Hostels Near London Waterloo Station
London Waterloo is the terminus for South Western Railway trains to Windsor, Portsmouth and Southampton, and it connects with the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo & City lines. The three hostels on this page are the ones I would book for a budget stay close to it. Onefam Waterloo Hostel London has the best rating, 9 from about 400 reviews. The Steam Engine, Waterloo, a PubLove hostel above a classic pub, scores 8.4 from more than 1,500 reviews and includes breakfast. The Walrus Bar & Hostel, rated 8.2 from more than 1,300 reviews, also includes breakfast and offers a private room as well as dorms. The South Bank and the London Eye are a short walk away.
Waterloo mixes one of Britain's busiest railway stations with the cultural riverside of the South Bank: the London Eye, the Southbank Centre and the National Theatre face the Thames, while Lower Marsh and The Cut keep a more local feel with markets, cafés and theatres.
Three budget hostels around Waterloo
A hostel near Waterloo puts the South Bank, the London Eye, the National Theatre and Westminster Bridge within walking distance, while four Underground lines and the mainline platforms make day trips easy. The three hostels here each pair beds with a bar, and two include breakfast, which helps keep a London budget under control.
Onefam Waterloo Hostel London is the hostel I would choose first. It is rated 9 from about 400 reviews, the best score on this page, and it is described as being close to London Waterloo station, with a restaurant, a bar and free Wi-Fi throughout a smoke-free building. Its lively, social atmosphere suits solo travellers who want to meet people, and the location makes it easy to walk along the South Bank to the Tate Modern or to cross Westminster Bridge toward the Houses of Parliament. It is the one I would pick for a first visit to London on a tight budget.
The Steam Engine, Waterloo is a PubLove hostel set above a classic pub, rated 8.4 from more than 1,500 reviews, the largest review base here. It offers mixed dorms, free Wi-Fi and free breakfast, with a restaurant and bar on site in a smoke-free setting. I would book it when breakfast included and a reliable score matter, for instance for a stay of several nights with early starts from Waterloo toward Windsor or the south coast. The pub downstairs also makes evenings simple after a day of walking, without needing to look for somewhere to eat around the station.
The Walrus Bar & Hostel sits above a popular bar and is rated 8.2 from more than 1,300 reviews. It offers dormitory beds and a private room, with complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi and towels, and it is described as a short walk from major sights such as the London Eye. I would choose it for travellers who want a hostel price but might prefer a private room, or for groups who like the bar setting downstairs. Its rating is the lowest of the three, though the difference is small and rests on a large number of reviews, so I would still consider it a dependable choice.
The area around Waterloo is one of the most rewarding in London for a budget stay. The South Bank runs from the London Eye past the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre and the BFI toward the Tate Modern, and most of it can be enjoyed for free on foot. Lower Marsh, right behind the station, has cafés and street food stalls, and the Leake Street tunnel under the tracks is covered in legal graffiti. The Old Vic theatre stands on The Cut nearby, and from the station the Jubilee line reaches London Bridge, Canary Wharf and the West End in minutes.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I were visiting London on a small budget, I would choose Onefam Waterloo Hostel London: it is close to Waterloo station, rated 9 from about 400 reviews, and the South Bank and the London Eye are a short walk away. For a hostel with breakfast included and a pub downstairs, I would book The Steam Engine instead.
4.5Guest scoreHostelOnefam Waterloo Hostel London
Lively hostel with a bar and restaurant near Waterloo Station
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4.2Guest scoreHostelThe Steam Engine, Waterloo (PUBLOVE)
Budget-friendly hostel with a classic pub and free breakfast
View hotel →Why guests love itThe Steam Engine Waterloo by Publove is a laid-back hostel above a classic pub, with mixed-sex dorms only, so I would not recommend it to families with children. It is designed for budget travellers and groups of adults: breakfast and Wi-Fi are free, and the pub, restaurant and bar are part of the stay. The building is smoke-free. Rated 8.4 by more than 1,500 guests, it is a strong choice for solo travellers, while families should look at a hotel with private rooms nearby.
4.1Guest scoreHostelThe Walrus Bar & Hostel
Lively hostel above a bar with free breakfast and Wi-Fi
View hotel →Why guests love itThe Walrus Bar and Hostel sits above a popular bar and offers dorm beds plus a single private room, so it is not where I would send a family with young children. Adults on a budget get free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and towels included, and the London Eye is a short walk away. A family with older teenagers who can book the private room might manage, but evenings will be lively downstairs. Rated 8.2 by more than 1,300 guests, it suits sociable travellers best.
Local tips
- 1Walk along the South Bank from the London Eye to the Tate Modern, a free route past the Southbank Centre and the National Theatre.
- 2Look for street food and cafés on Lower Marsh, right behind Waterloo station, for a cheaper lunch than near the river.
- 3Use a contactless card or phone on the Underground and buses, as daily fare caps keep travel costs predictable.
- 4Book The Steam Engine or The Walrus if you want breakfast included, and Onefam Waterloo for its rating and social atmosphere.
- 5Take a South Western Railway train from Waterloo for a day trip to Windsor and its castle, without changing trains.
- 6Walk through the Leake Street tunnel under the station to see its constantly changing legal graffiti.