How old do you have to be to stay in a hostel in London?

Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to stay in public dormitory accommodation and should be booked into a private room. Children who are ages 16 or over may stay in any accommodation. Groups of guests of mixed genders, who wish to stay in the same room, must book private accommodation.



In 2026, the age requirements for hostels in London vary, but the standard minimum age to book a bed in a shared dormitory is 18 years old. Most major hostel chains, such as St Christopher’s Inn or Wombat’s, strictly enforce this 18+ policy for solo travelers to comply with licensing and insurance regulations. If you are 16 or 17 years old, some hostels will allow you to stay, but only if you are accompanied by an adult (18+) and stay in a private room rather than a shared dorm. Some "youth hostels" associated with the YHA (Youth Hostels Association) are more flexible and allow 16 and 17-year-olds to stay in private rooms with parental consent, but they still generally bar minors from shared dormitories for safety reasons. Children under 16 must always be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and stay in private family rooms. It is a "pro" tip to always check the "House Rules" on the hostel's website before booking, as London hostels are very diligent about checking ID upon arrival and will deny entry to anyone under 18 who has booked a shared dorm bed.

People Also Ask

Age limits often come with party hostels that have a bar inside—they'll limit people who are under 16 (or sometimes 18) from staying there. Some hostels that want to keep a younger vibe with similarly aged guests will restrict to under 30 or 40, but these are becoming rarer. How do you know if a place has an age limit?

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There is no definitive answer to this question since hotel policies can vary. Some hotels may allow 17-year-olds to book a room, while others may require that guests be 18 years of age or older. It is always best to check with the hotel directly to inquire about their policies.

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While most hostels don't have age restrictions, some sites may be unsuitable for young children or guests with disabilities. It is always good to check beforehand by viewing the relevant hostel page. You must be 16 or over to stay in YHA accommodation without an adult.

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Can you stay in a hostel with kids? Yes, you can, many hostels today have private family rooms but a few “party” hostels do still only take guests over 18 years old.

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Across the YHA network, we have over 700 youth hostels in around 600 cities.

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Most hostels require that guests be at least 18 years old or they must be accompanied by a parent/guardian/chaperone. With the exception of the Bavarian region of Germany, there are no upper age restrictions at most hostels.

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Hostels are great places to meet people from all over the world. Although it is a common practice for parents to remind their children not to talk with strangers, allow your kids to interact with other guests or even with the staff. However, always keep an eye on them so you will know what is happening.

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In the UK, there is no law restricting hotel check-in ages, but most hotels require guests to be 18+. Some may allow 16-17 with parental consent.

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Where a person under the age of 18 is traveling alone, or with another person under 18 years of age, the hostel will require a document signed by a parent or legal representative acknowledging and authorising their stay in the hostel without an adult.

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If you're wondering if you're too old to stay in a hostel, you're not. Nobody is ever going to kick you out of a hostel because you're over 35, showing signs of ageing, or because you make a small “oof” sound when you slide your tired bones into bed. I've never been asked to confirm my age when checking into a hostel.

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