England’s capital, London, is a buzzing city with a heady mishmash of the new and the old. Instantly recognizable historic landmarks, exciting nightlife, and a long list of things to see and do make it one of the most exciting cities in the world, no matter how many times you visit. That’s why London hostels are so popular, given that it’s also one of the world’s most expensive cities. When we looked for hostels in London, Soho, one of its most popular central neighborhoods, we were pleasantly surprised to find some good options. What’s more, we found hostels for all kinds of travelers, whether you love group scenes, are a digital nomad, or a solo adventurer.
Plus, options ranged from social and lively hostels to the quieter and quaint ones, which means that there’s a hostel in the city for everyone, even if it’s somewhere as central as Soho. The best bit is that they’re all more than just places to sleep, having become destinations in themselves and offering excellent opportunities for fellow globetrotters to connect with each other. To that end, here’s a guide to the best hostels in the inimitably charming neighborhood of Soho in the English capital.
Table of contents
SoHostel
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Best amenities. We begin with SoHostel, a ‘fun’tastic hostel on Dean Street, slap bang in the middle of all the action. Not only is Soho all around us, but also a bunch of subway stations, including Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Circus, and Leicester Square, are a mere 10-minute walk away.
We loved the entrance to the hostel, which has a fun atmosphere, as evident by its name, a play on words. Choose from 44 basic but immaculately clean dorms and private rooms, which come with comfy bunk beds and double beds, respectively. Not just that, but also the dorms have storage lockers and shared ensuite bathrooms, while the private rooms have flatscreen TVs and private ensuite bathrooms. Since the area and the hostel’s young clientele could be noisy for some, the fact that they also give earplugs is a fantastic addition.
“We never thought we’d get to stay in a fun and amazing hostel in the heart of Soho, but staying here was an amazing experience!”
WOW Travel
We loved the amenities at this hostel, which included an on-site cafe and bar, and it even served a delicious breakfast for a fee. Even then, there are many dining options around; this is Soho, after all! Plus, there are 24-hour vending machines, coin-operated laundries, free Wi-Fi, a lounge with a projection TV for movie nights, and even a room with computer workstations. If that wasn’t enough, there’s even an amazing games room with board games, a pool table, and a book exchange. Did we mention that the hostel even offers events such as karaoke nights and free walking tours? Yes! That’s why it’s one of the best hostels in London Center and one of the best hostels in London, UK, overall.
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YHA London Central Hostel
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Best connected. YHA is a household name when it comes to hostels around the world, and YHA London Central Hostel is no exception. This YHA outpost has a fantastic location. Regent’s Park is a two-block walk north, while Oxford Circus and Fitzrovia are just south and southeast of it. However, the real standout is that Great Portland Street metro station on the Metropolitan, Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines is a mere two-minute walk! Even Goodge Street on the Northern Line is a less than 10-minute walk, while Oxford Circus on the Central and Bakerloo lines is a 10-minute walk south. It was like the whole of London was right at our fingertips!
What made it all the better was the high-quality hostel accommodation YHA provided, ensuring comfort and convenience. We had the choice of dorms and private rooms with a mix of shared and private bathrooms. In fact, some of the dorms, which were male, female, and mixed ones, even had ensuite shared bathrooms. The bunk beds were very comfy, and we even had access to lockers for securely storing our valuables.
When it comes to common facilities, we wanted for nothing. The hostel had its bar, cafe, and even a snack bar for grab-and-go stuff for when we’d be rushing out of the front door. Additionally, the relaxed café and bar offered a range of breakfast as well as lunch choices, including pastries, paninis, and croissants. Free Wi-Fi everywhere, a bunch of events on the roster, and a computer room completed the facilities.
No wonder it’s hailed as one of the best hostels in London for families.
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Piccadilly Hostel
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Best party hostel. Have you ever lived in a pod hostel? Piccadilly Hostel, which lies on the cusp of Soho and Piccadilly Circus. So, it’s, again, an excellent location for exploring central London and perfect for partygoers like us. Why, you ask? That’s because not only is Piccadilly subway station right below the hostel, but so is London Party Pub Crawl! With the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines right at our feet, exploring London’s nightlife and pubs was mightily easy and a fantastic experience while staying at this hostel.
One of the things that stuck with us was the comfortable accommodation, despite the choice of accommodation being pods. In fact, we had a choice of nearly 1,000 individual sleep capsules across 5 floors, including dorm options ranging from 4-100 capsules. Since we were with friends, we found the perfect fit here that allowed us all to stay together, allowing us to customize our stay for convenience and comfort. Despite the bathrooms being shared, they were spick and span and stocked with bespoke bath products.
We were thoroughly impressed by and thankful for the lift, which ensured that we didn’t have to drag our luggage up five floors, which is a delightful surprise for central London. What’s more, the entire hostel boasted air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, along with full-day security and a 24-hour front desk.
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Astor Oxford Street
1
Best location. Sitting at the top of the list is the utterly charming Astor Oxford Street with the most central London of locations. Not only are both Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road stations within equidistant walking distances, but so is Carnaby Street and the charming Chinatown. In fact, Leicester Square and Piccadilly subway stations are just south of the neighborhood, a mere 10-minute walk. Since we wanted to stay somewhere central but explore the entire city, we really couldn’t do better than Astor Oxford Street.
In terms of amenities, the hostel had free Wi-Fi all over, which allowed us to stay connected all the time and even plan activities and itineraries for the coming days. What’s more, the shared kitchen was perfect for whipping up quick and light meals, which we could enjoy in the comfort of the lounge. It’s also where we could interact with fellow travelers and make new friends. Evenings were reserved for enjoying a drink at the on-site bar before stepping out to enjoy Soho’s nightlife. If we were in the hostel during the day, the games room is where we’d be, socializing and mingling with fellow backpackers and hostelites. Plus, they have a full roster of fun events throughout the year! Did we mention that they serve a fantastic continental breakfast every day for a small price? Yep.
We had the choice of many shared and private rooms, all of which came with shared facilities. However, they were immaculately maintained, complete with bath products, hairdryers, towels, and hot water throughout the day. Moreover, the bunk beds in the dorms were very comfortable and featured comfy, plush mattresses.
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Our Verdict!
Since we’ve loved all options on this list, we’ve listed their best specialized features that will help you zero in on one that is best for you.
- Best amenities: SoHostel
- Best connected: YHA London Central Hostel
- Best party hostel: Piccadilly Hostel
- Best location: Astor Oxford Street
Where to Stay in Soho?
Sitting in the heart of the West End in Central London is Soho, which might be the natural habitat of the city’s nocturnal crowd, but is one buzzing neighborhood throughout the day. This rectangular-ish criss-cross of streets is flanked by Covent Garden in the east and southeast, Grosvenor Street in the west, Oxford Circus and Fitzrovia in the north, and Piccadilly in the south.
Oozing sophistication and upscale sleaze, if that’s even a word, Soho has everything from entertainment venues, pubs and bars, and restaurants to historic music venues and even grassy greens. What’s more, it has a mix of luxury and boutique hotels and hostels, as you’ve seen above, a slew of red-carpet movie venues, museums, and even a casino! It’s famously home to London’s Chinatown, which is one of the world’s best Chinatowns.
Famously enough, some of the who’s who of London’s sights sit just to the south of Soho, including the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, St. James Square, and the Mall, Buckingham Palace, and St. James Park just beyond.
What is the overall best hostel in Soho, London?
That would be the Astor Oxford Street, as it has a great mix of a good location and excellent amenities.
Which is the best party hostel in Soho?
Thanks to its location above London’s most famous pub crawl, Piccadilly Hostel is the best party hostel in Soho.
Which is the best Soho hostel for solo travelers?
YHA London Central Hostel is a great option for families and solo travelers.
