The Generator Hostel ★☆☆

A dormitory room at London's The Generator Hostel

A games room at London's The Generator Hostel, The Generator Hostel, London (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

A lounge at London's The Generator Hostel, The Generator Hostel, London (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

The bar at London's The Generator Hostel, The Generator Hostel, London (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

Drinks at London's The Generator Hostel, The Generator Hostel, London (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

Food at London's The Generator Hostel, The Generator Hostel, London (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

The granddaddy of hip and trendy hostels in London

A dormitory room at London's The Generator Hostel

A games room at London's The Generator Hostel

A lounge at London's The Generator Hostel

The bar at London's The Generator Hostel

More images

A games room at London's The Generator Hostel (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

A lounge at London's The Generator Hostel (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

The bar at London's The Generator Hostel (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

Drinks at London's The Generator Hostel (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

Food at London's The Generator Hostel (Photo courtesy of the hostel)

When London's The Generator opened in 1995 between the British Museum and King's Cross Station, the few private hostels that existed in Europe were largely indistinguishable from the official IYH ones—bland, institutional, with dozens of beds to a dorm and encumbered with long lists of draconian rules.

The Generator was one of the very first to change all that, to show that a hostel could be a fun, welcoming place to stay, not just a cheap one.

The sense of fun and designer whimsy Generator introduced has since proved a model for the private hostel scene, and the London flagship (there are now a baker's dozen of Generators across Europe, plus in Miami) remains an excellent inexpensive place to spend the night, with dorm beds ranging from £22.50 to £30 in rooms with 1–8 or 1–12 beds (including female-only rooms).

There are also private twins and triples (and twins with private, en-suite bathrooms).

There is a cafe, and a bar that stays open until 3am, and a "cill-out room" with games and a screen for movie nights.

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