whole two years I've lived here. They always have a positive attitude and never fail to solve any queries that I may have. I am very happy living here and can't fault a thing throughout my stay, and I'm happy that I will be living here for my third year of university.
Moving into the flat at first gave somewhat mixed first impressions as the rooms were nice but they hadn’t been cleaned anywhere near enough when we first moved in as we had to clear things from under the bed and mop the floors but once that was done the rooms were all very nice. There’s a great amount of space within each room although the kitchens could do with extra cupboard space and another fridge! The location is great within 30 minutes of walking distance if that to anything you really need for leisure or shopping and being so close to the train station makes it almost impossible to miss a train. The wifi speeds are fantastic and are some of the best I’ve had. I think overall the Railyard is a great place to live though it could be a little bit cheaper considering the alternatives.
Very good place to live. Staff at the reception are very nice and friendly. Big and bright room with good facilities. In addition, there are often fresh fruits and snacks at the reception!
Most of the staff are friendly and nice. Just have no idea why they require the access to each apartment so frequently.
this has to be the best accommodation i’ve ever stayed in, i can sum up my feelings and say it really does feel like home away from home!! love the people there love the staff they’ve always been a helping hand :) lots of love
Unfortunately although Railyard promised to do refund in written for 46 days, they reject now because they ask the get keys physically even for few hours. I leave abroad , pandemic doesn’t allow to travel to UK. This is not a friendly or student helper. I do not suggest for any student
I am also experiencing late COVID-10 reimbursement and deposit return even though our tenancy ended in July, tried emailing them but no responses so far. This is far worse than I expected. Everything else in the accommodation was fine.
Do not stay with The Railyard!! They are awful I had the worst experience! They haven’t even bothered retuning my deposit money or rent reimbursement due to COVID which is taking advantage of student!
I really love living in the rail yard. The staff are so nice and friendly and they are always willing to hel. I have never seen them angry or cranky which is nice compared to my last accommodation. Also, they always have treats for us at the reception which is very welcoming and friendly. However the WIFI has been really bad sometimes it just randomly cuts off and this can happen up to 6 times a day or more whuc can be annoying
Basicly I am satisfied with the services of the railyard. Sometimes the Internet is not good.
I believe bringing in cleaners to the kitchens around twice a week to just empty bins and maybe spray over the surfaces would be great! It would take the pressure off housemates and remove any awkwardness as most of the time it is the same people who empty the bins! I know of multiple accommodations that charge a lot less, who offer this free service! I also think that when noise complaints are made, there should be more done about it, such as fining the people making the noise if the complaint is made more than once in one night. Rather than just telling them to be quiet as no one does this, if there are no consequences! Again I know of multiple accommodations that do this and it works well! The washing machines are really not great, they’re never cleaned and always breaking down, I suggested it to circuit themselves but they never seem to take any notice so I’m not sure if something more can be done about that. On a happier note I’ve really enjoyed staying here, and would stay again!
I am in love with this accommodation
I have had the most comfortable living experience with the railyard. Everything is perfect!
The halls are comfortable and very accessible to the station
Staff are lovely, stayed here 3 outmpfm4 years accordingly.
I have lived here for the 3 years that I've been at uni and I've really enjoyed living here.
Really helpful! Really happy I stayed here all three years
It's been more than a month since I moved in and I'm loving the experience so far.
Over all expierence was great. I feel safe stay here. Great service when asked any queries. Friendly environment.
Good for living good staff and surprise common room
I am completely disappointed - the amount that is paid does not fully match the conditions provided. In addition to the problems that arise (in my case with the noisy neighbor) no one solves !!!! This is horrible !
Full of activities and things to do
Nice, clean accommodation and friendly staff
I have been here for 2 years and it has been a great experience.
Brilliant staff, can't do more to help wherever possible!
Some flatmates are noisy. Sometimes they use kitchen for their party and invite other people that didn't live here to come and it finish at 4am. It's disturb others flatmates. I think you have to manage and solve this problem.
Great place to live as it is really convenient for university and for the train station when I travel. The rooms are a good size and well furnished. The main disadvantages are to do with the small kitchen in the two bed studios, it suits my needs fine but the lack of a proper oven and small fridge/freezer space can be inconvenient when there are two people that both cook a lot.
Quite pricey anywhere else,but for Cambridge a good deal I guess.
Very good and friendly. Overall a sense of community. Excellent location
Five out of five lovely place to live so far better than all the other accoms I've lived in
The location is perfect, they always organise a lot of social events, you have a little gym and they are really efficient in terms of maintenance and repairs of the rooms and kitchens. But the price too muuuuch.
The place is really good but the price is excessive
The management team is great especially people in the reception so friendly and polite.The room could be better because the walls were dirty when I moved in.the location is alright a bit far from the city centre but buses routes are good.is quite expensive though and the laundry room is very poor since we have only two washing machines and two dryers for the whole building.
Very classy accommodation with friendly staff excellent
the accommodation wasn't too bad but the people Im living with were a problem:)
The best accommodation I've stayed in!
The best accommodation I've stayed in!
I have enjoyed my experience at The Railyard. It is comfortable, cozy and I am satisfied with the accommodation.
Have had a good experience so far being close to uni and city centre
I have lived in the railyard shared flats during my first year and third years of study and I regretted not living here in second year! I feel extremely safe here and staff are very friendly and helpful. Paying rent and applying is so straightforwrd. My room is comfortable and kitchen is spacious, I always recommend to my friends who are looking for accommodation for the next year of their studies. I will miss living here after I graduate! Maintenance are always quick and efficient too. Takes way the stress of moving away from home so I am able to focus on my studies.
I think the internet is too slow.
Convenient location, lovely staff
Great accommodation but quite expensive
Good place to live. I love the community and meet good friend here.
Very good, very modern and friendly staff
Very good staff was good and very friendly , sorted problems quickly
Friendly staff memebers, as well as maintenance of the building and social spaces.
I had an amazing time staying at the railyard, the team always did social events that got us all interacting with each other which was enjoyable and fun
Staff are amazing. They are very helpful
I stayed at railyard my first year of university, in the second year I choose to found another place with my friends, and by looking around I saw that nothing was comparable to railyard, came back on my 3rd year and couldn't be more happy
Its pretty expensive for the service you get but it is located in best place and its convenient to travel places in and around cambridge.
The railyard isnon the more expensive side, however it is totally worth the price. The staff are amazing and always happy to help and there are loads of free events.
It's very expensive but also very good. There's most things you need on site, in a convenient location with bus and train access along with every major convenience store in a 5m walking distance.
Lived here for four years. Located in a good area, staff and maintenance helpful but WiFi and reception in rooms isnt great
Amazing location next to uni and a nice area
Good experience good rooms clean
The railayrd is a great place to stay,and within a short walk to the main railway station in Cambridge
I thin it's been fine so far, but socially it hasn't been amazing. There is a lot about this place that is good don't get me wrong.
Nothing really, just want to say, please fix WiFi for those rooms at the end of the hallway, for example, Brunel 27- that side
Excellent space, very clean, security and reception services are fantasric! Great social space and close distance to uni campus and town centre.
Really good location. Staff are always friendly. The gym is a wonderful resource and the location is perfect for near shops for little things.
I hope the laundry system gets better as I have any problems with my washing
A lovely place with a nice reception team making it a good experience
Great accommodation with everything you need.
The location of the accommodation is really good with bus stop just in front of the door, making traveling easy.
Very good stayed here for !many years
Very good reception , room are good and the ensuit is cool
WiFi was gliting but spoke to glide and all fixed now Love the location Eay to get into town and to uni
Cleaning in the flats is much needed (hallway and kitchen) and by kitchen I mean a hoover and cleaning the oven at least once during the semester. Issues need to be dealt instantly mostly ignore.
I have been at railyard for three years now and I did not once think about thinking of moving into a different accommodation! Love railyard and the beautiful memories made here. :)
Great space for student nurses but it can be expensive
Great space for student nurses but it can be expensive
Lovely rooms, good management, great location! Buses are very loud, hoovers should be in each block
The staff at the reception are absolutely amazing ! They’re very welcoming, friendly and helpful! The accommodation itself is quite nice, the shared kitchens has the just right amount of space for you and all your flatmates, nice sized bed and modern en-suite bathroom- would recommend.
Good location, good staff but a bit noisy from the buses
My room has plenty of room and is situated in a great location
Overall railyard is a great experience because of the social aspects,furthermore the accommodation itself is modern and spacious. The only downside is the WiFi which varies and can sometimes cut out,which could be improved.
Railyard isn't terrible however there is loads of room fr improvement
Decent facilities but need new chairs.
The place has nice staff, location and is conveniant.
Lovely location and student friendly, spacious rooms and kitchens
I like living here and I have never complained about my accommodation. Internet is weak sometimes and cleaning is not excellent,but other things are perfect for me
A very conveinient place to stay while at university, with a great location and easy access into town. The management are always available and very helpful if any issues arise, and the constant security is reassuring. The social areas of common room and gym are always clean and are great resources. The area can be quite loud to live in but you soon get used to the hustle and excitement. Very satisfied living here and have returned for a second year!
Very good experience, perfect place for student living
WiFi needs to be improved overall for the building Stephenson needs their own common room Get rid of malloys butchers something more student minded like a corner shop
My flat mates were very untidy in the kitchen but the kitchen is lovely and was beautifully clean first, it hasn’t stayed that way despite my efforts! The laundry room is good but had few issues with machines before. I love my room and my en-suite and where the accommodation is. I had a plug socket that was coming off and it was fixed perfectly within the day! Staff are friendly and would 100% recommend this accommodation.
If there were more washing machines then that would be great very often i find that they are in use.
It's a great place to live, truly a home away from home. With internet, heating, electricity and water paid for, you've literally got nothing to worry about besides yourself. Also, the facilities are great and well maintained. I don't regret my choice to live here one bit!
It was a lovely stay I felt so safe and secure
Great rooms and location close but not too close to the university and right next to the train station. Not worth the money overall but still a good place, especially if you rent a studio. Staff not in 24/7 like advertised and the gym is much smaller than the photos suggest. Wifi is inconsistent.
Staff are absolutely fantastic, always helpful and welcoming. The studio's are spacious and well laid out. I have loved my three years here at the Railyard and would recommend it to everyone.
The experience you have at the railyard is very much dependant on your flatmates. The location is great, staff are good, security sometimes unhelpful but still do their job ok. Unfortunately a few of my flatmates were a nightmare. Their disgusting attitudes towards cleaning/mess and with so little respect for anyone else, often partying/ playing music at ridiculous times really ruined my year. I appreciate you have to live in close proximity with other individuals but playing music at 6am so loud the whole flat wakes up, really brings makes you question how an individual feels this is acceptable? The situation was addressed a few times but it still remains happening nearly 3 months after it began. If you can live with this, the place is great!
A great deal at a moderate price point.
Overall, the Railyard is the ideal place to live if you are entering your first year at university. The rooms are very nice and clean. My only complaint would be the cleanliness of the communal kitchen, but it does depend on the type of people you live with.
It’s my second year living here and I’m going to book for next year. The area is very friendly , you can get a bus to pretty much anywhere from right outside the accomodation. There is a selection of shops and a leisure centre within 5 mins walk.
Really enjoy staying at the railyard would highly recommend it to other students. It’s a little pricey but it’s worth it as you have a lot of space in your bedroom, the kitchen and communal areas are well done and there a gym and bike storage which makes the price well worth it. I would like to add more equipment in the gym if that was an option as there re no free weights which would be extremely useful. Furthermore, the intercoms don’t work which should be fixed. Overall 8/10
Generally a good accommodation with good facilities such as gym and goof location as near to the station
The value for money is really good. Wifi causes a few issues though. Security after hours can’t be a bit rude but other than that it’s worth it !!!
As an International student I could not find better than the Railyard it’s a place to stay with the friendly staff and lovely flat mates.
the wifi is very slow sometimes
People are rude and don’t bother to clean the kitchen. The staff say they will do regular checks but they don’t so overall pretty poor and wouldn’t recommend to anyone.
Railyard is one of the best accommodations but it’s just too expensive.
The staff are so helpful and friendly. The location is great, only a 15 minute walk from ARU and right next to the train and bus station! I've lived here for 4 years and I will be sad to go once I finish uni :)
Is an amazing room and kitchen. Perfect location e.g. next to Cambridge rail station , m&s and sainsburys
The best thing about living at the Railyard is how secure it feels. There is always somebody you can go to, no matter what time it is. If you have a query, the staff are always quick to respond.
WiFi is really slow not accommodations fault mainly glides fault had numerous calls but still not resolved fed up of calling glide. WiFi issues make paying this amount not worth it
Very nice place to livevand happy to have lived here for 3 years
Fantastic location and the staff are amazing! It is a bit expensive but you get what you pay for. The WiFi is lacking a bit but they have said it is being upgraded.
I enjoy my staying here in Railayard. Compared to other student accommodation s I find Railyard worthy of the price. Personally, I like the social environment here: the way management tries to comfort students in every possible way.
Reception for mobile data is terrible, however Wi-Fi is pretty good. Also there are many students who smoke weed.
I lived here in my 1st and 2nd year and I loved it.
We didn’t have cleaners come round. It was expensive as hell but great quality and condition. Great location.
With a recently opened common room, this accommodation is something special! Especially if only looking for something personal (loads of different types of studio flats available!!)
First Year is was great; But second year it has gone down hill.
The railyard is probably the most expensive accommodation in Cambridge, however it it probably the best accommodation in the city. The kitchens are a great size (and the long table in the middle is great for beer pong). The location is ideal as it is right next to the train station, making it convenient for a trip home, or to London.
Very expensive, not particularly worth the money. The internet was forever down and extremely slow!
Great location, great building and design of the rooms but poor standard of staff and cleaning within the building. Far too much money for what you get.
Very good accommodation if you want to socialise. Lots of students. 10/15 minute walk to Anglia Ruskin university. Less than 2 minute walk to cooperative food. 5 minute walk to the cinema/gym/restaurants/tesco express and sainsburys local.
The Railyard is a great place to live, the rooms are a decent size, and the ensuite is always a plus. The kitchen/ communal area is pretty good as well, with lots of space and tables/ cupboards/ shelving, as well as a smart TV and sofa set. However, the accommodation is just a littttle bit expensive at £6,500 , I certainly don't think the standard of our accommodation correlates with the price we're paying.. It took maintenance 6 weeks to fix a light in our flat. But hey ho, it's certainly a cool place to live during uni with a very diverse community of people, all of them are awesome. But yeah, hell, If you have the money, go to the Railyard. It's cool.
Pretty expensive but you do get what you pay for , perfect location for me , 1/2 way between uni and addenbrookes where I do my placements. Management are there if you need them but don't intrude, cleaning is done in the staircases but would be nice if it included the kitchens as certain people I live with have no idea how to use a mop -.-
Really expensive, I was in a studio and no one was social at all. No one particularly uses the common rooms, especially the ones in Stephenson which are basically just a laundry waiting room. It's really messily finished, there was plaster dust everywhere when I moved in. There were already scratches and marks on the wall even though they were freshly built. My friend in a flat above me has four holes in her wall which she had told reception about multiple times and were never fixed. There's a constant wiff of weed in the air. The windows barely open so the room can get really stuffy, this is an issue when cooking as the whole studio then stinks of the food you cooked. The wardrobe is a decent size and the under bed storage is really useful. There is quite a lot of storage space in these. I guess the best bit is that you're opposite CB1 accommodation which is party central! So not ideal if you'd like it to be quiet!