Driscoll House 172 New Kent Road, Driscoll House, London, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Modern hostel with some of the cheapest rates in London
Near multiple bus routes and 10-minute walk to a tube station
Rooms range from private doubles to 20-person dorms
24-hour lounge with cozy sofas, books, and a projector
24-hour reception with lockers for rent
Cafe is open all day and serves coffee drinks
Pleasant garden terrace with picnic tables
TV room with foosball and billiards
Free Wi-Fi in public areas
In a sketchy part of town, far from tourist sights
Rooms are extremely basic
Noise carries from busy road and adjacent rooms
No in-room storage space whatsoever
Bathrooms are very basic and poorly maintained
Fee for towels and lockers
No kitchen facilities
No in-room Wi-Fi
The budget 140-room RestUp London is a huge hostel in South London, with unadorned private and dorm-style rooms for up to 20 people. Showers and bathrooms are mostly shared and there's a fee for everything from towels to reception-level lockers. Modern common areas are a different scene, outfitted with attractive British-inspired decor. There are a cozy lounge with a projector screen and a cafe serving coffee and meals throughout the day. An outdoor terrace with seating is another pleasant spot. Though it's hard to beat the cheap rates, guests have complained of dirty bathrooms, thin walls, and a lack of Wi-Fi in the rooms. It's worth considering YHA London Central, which has a better location, in-room lockers, and a communal kitchen.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Basic dorm rooms with shared bathrooms and friendly common areas
Occupying a 1913 brick building on a main road in South London's Elephant and Castle neighborhood, the RestUp London is a basic hostel with cozy common areas. Guests are greeted by flower beds and large Union Jack flags hanging from upper windows that introduce the British motif found throughout. Welcoming mostly tight-budgeted tourists, the front desk is surrounded by a statement red phone booth and wall of British flags. An adjacent lounge has London street signs galore, leather booths next to metal tables, and a living-room area with sofas, a bookcase, and projector screen. The layout is a bit of a maze of winding corridors and well-worn staircases, but there are randomly placed sofas, colorful wall hangings depicting people like Sean Connery, and Banksy mural recreations to provide some appeal as guests look for their room.
Location
In South London, far from the center but within walking distance of the tube
On a main road in one of South London's shadier parts of town, the RestUp's location is not its best feature. Accessing the city center requires a bit of a trek, though bus stations are nearby and the Elephant and Castle tube station is 10 minutes away on foot. There are some restaurants, bars, and shops in the area, including the renowned nightclub Ministry Of Sound (12-minute walk). Heathrow Airport is around an hour's drive and takes a similar time by public transport, while the journey from Gatwick Airport is slightly longer.
Rooms
Mostly dorm rooms plus some private options
While the lobby and common areas have plenty of character, when it comes to the rooms, there's none. Dorm rooms are minimally furnished with metal-framed bunkbeds with thin mattresses and white sheets, though blue walls add a much-needed dose of color. Dorm rooms range from four-person to 20-person, and there are only a few female-only. There are no in-room lockers or storage of any kind, but lockers can be rented at reception. Showers and toilets are shared, and guests have to rent towels. A few private rooms with double beds and en-suite showers are available for those seeking more privacy. They also have a touch more style thanks to Banksy-inspired murals, fabric chairs, and colorful wall hooks.
Features
Cafe, TV lounge, and garden terrace
For the cheap rates, features at the RestUp aren't bad. Good for grabbing a coffee and making the most of the limited Wi-Fi zones, the cafe serves sandwiches, pizza, and other cooked options such as fish and chips for lunch and dinner. Continental or Full English breakfasts are also available and can be eaten in the large dining room. A garden terrace with fake grass, colorful plastic chairs, and wooden picnic tables with parasols makes for a nice spot to enjoy the sun in warmer months. A 24-hour lounge provides chestnut-tiled walls and large old-fashioned windows, plus colorful leather sofas and wooden coffee tables. Foosball and billiards tables are located here too. An ATM in the lobby and multiple vending machines are convenient, though there's no communal kitchen.
