HOA London office: key facts
- Address
- Gunnery Works9–11 Gunnery Terrace, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London SE18 6SW
- Type of office
- Coworking spaceVisits by appointment only
- Contact
- +44 7770 988491WhatsApp, for students in the UK
- Team
- Rubee and SandeshWith Director Rahul Chhetri when in London
- Services
- Rooms, jobs, pickupsFor HOA students in the UK
- Cost
- FreePickup fare paid to the driver
- Nearest stations
- WoolwichElizabeth line; Woolwich Arsenal for DLR and rail
- From Heathrow
- About 1 hourElizabeth line, no change
- Closest airport
- London CityDLR to Woolwich Arsenal
- UK immigration advice
- Not givenOnly IAA-regulated advisers may give it
- Applications
- From NepalKathmandu and Pokhara offices
Details confirmed by HOA on 15 October 2026.
Section 01 What does the HOA London office do?
Three services for HOA students arriving in or already studying in the UK. Each one is free; for an airport pickup you pay the driver’s fare directly.
Accommodation finder
FreeHelp finding a room before you fly: university halls or private shared housing near your campus, within your budget.
- Shortlists halls and private rooms near your university and checks listings for warning signs of scams
- Explains the tenancy contract, bills and deposit before you sign
- Reminds you of your rights: in England your deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days
- Helps you prove your right to rent with a share code from your eVisa
You choose the room, sign the contract and pay the landlord or university directly. HOA never takes rent or deposits.
Ask for accommodation helpJob finder
FreeSupport finding part-time work that fits your studies and your visa conditions.
- Turns your CV into UK format and points you to suitable part-time roles near you
- Prepares you for interviews and explains payslips, tax codes and the National Insurance number
- Checks the job fits your visa: usually up to 20 hours a week in term time for degree-level students, and never self-employed work
- Explains your pay rights: the National Minimum Wage is £12.71 an hour from April 2026 for workers aged 21 and over
Employers make their own hiring decisions. HOA is not your employer or a recruitment agency and does not guarantee a job.
Ask for job search helpAirport pickup
Free to arrange; you pay the fareA driver to meet you at a London airport and take you to your accommodation on arrival day.
- Books a driver or taxi for your flight and shares the driver’s name, phone number and the fare with you before you travel
- Tracks your arrival on the day and stays reachable on WhatsApp
- Tells you where to meet the driver and what to do if your flight is delayed
- Reminds you to check your eVisa is linked to the passport you travel on
Arranging the pickup is free. You pay the driver or taxi company directly, at the fare agreed before you fly.
Book an airport pickup
Your rights as a renter and worker: landlords in England must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days (GOV.UK), and you prove your right to rent with a share code (GOV.UK). At work you are entitled to at least £12.71 an hour if you are 21 or over (GOV.UK), and your Student visa limits your hours and bans self-employment (GOV.UK). More: accommodation guide · part-time work guide.
Section 02 How do you get help from the London team?
- Message the London team
WhatsApp +44 7770 988491 with your name, university, course start date and what you need.
- Tell us your dates early
For a pickup, send your flight number and arrival time as soon as the flight is booked. For a room, send your budget and move-in date.
- Get options and the details in writing
The team sends room options, job leads or the driver’s name, number and fare on WhatsApp.
- Meet in Woolwich if you need to
Book a time to meet at Gunnery Works. It is a shared coworking space, so visits are by appointment only.
Still in Nepal? Use HOA’s free pre-departure guide and book your pickup once your visa is granted and your flight is booked.
Section 03 How do you get from a London airport to Woolwich?
From Heathrow, take the Elizabeth line towards Abbey Wood: it runs to Woolwich with no change in about an hour. London City Airport is closer still, on the DLR to Woolwich Arsenal. From Stansted or Gatwick you change trains in central London. Prefer to be met? Book a pickup; arranging it is free and you pay the driver’s fare.
| Airport | Route | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow (LHR) | Elizabeth line, no change | Board an Elizabeth line train towards Abbey Wood (not Shenfield) and stay on to Woolwich. Through trains have run since November 2022; the trip is about an hour from Heathrow’s central terminals and a little longer from Terminals 4 and 5. | Visit Greenwich Greenwich Wire |
| London City (LCY) | DLR, no change | London City Airport is on the DLR branch that crosses under the Thames to Woolwich Arsenal, two stops away. It is the closest airport to the office. | Transport for London |
| Stansted (STN) | Stansted Express, then Elizabeth line | Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street (about 48 minutes), then the Elizabeth line towards Abbey Wood to Woolwich (about 17 minutes). | Stansted Express Visit Greenwich |
| Gatwick (LGW) | Train, with at least one change | There is no direct train to Woolwich. Check the National Rail journey planner for your arrival time, or book a pickup if you land late with heavy bags. | National Rail |
Arriving late or with two big suitcases? Changing trains with heavy bags after a long flight is hard work. Send the London team your flight number and we will arrange a driver to meet you, with the fare agreed before you fly.
Section 04 What should you do in your first week in London?
Eight jobs for your first week. Most are free; the Student Oyster photocard costs £20. The London team can talk you through any of them.
- Check your eVisa
Sign in to your UKVI account and check your eVisa shows your Student permission and is linked to the passport you travelled on. You use it to get share codes when you rent a room or start a job. GOV.UK
- Enrol at your university
Finish enrolment as soon as you arrive. Ask the student office for a student status letter: you will need it for the council tax exemption and often for a bank account.
- Register with a GP
Register with a GP surgery near where you live. It is free, and you do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status to register. NHS
- Claim the council tax exemption
Households where everyone is a full-time student do not pay Council Tax. If your council sends a bill, apply for the exemption with your student status letter. GOV.UK
- Open a UK bank account
Banks set their own ID rules. Most ask for your passport, proof of your immigration status and a UK address; a university letter often helps. See our UK bank account guide.
- Get an 18+ Student Oyster photocard
It saves 30% on adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. You apply online for a £20 fee; your university must be on the TfL scheme and you must live in a London borough in term time. Transport for London
- Get your National Insurance number
Check your UKVI account first: your number may already be there. If not, apply on GOV.UK. You can start work before it arrives if you can prove your right to work. GOV.UK
- Skip police registration
International students no longer register with the police. The requirement was suspended on 4 August 2022, so ignore anyone who tells you otherwise. UCL
More detail: NHS care for international students · council tax exemption · National Insurance number guide.
Section 05 Who runs HOA in London?
- RubeeLondon operations: accommodation, jobs and arrivals
- SandeshLondon operations: accommodation, jobs and arrivals
- Rahul ChhetriDirector, House of Admissions; joins the London team when he is in London
In Nepal, HOA’s 20+ counsellors each hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification and handle admissions and Student visa preparation. The London team picks up from there once you are in the UK.
Section 06 Where is the HOA London office?
9–11 Gunnery Terrace, Royal Arsenal
Woolwich, London SE18 6SW
United Kingdom
- By train: Gunnery Works is in the Royal Arsenal area of Woolwich, close to Woolwich station on the Elizabeth line and to Woolwich Arsenal station (DLR and National Rail).
- Visits: by appointment only. The team shares a coworking space and is often out with students, so book a time first.
- Bring: your passport, your university offer or CAS, and any tenancy or job documents you want checked.
Section 07 Why is HOA’s London team in Woolwich?
Woolwich sits in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, home to London’s largest Nepali-speaking community in the 2011 Census, and it has direct trains to Heathrow and central London.
- 5,058Royal Greenwich residents whose main language was Nepali in 2011: 2.1% of residents aged 3 and over, and the most of any London borough Royal Borough of Greenwich
- 1,627Nepali speakers in Plumstead ward alone, next to Woolwich 2011 Census
- 17 minWoolwich to Liverpool Street on the Elizabeth line; Canary Wharf is 8 minutes Visit Greenwich
For a new student, that means a large Nepali-speaking community nearby and a short trip to universities across London. The figures come from the council’s 2011 Census language profile.
Section 08 Which London universities are near the office?
The London team helps HOA students wherever they study in London. These universities have HOA guides, starting with those nearest Woolwich.
- University of GreenwichGreenwich and Avery Hill campuses, in the same borough as the office
- Ravensbourne University LondonGreenwich Peninsula, in the same borough
- University of East LondonDocklands campus across the Thames, and Stratford
- Goldsmiths, University of LondonNew Cross, south-east London
- Queen Mary University of LondonMile End, east London
- London South Bank UniversityElephant and Castle
- London Metropolitan UniversityHolloway and Aldgate
- University of WestminsterCentral London and Harrow
Comparing cities? See studying in London and all UK universities.
Section 09 What the London office does not do
- UK immigration advice. In the UK, immigration advisers must be registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or be a solicitor or another regulated professional (GOV.UK). Nobody in HOA’s London team is IAA-registered, so for visa extensions or switching visas the team will point you to a regulated adviser.
- Take rent, deposits or fares. You pay landlords, universities and drivers directly. HOA never asks students for money.
- Employ you or guarantee a job. HOA helps you search and apply; employers decide.
- Walk-in appointments. Please book first.
Already in the UK and planning another course? That is an admissions question, and HOA’s admissions team can help: see studying again from inside the UK.
Section 10 HOA’s other offices
Section 11 HOA London office: frequently asked questions
Yes. HOA’s London team works from Gunnery Works, a coworking space at 9–11 Gunnery Terrace, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London SE18 6SW. It supports HOA students once they are in the UK. Visits are by appointment only.
It helps HOA students settle in the UK: an accommodation finder, a job finder for part-time work, and airport pickup on arrival. University applications and Student visa applications are handled by HOA’s offices in Nepal.
Rubee and Sandesh run HOA’s London operations. Rahul Chhetri, HOA’s Director, joins them when he is in London.
Yes. The accommodation finder and job finder are free, and arranging an airport pickup is free. You pay the driver or taxi fare yourself, and you pay rent and deposits directly to your landlord or university. HOA does not charge students at any stage.
WhatsApp the London team on +44 7770 988491 with your name, flight number, airport, arrival date and time, and your accommodation address, as soon as your flight is booked. The team confirms the driver’s name, phone number and fare before you travel.
Yes. The team shortlists university halls or private shared rooms near your campus within your budget and explains the contract. You sign and pay the landlord directly. In England your deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days, and you prove your right to rent with a share code.
HOA helps you look: a UK-format CV, job leads near you, interview practice and an explanation of pay and tax. Employers decide who they hire, so no job is guaranteed. Degree-level Student visa holders can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and cannot be self-employed.
No. In the UK only advisers registered with the Immigration Advice Authority, or solicitors and other regulated professionals, can give immigration advice. Nobody in HOA’s London team is IAA-registered, so the team will point you to a regulated adviser for questions about extending or switching your visa. Use GOV.UK’s find an immigration adviser service.
Please book first. The team works from a shared coworking space and is often out meeting students or at airports, so message +44 7770 988491 on WhatsApp to agree a time.
Gunnery Works is in the Royal Arsenal area of Woolwich, close to Woolwich station on the Elizabeth line and to Woolwich Arsenal station (DLR and National Rail). Use the map link on this page, and the team will send directions when you book.
Take the Elizabeth line from Heathrow towards Abbey Wood and get off at Woolwich, with no change of train. The trip takes about an hour from Heathrow’s central terminals and a little longer from Terminals 4 and 5. If you would rather be met, book a pickup with the London team; arranging it is free and you pay the driver’s fare.
No. The police registration requirement for international students was suspended on 4 August 2022, so you do not need to register with the police when you arrive.
Not if everyone in your home is a full-time student: those households do not have to pay Council Tax. If your council sends a bill, apply for the exemption with a student status letter from your university. If you share with someone who is not a full-time student, the household may get a discount instead.
Choose a GP surgery near your home and register online or at the surgery. Registering is free, and you do not need ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status. Do it in your first week, before you get ill.
Yes. In the 2011 Census, Nepali was the most common main language after English in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, which includes Woolwich: 5,058 residents, or 2.1% of residents aged 3 and over. Plumstead ward, next to Woolwich, had 1,627 Nepali speakers.
The London services are for students who applied to UK universities through House of Admissions. If you are already in the UK and want to apply for a new course, HOA’s admissions team can help; start with our guide for students already in the UK.
You can start work before your National Insurance number arrives if you can prove your right to work. If you do not have one, you apply for it while you are in the UK; your eVisa account may already show a number. The London team explains the steps.
Sources Where these facts come from
Office details were confirmed by HOA on 15 October 2026. UK rules were read on the sources below on the same day. HOA’s figures (5,000+ students placed) are self-reported from internal tracking since 2016.
- GOV.UK: Prove your right to rent in England
- GOV.UK: Tenancy deposit protection
- GOV.UK: Student visa: what you can and cannot do
- GOV.UK: Student route guidance (work conditions)
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
- GOV.UK: Apply for a National Insurance number
- GOV.UK: Find an immigration adviser
- JLL: Gunnery Works, Gunnery Terrace, London SE18 6SW (building listing)
- Visit Greenwich: Woolwich and the Elizabeth line: journey times
- Greenwich Wire: Elizabeth line: Abbey Wood and Woolwich to get Heathrow trains from November
- Transport for London: Tunnel extending the Docklands Light Railway to Woolwich completed
- Stansted Express: London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport
- National Rail: Journey planner
- GOV.UK: Get access to your eVisa
- NHS: How to register with a GP surgery
- GOV.UK: Council Tax: discounts for full-time students
- Transport for London: 18+ Student Oyster photocard
- UCL: Police registration
- Royal Borough of Greenwich: 2011 Census language profile: key figures
Landing in London soon? Message the team
Tell Rubee and Sandesh your university, arrival date and what you need. Room search and job help are free, and arranging your airport pickup is free too; you pay only the driver’s fare.
- Free help for HOA students
- Visits by appointment
- British Council-certified counsellors in Nepal