Flat 7 St. Pauls Church 17 Dock Street, London, United Kingdom | (888) 710-7049
Within walking distance to the Tower of London and the tube
Wood and brick interior completely redone in 2014
Bright, clean rooms, from Doubles to dorms, with en-suite bathrooms
Hip bar with foosball and pool tables and plenty of lounge space
Breakfast service (for a fee) and communal kitchen available
Outdoor terrace with picnic tables for lounging
One free drink ticket per guest
Coin-operated laundry on-site
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Luggage storage space limited
Some guests report thin mattresses
Originally opened in 1865 as lodging for seamen, this two-pearl hostel was revamped and reopened in 2014 as a destination for young, hip travelers. The 120 guest spaces at this East London property are cheery but sparse, with polished wood floors, white beds, locker-style closets and bright-colored accent walls. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Travelers interested in a cool budget property should also consider the Walrus Hostel, which is closer to Buckingham Palace, but a tad more expensive.
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Scene
Historic 19th-century hostel given an artisanal makeover
From the outside, the Wombat City Hostel London doesn't look very historic. The building, which first opened in 1865, has been updated over the years, and the modern windows and glass doors make the brick facade look much newer than it is. Inside, though, there are still hints of heritage. The Wombar Lounge has exposed brick walls and a well-worn arched ceiling. In the communal kitchen, the brick walls have been whitewashed, still displaying the work that went into the masonry. Wombat City's spacious lobby has been given a hipsterish makeover, using vintage wood reclaimed from decommissioned ships. The reception desk, huge benches, book shelves, and window-ledge desks are all fashioned out of a roughhewn planks that wear their age well. Other updates include a wood patio with hammocks and tables shaded by umbrellas.
Location
In the East End of London, walking distance to the Thames River
Wombat's City Hostel is located in the East End of London, which for decades has been known as a home for the working and creative classes. In recent years it has gentrified with warehouse spaces becoming apartment buildings and art galleries. This neighborhood also has several notable sights. The Tower of London and Tower Bridge are 14 minutes away on foot, while lesser-known gems, such as Wilton's Music Hall (the oldest continuously used music theater in London), is only a two-minute walk away. Whitechapel Art Gallery, which opened in 1901 with a mission to bring great art to the people of the East End, is 10 minutes away from the hostel on foot. Some of the bigger London attractions, such as Buckingham Palace, are 45 minutes away on the tube. There are two London Underground (tube) stations within a 12-minute walk. Heathrow Airport is an hour away by car and can take up to an hour and a half by tube.
Rooms
Variety of hostel rooms ranging from doubles to dorms with en-suite bathrooms
The 120 rooms at Wombat's City Hostel London are clean and cheery, but sparse. They accommodate from two to 10 guests each. Each traveler gets a locker and a bed, and there's a mix of standalone and bunk beds. Some guests complain that mattresses are thin and the storage space is limited. The floors are polished wood and much of the furniture is painted white. Accent walls painted in shades of canary-yellow and raspberry add a nice splash of cheer. Many of the spaces have tables, but most lounging takes place in the common areas. En-suite bathrooms are nicer than at the typical hostel, with modern finishes and walk-in rainfall showers.
Features
Hip bar serving drinks, breakfast for a fee, patio, coin laundry, and free Wi-Fi
For a budget-minded option, Wombat's City Hostel London has a lot of nice amenities. Guests receive a free drink ticket when they arrive for beer or wine in the Wombar, which has beautiful brick archways that display the age of the building. There's ample lounge space, foosball tables, and a pool table. A simple continental breakfast of pastries, cheese, meats, and juice is available for a small fee. While there's no lunch or dinner service, a communal kitchen is available for guests who want to cook. The lobby and patio offer a good amount of space for lounging indoors or outside as well. Coin-operated laundry machines are also available for guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hostel.
