Piccadilly Backpackers Hostel, London

The Piccadilly Backpackers Hostel known on the sign as simply picadillybackpackers is probably the cheapest place to stay in London. (Excluding prostitute infested “hotels” that charge by the hour in Kings Cross that is).

Located on Sherwood Street just one minute from Piccadilly Circus tube the hostel is right in the heart of London within walking distance of anywhere in the West End really and so close to the tube station if you need to go anywhere further a field you’ll have no problems.

Living 20 miles or so outside of Central London going into London at night always presents one inevitable dilemma – racing to get the last train home and then occasionally missing it and being faced with two options. Sleep at the station and wait a few hours till the first train in the morning or risk getting an expensive minicab.

Well in December 2003 just a few days before Christmas me and a few mates decided to get a cheap hotel in London so we’d have no worries about getting back home and could also stay out later! (Woohoo!) A friend advised me on staying at picadillybackpackers so I checked out the website. http://www.piccadillyhotel.net/london-ho​stels-english/location.html

After seeing how cheap the prices were I have to admit we were a bit put off. I mean anywhere in Central London charging less than £30 a night must be bad! Though really we saw the hostel as just a place to sleep basically, we weren’t planning on staying in there all night!

Here are the current prices:

Winter Rates 2004 - Commencing 2nd January 2004
- INTERNET BOOKING RATE -

Rooms Cost
8 - 10 Bed Dormitory £11
6 Bed Dormitory £13
4 Bed Dormitory £14
Female Only Dorm £15
Double / Twin Room £22
Single Room £32

NOTE: Friday and Saturday nights
are £3 extra on all above rates, per person per night.

Bed linen and a basic breakfast
is also provided in this price.
Winter Rates 2004 - Commencing 2nd January 2004
- WALK-IN RATE -

Rooms Cost
8 - 10 Bed Dormitory £12
6 Bed Dormitory £14
4 Bed Dormitory £15
Female Only Dorm £16
Double / Twin Room £23
Single Room £33

NOTE: Friday and Saturday nights
are £3 extra on all above rates per person per night

Bed linen and a basic breakfast
is also provided in this price.

We booked in advance on the internet site so got a slightly cheaper rate. We stayed in Double/Twin rooms; I have to admit I don’t like the idea of staying in a dormitory with other people I don’t know! Too YMCA/Salvation Army style…

The rooms are very basic, in truth you get what you pay for. The room is fairly small, not a huge amount of space and consists of a bunk bed with a double mattress on the bottom and a single on top and a small sink. Forget televisions, hairdryers, the room didn’t even have a plug to recharge my phone.

The hostel has about 5 or 6 floors and it was just our luck to be on the very top floor. And just our luck for the lifts to be “out of order”. Still, the long trip up the stairs was good exercise even if irritating. The hostel is open 24 hours a day so coming back at 3am isn’t a problem.

Checking on arrival was quick and easy, after filling in a few details we were given a swipe card to open the room and told to collect our sheets and pillow from the second floor. The sheets provided were clean and new – no dirty marks or rips. :)

The staff were all very friendly, they were very helpful and polite. The hostel had a small internet café providing access for £1/hour which is very cheap. Although we did not make use of this facility.

Latest check-out is 10:30am, although we overslept and checked out at 11am they did not mind or charge us for an extra night as the card in the room warns. The bathroom facilities were communal, the toilets and showers were clean and new.

I can’t say I have any complaints about picadillybackpackers. Its in a great location, is very cheap and the rooms are clean. If you just want somewhere to sleep in Central London then this place is great. With low prices, good service and clean rooms you’ve no excuse for saying that a night out in London is too expensive! :o)

Address:

12 Sherwood Street
Piccadilly
London W1F 7BR

Piccadilly Circus tube.

Thanks for reading.