Where To Stay In London | 10 of London's Best Located Hostels In The City

Living in London you experience so much of the city that it makes it easier to recommend where to stay in London. I travel quite a bit and usually when I book a place to stay what tends to come to mind is how close is the hotel to the top things to do in the city I am visiting. With that in mind, I consider how much is the price of the accommodation versus how much I would have to pay in transportation and time get to those places while saving a few bucks/pounds on accommodation located out of the center. Living in an expensive city like London, as a local, I thought I would share with you my tips on where to stay in London by way my top 10 London hostels I would recommend in the city based on their proximity to London's top tourist attractions as well as the cost and rating factor. I also thought this would be a great follow up to my post on A Local's Guide on What to See and Do In London and my other post on Top 10 Money Saving Tips for Visiting London. Also, with Christmas fastly approaching you may wish to visit London during the festive period without blowing the budget. If that is the case then this is a post for you!



Below are London hostels in which include London hostel prices, in addition to that I have also detailed what tourist attractions, how to access the airports and facilities they offer.  London hostels offer a great way to visit the city without breaking the bank and most are not your typical hostel. Many are in great location, offering cool and chic spots in the city to base yourself while exploring in addition to providing a great opportunity to meet other travelers. With all that is on offer, you would think London hostel prices are ridiculous, but they are not. Beds start from under £10 in central locations. If hostels are not your thing, don't worry I will probably do another post on mid-range and luxury accommodation options also factoring how close they are to all the things to see and do in London including the ones with the best views!

For most of my travels I tend to stay at hotels but if you have noticed, the majority of my outdoorsy adventures I tend to stay at hostels or camp so I don't discriminate when it comes to accommodation. It's really whatever suits my adventures at the time so it's not all about the luxe lifestyle here. So without further ado, below are my top picks on London's top hostels in terms of location and tourist attractions nearby. Please do let me know if there is one I have missed that you feel definitely needs to be added.

1. Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage
Where is it: You will find this little boutique hostel in London's Swiss Cottage. This little gem offers private rooms in the hostel for £38 and shared rooms start from £18. Yes, just in case you are wondering there is a Swiss Cottage in Swiss Cottage but that has now been renamed Ye Olde Swiss Cottage which now serves as a pub with a lot of history attached. Also, check out the Palmer Lodge's Willesden Green Branch if this one is sold out.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: Have you heard of Camden Town Market? Well, that is a short bus ride away, unless you want to walk 30 minutes to it. Camden Market is filled with everything from Vintage shops for comic, designer vintage shops for clothes, bags and shoes to art, modern jewellery and did I mention the food?? There are food stalls, bars and restaurants, some of which come with live music that it will be enough to keep you busy for a day or two.  Also, nearby is Madame Tussauds which seems to draw in tourists from all around the world who want to take selfies with celebrities of the still kind. Sherlock Museum is also close by together with the beautiful Regents Park if you love a bit of nature with your travels. The beautiful Regents Park also features a secret garden.
2. St Christopher's Inn - Liverpool Street
Where is it: You will find St Christopher's Hostel in London's bustling Liverpool Street. There is no way this hostel was not going to be featured on London's best-located hostel. You could find a better location in where to stay in London than the location of this hostel. Firstly its only located 5 minutes from Liverpool station. Perfect if you are flying in/out from Stansted Airport as trains come into Liverpool station(still great from any other airport but even better for those using Stansted Airport). They also offer free breakfast, free wifi and beds start from just £15. St Christopher's Inn also has branches in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bruges, Copenhagen, Paris, Prague, Edinburgh and many more cities.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: Have you seen all the #DuckandWaffle hashtag on Instagram? Well, Duck and Waffle are on the 40th floor of Heron Tower where many have enjoyed breakfast and brunch with a spectacular view of London. The elevator up is also something worth sampling in itself. The hostel is also well located for many tourist attractions. You have Old Spitalfields Market, you have the famous Brick Lane Market and free street art tours in Shoreditch. The whole of Shoreditch has come very much a hip scene with folks in recent years. You should also include shaking out BoxPark with its pop up shops and food stalls. If you are during the Christmas period also check out the Broadgate Ice Rink which seats next to Liverpool Street Station. Here is more on Top 10 Things to Do in Liverpool Street while staying at St Christopher's Inn.
3. Wombats City Hostel London
Where is it: Another hostel group with many brunches around Europe. This one has branches in Berlin, Budapest, Vienna, Munich and London. Check them out via booking.com. All are located fairly central in those cities in much the same way the London brunch is. It's new to the Wombats hostels but the building it's in has always been a hostel. The location of this hostel is also a perfect example of where to stay in London as its close to quite a few major tourist sights in London. It used to be a Hostel for Sailors and seamen of a time gone. This is now a cool hostel for travelers of all kinds from backpackers to daytrippers. Wombats City Hostel offers free wifi, 24hr reception, laundry facilities, kitchen, a bar, luggage store and beds start from £23.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: Another London Hostel in a great location. Within walking distance to Tower of London, the beautiful Tower Bridge, Shard Viewing Deck is near by. If you are visiting during the Christmas season you can also enjoy the ice rink next to Tower of London. The beautiful Katherine's docks are tacked away around the corner from the hostel. You also have amazing transportation nearby sitting between Tower Gateway and Shadwell DLR stations. Also within easy reach to London's city airport serving many European cities. A short walk to the Thames and you can catch the river tour boats. You can also catch the MBNA Thames Clipper to Greenwich for markets, and plenty of tourist sights light the Naval College, Maritime Museum and the Observatory overlooking beautiful Greenwich Park. For more one getting the most of Greenwich check out my post on Top 10 Things to Do In Greenwich Village.
4. Dover Castle Hostel
Where is it: Locations do not get any better! This little gem is on the corner of Borough High Street a stone's throw from London Bridge. You come of the hostel and you can see the Shard! It seriously doesn't get any more central than that. You have London Bridge and Borough High Street stations making commuting in London a breeze. The Thames River is also a short walk away also making it easier to catch the boats on the River whether for tours or just getting around London on the Thames Clipper. Borough High Street Station the closest station and only a few steps from Dover Castle Hostel. Dover Castle Hostel and Bar offers private rooms and shared rooms. Considering how close the hostel is to tourist attractions it's surprising how economical the prices are. Rooms start at £15 and they also offer longer staying guests private rooms in house shares and flatshares which is arranged via their Dover Castle flatshare agency. There is live entertainment, free wifi, a guest kitchen, laundry facilities and free luggage room.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: As I mentioned that location doesn't get any better here. Located in located in Borough, just a few minutes walk to London Bridge and London's Southbank with close proximity to major tourist attractions, such as the Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, London Southbank, Tate Modern and the London Eye all within ear short. What doesn't that mean? That means you save even more on transportation costs as all of this places can be reached within 30 minutes walk or under. Borough market is 5 minutes walk where you can international foods if a good ol' English Breakfast doesn't fill you up. Head over to my post on Breakfast at Borough Market for more on what you can expect to see. The Shard View Deck and Sky Garden in the Walkie Talkie building are both close by and over London's best views in town! Check out the links to them but I also have another post on 5 of London's Best Viewing Decks. As I mentioned at the beginning about Christmas shopping in the London, you also have New Change Shopping Mall near by together with some of the cities shops just a short walk from the Hostel in addition to London Bridge station nearby offering a quick ride to Stratford's Westfield Mall.
5. St Christopher's Inn Village - London Bridge
Where is it: The image above gives you a major clue in its location. St Christopher's Inn Hostel lies under the watchful shadows of the Shard. Location is so central it's ridiculous! You are paying silly money and are in the best of locations with tourist attractions all within a stone's throw. You have London Bridge Station, Borough Station, and Bank Station all within a short walk(London Bridge and Borough Station are only a few steps away on either side of the Hostel). This makes access to other parts of London super easy as well as the trip to and from the airport. St Christopher's Inn has branches all over Europe so finding a hostel in Edinburgh, Berlin, Budapest, Barca and Bruges is all a breeze with Booking.com.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: The hostel is a short walk to the Shard and Sky Garden viewing decks, which I have linked above offering London's best views in addition to a plethora of tourist sights at your door step. You also have Tower of London right by the river. Did I mention this hostel is a short walk to the Thames River Walk? Yes!! That means easy access to Tate Modern, St Pauls Cathedral, London Southbank with all it's riverside attractions, Tower Bridge and its newly opened Sky Walk are all within reach two by foot, again less money spent on transport leaving you to spent that money on food an shopping in the heart of the city or a Dinning Experience on the Thames with with a loved one on the .
6. YHA London St Pauls
Where is it: YHA St Pauls is right by St Pauls and right next to my favourite Spa in the City; Ajala Spa. You have a front row seat to St Pauls and the amazing views of the viewing platform. Just wear decent shoes as there are hundreds of steps in narrow spiral staircases to get to the top.  Access couldn't be easier from Luton or Gatwick Airport. You have Blackfriars Station a short walk from the YHA Hostel, a line that serves both airports on either side. In addition to that, Liverpool Street is a short bus(unless you want to walk about 20 minutes), which also has easy access to Stansted airport trains. So location couldn't be better. I am a fan of YHA hostels and have stayed at a few of them. I love that they are alway close to depending on the activities in the city you want to engage in. I have stayed at a few while hiking and exploring UK's countryside such as the beautiful South Downs with the white cliffs. This brunch is best located for anyone wanting to explore the city including, shopping, and theatres in London's Westend End including and its night live nearby. For more on that with the party season firmly upon us check out my post on London's Rooftop Bars for cocktails that come with a cool view. Also check out other YHA Hostels near by; Central, Thamesside, St Pancras and Earls Court.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: You are right in the heart of London here. You have St Pauls Cathedral a few steps literally. You also have Tate Modern and the beautiful Millennium Bridge close by, not to mention the New Change Shopping Mall with Madison Bar offering great views of London(a must see - it's also FREE!). Check out my post on 5 Spots In London offering great views in the city. Another major plus to this hostel's location is access to London's Westend. You have all the major theatres with London's best Westend show's within easy reach via short bus ride or even quicker via the tube with St Paul's station close by. (Tip: For most of the shows it's actually easier to get the bus going to the Strand than it is to get the train as the buses will get you close to the popular shows than the station is.) With the Westend Shows in close proximity, that means you are also close by for Somerset House's famous ice rink during the Christmas holidays. You have London's Shopping mecca that is Oxford Street nearby.  London Southbank,  London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Covent Gard and Buckingham Palace and close by too by walking or a super short bus ride(providing London's traffic isn't in full effect).
7. The Walrus Bar and Hostel
Where is it: Located behind Waterloo Station and a short walk from Lambeth Station. Again location couldn't be better here as you are literally a short walk from London's popular attraction that is Big Ben aka Elizabeth Tower. They have free breakfast, free safe storage for valuables, lockers in all the rooms, free towels, free printing of tickets(for travel). Prices start from £14.50 for a bed a small price for one of London's best-located hostels. For the location, you would think prices would be high but as I mentioned London hostel prices even in prominent locations are still reasonable. If they are sold out you also have Pub Love - The Steam Engine Hostel a short walk away with same amenities. Also coming in from Heathrow Airport is super easy. Piccadilly Line brings to Holborn and from Holborn is a short bus ride to Waterloo station and then a short walk to the Walrus Hostel.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: Almost every tourist coming to London has Big Ben on their list of things to see and do in London. The location of the Walrus Hostel and Bar is close to Big Ben, London Eye, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, South Bank are all within earshot. London's Westend Theatres are close enough to walk to, in addition to London's Oxford Street and Bond Street shopping mecca making this hostel perfect whether coming for a shopping visit, seeing a Westend Show or just exploring the city. For great deals on theatre tickets check out Love Theatre. Buckingham Palace and St James' Park are also with in walking distance or 3-5mins on a bus. Transportation and tourist sights are in abundance from where this hostel is located. If you are up for a cool experience check out the afternoon tea served on a route master while exploring London. It passes through Westminster and Knightsbridge where you will find London Musts-Sees such as Harrods and Harvey Nichols. If you are also in the city for the galleries, bars and nightlife then you couldn't be in a better location. Check out Cubana which is a short walk from the Hostel and turns into a Salsa club on Fridays and Saturdays with Cuban Salas and great Latin Music. The Westend nearby has bars and clubs in abundance or if you want an easy night, there are performances, bars restaurants on Southbank together with food stalls, but also perfect for romantic evening walks if you want to impress a partner with ease. Hayward gallery, Southbank Center and National gallery are also on Southbank together with a great market right next to the galleries that do amazing food from Vegan, fry-ups to home-made jams.
8. Astor Victoria Hostel
Where is it: Located close to Pimlico Station you are in a fantastic location with great access to Victoria's coach station and London attractions. You have free access to PCs, free printing, £1 breakfasts, onsite ATM, free safe storage, 24hr reception and many more freebies and prices start from as little as £19. They have a few branches in London so you are always in with a chance of a stay at one of London's best-located hostels in the city. Their brunches include Queensway, Belgravia, Hyde Park, British Museum to name a few. The hostel is also within reach of London's Victoria coach station offering easy access from many parts of the country to easy coach rides from airports.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: Within walking distance to Tate Britain and a short bus ride from Buckingham Palace, St James' Palace in addition to London's popular sights like Big Ben, London Eye, Number 10 Downing Street, Oxford Street Shopping, Trafalgar Square and a great many cafes and shops nearby. You are also within a short walk to the riverside making it super easy to walk the Thames Embankment for riverside views and tourist attractions. Also a short walk to the riverside's duck tours that explore both river and road.
9. PubLove @ The White Ferry, Victoria
Where is it: Set in a Victorian 'flat iron' building offering a traditional country pub stay in the heart of London.  Publove hostels have some of the best-located hostels in the city. Such as the Publove in Waterloo with Big Ben, London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Theatres in the Westend all within walking distance, you will save money on transportation too. Others include Publove Paddington, Battersea, and Euston. The location of the Victoria Pub Love hostels also comes with a legendary pub quiz held on Tuesdays with locally sources drinks on tap too. London hostel prices for Publov hostels are fairly reasonable. This brunch, beds at the hostel start from as little as £13.50 and comes with an onsite pop-up award-winning burger kitchen, 24hour reception and open bar, Free Wi-Fi, security bed screens, individual power sockets and guest food and drink discounts.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: Within a short distance you have access to another one of London's beautiful Parks, this comes with the beautiful Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park. You also have London's beautiful Albert Bridge which is just stunning once lit up in the evenings. Also makes a beautiful backdrop for a romantic walk on the river bank. Not many tourists get to see this part of London so in addition to saving money with hostel accommodation you also get a great romantic setting if you are bringing a partner for a weekend romance that doesn't break the bank. Tate Britain and many riverside activities are also not far from the hostel.
10. Smart Hyde Park View Hostel
Where is it: You are right in the heart of the Westend with this Hostel. With easy access to transportation when Bayswater station is just a short distance away. beth gallery. Considering the great location of the hostel, if the rooms are sold out also check out Smart Hyde Park Inn Hostel nearby. Both are set in beautiful Victorian Townhouses. With beds starting at under £10 you really can't get a better deal than that. The hostel offers self catering facilities, washing machines, 24-hour reception and is in a great location. Seriously what more can one ask for? The hostel offers great value for money and is within walking distance to many tourist sights.	Why should I stay there, What tourist attractions are near this London hostel: Why stay here? Well, the Beautiful Hyde Park is a short walk away and with that comes Kensington Palace, scenic Serpentine lake, Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, the beautiful Italian Gardens in Hyde Park. You also have London's shopping that is Marble Arch nearby stretching into Oxford Street. Also within easy reach is Notting Hill for London's Instagrammable colourful streets of Notting Hill and Portobello Road, not to mention Portobello Market itself which is unmissable if coming to London. Head over to my post on why you cannot miss a visit to Portobello Market when you visit London.

Have you stayed at any of these hostels or any London hostels that you have stayed that should have made the list?

Hostel images via booking.com

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