Good-value hostel with fun and friendly vibe
Central London location 10 minutes' walk from Oxford Circus
Dorms have individual lockers, reading lamps, and power sockets
Some dorms have en suite bathrooms
Lively bar and café encourages mingling
Grab-and-go take-away lunches are convenient
Well-equipped kitchen and dining room for self-catering
Laundry room include hairdryers, mirrors, and curling irons
Luggage room for storing bags (for a charge)
Foosball table and a lending library
Some communal bathrooms not very clean and can get busy
Wi-Fi only in lobby and not free
Some rooms are tiny
Breakfast not included with the price of a bed
This property has everything one might expect from a central London Hostel. Fun and friendly vibe -- check. Walking distance to center -- check. Cheap dorm-based accommodation -- check. Great self-catering facilities are a standout and the bar/café is a real social hub. Some of the bunk bed style rooms have en suite bathrooms. Poor Wi-Fi is a let down, however, and communal bathrooms can get busy in the morning. Rates are cheap for the location, and similar to the funkier Generator Hostel a little further out.
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Scene
Fun and friendly hostel with international backpacker vibe
Made of a blend of wood slats, red brick, and polished steel, the facade of the YHA London Central looks every inch the cool, contemporary hostel. Inside, visitors are first met with a huge luminous tube map (funky as well as useful) and then by the bright, colorful, and bustling space of the joint reception and restaurant area. The atmosphere is buzzing, playful, and fun, with a focus on a friendly and sociable vibe. National flags from around the world hang above the reception desk. Look for London-themed decorative touches, like a life-size cut-out of Queen Elizabeth, emphasizing the hostel's popularity with the international backpacker brigade and the property's iconic locale.
Location
On a relatively quiet Central London street, 10 minutes' walk from Oxford Circus
The hostel is located on a mostly quiet street in central London, just off Great Portland Street and 10 minutes' walk from bustling Oxford Circus. Most of the capital's main attractions are within walking distance, including Regent's Park (8 minutes' walk away) and the British Museum (15 minutes away). Transport links are also easily accessible, with various tube lines within a 10-minute radius.
Rooms
Bright and clean dorms with secure lockers and reading lamps
Most of the 302 beds at the YMA London Central are in single-sex dormitories of typically four or six occupants; some have en suite bathrooms and there are communal bathrooms on each floor. Beds are generally bunk-style and include lime-green pillows and duvets, individual power sockets, and reading lamps. Dorms also come with secure lockers. Private rooms are available. Most rooms have plenty of natural light and are kept clean, though bathrooms can get a little grimy. Note that there isn't any Wi-Fi access, paid or otherwise, in any of the rooms.
Features
Lively bar/café, plus kitchen and dining room for self-catering
The hostel has a "beauty room", which is basically the laundry room with added hairdryers, mirrors, and curling irons for anyone who needs a proper mirror and dressing table to get ready in the morning. It's a little strange, but generally more comfortable than trying to groom in steamy, crowded communal bathrooms. The bar/café is the social hub of the hostel and serves good, simple fare along with a stocked bar. Picnic-style lunches can be purchased cheaply in the morning. There are several benches to encourage interaction and a foosball table. Another convenient feature is a well-equipped kitchen and dining room for self-catering.
