Safestay London Elephant & Castle
Posh hostel with a trendy design
Photos by Eva Fydrych and courtesy of Safestay (3)
London, the global fashion capital and one of the world's most visited cities, doesn't really need an introduction. Oxford Economics, the world leader in global forecasting, predicts that London will welcome 35.6m visitors by 2020!
Finding chic and affordable accommodation in such a popular city can be very challenging. Safestay London Elephant & Castle, a posh hostel located in Zone 1, offers an excellent alternative to staying at a traditional hotel and will appeal to everyone in search of a London less-travelled by tourists.
Safestay London Elephant & Castle has a range of rooms on offer, from private rooms with en-suite facilities, through to 4, 6 and 8 bunk dorm rooms - all with secure key card access, privacy curtains, and in-room luggage cages. This stylish hostel is easy to find and reach by London airport shuttle.
Elegant exterior of Safestay London Elephant & Castle (Photo courtesy of Safestay)
Lobby (Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
In-room luggage cage - big enough for your suitcase!
During my stay at the hostel, I had a pleasure to speak to Jose Huet, General Manager of Safestay London Elephant & Castle. And that's what I found out:
- How would you describe the style and atmosphere of the hostel?
Located in John Smith House (the former Labour Party Headquarters), Safestay London Elephant & Castle plays on the old and new in all aspects of its design and architecture, embracing London both past and present.
Lobby (Photo courtesy of Safestay)
Unique tables (Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
Colourful room design / Room 323 is very quiet and offers a lot of privacy
Fashionable armchair in room 323 (Handbag by Canadian designer Koda Nivoli)
Chocolates! - what a great welcome :)
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
- What advantages has this property over other hostels / hotels in London?
Safestay London Elephant & Castle is a very good value hostel with such an affordable price range (dorms start from 18 GBP per night), it offers a great city-centre location, boasts trendy and stylish design and has a lovely courtyard garden (very rare in London).
We are located five minutes from the Elephant & Castle Underground Station, just south of the River Thames and in one of the oldest parts of the city. It serves as a great base for London’s most popular attractions. In addition to the London hotspots, visitors can explore the eclectic cultural scene of the local area. From cafes and artists’ studios “The Artworks Elephant” to the hypnotic beats of the Ministry of Sound and the buzz of the Latin Quarter, there is plenty to do.
Courtyard garden (Photo courtesy of Safestay)
- Could you tell us more about the interior design of the hostel?
Whilst preserving many of the original features of the Grade Two listed building, from the mouldings to the fireplaces, the interiors designed by Black Box are otherwise strikingly contemporary with a strong emphasis on bold graphics, contrasting textures and innovative lighting.
The walls in the public areas featurestand-out artwork from emerging artists, as well as Banksy prints and ‘Brit pop art’. The furniture is eclectic with a combination of high and low seating in a variety of styles and colours to create a lively social environment. Antique mirrors and a brown leather sofa in the library are juxtaposed with transparent acrylic chairs and hot pink cushions.
Tom Dixon bell jars adorn and light up the communal desk with laptop docking stations and alternate mustard and aubergine coloured leather high stools for guests to sit on. Humorous design touches include bowler hats as light fixtures above the main reception desk and Sweeney Todd razor blade shaped mirrors in some of the bathrooms.
Tom Dixon bell jars adorn and light up the communal desk with laptop docking stations and alternate mustard and aubergine coloured leather high stools for guests to sit on. Humorous design touches include bowler hats as light fixtures above the main reception desk and Sweeney Todd razor blade shaped mirrors in some of the bathrooms.
Sweeney Todd razor blade shaped mirrors (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
The expansive open-plan public areas on the lower ground floor maximise social interaction with fluid, communal spaces offering a lounge area, 40” plasma TV screens, a bar, a pool room, vending machines, and a restaurant that serves a continental breakfast as well as toasted sandwiches and snacks throughout the day.
Furniture in the restaurant is a mix of high and low communal tables as well as stools and banquette seating. French doors open out onto a stunning walled garden with a water feature and additional seating.
Furniture in the restaurant is a mix of high and low communal tables as well as stools and banquette seating. French doors open out onto a stunning walled garden with a water feature and additional seating.
- What is the most fashionable element of the hostel and why?
The Tom Dixon bell jars in the lobby!
Tom Dixon bell jar (Photo courtesy of Safestay)
Lobby (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
Pool table (Photo courtesy of Safestay)
Elephant and Castle is a vibrant neighbourhood just south of the River Thames in central London.
"The area was once famed as the ‘Piccadilly of the South’ – a central hub of entertainment, which regularly drew in thousands of Londoners. Though less palpable today, it nonetheless maintains that spirit.
At this time of change, with a major regeneration programme well underway, the Elephant is building on this energy, making the most of its central London location. There are plans for new theatres and cinemas, places to eat and shop, or just to sit. Elephant and Castle will become a revitalised town centre, a destination for visitors, as well as a great neighbourhood in which to live, work and learn." - elephantandcastle.org.uk
Read more about Elephant and Castle regeneration programme here and here.
Dining near Elephant & Castle station (Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
Palm trees outside the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre
Bicycles available for rent (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
What We Like
- beautiful courtyard garden (heated and illuminated)
- stylish design with unexpected elements
- long mirror in the room (useful when getting ready for the Fashion Week)
- spacious common areas
- pool table / bar / restaurant
- separate computer room
- fast Wi-Fi
- tasty continental breakfast (£4.00 per person per day)
- coffee & tea making facilities in the room (view room 323 here!)
- convenient location
- very friendly staff
- affordable prices
Location
Safestay London Elephant & Castle is located in South London, five minutes from the Elephant & Castle tube station (Bakerloo line/ Northern Line). There are several bus lines available as well.
You can see the following London landmarks within 6 stops of the hostel using the Underground: Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
Photo courtesy of Google Maps (Click to enlarge)
144-152 Walworth Road
Elephant & Castle
London SE17 1JL
+44 (0)20 7703 8000
"Safestay have managed to change how people view hostels."
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*Special thank you to Safestay for hosting Fashion Studio Magazine in September 2016.
More pictures from the vibrant Elephant & Castle area:
See you in South London! :)
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