Kents Hill is right across the road from the OU and about 4 miles from the City Centre. Houses are not particularly spacious but its location makes it a popular choice for OU students and staff. You can find flats here as well as some modern terraced and semi-detached houses. Private renting is about £500 a month for a one-bedroom flat and £500 to £575 a month for a two-bedroom house. The estate is divided into 3 parts: former De Montfort University area (buildings now part of OU) and the Milton Keynes Conference Centre in the west; a business park in the north and residential housing in the south-east. The Kingston Shopping Centre is only 1/4 mile to the north-east, where there is Tesco, Boots, McDonalds, a few craft and specialised shops, and a DIY store as well as a sports centre with facilities for table tennis, gymnastics, martial arts and much more!
Walnut Tree is a modern estate with a variety of private accommodation and housing association properties. The estate is 5-10 minutes cycle/walk away from the OU and generally has a very nice atmosphere. There is a local centre with a pub, corner shop, chemist, fish & chip shop, and Chinese take-away. It is also beginning to establish quite a few student houses. Two-bedroom houses cost about £500-575 a month to rent, three-bedroom houses around £700. There is a regular bus service to the Kingston Shopping Centre (5 minutes away for Tesco, Boots, DIY store and sports facilities) and the City Centre (approximately a 20 minute journey). Walnut Tree and other estates in this group are generally very nice. However, public transport could be better, especially if you want to go out in the evening.