Your home in Chester

At ELC Chester, we have selected a range of accommodation options to help you maximise your English language course.

All our accommodation is within easy travelling distance to school and never further than 6.5km of the school. ELC Chester is located on Stanley Place which is very well connected to the public transport network.

Our selection of accommodation includes:

  • homestay
  • student residence (self-catering)
  • hotels and guesthouses

Please note: If you are aged 16 or 17, and you are booked on an adult course, you must normally choose homestay accommodation with half-board meal (breakfast and evening meal).

Accommodation features

  • Friendly and safe environment
  • All homestays have study facilities
  • All accommodation options are within 40 minutes' journey time of school
  • Free wifi in all accommodation options
  • You'll be the only person of your nationality in a homestay, unless you ask to stay with a friend
  • Arrive on Sunday and depart Saturday or Sunday

Homestay in Chester

Over 85% of our students choose homestay accommodation. It is the best way to meet people, practise your English and discover more about our culture.

All our homestays are carefully selected by our Student Services Team who understand the needs of students from other countries.

Key facts:

  • Most students typically stay in single rooms with breakfast and dinner every day. Other meal plans may be available on request.
  • Normally, you share a bathroom with the family.
  • Typically arrival day with the host is Sunday before the course starts and departure day is the Saturday after the course ends.
  • You live as a member of the household, eating meals together and sharing common living areas.
  • The host will clean your room and provide you with towels and bedding. One load of laundry per week is included in the cost.

Special diets in your homestay

When you book your course and accommodation, you will have the opportunity to tell us about your dietary needs. Most homestays can cater to a no pork, or a vegetarian diet at no extra cost. You’ll just need to let us know.

For a celiac, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free or nut-free diet, there is a supplement to pay of 30 GBP per week. Please speak to us if you have any concerns or questions.

A photo of English language students from ELC Chester enjoying an outdoor meal with their hosts. This image is being used to portray the option where two students (who speak different languages) share a room in a homestay in the UK.

Student residence in Chester

For students aged 18 and over who would like more independent living, ELC Chester can offer self-catering residential accommodation year-round. The residences are within a 20-minute walk of the school and a 10-minute walk of the city centre.

All the rooms are studios – single, ensuites with private kitchen.

  • within 20 minutes’ walk of ELC Chester
  • all rooms with ensuite bathrooms and private kitchens
  • high speed Wi-Fi and security systems
  • check in Sunday; check out Saturday
  • weekly laundry service for towels and bed linen
  • weekly ‘freshen up’ clean of the bedrooms and common areas
  • basic kitchen equipment for cooking and cleaning
  • laundry facilities available on-site at extra cost for your personal washing
A kitchen shot of one of the residences used by ELC Chester.

Hotels in Chester

Chester is a tourist city with over 8 million visitors every year. The city has many hotels and guest houses to choose from to suit all budgets and tastes.

Our partner hotels

Roomzzz is a modern ‘aparthotel’ with studio rooms. Located opposite the racecourse it is just a 2 minute walk from English in Chester and 5 minutes’ walk to the city centre. It offers ‘grab n go’ breakfast and in-room kitchen facilities making it ideal for adults who want independence and want to cook for themselves.

The Express by Holiday Inn at Chester Racecourse is a modern hotel, conveniently located just 2 minutes’ walk from English in Chester and 5 minutes walk to the city centre. It makes a perfect base for adult students who prefer a more independent lifestyle.

Special diets in your hotel

Most hotels can cater to vegetarian, vegan or gluten free diets at no extra charge. To be sure, please check with the hotel if you have any special dietary requirements, or contact us to ask a question.

An exterior photo of the Holiday Inn Express in Chester. It's a tall white square looking building with the hotel name on a silver sign on the facade.
This is one of the photos from the Holiday Inn in Chester, showing two single beds in a modern, blue, white and wood colour coordinated room - there is an office chair and desk in the room. Double beds can also be booked at the hotel.
A photo of the dining area of the Holiday Inn Express in Chester
Two beer taps on a bar in the Holiday Inn in Chester. These are used to serve draft beers and lagers to guests.
The buffet breakfast area at the Holiday Inn in Chester. The breakfast things aren't out in the photo, but it all looks very clean and tidy.

Frequently asked questions about accommodation in Chester

What accommodation should I book if I'm less than 18 years old?

If you're an unaccompanied student at ELC and you are aged 16 or 17 and booked onto an adult course, you must normally choose half-board homestay accommodation.

If you are under 16, you must normally book homestay accommodation with full-board. In summer, students on our junior summer courses will have a twin room with another students of the same gender and similar age, unless otherwise requested and subject to availability.

How far are homestays from the school in Chester?

All homestays are within 4 miles of the school.

Do you cater for special diets?

We can cater for special diets such as lactose free, vegan and celiac on request and depending host availability. If your host can cater for your special diet, we will ask you to pay the special dietary supplement of £30 per week.

Can I bring my family with me to Chester?

Chester is a beautiful, medium-size city and a great place for families to live or as a base to travel around the country. If your family members are not studying at the school, you will have to arrange your own accommodation and childcare if required.

Will my homestay provide lunches at weekends?

Courses which include lunches, such as the Summer Course for Teens or some group courses will include lunch at the weekends, as they do during the week. Students on all other courses remain half board throughout the whole week with no lunches at the weekends.

Can I change homestay if I have a problem?

It is important that you are happy where you are living. If you have a problem, you can speak to a member of our Accommodation team and we will help you find the best solution. Sometimes problems are because of mis-communication and misunderstanding that can be solved quite easily. However, if it is a bigger problem, we can help you change homestay.

Is there a car park at the school in Chester?

No, we don’t have a student car park available. However, there is a public car park less than 1 minutes’ walk from the school. The price is around £5 per day.

Can I choose my host family?

We will try to match you to the best available homestays during your stay. The more information you can give us, the better we can match you. Please let us know, for example, if you smoke, if you have any allergies or special diet requests, if you like pets etc.

What if I am not happy with my accommodation?

If you are not happy with your accommodation, you can speak to the Accommodation and Welfare Manager who will try to help you find a solution.

Can I cook my own meals in homestay?

You cannot use the kitchen facilities in your homestay. If you would like to cook your own meals and you are over 18, you can choose to stay in residential accommodation.

How often is my room cleaned in the student residence?

Bedding and towels are changed every other week on a Monday. Student rooms and en-suites will have a basic clean on a weekly basis on Monday.

How will I travel from my accommodation to the school?

All accommodation is either in walking distance or on a bus route to school.

When I arrive in the UK, can I travel from London to Chester on my own?

Yes you can, however, this is only recommended for experienced travellers as you will then have to take the Underground to central London and then a direct train to Chester (CTR).

Can I stay in a hotel?

You can choose to stay in a hotel. You can choose the hotel option at checkout, and if you would like us to send you a list of our recommended hotels, please let us know.

Will my homestay host do my laundry?

Your host is required to do a reasonable amount of laundry for you (one load of laundry per week) included in the homestay fees. If you are over 18, you can make a request to your host to do your own laundry, if you prefer.

Are there any restrictions or conditions when you live with a homestay?

As an adult there are no curfews and most students have independent lives but clearly you should also be respectful of the host family. There is a curfew of 11 pm every night for students aged 16 and 17.

What’s provided in the student residence?

All rooms include: Bedding and linen, one large towel, one small floor towel, 1 toilet roll, toilet brush, bins, microwave oven, fridge, kettle and a toaster, pots and pans, chopping board, utensils, plate, bowl, mug, glass, knife, fork and spoons, tea towels, dish cloth, washing up liquid. There are laundry facilities on site.

Can I stay in a shared room in homestay?

Students on the Summer Course for Teens may be placed in either a single or shared room. You can request to stay in a shared room with another student you are travelling with, however this is subject to availability.

Policies and procedures that relate to accommodation

If you have any questions about accommodation in Chester, please do use the chat function or the contact form, and we’ll be pleased to help you out.

Let us know your questions