London hostels
Find a hostel in Central London
If you’re coming to the big city on a budget there are plenty of alternatives to the more expensive and extravagant hotels. Central London hostels offer cheap no-frills accommodation, but remember to book in advance to avoid disappointment as they tend to fill up quickly, particularly in peak season.
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Ashlee House.
A friendly and welcoming hostel featuring large and small dormitory rooms and single and twin rooms. Prices vary, but it costs ₤15 per person for a dorm room and up to ₤36 per person for a double room. The staff is friendly, and there is a lounge area with a television and a shared kitchen, but few other amenities.
Facilities: 26 rooms, 175 beds, lounge, dining room, internet, laundry facilities, no smoking rooms, continental breakfast.
Address: 261 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8QT, England.
Nearest tube: King’s Cross.
Tel: 0207 833 9400
Price guide: under ₤60.00 per night.
City of London YHA
Situated on the doorstep of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and close to the Millennium bridge and the Tate Modern art gallery, this hostel still retains a few antique touches. There is a lovely oak paneled meeting room that was part of the old choir school for example. Most rooms have four to eight beds, and it also offers a few single double and triple rooms.
Facilities: 193 beds, restaurant, lounge, internet, laundry facilities, meeting room, full breakfast.
Address: 36 Carter Lane, London EC4V 5AB, England.
Nearest tube: St. Paul’s.
Tel: 0870 770 5746.
Price guide: under ₤60.00
The Generator
This is probably one of the funkiest central London hostels. Based bizzarely in a former police barracks it offers a truly international atmosphere with plenty to do. They have an internet café, ‘Talking Heads’, and a bar with cheap drinks and youthful clientele, plus a cafeteria, ‘Fuel Stop’, where you can meet for cheap meals. They offer shared dormitories, twin and single rooms each with a wash basin and locker.
Facilities: 215 beds, fans, lobby lounge, sports bar, pub, recreation room, shop, internet, meeting room, continental breakfast.
Address: MacNaghten house, Compton Place, off 37 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SE, England.
Nearest tube: Russell Square.
Tel: 0207 388 7666.
Price guide: under ₤60.00.
Holland house YHA.
Situated in a Jacobean mansion with a 1970’s annexe, this is by far the most historically interesting of London’s youth hostels. It has views over the park which has an open air theatre in the summer and the Orangery Art Gallery which is open all year round, and Kensington high street is only a short walk away.
Facilities: 201 beds, 4 tennis courts, dining room, recreation room, lounge, internet, meeting room, laundry facilities, full breakfast.
Address: Holland Walk, London W8 7QU, England.
Nearest tube: High Street Kensington.
Tel: 0870 770 5866.
Price guide: under ₤60.00.
Walter Sickert Hall
This is in fact a City University hall of residence, but offers standard single rooms with bathrooms from mid June to mid September. They also offer bigger and more attractive ‘executive’ rooms all year round. Breakfast is delivered to your room, each room with a tea and coffee maker. It’s not The Ritz, but it’s cheap and quiet and situated in Islington with its trendy bars and buzzing nightlife.
Facilities: 220 rooms, lounge, bar, laundry facilities, continental breakfast.
Address: Graham Street, London, N1 8LA, England.
Nearest tube: Angel.
Tel: 0207 040 8822.
Price guide: under ₤60.00.