Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage in London – Biscuits and Hospital during WW2

Let us proudly introduce the Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage Hostel as our new 5 Star Hostel in London! The city of London is a serious British attraction and we at Hostelgeeks have worked hard to find you the hippest and coolest hostel in London to make your stay an even more memorable one.

The infobox on Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage ⭐

Update: Unfortunately, Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage closed its doors. You can find all best hostels in London here.

This recently renovated Victorian mansion boasts charm, comfort, and creativity that will have you saying “this is so wonderfully, typically English”. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

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Do you have 1:20 min? This video shows you around our hostel pick in a nutshell.

You will see the interior design, the different common areas, the sleeping area, and more.

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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 Swiss Cottage is a 5 Star Hostel, because…

An award-winning team go out of their way to welcome their guests, and the many social areas are a great way to meet new, like-minded travelers.

It’s not just the Eco-friendly efforts and the super cool décor that make this Palmer Lodge Swiss Cottage superb, but also the fascinating history and design of the building – check out star #2 about the hostels design!

The location is favorable, with easy access to the London Underground and an option to park in the secure bay (at the hostel) during your stay.

Update: the coolest 62 FREE things to do in London

Without further ado, let’s have a closer look at why this hostel has hit our criteria so brilliantly.

1. Proud to be Green and Sustainable

Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage is proud to be green, and they boast a whole range of environment friendly, energy efficient solutions.

Their efforts have wowed Trip Advisor and in return they have been awarded with the Green Leaders Silver level.

Why, I hear you ask?

Light bulbs have been replaced with LED energy savers, recycling bins can be found in every corridor and common area and only toiletries with organic ingredients are used.

Not only that, but water restrictors have been installed on showers – it won’t decrease your shower time, it simply requires a push of the button for continued water flow and will help reduce water wastage.

Just with this little improvement, they are able to save dozens of liters of water every day!

This hostel also practices towel and linen re-use during your stay and the best part is that your bed will be ready-made for you upon arrival, you know, just in case you’re feeling a bit tired after your travels.

For the green-fingered travellers; soya milk is available with the buffet breakfast.

Need we say more?

Let’s jump to the aesthetic design part.

2. Restored Victorian Grade II Building – the Design

One of the most eye-catching things about this 5 Star Hostel in London is the building itself.

Built in 1880/81 this Victorian grade II listed building has a rather interesting history.

It was originally home to Samuel Palmer of Huntley & Palmers Biscuits before it became a hospital during WW2.

After its abandonment for almost 50 years, it was re-opened in 2006 and received a fantastic refurbishment by the architect Robert O’Hara.

It was substantial to say the least, but we think he has done a jaw-dropping job of restoring it to the original condition and Swiss Cottage Hostel has won awards because of his efforts.

We cannot forget to mention the wooden bunk beds that have been specifically designed with privacy in mind – enjoy a personal curtain and storage space underneath the bed.

The smaller shared dorms have their very own tea and coffee station to add to that super cosy feeling.

The abundance of wood, brick and quirky furniture all work together to give this hostel a real Victorian feel, which we’re sure you’ll love as much as we do.

What type of rooms can you expect?

Read: complete overview of all different hostel room types.

3. Step back in time – Unique flair and armored knight

What makes this hostel a unique London stay?

Great care has been taken to furnish the spacious rooms to the highest standards with top quality wooden bunks and secure storage facilities, not to mention full CCTV coverage for extra security.

A lot of effort has been put in to the building – inside and out – to bring together the unique Victorian era vibe with 21st century London.

Walking through the door really is like a step back in time, especially when you find yourself being greeted by the shiny full-armored Knight in the hallway!

This is why the Swiss Cottage London is unique accommodation.

Here is a full guide to European hostels, including everything you need to know: prices, facilities, and things to avoid!

4. Warm and friendly for everyone

With so many awesome common areas to hang out in, it’s no wonder that Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage has such a warm vibe about the place.

There’s a bar and restaurant on site; a perfect place to meet new people and join in their themed nights, or perhaps the occasional arranged pub crawl.

Looking for an alternative pub crawl? Have a look at our fun things to do in London.

The lounge room is full of comfy sofas, is decorated like a super charming hostel and is a perfect place to chill out with a book.

Tea and coffee is free throughout the day, too.

If you’re full of beans but don’t want to wander too far, enjoy a game of chess, darts, cards or ping-pong—it’s all there!

When summer comes around don’t miss out on the newly renovated conservatory and patio area which is perfect BBQ territory and a great way to build up some energy before having ago on the Wii or trying your chances at a game of pool.

Obviously, you also want to explore the British capital, right?

We found 27 awesome fun things to do in London – on a budget!

5. Best Customer Service – the staff

The dedicated team at Swiss Cottage Hostel London get 5 stars from us, and from their guests!

And it’s no surprise when the hostel has received ‘Best Customer Service’ two consecutive years in a row (2012-2013) from different booking platforms.

Staff members are from all over the world, and there are often extra interns helping out on reception to ensure their guests get all the attention they need.

It’s the little things that matter most: expect ready-made beds upon arrival, whether you are early or late, it’s all included in the price.

Reception is open 24hrs and the staff are always readily available to answer any questions or provide you with a cool itinerary whilst you’re in London.

Grab your free earplugs at reception whilst you’re at it. There’s also towel rental and the travel necessities for sale here.

Oh and if you fancy seeing a theater show whilst you’re here, talk to the team and collect your tickets from reception – easy and hassle free!

Is Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage for you?

Honestly, we think this hostel is ideal for all types of travellers.

Couples, solo-travellers and friend groups would be very comfortable here. Age is no barrier, either.

The building is big, and the rooms vary in size, so it’s difficult to be disappointed.

The on-site bar and pub crawl is perfect for young, party lovers. However, the hostel is so big that peace can be found in all corners of the building.

Our advice: talk to the staff and let them help choose your ideal room type.

For further information, we wrote a big guide to the best hostels in London.

Here we cover all the coolest hostels, party hostels, and hostels in London with private rooms.

More Hostel you will enjoy

Before you head out to explore London, here are more hostels you might enjoy too:

• 3 best hostels in Manchester, UK
• 3 fun hostels in Brighton, UK
• 19 best hostels in Scotland
• 3 best hostels in Edinburgh (and one 5 Star Hostel)
• 3 best hostels in Dublin

Find all 5 Star Hostels here.

Promo Code for Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage

Fancy a promo code for Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage? Who doesn't?!

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

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You can find all our current valid hostel promo codes here. We also share the latest up-to-date discounts by Hostelworld here.