The 7 Best Hostels in London for Budget Travelers and Backpackers

Are you heading to the iconic city of London, and looking for an affordable and fun stay to spend the night?

We've got you covered!

With epic night-life, pubs serving delicious food you absolutely must try, and unique historical locations that are just begging to be explored, London has no shortage of incredible activities and things to see.

There is no denying, however, that London is also really expensive, and that even a short visit can quickly break the bank if you’re not careful.

To help you manage your budget for your next visit to London, we’ve listed for you some of the city’s best hostels, so that you can find the best affordable accommodation and save up to see more of what this amazing city has to offer!

These are just some of our favourite hostels, in no particular order.

You’ll find a map below the article with all of the locations we mention.

So before you start packing your bags, let’s take a look at London’s best hostels!

Barmy Badger Backpackers

Address: 17 Longridge Rd, London SW5 9SB, United Kingdom

Centrally located between Kensington and Earl’s Court, Barmy Badger Backpackers is a cozy hostel with a calm and laidback atmosphere. From there, you’ll have easy access to amazing sights and public transportation, including the underground network that is only a 5 minute walk away.

Barmy Badger Backpackers has several different types of rooms on offer, including female-only dormitories and private rooms with shared bathrooms. All reservations include a simple, self-service breakfast, which we found to be a nice touch.

Along with a communal area, the hostel also offers an open patio that is great to relax and take advantage of during the spring and summer months. The inclusion of fast internet connection also makes it a perfect location for digital nomads and remote workers!

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the hostel comes with two dogs that belong to the owners; they freely roam the property, but are super sweet and friendly.

Barmy Badger Backpackers is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring London. Don’t expect it to be too lively, however, as this is a calmer stay and not your typical party hostel.

Urbany Hostel London

Address: 48-49 Prince's Square, London W2 4PX, United Kingdom

© Urbany Hostel London

Located between Paddington and the famous neighbourhood of Notting Hill, with easy access to public transportation, Urbany Hostel London is a viby social party hostel aimed at younger travellers and backpackers.

Reservations are limited to visitors between the age of 18 and 40 years old; this is extremely important to know, because the property might cancel your reservation and keep your deposit if you are outside of this age range!

There are both private rooms and mixed dormitories available at Urbany Hostel London, but no female-only options. The private rooms are also located on the 4th floor and there is no elevator, so keep that in mind if you have any issue with going up the stairs, especially with heavy luggage. There is no breakfast option, but there are plenty of supermarkets in the area, and an awesome open kitchen to make your own.

If you like to party, Urbany Hostel London will definitely not disappoint! They organise super fun daily activities such as drinking game and pub crawls, or even live music events and karaoke sessions. On top of that, they also have a large patio and cozy communal areas with fast internet so that you can always stay connected.

Wombat’s City Hostel London

Address: 7 Dock St, London E1 8LL, United Kingdom

© Wombat’s City Hostel London

In the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, in walking distance from the famous Tower Bridge and Tower of London, you’ll find Wombat’s City Hostel London, a modern and hip accommodation that offers a fun and activity-filled stay at an affordable price.

While not the most central location, Wombat’s City Hostel London is well connected by both public transport and ferry. However, even by subway, it’s a little far from iconic locations such as Piccadilly Circus and Chinatown; With that said, Tower Hamlets has its own share of incredible sights and awesome nightlife!

This accommodation offers both mixed and female-only dorms, as well as spacious private rooms. Breakfast is an option, but is not included with the reservation. There is, however, a large modern kitchen to allow you to cook for yourself, along with vending machines to have yourself a delicious snack. This huge hostel also includes more facilities, such a fully equipped laundry room, making it a great choice if you’re looking for an all-inclusive stay.

With a huge bar in the basement, a lively café and endless events ranging from morning yoga, to live concerts and karaoke nights, Wombat’s City Hostel London is the place to be to meet new people and like-minded travellers!

The Walrus Bar & Hostel

Address: 172 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7RW, United Kingdom

© TripAdvisor

If you’re on a strict budget, and looking for a no-frills clean stay, definitely check out The Walrus Bar & Hostel. Located on top of a great bar, right next to Waterloo Station, this old-school hostel is only a 10 minute walk away from Big Ben, and in close proximity to other world-famous sights.

The Walrus Bar & Hostel offers simple dorms, including female-only stays as well as private rooms. On that note, although cheaper, we would not really recommend booking a bed in the Basic 28 Bed Mixed Dorm option; this stay is already quite noisy as is because of its proximity to Waterloo Station and the bar below, you don’t need 27 more people to add to that.

On a positive note, the accommodation cost includes free breakfast and 10% off on all food and drinks at the bar, which adds even more value to the already affordable stay. You’re going to love that discount after an evening of drinks and live music!

The Walrus Bar & Hostel is a perfect option for young travellers on a small budget. If you’re a light sleeper you’ll definitely need earplugs, but the noise is worth it for the amazing location and the absolute bargain of a price.

YHA London Central Hostel

Address: 104 Bolsover St, London W1W 5NU, United Kingdom

Only a short subway ride away from King’s Cross, one of the city’s main stations, YHA London Central Hostel is a clean, modern and minimalist accommodation located in a popular area of London surrounded by museums and sights.

This hostel only offers single-gender shared dorms or private rooms, something to keep in mind if you are travelling with multiple people. The common areas are really large and spacious, offering plenty of seating and space to work and mingle with other travellers.

Breakfast is not included, but an unlimited continental breakfast is available for a small fee. There is also a basic but fully functional kitchen to allow you to prepare your own meals.

YHA London Central Hostel is one of many “Youth Hostels Association” locations across the city, giving you plenty of choice in case this one doesn’t have any availability for your selected dates. What’s more, YHA is a non-profit charity that finances “Breaks for Kids”, which helps provide education to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, turning your stay into a donation for a good cause.

Since this is a youth hostel, there is no shortage of fun activities to take part in during your stay. From movie nights to free walking tours through London, you’re sure to have a good time at YHA.

Onefam Waterloo

Address: 73 Lambeth Walk, London SE11 6DX, United Kingdom

© Onefam Waterloo

Located within a short distance from iconic London landmarks such as Big Ben, Westminster and London Eye, Waterloo is the most recent Onefam hostel in London. It’s an extremely well connected location, giving you easy access to public transport to explore the rest of the city.

Onefam Waterloo offers both private rooms for 3 guests and mixed dorms, but no female-only options. There is no breakfast available, but instead you get a fully furnished kitchen to showcase your own culinary skills. Also, free dinner is prepared for all guests every evening by staff.

This is most definitely a party hostel, and not at all a good choice if you’re an introvert. Everything is designed to promote socialising with other guests, and outings to pubs and clubs every night, along with guided walks through the city, will help you explore the city while creating connections along the way.

Keep in mind that this hostel has a strict age restriction of 18 to 36 years old. If you book a stay while outside of this range you will see your reservation cancelled with no refund possible.

We found this stay to be perfect for solo travellers looking to make friends and meet other backpackers from around the world, all the while enjoying the best of what London has to offer!

Park Villa Boutique Hostel

Address: 51 Grove Rd., Bow, London E3 4PE, United Kingdom

© Park Villa Boutique Hostel

Housed within a renovated Georgian Regency villa, Park Villa Boutique Hostel is a beautiful and quiet accommodation in the the heart of London’s East End. Even though this location is pretty far from the city centre, you’ll have plenty of public transport options right at your doorstep; the closest being the Mile End underground situated only a 2 minute walk away from the hostel.

Park Villa Boutique Hostel offers female-only and mixed dorms, along with really nice private rooms. Unlike many other hostels, you’re pretty much guaranteed a good night sleep here, as the location is very quiet and residential, without any major party areas nearby. The hostel also has a fully furnished kitchen for guests to use, and also includes a delicious breakfast for a small fee.

One thing to keep in mind is that this property is less focused on the social aspect, which is clear by a lack of shared activities and a relatively small common area. All in all, this hostel is better aimed at travellers looking for a clean and affordable place to stay while in London, more than at backpackers looking to socialise and make connections.

This map was made with Wanderlog, a travel planner on iOS and Android

In such an expensive destination like London, saving up on your accommodation will allow you to see so much more and experience the best the city has to offer.

And while you’re at it, why not make some friends along the way?

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