Great British hostels with facilities for work and leisure

If you’re a digital nomad visiting London, you might want to stay in a budget-friendly hostel with a community atmosphere, plenty of social activities, and modern facilities for work and leisure.

At most of London’s top-rated hostels, you can expect amenities such as bars, cafés, restaurants and communal areas. Most hostels have fully equipped kitchens to help you reduce your food costs, and their shared lounges, games rooms and terraces are designed to make you feel right at home.

But while almost all the best hostels in London share similarities in the form of home comforts, they certainly differ when it comes to style.

If you want to stay in a historical landmark, consider reserving a bed at Generator, housed inside a former police station, or the Safestay in Kensington, which occupies a Grade I listed Jacobean-era former castle. Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage is housed inside a standout Grade II listed Victorian building in Camden.

Do you want to experience a bit of traditional British pub culture during your stay in London? You might like The White Ferry in Victoria or the ‘shabby chic’ Walrus Bar & Hostel in Lambeth.

If privacy is your main concern, consider booking a Japanese-style capsule at St Christopher’s Inn London Bridge. Alternatively, Wombat’s City Hostel London has just unveiled its new PUNKBeds, which feature upgrades like blackout curtains, power outlets, premium mattresses, fans, and much more.

Nightly rates at London’s hostels

According to our research, you can expect to pay a minimum of £13–30 for a night at one of London’s best hostels. That range indicates the minimum price at what we’ve determined to be the best hostels for digital nomads – prices can surpass £40 per night during periods of high demand.

If you’re looking for hostels in London with private rooms, nightly rates can be as low as £44, but prices start at just under £100 at some places. During summer and holidays such as Christmas, it’s not unusual for a private room at a hostel to go for more than £150 per night.

London’s best hostels for young professionals: Our top picks

Palmer’s Lodge Swiss Cottage, Generator, Wombat’s City Hostel, and Clink261 are just some of the most highly reviewed hostels in London for digital nomads. All the hostels below feature facilities that include free Wi-Fi, communal kitchens and lounges, space to work, and a central location.

1. Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage

Housed inside a Grade II listed Victorian building with a sophisticated vintage interior, Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage is a boutique hostel with facilities such as a bar, stylish lounge areas and a conservatory. As well as private rooms, there are dorms with double and triple bunk beds with privacy curtains. When you want to get out and about, you’ll have plenty to do in the surrounding Borough of Camden.

When it comes to socialising, the highlight of Palmers Lodge is the Chapel Bar, which is also where the continental breakfast buffet is served. The communal kitchen has everything you need to rustle up cheap lunches and dinners. You’ll find ample space to work, unwind and mingle with fellow globetrotters in the elegant lounges complete with chandeliers and Chesterfield sofa chairs. Head to the conservatory if you just want to relax in front of the TV.

With its location in the affluent South Hampstead area and Camden Town just under two miles away, you’ll have no shortage of restaurants, shops and nightlife spots to visit during your stay at Palmers Lodge. On the doorstep of the hostel are Tube stations Swiss Cottage and Finchley Road, which makes exploring London straightforward.

You can get a comfortable bunk bed with a curtain in a dorm shared by up to 27 other guests for as little as £18 per night at Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage. Nightly rates for female-only and mixed dorms for up to eight people start at £20 and £22 respectively. You can also get private rooms for groups of up to four people from just £48 per night.

If you’re looking for a dedicated coworking space during your stay, the nearby Work.life Camden is one of the top-rated coworking spaces in London for digital nomads thanks to its creative interior and flexible hourly rate option.

• Location: 40 College Cres, South Hampstead, London NW3 5LB, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 20 7483 8470
• Nearest Tube station: Swiss Cottage, Finchley Road

2. Generator London

Situated inside a former police station in London’s central Bloomsbury district, Generator London is an eclectically styled hostel with a range of industrial and retro design elements that reflect the city’s street life. Besides a bar with a dance floor and a trendy restaurant and café, Generator’s facilities include shared lounges and seating areas that are perfect for work and socialising. Entertainment offerings range from bike tours to karaoke nights.

Breakfast, hot drinks and tasty bites are served in the zinc and tin-panelled restaurant and café, where you can work at communal wooden tables, unwind on egg chairs and practice your musical skills on the hand-painted piano. At night until the early hours, the hostel’s highlight is the Shuffleboard Bar, home to signature drinks, catwalk lighting, games and an iconic London Bus.  

From Generator, it’s just a short stroll to famous attractions such as The British Museum, The British Library and Russel Square. You’ll also be within 15 minutes’ walking distance of major railway hubs King’s Cross, St Pancras International and Euston, making it easy to reach just about anywhere in London and the wider UK (you can also board the Eurostar from St Pancras).

With nightly rates for a bed in a dorm starting from just £13, Generator is one of the most economically priced hostels in London for solo travellers. And with private rooms available for as little as £44, this top-rated hostel is ideal for couples on a budget, too.

Wondering where to head after London on your travels? You might be interested to know that Generator has properties throughout Europe, including one of the top-rated hostels in Berlin for digital nomads.

• Location: 37 Tavistock Pl, London WC1H 9SE, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 20 7388 7666
• Nearest Tube station: Russell Square, King’s Cross St Pancras, Euston

3. Wombat’s City Hostel London

Located just over half a mile from the Tower of London, Wombat’s City Hostel London occupies a 150-year-old building that was once a hostel for sailors. It’s interior pays tribute to the building’s history using authentic vintage furnishings and striking oak touches. Facilities include a bustling bar, communal kitchen, an organic breakfast, and lots of common areas for work and leisure. New for 2024, the beds in the dorm rooms have been given pioneering upgrades.

The best place to kick back at Wombat’s is the bar that boasts a vaulted ceiling, games that include table tennis, and an extensive drinks menu. For a quieter place to chat or catch up with work, you can head to the café in the lobby near the 24-hour reception desk. You can also find peace and quiet on the outdoor terrace when the weather allows.

There’s no shortage of things to do in London near Wombat’s City Hostel. As you’re in Whitechapel, you might want to browse the Jack The Ripper Museum just around the corner from the hostel. You can explore the wider city of London by taking the Tube from the Tower Hill station, which sits 400 metres away right next to the Tower of London.

In December 2023, Wombat’s introduced its new PUNKBeds, which are a new type of bunk bed designed ‘by travellers, for travellers’. The beds now feature their own blackout curtain, two power outlets with built-in universal adapters, a code-protected storage box (you also get a full-size locker for your luggage), a bedside lamp with a phone holder and USB port, an electric fan, a premium mattress, and more.

Nightly rates at Wombat’s City Hostel London fluctuate depending on demand, but you can get a bunk in a dorm for as little as £25 if you book far enough in advance. Private rooms usually start from around £122.

• Location: 7 Dock St, London E1 8LL, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 20 7680 7600
• Nearest Tube station: Tower Hill

4. St Christopher’s Inn London Bridge

The contemporary, colourful and creative St Christopher’s Inn London Bridge lays claim to being the UK’s first hostel with Japanese-style capsule beds. Sleeping options also include standard bunks and private rooms. Throughout the hostel, you’ll see stylings that pay homage to the British Capital. Shared leisure facilities include a bar and restaurant, a rooftop terrace and plenty of space to work. Location wise, you’ll be a short walk from two Tube stations and attractions like London Bridge and the Shard.

You can meet fellow globetrotters at the newly renovated Belushi’s Bar right below the hostel, where entertainment includes live music, DJs, open mic nights, beer pong, and daily happy hours. The Dugout at Belushi’s is a casual venue with bar games, American food and large-screen sports.

On dry days, you can relax on the hostel’s tranquil rooftop with a clear view of London’s cityscape, including landmarks like the nearby Shard. In addition to the Shard, attractions within walking distance of St Christopher’s Inn include Borough Market, HMS Belfast and the Tate Modern. You’ll also be just a hop away from the Tube stations Borough and London Bridge.

Prices fluctuate depending on availability and the season at St Christopher’s Inn, but nightly rates for a bed in a dorm start from around £18. Rates for private capsules start from around £50 per night. You can also get private rooms for up to nine people – a single room will cost at least £90. Keep in mind that prices can be nearly double that during the warmer months.

• Location: 121 Borough High St, London SE1 1NP, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 20 7407 2392
• Nearest Tube station: Borough, London Bridge

5. The Walrus Bar & Hostel 

An award-winning youth hostel in central London, The Walrus Bar & Hostel is home to sleek and minimalist dorm rooms with space for 4–28 people plus facilities that include a fully equipped kitchen complete with a full-sized oven. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hostel, and the bar and pub downstairs doubles as a stylish place to work through the day before the lively atmosphere picks up in the evening.

Described as ‘shabby chic’, the bar at The Walrus features indoor and outdoor seating, a vibe and style that sits at the crossroads of local and international, tasty bites and an extensive drinks menu, including a variety of house cocktails.

Located towards the north of Lambeth, The Walrus is less than ten minutes away from attractions like Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster. Being on the doorstep of Tube stations Lambeth North and Southwark make navigating London a breeze. You can explore beyond London using the Waterloo train station.

Nightly rates for a bed in a dorm at The Walrus Bar & Hostel start at around £29, and you can get free daily breakfasts by booking direct. Private rooms for up to two people are also available from around £97 per night.

• Location: 172 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7RW, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 7545 589214
• Nearest Tube station: Lambeth North, Waterloo

6. Clink261

With its retro theme of reds and purples plus decorative touches that pay tribute to British cultural icons, Clink261 is one of the best hostels in London for digital nomads looking to soak up the vibe of the Capital. The shared kitchen and onsite bar are excellent places to meet fellow travellers. Whether you want to mingle or catch up with work, you’ll find plenty of communal areas with free Wi-Fi, tables and chairs, and Chesterfield sofas.

Located just a short walk from King’s Cross St Pancras, Clink261 makes it easy for guests to travel around the city and the wider UK. Don’t forget to check out The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾ while you’re here. Nearby museums include the Foundling Museum, Charles Dickens Museum and the Postal Museum. The world-renowned British Museum is only a mile away.

You can get a bed in a dorm at Clink261 for as little as £21 per night. You can also reserve an entire dorm room for your group of 4–6 people for as little as £86. Nightly rates for private twin rooms with access to shared bathroom facilities start at around £95.

• Location: 261-265 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8QT, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 20 7183 9400
• Nearest Tube station: King’s Cross St. Pancras

7. Selina Camden & Cowork

Situated in the Borough of Camden just up the road from the bustling Camden Town, London’s Selina branch features retro-inspired, colourful interior designs that are as eclectic as London itself. Onsite facilities include a basement bar and a vegan restaurant on street level, not to mention communal lounge areas, kitchens and a loft with a balcony offering cityscape views.

Powerplant, Selina’s healthy and vegetarian-friendly restaurant, is an inviting place to set up your laptop and browse the web during the day as well as grab tasty bites to eat. After hours, the basement bar comes to life with live music, and it opens early enough for you to grab a pre-gig cocktail or two.

When you want to get out and explore, you’ll be glad to know that Selina is a short walk from attractions like London Zoo, Camden Market and the Eclectic Ballroom. From the Chalk Farm Tube station right next to Selina, you can reach Leicester Square in the heart of central London in about 20 minutes.

Nightly rates for a bed in a dorm at Selina Camden start at around £30. The smallest private room – The Micro – can be snagged for as little as £70 per night.

If you enjoy your stay at Selina, you might be interested in staying at more of the brand’s hostels as you travel around Europe. Selina operates one of the best hostels in Lisbon for digital nomads – it even has its own dedicated coworking space.

• Location: 89 Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8AR, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 7376 809248
• Nearest Tube station: Chalk Farm

8. The White Ferry, Victoria (PUBLOVE)

If you fancy lodging at a traditional British pub during your stay in London, consider reserving a bunk bed in a dorm at the White Ferry in Victoria, just a mile away from the City of Westminster and half a mile from the Victoria railway station.

Besides a traditional pub, facilities for guests include a 24-hour bar and reception area plus 10% off the venue’s standard menu prices.

While the pub is traditionally styled, the dorm rooms are modern and equipped with cosy triple bunks and cage lockers for luggage. There are also a few tables and chairs in the dorms that offer a quiet place to work. Prices start from around £24 per night.

• Location: 1A Sutherland St, Pimlico, London SW1V 4LD, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 20 7233 6133
• Nearest Tube station: Victoria, Pimlico

9. Astor Hyde Park Hostel

Situated near many of London’s most iconic museums in South Kensington, the elegant Astor Hyde Park Hostel boasts facilities including a fully equipped kitchen, spacious communal areas, and lofty dorm rooms with comfortable grey and red-framed bunk beds. You can also stay in budget-friendly private rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

One of the best place to mingle with fellow travellers is the classic lounge, where you’ll see vintage wood-panelled walls and Chesterfield sofas by the fireplace. There’s also plenty of space in the dining room to socialise and set up your laptop. In the adjoining kitchen, there are multiple toasters, ovens, stoves and microwaves, which could help you save a fortune on food costs.

Just a few steps up the road from Astor is Hyde Park, a sprawling greenspace that’s home to attractions like the Serpentine Gallery and Kensington Palace. Less than half a mile down the road from the hostel is the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The South Kensington Tube station is just across from the museums.

Nightly rates for a bed in a dorm at Astor Hyde Park Hostel start from just £16, though you might need to book a minimum of two nights. Private rooms are available from £75. Book direct, and you can get a discount of up to 11% on reservations of more than three nights.

• Location: 191 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5EU, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 20 7581 0103
• Nearest Tube station: South Kensington, High Street Kensington

10. Safestay London Kensington Holland Park

Safestay occupies the East Wing of the Grade I listed, Jacobean-era Holland House in the tranquil Holland Park. Contrasting the centuries-old architecture of this former castle is a chic and vibrant décor. Facilities include a bar, café, restaurant and private garden courtyard. In addition to being nestled within a leafy urban greenspace, Safestay is within walking distance of many famous museums and landmarks.

Ideal for those looking for a laid-back place to say, Safestay boasts a stylish restaurant café that’s alcohol-free, with plenty of space for you to socialise and catch up with work. Shared lounges and workspaces provide quieter places to concentrate, and the hostel has communal computers for if your laptop runs out of charge.

When you need a break from the screen, you can explore the grounds of Holland Park or nearby museums such as the Design Museum and Leighton House. The Holland Park Tube station is less than five minutes away on foot, making it easy to get around London.

You can get a bed in a dorm at Safestay for as little as £15 per night – dorms can sleep between four and 21 people. Nightly rates for private rooms start at £80.

• Location: Holland Park Ave, Holland Walk, London W8 7QU, United Kingdom
• Phone: +44 20 7870 9629
• Nearest Tube station: Holland Park

Monthly rentals and long-term accommodation options in London

Want to spend more than a week or two in the Great British Capital? While it’s possible to find long-term accommodation on sites like Booking.com and HostelWorld, you can find much more affordable, fully furnished apartments and coliving spaces at Homelike, an online search and booking platform for temporary housing in over 500 cities.

Unlike other booking platforms, Homelike specialises solely in rentals for a month or more. All the accommodation options on Homelike are furnished and ready to move in, and the process of reserving an apartment is straightforward. You can also narrow down your search to apartments that require zero deposit if you need to keep your upfront costs to a minimum.

Moreover, Homelike implements a rigorous vetting and review process for its landlords to make sure your investment is safe. The platform also promptly responds to customer reviews and feedback to continuously improve the user experience.

In London, you can find fully furnished apartments for up to two guests for less than GBP 1,500 a month (we’ve found amazing apartments for four people for as little as GBP 2,400). If you’re travelling as a group, you could live in a stunning abode for less than GBP 700 each with all your bills included – that’s comparable to what you’d spend per month on a hostel as a solo traveller. Read about 18 of London’s best monthly apartment rentals handpicked by our editors for more information.

Of course, this is London – if you want to embrace a luxurious nomadic lifestyle, you can find upscale apartments costing tens of thousands of pounds per month. Whatever you need, one of Homelike’s thousands of apartments in or near London is bound to be what you’re looking for.

Other sites that offer long-term rentals include Anyplace, Blueground, HousingAnywhere and Kasa. But according to our research, Homelike has the most extensive selection of digital nomad-ready apartments in Europe, boasts the best-value prices, and has so far earned the most and the best reviews.

Have we missed any of London’s best hostels for young professionals?

London is home to countless accommodation options that are perfect for short and long-term stays. Above are ten of our favourite hostels with facilities for work and leisure plus a combination of private rooms and dorms. We’ll keep adding to this article as we find more amazing places to stay in London, and we’d love your help.

Have we missed any of the best hostels in London that deserve a mention in this guide? What facilities do you look for in a hostel if you need to combine work and leisure while travelling? How do you make the most of your free time without going over budget? Let us know in the comments below.