London Hostels

Many hostels are laid out dorm-style, often with large single-sex rooms and bunk beds, although private rooms that sleep two to four are becoming more common. While hostels often offer a number of amenities—kitchens, bike or moped rentals, storage areas, transportation to airports, breakfast and other meals, laundry facilities, and Internet access—there can be drawbacks: some hostels close during certain daytime “lockout” hours, have a curfew, don’t accept reservations, impose a maximum stay, or, less frequently, require that you do chores. In London, a dorm bed in a hostel will average around £18 and a private room around £30-40.

A Hosteler’S Bill Of Rights. There are certain standard features that we do not include in our hostel listings. Unless we state otherwise, you can expect that every hostel has no lockout, no curfew, a kitchen, free hot showers, some system of secure luggage storage, and no key deposit.

Joining the youth hostel association in your own country automatically grants you membership privileges in Hostelling International (HI), a federation of national hosteling associations. Non-HI members may be allowed to stay in some hostels, but will have to pay extra to do so. HI hostels are scattered throughout London and are typically less expensive than private hostels. HI’s umbrella organization’s website (www.hihostels.com) lists the web addresses and phone numbers of all national associations. Other comprehensive hosteling websites include www.hostels.com and www.hostelplanet.com.

Most HI hostels also honor guest memberships—you’ll get a blank card with space for six validation stamps. Each night you’ll pay a nonmember supplement (one-sixth the membership fee) and earn one guest stamp; get six stamps and you’re a member. A new membership benefit is the FreeNites program, which allows hostelers to gain points toward free rooms. Most student travel agencies sell HI cards.

Booking Hostels Online. One of the easiest ways to ensure you’ve got a bed for the night is by reserving online. Click to the Hostelworld booking engine through www.letsgo.com, and you’ll have access to bargain accommodations from Argentina to Zimbabwe with no added commission.