Take three: London hostels for budget travellers

Looking for a cheap hotel in London? Hostels are a great alternative to value hotels in the capital.
They've come a long way in recent years: think private ensuite rooms with all mod cons at a fraction of the cost of a swanky hotel. The latest crop of city-centre pads featuring state-of-the-art technology, onsite bars and some of the friendliest staff ever. We picked three of our fave our budget-friendly hostels in London, below.

Clink78, King's Cross

This achingly cool and eye-searingly decorated hostel has been built into a renovated 200-year-old courthouse, and the jail theme runs throughout with bedrooms in the old cells and internet lounge in what was the courtroom.

With an onsite basement bar and space for over 500 guests, peaceful it isn't, but with it's central location a stone's throw from King's Cross St. Pancras station, you're a short bus ride away from most of the capital's top sites.

A night in one of Clink78's original prison cell rooms starts from £50 per room while a private room, some of which are ensuite, starts from £40 per night. Mixed and single sex dorm rooms start at a very reasonable £12 - perfect if you don't mind sharing with up to 16 inmates.

Palmers Lodge, Swiss Cottage

Palmers Lodge doesn't feel like a traditional hostel. There's bags of historical and cultural style with oak panelled walls, grand staircases and art deco ceilings. The Lodge was once the home of Samuel Palmer of the Huntley and Palmers Biscuit Empire and has been sympathetically renovated into a modern hostel with a selection of dorms and private rooms.

Guests get a free continental breakfast when they stay and home-cooked meals are on offer in the restaurant. There's a cosy bar downstairs, free Wi-Fi and the hostel is a short walk from Swiss Cottage tube station and Regent's Park.

Rooms in the mixed dorm start at £21 while a private ensuite deluxe twin starts from £42.20 per person.

The Walrus, Waterloo

Smack-bang in the centre of London's transport hub, The Walrus Hostel is within walking distance of most of London's most famous landmarks with Westminster, St James's Park and Horse Guards Parade just across bridge.

The Walrus has an original British pub onsite which also puts on live music acts. Beds in the dorms start from £17.50 per night. Private rooms are also available (price on request). All bookings come with free breakfast, Wi-Fi, linen, lockers and luggage storage. Guests can also use the communal kitchen to cook, which is rammed with vintage-looking curios and crockery.