YHA London Central - Hostel

The staff really made this stay for me. They were warm, friendly, supportive, efficient and very patient throughout. I started out with low expectations, but the place turned out surprisingly pleasant: my room was clean and tidy, the bedding was comfortable, and having a small bathroom and toilet was perfectly enough for a short budget visit to one of the world's most expensive cities. Shared accommodation depends a lot on your roommates, and I was lucky to have considerate, polite ones. For a decent night's sleep, I'd strongly recommend an eye mask, earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, and even essential oil. And please bring your own padlock, it'll save you £8! I'd recommend this 10/10 for budget travel.

The mattress wasn't very comfortable, but the hostel was nice, the staff were nice and it was super affordable. Loved the stay. The location was amazing, within walking distance of museums and major streets, transport and groceries.

The reception area is spacious and lively, with lots of seats and power outlets. I especially liked the multicultural mix, with people from all continents and religions. Everyone of every age is welcome here, unlike many hostels. The hotel is very large and sits in historic central LONDON FITZROVIA, right next to the BBC headquarters. Shops, restaurants and Sainsbury’s and Tesco are just 3-4 minutes away on foot. There's a big, well-equipped self-catering kitchen open 24/7, plus a cafe-bar open late with ice creams and pizzas. Breakfast is a very good continental spread served until 10:30 a.m., and I recommend the warm mini croissants. You can leave luggage there until evening if needed. Special thanks to QUEEN and FAYLA for their kindness and support. A few things could be better. Check-out is at 10:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. would be more comfortable. Prices start around £18 and rise quickly. When groups are staying, which is very likely, rooms fill fast, so book ahead to avoid finding the hostel fully booked with no extension possible. Renovations may be going on sometimes, and the elevator can be unreliable, so you may need patience.

I met some great people and had a brilliant time here. I've never had a bad experience in a YHA, and this hostel was no exception. I spent two very pleasant nights in the female-only dorm, which worked perfectly for my London trip. The location is excellent, easy to reach from Euston and close to tube stations and Regents park. The area felt safe at night and was easy to navigate back to. If you lose your way, follow the BT tower and you'll soon be in the right neighbourhood. The bright reception doubles as a relaxed lounge, and staff welcomed me warmly when I arrived around 10pm. They offered London suggestions, and you can get discounts on attraction tickets if you book at the main desk. Reception serves proper barista coffee, Yorkshire tea and Camden hells beer, plus free filtered water. There's a self-catering kitchen, and food is also sold at the hostel, though I didn't try any. I felt safe there: there's a lift, and key cards control the stairs to the bedrooms, as well as every room and dorm. Under each bed is a roomy lockable box, one per person, big enough for my carry-on, but bring a padlock. Beside each bed there's a lamp, power outlet and a small shelf for glasses or a phone. Dorms also have coat hangers and pegs. The rooms were clean with fresh sheets and duvets, and the shared showers and toilets outside the dorm were spotless. The shower had lovely pressure. I rented a huge towel at reception for a very reasonable £2.50. The rooms get very hot even with the window open. I think it's because they're so close to the showers, which the hostel can't control, and I've run into that in other hostels around the world, so I came prepared. I'd definitely return.