Try Going Back to College, Strictly for an Inexpensive Room

How about a single room in central London, breakfast included, in peak summer season for as little as $37 per night? It’s possible by staying on a college campus, and you don’t have to be a student to take advantage of it.

The place: Rosebery Avenue Residence of the London School of Economics (within walking distance of the busy Oxford Street shopping district). I found it through the University of London Accommodations Office, 011-44-20-7862-8880, www.lon.ac.uk/accom.

During school holidays, campus accommodation is available to tourists at universities around the world. Not only does it mean reasonable rates for private rooms, but you also can use other campus facilities, including kitchens, Internet cafes and swimming pools.

The trade-offs? You may have to share washrooms and provide your own sheets (bring sheet sleeping bags), and the room may show wear and tear.

But the English Tourist Council is taking steps to address this by introducing a five-star rating system for campus accommodations this spring. Each campus will be judged on cleanliness, friendliness and efficiency of staff, food quality and facilities. The ratings will be posted in future editions of the council’s “Where to Stay” guides.

Certainly some of Great Britain’s premier university accommodations are at the University of Stirling, which has been described as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Opened in 1967 on the 300-acre estate of 18th century Airthrey Castle, in the Scottish heartland about 45 minutes from Glasgow and Edinburgh, the university has an extensive selection of rooms, apartments and “chalets” that can accommodate up to 2,300 solo, family and group travelers. Single and twin rooms are available from about $29 per person. The university’s home page, www.stir.ac.uk, has links to detailed information about lodgings as well as about the campus, the town of Stirling and the surrounding area.

For extensive links and phone numbers for North American universities and colleges that provide holiday accommodation for individuals and groups, try Stay on Campus, www.stayoncampus.com. Amy and Don Fotheringham, who previously published the booklet “On Campus U.S.A. and Canada,” developed this site.

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Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance travel writer and author of “Izon’s Backpacker Journal.” Her Internet site is www.izon.com.