Go Ape London
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YHA London St Paul's
Overview
Re-purposed after nearly 100 years as a school for choirboys, this remarkable building boasts the ultimate location for exploring one of London's most fascinating tourist attractions - it's literally seconds from St Paul’s cathedral.
YHA London St Paul’s is steeped in history, with old-school choirboy graffiti (in a wood-panelled classroom no less), atmospheric spiral staircases and an elaborate exterior. And of course, there's nothing quite like waking up to those cathedral bells. The hostel’s central location is also great for exploring London on foot, with many of London's famous attractions close by.
Accommodation at this hostel
- Bed in a shared room is offered here
- Private room is offered here
- Camping & Cabins is not offered here
- Entire place is not offered here
Why guests love this hostel
- Great location right next to St Paul's Cathedral
- Close to famous attractions
- Charming period features
Accommodation at YHA London St Paul's
Group booking
Serviced group stays for 16 to 214 people
Where better for educational visits and groups to explore London from than a former school? This extraordinary building has an unbeatable location to exploring famous attractions – it’s literally seconds from St Paul’s Cathedral.
As well as the iconic cathedral next door, we’re perfect for visiting the famous London sights. Tower Bridge, London Dungeon, London Zoo and the London Eye are all within easy reach and we offer discounts on them too. Whether you’re a group of theatre lovers enjoying the West End or a school trip discovering the capital, this unforgettable building can’t get much closer to the action.
Group-friendly facilities
Sleeping arrangements
Most of our bedrooms are dormitory style rooms with bunk beds. We always try to allocate bedrooms close together and will never ask your group to share bedrooms with anyone not in your group.
Upgrades are available for sole use of an area, floor or the entire place.
Shared spaces
As well as charming period features (look out for the vintage graffiti in our meeting room), we offer modern essentials like free Wi-Fi.
Dine like the choirboys of our past in our dining room, sit back and relax in our TV lounge, browse through our donated books or book one of our inspiring school workshops.
Group catering
With tasty breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, groups are sure to find something delicious to eat at YHA London St Paul's (see sample menu).
Meal plans range from bed and breakfast up to full-board catering. Vegetarian options are available and we aim to cater for any special dietary requests.
Parking
There is no parking at the hostel.
Accredited site
YHA London St Paul's holds a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (Site Only) (105563).
This accreditation means that this hostel has externally audited risk assessments, verified insurance provision, quality checked safety logs and delivery observed by national reviewers.
Hostel facilities
- 24-hour access after check-in
- 24-hour reception
- Coach parking nearby
- Contactless payments
- Corridor zoning
- Dining room
- Full mobile coverage
- Group meals
- Highchair
- Library
- Luggage store
- Meeting room(s)
- Minibus parking nearby
- Near airport
- Near bus stop
- Near train station
- Near underground
- Shared laundry room
- Shared lounge
- Shared TV
- Sole use available
- Unlimited breakfast
- Vending machines
- Water refill station
- WiFi
Hostel need to know
Reception hours: 24 hours.
Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests daily from 07:30 – 09:00. There is no self-catering kitchen at YHA London St Paul's.
Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol.
Parking: There is no parking at the hostel.
WiFi: Free WiFi is available in shared social spaces.
Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA London St Paul's. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.
Luggage store: A small charge applies to use the lockers in our luggage store (£2 for small and £3 for large).
YHA London St Paul's - Access Statement
(PDF download - 137.15 KB)
Food and drink at YHA London St Paul's
Things to do around YHA London St Paul's
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London Old City walking tour
Learn about the original London, a mere one square mile beside the river Thames. This 3-hour walking tour includes must-see sites like the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge and much...
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The British Museum
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St Paul's Cathedral
The world-famous dome of St Paul's Cathedral is an iconic feature of the London skyline. Step inside and enjoy the cathedral's awe-inspiring interior.
Little Chelsea
This vibrant shopping quarter has all the vibe of its namesake. You'll find over 50 indie retailers for fab vintage finds, along with restaurants and cafes to relax in.
More about this hostel
Volunteering
Volunteering with YHA is a fantastic way to have fun, learn new skills, boost your CV and travel to different places. We have a variety of different opportunities to choose from and volunteering roles to suit everyone.
The tasks are varied and in return you will meet some great people, who both work and stay in our hostels, as well as enjoying your time off discovering the local area and attractions.
Find out more and apply to volunteer at this hostel through YHA volunteering.
History
YHA London St Paul's is in a grade 2 listed building in the city of London and the former St Paul's Cathedral choir boys school. It is clad in London's signature Portland Stone (quarried from the Isle of Portland, off Dorset's coast) and displays some beautiful sgraffito elevations.
The school and building are steeped in a tumultuous history: the original Choir School dates back to the early 1100s, but was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. It had several reincarnations, and this was the fourth. The building was designed with English Baroque style architecture in mind, following Sir Christopher Wren's vision and love for Baroque aesthetics.
The Choir School moved premises in the 1960s because the building was under threat of demolition from a road-widening scheme but, fortunately, rather than being demolished, it was instead converted into a youth hostel.
Meet the team
Manager recommends: Meet your new family in your new home away from home. In the heart of the city of London, there’s always things going on, from high dining 40 floors above the capital, coffee in a crypt, to the strange idea of eating breakfast inside a large unassuming fridge… we’ll find you something to do. You know where we are - come and see us!
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