YHA London Central - Family Travel Review

*We were provided with a family room for one night in exchange for an honest review. We covered the costs of our own travel & food (including breakfast).

I think there is a misconception that a visit to London is going to cost loads of money, especially if you want to stay somewhere central but it really doesn't have to be the case. If you read my blog you will know that we love the YHA, not only does it provide well-located budget accommodation but as a charity and helps to transform young lives through travel and adventure and every stay helps the YHA carry out their fantastic work. I've found that many people seem unaware that they offer family accommodation and private family rooms which have everything you need.

Earlier this year the boys and I stayed at YHA Ironbridge Coalport, set in beautiful Shropshire near the heritage-rich town of Ironbridge and it made for a perfect family weekend break. As we had done mainly rural breaks with YHA I was excited to see what YHA has on offer in terms of city accommodation and as we were heading to London it made sense to check one out. YHA has 7 central located hostels and a few more in outer-London. We opted for a night at YHA London Central and here is what we thought.

Location - YHA London Central is based in Fitzrovia, a vibrant area close to London's West end and only a 5-minute walk from Oxford Street as well as a short walking distance from Regents Park and the British Museum. There are also numerous underground stations within a short walking distance of the hostel making is a great location for exploring the capital.

Accommodation - We stayed in a 4-bed family room which consisted of 2 sets of bunk beds, each very comfortable and clean, the room was also en-suite with a small but perfectly formed toilet and shower room. There was also plenty of storage and hanging space and while the rooms are basic they are spotless.

Hostel Facilities - firstly there is free fast wifi which is always a bonus as well as a free water refilling station in the reception.  You can opt to eat in the vibrant YHA cafe bar or make use of their self-catering kitchen and stylish seating area and lounge area. There is also a laundry which is perfect for those travelling for longer periods of time as well as a safe luggage store were you can store your bags on the day you check out and go off and explore the city. 

Food and drink - As we were only staying one night we decided to take it easy and eat in the YHA cafe bar because not only is it reasonable but kids eat free with adults and they offer up some nice dishes. I enjoyed the veggie chilli nachos, while the kids tucked into their meals and we finished off with some ice-cream, I may have also had a cider on the side. When it came to breakfast, many YHA offers either Continental or full breakfast at an additional cost, on the occasion YHA London Central only offers continental which we pre-ordered. The breakfast consisted of a variety of cereals, croissants, toast, plenty of coffee and tea and also fresh fruit and yoghurt - more than enough to get you going.

Overall experience - from start to finish the staff were really friendly and welcoming and there were numerous families and people of all ages staying. The cafe is a great social point with plenty of seating, a nice bar area and some board games and toys for kids to play with. The reception can also help you out with cheap theatre tickets and they organise a free central London tour. We really enjoyed our time here and while the rooms are basic we loved the social areas, fast wifi and that it was safe, spotless and provided everything you need for an enjoyable stay. We would certainly stay again and is a great option for when you're on a budget.