Best Hostels Near Waterloo Tube Station
Three hostels near Waterloo Tube Station are listed here: The Steam Engine, Waterloo (PUBLOVE), The Walrus Bar & Hostel and Onefam Waterloo Hostel London. All three offer free Wi-Fi, and two include a complimentary breakfast. They share a social side, with a classic pub, a bar beneath the dorms or a restaurant and bar on site, so they suit travellers who want company more than silence. I would use this page for budget-minded visitors arriving by train or Tube who want a bed near the South Bank, and I would choose by the atmosphere each hostel describes and by whether a private room matters to you.
Waterloo is one of London's major rail and Tube interchanges, close to the South Bank and the river. The area around the station is busy through the day and into the evening, with pubs, bars and restaurants close by. Hostels here sit in the middle of that activity, which suits travellers who want to be near transport and nightlife more than a quiet street.
Where to stay
Three social hostels beside Waterloo
Hostels near Waterloo give budget travellers a base beside a major London rail and Tube hub, with the South Bank close by. The three listed here are social places with a pub, a bar or a restaurant, free Wi-Fi and, in two cases, breakfast. I would choose by how much noise you accept and whether you need a private room.
The Steam Engine, Waterloo (PUBLOVE) is the most reviewed of the three, rated 8.4 from more than 1,500 reviews. Its listing describes a laid-back hostel with mixed-sex dorms and a classic pub, near Waterloo Tube Station, with free Wi-Fi, a complimentary breakfast and a restaurant and bar on site. For a solo traveller, the pub downstairs makes it easy to meet other guests, and breakfast and Wi-Fi cut daily costs. I would choose it for a first stay in London when you want a sociable, relaxed place and are happy sharing a dormitory with mixed-sex rooms.
The Walrus Bar & Hostel is the livelier option. It is a hostel above a popular bar, with both dormitory beds and a private room, complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi and towels, within a short walk of major attractions and transport links. It is rated 8.2 from more than 1,300 reviews. The private room is the distinguishing detail, because the other two list dorms only, so a couple or a traveller who wants a door that closes should start here. Because the bar sits below, I would ask about the noise level at night before you book.
Onefam Waterloo Hostel London has the highest rating, 9, although from fewer reviews, more than 400. Its listing describes a hostel with a lively atmosphere, a restaurant and a bar, close to Waterloo Tube Station, with free Wi-Fi and a smoke-free environment, making it a comfortable base for exploring London's South Bank. It does not mention a free breakfast, so the other two may suit you better if you want one included. I would choose it when a high guest score and a smoke-free setting matter most to you. Check the room types before you book.
Think about what you need from a hostel before comparing them. For a free breakfast and a classic pub, choose The Steam Engine. For a private room and towels, choose The Walrus. For the highest score and a smoke-free stay, choose Onefam. Since all three have a bar, pub or restaurant on site, noise at night is the main question to ask. Also check the lockers, check-in hours and how dorm beds are allocated, because the listings do not describe them, and keep your valuables with you in a busy station area.
A traveler's perspectiveI recommend The Steam Engine, Waterloo (PUBLOVE) to most solo travellers, because it has the most reviews and includes breakfast, Wi-Fi and a classic pub. For a private room I would choose The Walrus Bar & Hostel, and for the best score and a smoke-free setting Onefam Waterloo Hostel London. Our advice is to confirm noise levels, check-in times and what the breakfast includes before you book, since the listings describe the atmosphere but not the practical details.
4.5Guest scoreHostelOnefam Waterloo Hostel London
Lively hostel with a bar and restaurant near Waterloo
View hotel →Why guests love itOnefam Waterloo is a hostel with a lively, social atmosphere close to Waterloo tube, with a restaurant and a bar on site. Wi-Fi is free and the building is smoke-free, and the South Bank is close by. It is designed for travellers who want to meet people, not for families with young children. With a 9/10 rating from around 400 reviews, I would book it for solo travellers or friends on a budget.
4.2Guest scoreHostelThe Steam Engine, Waterloo (PUBLOVE)
Classic pub hostel with free Wi-Fi and breakfast near Waterloo
View hotel →Why guests love itThe Steam Engine Waterloo by PubLove is a laid-back hostel above a classic pub near Waterloo tube, with mixed-sex dorms. Breakfast and Wi-Fi are included, and the pub's restaurant and bar are downstairs. Mixed dorms and a pub setting make it a poor fit for families with young children, but it suits backpackers and groups of friends. With an 8.4 rating from almost 1,600 reviews, I would book it for a cheap, sociable night by the station.
4.1Guest scoreHostelThe Walrus Bar & Hostel
Hostel above a hip bar with free breakfast and Wi-Fi
View hotel →Why guests love itThe Walrus is a lively hostel above a popular bar near Waterloo, with dormitory beds and a private room. Breakfast, Wi-Fi and towels are included, and major sights and transport links are a short walk away. The bar downstairs sets the tone, so I would not choose it for young children, but it is a fun, affordable base for friends travelling together. Guests rate it 8.2 from almost 1,400 reviews.
Local tips
- 1Ask about noise at night, as all three hostels have a pub, bar or restaurant on site.
- 2If you want a private room, The Walrus Bar & Hostel is the one that lists one.
- 3Confirm that breakfast is included at The Steam Engine and The Walrus, as Onefam does not mention it in its listing.
- 4Check the lockers and check-in times before you arrive, especially if you come in late by train.
- 5Keep your valuables with you in the station area, and use a lock for the locker if one is available.
- 6Use Waterloo Tube Station as a reference when you plan your route and check walking time with your luggage.