Hostels in London
There are 107 hostels listed within about five miles of central London. This page covers what that actually means for a trip: which hostels are here, how they rate against London's hotels, and which are worth it if you are coming for a show.
How strong is the hostel scene in London?
Two numbers answer that, and neither means much on its own. The first is how much of London's accommodation is hostels rather than hotels — a city can have plenty of hostels and still be a hotel city. The second is how those hostels score against the hotels sitting next to them, which is the only fair benchmark, because guest scores drift by city and a 7.8 in one place is not a 7.8 in another.
| Measure | London | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Hostels listed | 107 | Dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation within roughly five miles of the centre. |
| Average hostel guest score | 7.0/10 | Averaged across the hostels above. Supplied by our accommodation partner, not a StubOrder rating. |
| Average hotel guest score | 8.6/10 | The same measure for the 5,000 hotels nearest the middle of London, with hostels excluded so the comparison is not partly against itself. |
The short version: hostels in London score well below the city's hotels, which is worth knowing before you book on price alone — a gap of 1.6 points. That gap is normal and mostly measures the product, not the management: a shared room with six strangers in it will rarely be scored like a private one, however well the place is run. It is worth reading the individual scores below rather than the average.
Hostels in London, closest to the centre first
Distances are measured from the middle of London. Pick your dates to see what a bed actually costs — hostel pricing moves more than hotel pricing does, because a dorm can sell out one bed at a time.
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Hotel Strand Continental - Hostel
143 The Strand, London
Convenient Amenities: Stay connected with complimentary wireless internet and enjoy personalized service with concierge services. Dining and Drinking Options: Indulge in a delicio…
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Zedwell Capsule Hotel, Piccadilly Circus
Experience comfort and convenience at Zedwell Capsule Piccadilly, perfectly situated in the heart of London. Modern Accommodations Choose from 965 stylish guestrooms equipped with…
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SoHostel
91 Dean Street, London
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as karaoke or take in the view from a rooftop terrace and a garden. Additional features at this hostel include complimentary wirele…
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Astor Museum Hostel
27 Montague Street, London
Discover Astor Museum in Central London Prime Location: Located opposite the British Museum, Astor Museum offers guests a convenient stay in Central London. With popular attractio…
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Pickwick Hall - Hostel
7 Bedford Place, London
Convenient Location Stay centrally located in London, with attractions like The British Museum and Russell Square just a 5-minute walk away. Explore Covent Garden Market and Totte…
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Smart Russell Square
71-72 Guilford Street, London
Central Location in London Located just a 10-minute walk from King’s Cross Railway Station and the British Library, Smart Hostel Russell Square offers budget accommodation in the …
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YHA London Central
104 Bolsover Street, London
Central Location: YHA London Central is conveniently located in the heart of the capital, just minutes away from major attractions and transport links. Comfortable Accommodation: …
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Generator London
37 Tavistock Place, Russel Square, London
Central London Hostel in Bloomsbury Vibrant Atmosphere: Located near Russell Square Tube Station, The Generator features an internet cafe, lounge, and games room with pool tables.…
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YHA London St Paul's
YHA London St Pauls, 36 Carter Lane, London
Central Location YHA London St Paul’s, just minutes away from St Paul’s tube station and iconic attractions like St Paul’s Cathedral, offers a convenient base for exploring the he…
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PubLove @ The Steam Engine - Hostel
41-42, Cosser St, London
Stunning Views and Vibrant Garden Take in the breathtaking views from the terrace and immerse yourself in the peaceful garden atmosphere. Delicious Dining Options Satisfy your tas…
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Clink261 Hostel
261-265 Grays Inn Road, London
Central Location and Convenience Located just a 2-minute walk from Kings Cross Station, Clink261 offers a modern hostel experience in the heart of London. Comfortable Accommodatio…
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Friendship House - Hostel
3 Belvedere Place, London
Recreational Amenities and Stunning Views Indulge in our fitness center or relax in the garden while enjoying the picturesque surroundings. Convenience and Comfort Benefit from co…
Staying in a hostel for a London event
A hostel makes most sense on exactly the kind of trip StubOrder sends people on: one or two nights, built around a fixed start time, where you are out of the building all evening. The bed is somewhere to sleep afterwards, not somewhere to spend the weekend, and the saving against a hotel on a sold-out event night is usually the largest saving available on the whole trip — event nights are when city hotel rates spike and hostel beds barely move.
The two things to check before you book are the ones that catch people out. First, front-desk hours: a support act running long can put you back at 23:45, which is no use if reception closes at 23:00 and there is no night code. Second, whether the rate is per bed or per room — a private twin at £70 and a dorm bed at £35 each are the same money for two people, and the private room is the better buy.
What is on in London
- From about $126.00View Tickets
- From about $82.00View Tickets
Distance from a specific venue
The hostels above are measured from the centre of town. If you want to know what is actually walkable from the doors of one building, each venue has its own accommodation page that sorts every nearby property by real distance.
- Stays near OVO Arena Wembley
- Stays near Royal Albert Hall
- Stays near O2 Academy Brixton
- Stays near Apollo Victoria Theatre
- Stays near Gielgud Theatre
- Stays near Drury Lane Theatre Royal
- Stays near Lyceum Theatre - London
- Stays near Eventim Apollo
Dorm bed or private room?
This is the decision that actually determines what your stay is like, and it is not the same decision as hostel-or-hotel. Almost every hostel in London sells both, at prices that overlap with the cheaper end of the city's hotels.
| Dorm bed | Hostel private room | |
|---|---|---|
| Priced by | The bed. Two people pay twice. | The room, like a hotel. |
| Best for | Solo travel, and meeting people. | Two people, or anyone who wants a door that locks. |
| Bathroom | Usually shared down the hall. | Often private, but check — many are not. |
| Getting in late | Fine, but you will wake people. | No issue. |
| Luggage | A locker, usually needing your own padlock. | In the room. |
| Versus a cheap hotel | Much cheaper, especially on event nights. | Often similar money — compare properly. |
The rule of thumb that holds nearly everywhere: travelling alone, take the dorm; travelling as two, price the private room against a budget hotel before assuming the hostel wins. On an ordinary weeknight the hotel sometimes does. On the night of a sold-out event, the hostel almost always does.
What to check before booking a hostel
Hostels vary in ways hotels mostly do not, and the variation is in the policies rather than the rooms. None of the following is unusual, and all of it is easier to find out now than at 1am.
- Age limits. Some hostels are 18–35 only, some refuse under-18s without an adult, and a few are over-18 with no upper bound. This is a property-by-property rule, not a city rule.
- Reception hours and curfews. A genuine curfew is rare now, but limited front-desk hours are common. If your event finishes late, confirm there is a night entry code.
- Whether the rate includes linen. Mostly yes; occasionally a few pounds or dollars extra at check-in, which quietly changes the comparison against a hotel.
- Lockers and padlocks. Nearly every dorm has lockers. A good number expect you to bring your own padlock, and the ones sold at the desk cost more than one from home.
- Deposits. Some hostels take a key or damage deposit in cash at arrival and return it on checkout — worth knowing if you are travelling cardless.
- Cancellation terms. The cheapest hostel rates are frequently non-refundable, which matters more than usual when the trip depends on an event that could be postponed.
Two of these — cancellation terms and what the rate actually includes — are shown on the booking screen once you pick dates, so check them there rather than assuming.
Plan the rest of the trip
Frequently asked questions
Are there hostels near the venues in London?
The hostels on this page are measured from the middle of London, not from any one venue. For distance from a specific building, use that venue's own accommodation page — each one is linked above and sorts every nearby property by real distance from the doors.
Is a hostel a sensible place to stay for a concert or a game?
For a one- or two-night trip built around an event, often yes — you are out of the building most of the evening anyway. The things to check are the front-desk hours and whether there is a curfew, because a show that ends at 23:30 is no use if reception shut at 23:00.
Can I book a private room in a hostel?
Most hostels sell private rooms alongside dorm beds, and they are usually cheaper than a hotel room of the same size. Whether a given property has one is shown when you pick your dates — if only dorm beds come back, that hostel has no privates free for that stay.
How many hostels are there in London?
Our accommodation partner lists 107 hostels within about five miles of central London. That count includes both dedicated hostels and backpacker accommodation.
Are hostels in London any good?
London's hostels average 7.0/10 in guest scores against 8.6/10 for the 5,000 hotels nearest the centre, so they score well below the city's hotels, which is worth knowing before you book on price alone. Those scores come from our accommodation partner, not from StubOrder.
Does StubOrder sell hostel beds and tickets together?
No. Tickets come from our resale marketplace and accommodation from our booking partner. They are two separate bookings with separate confirmations, and neither depends on the other.
