How we created the best backpacker hostel in England

Wombat's Hostel

How we created the best backpacker hostel in England


Number of guests	640
Floor area added	300sqm (3,230 sqft)
Original Building	The Sailor's Home (built 1830)

Wombat’s is a popular new youth hostel on the edge of the City of London. An extensive refurbishment has brought additional space, a contemporary new identity and excellent new facilities to the building, which began life as a 19th century seaman’s mission and was more recently used as a homeless shelter.

The project has retained as much of the original fabric as possible while giving the building a lively new purpose and identity. The arrival area features scattered loose furniture and timber day beds arranged beneath suspended bookcases, creating a bright and informal space.

A large vaulted cellar houses a stylish café and bar, where restored and cleaned brick vaults provide a rich textured backdrop. Imaginatively designed lighting, and bespoke and vintage furniture create a warm and contemporary social space, with access to a refurbished external courtyard.

A simple yet elegant central staircase is now an attractive feature: the restored balustrade rises through the building and elements such as glazed bricks to landing windows have been retained.