I find it so interesting staying in hostels in London. Because even though I don’t live there anymore, it’s the city I grew up in, the city I went to University in and had the start of my career in. It’s safe to say I know it pretty darn well (as well as you can know London, it changes daily).
So every now and then I go into town for an event or a night out or something and book myself into a hostel. But I’m a bit biased. Because unlike when I’m travelling to a new destination, I know whether the location is good or not. I know whether I’m paying too much and whether there are decent breakfast places nearby. I’m basically a bit hard to please when it comes to staying in London.
So on a recent visit to the big smoke, I decided to stay at YHA Oxford Street. Simply because the location was perfect.
Although it’s just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street, it’s nestled right in Soho which I think has much more appeal. I mean hundreds of bars and restaurants are RIGHT THERE. So after a big night out, there’s no need to navigate your way back. You can just walk, pal. And that’s certainly what we did after our lil’ bar crawl through Soho, Holborn and Clerkenwell!
Oh and obvs, there’s plenty of shopping opps round these parts. Other than the obvious Oxford Street, Carnaby Street isn’t far and Beyond Retro sells vintage garb like 15 steps away for a start. So this place gets top marks for location right off the bat.
It’s also weirdly on a road I’ve walked down a hundred times, but I’ve never actually noticed it from its unassuming front. Completely unlike any other YHAs I’ve stayed at, which tend to have a big presence. But it does make it feel like a hidden gem, right in the middle of central London y’know?
It does mean you have to walk up 3 flights of stairs before you get to the Reception, but that equally means you get a nice high-up view of Soho from your room. Nice.
We stayed in a 3-bed dorm on this visit which was pretty cosy and cute. And I know I pick out really weird and minute things I like in these kind of reviews, so bear with me here. But I really liked that on top of the individual plug sockets and night lights on each bed (which are a must in my eyes), there was also a handy little shelf to put your phone on as it charged overnight.
It’s the little things, guys.
There wasn’t an en suite in this room but the co-ed bathrooms were right opposite and were clean and tidy.
Being London, the common rooms were small but had really nice decor with YHA’s standard bright colours and murals of the city on the walls. Oh and what I thought was really cool was that they did YHA rates for all of the sights. I mean, London is bloody expensive so every penny saved counts I think. Nice one, YHA.
I didn’t actually try the breakfast because it’s London. There are certain cities in the world that I think you should make every meal count and London is one of them (so is New York and anywhere in Italy FYI). So top tip time, if you get up early enough, head round the corner to The Breakfast Club before the queues kick in. I went a bit further afield though and had brunch at Bill’s in Covent Garden.
So a pretty decent hostel if you’re looking to go out in Soho or Fitzrovia, or go shopping in the West End. Rooms are from £23 and you can read more about over HERE.
Let me know what you think of this hostel in the comments below or tweet me @HeelsInBackpack!
Total Blogger Transparency: I enjoyed a complimentary stay at YHA Oxford Street but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I wouldn’t play you like that, shorty.