The Steam Engine

8.4
Excellent
(1268 reviews)

41- 42 Cosser St, London SE1 7BU, United Kingdom

+44 20 7928 0720

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Hotel Description

The Steam Engine is a lively, vibrant hotel located in the heart of London at 41-42 Cosser St, London SE1 7BU, United Kingdom. Perfectly positioned for both tourists and business travelers, it’s just a 5-minute walk from Lambeth North Tube station, offering quick and easy access to public transport across the city. Guests will find themselves surrounded by London's buzzing Thameside arts scene, including famous cultural landmarks such as the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre, and the iconic London Eye Ferris wheel, all of which are just a short distance away. Its proximity to historic attractions such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace makes it an ideal base for exploring London's rich heritage. The design of The Steam Engine blends a traditional London pub atmosphere with modern, hip hostel-style accommodation. Whether you’re visiting for business or leisure, the hotel offers a relaxed and sociable vibe, ensuring a memorable stay for guests of all kinds.
The hotel offers a variety of room types, including mixed-gender dormitories that are both comfortable and practical. The no-frills rooms come equipped with free linens, Wi-Fi, and lockers for your personal belongings. Shared bathroom facilities ensure that guests have access to clean and convenient amenities throughout their stay. Despite the affordable prices, The Steam Engine maintains a high level of comfort, making it a great choice for travelers seeking simplicity and convenience. The hotel’s laid-back yet energetic atmosphere ensures that everyone feels right at home.
Special amenities at The Steam Engine include high-speed internet access, allowing guests to stay connected with ease. The continental breakfast, served daily, is included in the room rate and provides a convenient start to the day. Guests can also take advantage of the downstairs pub, which offers drinks 24/7, along with a classic British pub menu featuring juicy burgers and comforting pub grub. The pub is a popular social hub, complete with a pool table for added entertainment. For those seeking a more relaxed experience, the hotel’s smoke-free policy ensures a clean and fresh environment throughout the property.
For transportation, The Steam Engine offers excellent accessibility. The nearby Lambeth North Tube station provides quick connections to the rest of London, with the West End just a short ride away. For those traveling by air, the hotel is well-connected to major airports, with Heathrow Airport just a 52-minute taxi ride away, and London City Airport only 36 minutes by taxi. Public transit options are also available, with multiple lines running through the area, making it easy to reach popular destinations like Oxford Street, Covent Garden, and Soho.
The Steam Engine also places a strong emphasis on guest health and safety. The property adheres to strict safety protocols, ensuring that all guests enjoy a safe and secure stay. The hotel is a smoke-free environment, and there are no pets allowed, which helps maintain cleanliness and comfort for all guests.
Guests staying at The Steam Engine have a range of exciting things to do nearby. You can enjoy a visit to the world-renowned London Eye, just a 12-minute walk away, or explore the historic Westminster Abbey, located just 6 minutes away. For art lovers, the National Gallery, a 14-minute walk from the hotel, offers an impressive collection of Western European masterpieces. The hotel’s location also makes it easy to explore popular shopping districts, cultural sites, and world-class entertainment venues, including Covent Garden and Leicester Square.
A variety of highly rated restaurants are just steps from the hotel, offering a wide range of cuisines. From classic British fare to global flavors, there’s something for everyone. Nearby dining options include a cozy café offering freshly brewed coffee and light bites, a popular Indian restaurant known for its flavorful curries, and a trendy tapas bar serving delicious small plates. Whether you're in the mood for an elegant meal or a casual snack, the options around The Steam Engine are sure to satisfy.
The Steam Engine invites you to stay and experience all that London has to offer. Whether you’re here for a short stay or a longer visit, this charming and welcoming hotel provides the perfect home base for exploring one of the world's most exciting cities. Enjoy excellent service, comfortable rooms, and a vibrant location, all at an affordable price. Book your stay today and discover why The Steam Engine is the ideal choice for travelers visiting London.

The Most Outstanding Trait

1. 5-minute drive to the London Eye

2. 5-minute walk to nearest public transit

3. Guests praised the service and staff

4. One of the few hotels in the area with a restaurant

5. Guests frequently mentioned the quality of showers

6. Highly praised continental breakfast included

7. Enjoy vibrant nightlife and bar service

8. Smoke-free environment throughout the property

9. Wi-Fi access included in all rooms

10. No pets allowed, ensuring a clean stay


8.2 Excellent

Location rating

Top sights

lastminute.com London Eye
12 min
Big Ben
11 min
Westminster Abbey
6 min
The National Gallery
14 min
Buckingham Palace
11 min
See more Interesting locations

Good to know

Check-in14:00
Check-out10:00
Location rating8.2
Nearest airportLondon City Airport
Travel time to airport36 min

Nightly price (Only for reference price for sample day)

Check-in: Thu, Dec 05
Check-out: Fri, Dec 06
    Booking.com

    $72

    Hostelworld

    $73


Location

41- 42 Cosser St, London SE1 7BU, United Kingdom

Airports:

Heathrow Airport

Taxi: 52 min

Transit: 54 min

London City Airport

Taxi: 36 min

Transit: 44 min

London Luton Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 16 min

Transit: 1 hr 27 min

London Stansted Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 7 min

Transit: 1 hr 34 min

London Gatwick Airport

Transit: 1 hr 14 min

Taxi: 1 hr 23 min

London Southend Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 17 min

Transit: 1 hr 39 min

Transit:

Old Street

Taxi: 21 min

Walking: 1 hr 3 min

Charing Cross

Taxi: 10 min

Walking: 31 min

Waterloo

Taxi: 5 min

Walking: 18 min

Bond Street

Taxi: 22 min

Walking: 56 min

Tottenham Court Road

Taxi: 15 min

Walking: 46 min


Nearby locations

8.2

Excellent Location

South Bank

Thameside arts scene with Southbank Centre, National Theatre & London Eye Ferris wheel.

Top Attractions


Amenities and Facilities

Services

Front desk

Pets

No pets

Policies & payments

Smoke-free property

Food & drink

Restaurant

Bar

Breakfast

Wellness

No fitness center

No spa

Internet

Wi-Fi

Pools

No pools

No hot tub

Rooms

No air conditioning


Reviews

100% reviews from partners and customers booking on Dinogo

8.4

10 reviews

Wonderful
4
Excellent
4
Good
2
Below Average
0
Not Good
0
Cover Image for Kul RN

Kul RN

5/5
Two nights 8/24-8/25, I recently stayed at the Steam Engine Hostel and had a fantastic experience. I arrived late at night, and although I was tired from my journey, the night shift staff member (possibly named Demetrius) made the check-in process seamless and stress-free. He went above and beyond to help me settle in, showing exceptional kindness and compassion, which I will never forget.The rooms were clean and comfortable, making my stay even more pleasant. Overall, the Steam Engine Hostel provided a welcoming and hospitable environment. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great place to stay!

Cover Image for Benjamin Chen

Benjamin Chen

4/5
This is a pretty typical hostel—the rooms are very compact, shared with a lot of people, small beds, and noise/light control are difficult to control as a result. But its location is unbeatable! I needed a place within walking distance to the Imperial War Museums and central London tourist attractions that could store my luggage, and The Steam Engine is excellent for that.All in all it was a good experience, and the staff was very nice and helpful. Note that if you don't bring your own towel, you'll need to rent or buy one!

Cover Image for Marie Köhler

Marie Köhler

5/5
We had a great time staying at the steam engine. It's a cute hostel and the people working there are so so nice and helpful! We felt very welcome :) Plus the food is amazing and the very large english breakfast is indeed very large but adds perfectly to the london experience. Special thanks to Daniel and Amy who were very kind and did a great job helping us!

Cover Image for Ria Macha

Ria Macha

5/5
I booked this for a birthday, due to an activity nearby. The staff were incredibly helpful and accommodating, polite and humane throughout. I booked the outdoor space for the group and it was such a good space for a group of up to 20. We had so much fun. We brought a speaker, the garden had heaters and cover from the rain. Well considered space. And the staff! Such chill people. Stored a huge birthday cake for us, read the instructions and took it out of fridge at the right time before serving it. They provider everything I asked for! Even a spatula! The devil is in the detail when it comes to customer service and I appreciate the service we got. The staff here are really lovely people. The food was also good and good prices!

Cover Image for Isaura Font

Isaura Font

3/5
I spend one night in the hostel/pub. The place is nice and the pub is opened 24/7. The services changes quite frequently, some of the people are nicer than others. The rooms are quite busy and smelly, due to the amount of people inside, but the furniture is quite new. The shared toilets are okish (without any toilet paper and as the showers are inside the same room the floor is permanently soaked.

G

Gurzint

4/5
+Location is great, staff and beds were alright.

Cover Image for Lyssa Horney

Lyssa Horney

4/5
Stayed here for 5 nights with my boyfriend in September of 2024. We had an averagely good experience, but didn’t expect much as we definitely booked based on location (5 min walk from the tube) and rates at the time we looked for a place to stay (about 3 months in advance of travel).It was honestly “just fine”. They have Hot showers that go on forever, daily cleaning from a lovely attendant, food and drinks are available 24/7, and they have some pretty cool staff! Grace especially stood out with her consistent professionalism, genuine smile, and warm energy. . . Even when I was bit clueless and accidentally made her job harder, she was a standup guy. Truly Ace! There was also a blonde woman with glasses who was a joy to interact with, though I regret I didn’t get her name as I didn’t see her after she checked us in our first day.However, here are some details that may actually be important to you: we saw many guests of all ages, including young adults with their parents, etc, so it’s an age-inclusive hostel, which I think is great! However, I’m only 28 and the bunk beds in room one threw my back out after the first night. . . Which isn’t something I struggle with. The mattresses bore the pronounced impressions of many MANY *heavy* bodies sleeping on them. . . Or they were just old af. 🤣 in addition to that, the bathroom floor is literally always wet because of the showers, and you have to make sure there is soap and paper *before* you go (made that mistake too many times 😮‍💨) because they only get tended 1x/day. The pub is the only common space to *chill*, beside your bunk, but they have board games, music, and food available always (plus drinks!)I’m sure it would be the perfect spot for some, for us, it was a warm bed with a safe place to keep our things as we caught as many rush tickets in the West End that we could. All in all, I’d stay there again (but on a different bunk/mattress), but as an introverted person who doesn’t consume alcohol anymore, I’d prefer a place with a communal kitchen, lounge, or some such quieter place to interact with other guests.(Unrelated to the hostel, buuuuuut advice for theater goers: Screw TodayTix, just go to the box office of the show you want to see 1hr before the performance time and ask what tix they have left. If you’re willing to sit by yourself, you can get even better deals than the last minute tix they want to sell.)

Cover Image for Alexander Jacobson

Alexander Jacobson

5/5
Great place in every way for the money you’re paying. Staff is wonderful, food is good. Rooms are what they are, a dorm is a door. Location great, 20min walk to main attractions etc.

Room 5

Service 5

Location5

Cover Image for Meghan

Meghan

4/5
Definitely rate this place!! Really friendly especially Daniel who I've had on both nights around 11 onwards and I've had a really hard time with partner in hospital nearby but he's been super kind and helpful and it's really good value for a hostel this central, rainfall shower?!! That's luxury. Bed cosy enough and all clean- I've had some nightmare hostels so thisnhas been the perfect spot for getting that needed rest! Wooo go Daniel and the team for being great. (Also great drinks options!)

Cover Image for GL F

GL F

3/5
Positive: Location is perfect, close to the subway. Staff at the reception/bar were nice. Comfortable mattress and pilow. There is an outlet with usb to charge cellphone on each bed. The pub downstairs is really nice.Negative: GIRLS AND BOYS SHARE THE SAME WASHING ROOM (SHOWER AND RESTROOM) I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS IN ANY HOSTEL I HAD BEEN IN MY LIFE!!!! My blanket was smelling bad as if it was washed without soap. The iron room lockers were pretty small and noisy. Too much light inside the room coming from the windows. The 3 bed bunckers are smal between them and the highest was so hard to go up and go down. There was no air conditioner, just a couple of fans on the floor. If you want to turn on the lights, you have only 2 option: or you turn on the entire room or not. There was no outlet in the bathroom. The washing room was disgusting and stinking, the sink was clogged and is so small. The sink drain was disgusting. No breakfast included.Conclusion: Only to sleep for 2 nights maximum is fine. What makes the hostels a better environment are the people and I wasnt lucky. But they MUST to improve cleaning and put some rules and chek them in the room and bathroom.