FAQs

Hostel Questions

1. What is a hostel?
2. Where are you?
3. How do I get there?
4. What dorms do you have?
5. What is a Pod or Premium dormitory?
6. Do I have to share my room?
7. Are you rooms single or mixed sex?
8. What’s hostel art?
9. Are there facilities in the room?
10. How can I book?
11. What’s the difference between a twin and a double room?
12. Can I book a school or a group to stay?

Rules And Payment

1. What time is Check in and out?
2. Do you have smoking rooms?
3. What security do you have?
4. Can I bring friends into the hostel?
5. Do you have a minimum or maximum age restriction?
6. Do I have to be a student or a member of Hostelling International to stay?
7. Why do you need my credit card to book?
8. When do I need to pay?
9. What’s the latest time I can arrive?
10. Is there a curfew to how late can I stay out?
11. Why can’t I check in before 1300?
12. Do I need a booking to stay?
13. What payment methods do you accept?
14. What is your cancellation policy?
15. I’m travelling with my family

Facilities

1. Is breakfast included?
2. Should I bring a sleeping bag?
3. Is linen provided?
4. Do you have cooking facilities?
5. Do you give student discounts?
6. Where can I leave my stuff?
7. Do you provide transport to the hostel?
8. Do you have payphones or internet?
9. Do you have parking facilities?
10. What can I do there?
11. How can I contact a guest at the hostel?
12. Do you sell tickets to any tours or attractions?
13. Can I wash my clothes there?

Hostel Questions

1. Rating: +1

   

   What is a hostel?

   A hostel is basically a type of hotel for travellers looking for budget accommodation or people looking for a short city break with cheap and easy accommodation. The typical trademark of hostels is shared dormitories with bunk beds. Over the years however the industry has grown heavily with many hostels offering a wide variety of facilities and room types. Ranging from Hostel Art to double rooms. Hostels are less formal than hotels and focus more on offering a lifestyle and having fun.

2. Rating: +0

   

   Where are you?

   Piccadilly Backpackers is located in the centre of London right in Piccadilly Circus, making us London’s most central hostel. For more information and a detailed map please check our location page.

3. Rating: -1

   

   How do I get there?

   We’re very easy to get to from all the main airports, train and bus stations in and around London. The easiest way to get to us is to take a bus or the London Underground to Piccadilly Circus, from where we are a very short walk. For more detailed information please look at our directions section on the location page.

4. Rating: +8

   

   What dorms do you have?

   We have a variety of private rooms and dormitories available.
   The private rooms we have are single, twin and double rooms.
   The dormitory rooms and beds we have are in 4 bed, 6 bed, 8 bed, 10 bed, 6 bed Pod or premium dorm, 4 bed en-suite and 4 bed female only.

5. Rating: -1

   

   What is a Pod or Premium dormitory?

   A “Pod” room is a unique experience unlike any other, inspired by budget hotels in Japan. These beds are both very spacious and offer greater privacy than other dormitory types. All these rooms have been decorated by artists as part of our Hostel Art project. Please see our gallery section for pictures.

6. Rating: +8

   

   Do I have to share my room?

   If you book a private room such as a twin or single room, it will only be you in the room no one else will have access to your room. If you book a dormitory bed you will share the room with anyone else who has booked, if you wish to have a private dormitory room you will have to book all the beds in the room.

7. Rating: +5

   

   Are you rooms single or mixed sex?

   We try to keep the rooms single sex but due to our size we cannot always guarantee this. We do offer female only dormitories if you do not feel comfortable sharing a mixed dormitory.

8. Rating: -1

   

   What’s hostel art?

   In 2005 Piccadilly Backpackers started a unique project for London, we got in various artists to paint and decorate our 3rd floor. Since then we have got artists in to decorate and paint several more rooms throughout the building including our lobby and 4th floor hallway. Please look at our Hostel Art gallery for pictures on these amazing rooms. If you are interested in creating a room please email us.

9. Rating: +3

   

   Are there facilities in the room?

   All our rooms apart from our en-suite room have shared facilities. There are a minimum 2 male and female toilets and shower rooms on each floor. Some floors also provide unisex toilets.

10. Rating: -1

    

    How can I book?

    You can book via telephone, email or book online. We would recommend you book online as it’s the fastest and easiest way to book, you also receive a discount for booking online.

11. Rating: +10

    

    What’s the difference between a twin and a double room?

    A twin room is a single bunk bed, a double room is also a bunk bed but the lower bunk has a double bed.

12. Rating: -2

    

    Can I book a school or a group to stay?

    Anyone travelling with a party of more than 14 people we classify as a group, for more information please look at our group faq page.

Rules And Payment

1. Rating: -3

   

   What time is Check in and out?

   You can check in from 1300, reception is open 24 hours so don’t worry if your arriving late at night. Check out is at 1000, luggage storage is available during the day for free if you're arriving before check-in time and for a small fee if your checking-out.

2. Rating: +1

   

   Do you have smoking rooms?

   We have always operated a full no smoking policy. As of July 2007 it is illegal to smoke in any public building within the United Kingdom.

3. Rating: +2

   

   What security do you have?

   We have a 24 hour entrance manned by a staff member who ensures that only guests or people with reservations are allowed entry. We also have CCTV coverage the inside and outside of the building. Reception is open 24 hours to help with any problems which may arise.

4. Rating: +1

   

   Can I bring friends into the hostel?

   Only guests staying in the hostel are allowed entry to the building, no friends or family will be given access. If you wish to meet someone they will have to wait in our lobby area.

5. Rating: +7

   

   Do you have a minimum or maximum age restriction?

   We accept all ages at Piccadilly Backpackers. If any persons between the ages of 16 to 18 wish to stay with us they need to be accompanied by an adult or have a letter from their legal guardian giving them permission to travel. If you are travelling with anyone under 16 then they will have to be accompanied by an adult. UK law does not permit under 16 years old to be put into a shared dormitory, they must be booked into a private room or all the beds must be booked in the dormitory, please call us to ensure that all your beds are allocated into the same room. Any questions please contact us.

6. Rating: +4

   

   Do I have to be a student or a member of Hostelling International to stay?

   We are an independent organisation and accept anybody, you do not need to be a member of any organisation or a student. We do offer a discount to people with ISIC cards.

7. Rating: +1

   

   Why do you need my credit card to book?

   We take your card details to secure the reservation, if you don’t show up or don’t cancel your booking, the card may be charged for the first night of the reservation as a no-show. Payment is done on arrival in a method of your choice. No deposit is charged to your card.

8. Rating: +1

   

   When do I need to pay?

   We take full payment on arrival as we do not charge any deposit if you book directly with us.

9. Rating: +0

   

   What’s the latest time I can arrive?

   Reception is open 24 hours so you can arrive at any time, there are also night buses which run 24 hours from the major train stations directly to Piccadilly Circus and central London.

10. Rating: +0

    

    Is there a curfew to how late can I stay out?

    There is no curfew and no lockout.

11. Rating: -2

    

    Why can’t I check in before 1300?

    The rooms are cleaned from 1000 until 1300 which is why you cannot gain entry to your room before these times.

12. Rating: -3

    

    Do I need a booking to stay?

    You don’t have to book to stay with us, you can arrive to the hostel and stay as a “walk-in” but we would highly recommend that you either call us or book online before your make the journey as we’re busy year round.

13. Rating: -1

    

    What payment methods do you accept?

    We accept all major credit and debit cards including American Express. We also accept cash and travellers cheques in GBP.

14. Rating: +3

    

    What is your cancellation policy?

    If you need to cancel your booking, you need to contact us either via email or telephone before 14:00 the day before your arrival date, if you do not contact us you will be charged for the first full night as a no-show.

15. Rating: +4

    

    I’m travelling with my family

    If you are travelling with your family please be aware unless you book an all the beds in a dormitory room or a private room you will be sharing with other people. If you have children under the age of 14 you must book an entire room or a private room as they cannot be put in shared accommodation.

Facilities

1. Rating: +16

   

   Is breakfast included?

   Breakfast is not included. We offer a wide range of food, including fruit, tea, coffee and traditional English breakfast.

2. Rating: -1

   

   Should I bring a sleeping bag?

   All beds have pillows and woolen blankets, linen is provided free of charge from reception, but feel free to bring your own sleeping bags or pillows you want to.

3. Rating: +1

   

   Is linen provided?

   Linen is provided free of charge on check in, it can be collected from reception. Towels can be rented from reception.

4. Rating: -7

   

   Do you have cooking facilities?

   We only have microwaves available to guests and snack and soft drink vending machines. We do have a café which offers a wide menu of meals and snacks.

5. Rating: +1

   

   Do you give student discounts?

   We only offer discounts to students with the ISIC card. Please ensure you show your card before you complete your payment.

6. Rating: -1

   

   Where can I leave my stuff?

   We have a luggage room located on the 4th floor, it is free of charge for people arriving before the check-in time, if you are checking out it will cost you a small fee to leave your bags. Every room has its own lockers where you can store stuff in your room, padlocks can be bought from our travel shop.

7. Rating: -1

   

   Do you provide transport to the hostel?

   We currently do not provide any transport to the hostel, but we are very easy to get to from all stations and airports due to our location. There are shuttle buses from the hostel to airports which can booked at our travel desk.

8. Rating: -2

   

   Do you have payphones or internet?

   We have payphones on every floor, we also have credit card phones on each floor. We have a large internet café on the 4th floor provided by Global Gossip, there is WiFi access throughout certain floors.

9. Rating: +0

   

   Do you have parking facilities?

   We do not offer any parking facilities as we are in central London, but there are several National Car Parking centres very close to us but it is very expensive to leave your car there over night. We would recommend that you park just outside central London and take public transport in if you’re driving. Please see our location page for more help.

10. Rating: -3

    

    What can I do there?

    We have nightly party events to various pubs and clubs in the local area, we also have a common room with a TV lounge and games area, internet café, WiFi in the room on selected floors, a travel shop to plan your activities in London and more. Please check out our facilities page for more information.

11. Rating: -1

    

    How can I contact a guest at the hostel?

    There are no phones in the rooms but we do have a notice board which we put up any messages for guests on.

12. Rating: -1

    

    Do you sell tickets to any tours or attractions?

    We have daily free walking tours leaving from the hostel provided by New Europe Tours. We also sell discounted tickets for many attractions and theatre shows in our travel shop, such as Madame Tussauds and West End shows.

13. Rating: +0

    

    Can I wash my clothes there?

    We have 5 washers and dryers located on the 3rd floor. Washing powder can be bought from the travel shop.

If you have more questions please contact us.