Palmers Lodge Hillspring in London – former Police Academy, now Boutique Hostel

Do you fancy an outstanding Hostel in London? We at Hostelgeeks are very excited to announce the Palmers Lodge Hillspring Hostel as a 5 Star Hostel in London. Palmers Lodge Hillspring was fully refurbished from being first a police academy, to a hotel and then finally to the striking hostel that it is now.

The infobox on Palmers Lodge Hillspring ⭐

Update: Palmers Lodge Hillspring is permanently closed.

It has won multiple awards since opening its doors in 2009. Stylish common areas combined with a great social atmosphere, makes the Palmers Lodge Hillspring Hostel a great and unique place to meet other travelers during your stay!

The staff have worked wonders to make this hostel as eco-friendly as possible, not forgetting how important comfort and privacy is – wait until you read about the custom-made bunk beds at Star #2 for the Design!

Same as their brother-hostel Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage, the first 5 Star Hostel in London, this hostel ticks all the boxes for being a 5 Star Hostel.

Read our complete guide to the coolest hostels in London, UK.

Planning to go out and explore London? Of course, you do. Check our big guide to 62 FREE Things to do in London.

Before we start, pack smart…

Remember to pack accordingly for staying in a hostel – yet, do not overpack.

Here’s our full packing list, including Noise-Cancelling ear plugs and your padlocks.

Palmers Lodge Hillspring in London in a review

The available car park and nearby Underground station make the location of this hostel extremely handy and easy to get to.

It is a great base to discover London, giving you the chance to check out our 5+2 Secret Tips to London.

Combine these factors with the fun, friendly staff that will welcome you through the door and you have yourself a well and truly deserved 5 Star Hostel. So let’s delve deeper into the reasons behind what make this hostel stand a cut above the rest.

BONUS: We wrote up the ultimate guide to the 44 best fun things to do in London.

1. Highest Level in Sustainability

With a recognized award from TripAdvisor entitled ‘Green Leaders Silver Level’; Palmers Lodge Hillspring Hostel could not get any more Eco-friendly if it tried!

It’s all about waste-reduction here at Hillspring Hostel and the staff have done a great job at implementing energy efficient solutions such as the use of LED light bulbs and water restrictions on showers.

But don’t worry, your shower time isn’t limited, it just requires a simple push of the button to keep water flowing which will help reduce wastage whilst you lather up!

They also use a towel and linen re-use program during your stay. Did we forget to mention that linen is included? That’s right – feel free to jump straight into your readily made bed as soon as you arrive.

Last but not least you cannot forget to enjoy a locally brewed craft beer at the in-house bar from the nearby Meantime brewery: with three tasty choices on offer, jump in and try them!

2. Custom-made bunk beds with Privacy

This London hostel is the newer, modern version of its ‘brother-hostel’ named Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage, the other 5 Star Hostel in London.

What really gives it the wow factor is their choice of wooden bunk beds – not only were they designed specifically for this hostel, but they were modeled with privacy in mind.

Breathe easy as you avoid disturbing your neighbor: the beds at Hillspring don’t move or squeak(!) and the large wooden ladder helps with ease of access (even better if you’ve been out until pub closing time).

Don’t forget to make use of the curtains and personal nightlight if you fancy a bit of time to yourself.

As for your belongings, you can rest easy knowing that everything is safely in your own locker underneath the bed.

Another lovely design detail is the lounge designed to calm down, read a book, and relax after a big day exploring London.

The black and brown leather couches are super comfy, and the different sofas and chairs are put together in smaller and bigger groups. Whether you want to check your emails, and enjoy some alone-time, or play a round of board game with other travel buddies, this place is an inviting chill-out zone.

Read: FULL Guide to European Hostels.

Here we cover everything you need to know about hostels in Europe.

3. Unique: Boutique Style and Social Life

One of the great things about staying at a hostel is the social aspect and being surrounded by other like-minded people.

Yet, the staff at Hillspring also understand that sometimes you just need to regroup and take a breather – it’s tiring being a traveler, right?

That’s why they’ve combined a boutique design with a social atmosphere.

Read: 28 boutique hostels to fall in love with.

If you fancy joining the crowd then head to the bar, but if a good night’s sleep is what you need then be rest assured: once you reach your room you won’t hear any noise coming from the common areas.

This may surprise further when you hear that Palmers Lodge Hillspring has a whopping 270 beds on its premises.

That is a pretty unique experience therefore to find peace and privacy in such a sizeable establishment!

4. Inhouse Bar and two common Areas

There are two main social areas at this 5 star hostel including an all in one bar/restaurant offering up delicious grub – if you fancy a night off from cooking in the available kitchen – and an expected selection of spirits, wine and beer.

On warm evenings your food can also be enjoyed out on the terrace.

The Palmers Lodge Hillspring is not directly located at the street, so you can enjoy the terrace without any noise.

In the lounge area there is a TV for special events (don’t miss out on those crucial football matches) or perhaps you will share your Piano skills with the group. The pool table is a great game amongst new friends and on quieter nights the book-exchange library is a perfect option.

Free walking tours and pub crawls with Swiss Cottage (the brother-hostel) are also on offer – just ask at the reception where the friendly staff can help get you involved.

In a nutshell: The Palmers Lodge Hillspring Hostel is a top hostel in London for solo-traveller.

Read: the ultimate hostel packing list.

5. Helpful Staff at Palmers Lodge Hillspring

The most interesting thing about the staff at Palmers Lodge Hillspring is that the team is regularly changing, yet the ratings and feedback remains high.

That’s because the staff are international, and many started out as travellers on their way through London: they loved the city and the hostel ethos so much they wanted to stay for longer.

In fact, the Palmers Lodge Hillspring received awards for outstanding customer service!

The hostel atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff love nothing more than sharing a beer after work to let you in on their insider tips. This is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed – here’s your chance to get to know London on a less touristy level.

Reception at Palmers Lodge Hillspring is open 24hrs and staff are always at hand to answer any questions about the area.

Read: Hostel rules and etiquette to build lifetime friendships

More Hostels in London

This is a great hostel, especially for families, groups, and couples looking for a quiet quality hostel.

We wrote up a big guide to the best hostels in London.

Here we cover everything from party hostels, boutique hostels and family-friendly places. It also gives you a big list of hostels with private rooms in London.

Less than 50 miles (ca. 80 km) south of London, you can discover the 3 best hostels in Brighton – a wonderful British seaside resort.

Promo Code for Palmers Lodge Hillspring

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Now, there is no easy way to say this: Currently we do not have a valid discount for Palmers Lodge Hillspring. We are working on getting more promotional codes for Palmers Lodge Hillspring in London and all the other top hostels we reviewed for you.

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