Barmy Badger Backpackers
Old-school Earls Court backpackers with a garden, BBQ, and genuinely cheap beds
Wonderful
1,548 reviews
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Compare prices for Barmy Badger Backpackers in London
65%
Solo travelers
86%
Would stay again
72%
Made friends here
4 nights
Avg. stay
Our Honest Take
From the Hostelpedia team. No BS, just real advice
Barmy Badger is the antidote to corporate hostels. It's in a beautiful old Earls Court building, it has a garden with a BBQ, and it costs £20/night with free breakfast in London. That's almost unheard of. The female-only dorm (rare at this price point) is consistently praised as comfortable and safe. The tradeoff: facilities are basic, the building is old, and it's not a party hostel. If you want daily events and bar crawls, look at the Onefam hostels. If you want a clean, quiet, affordable base with a garden to decompress after a day of museums, Barmy Badger delivers. Earls Court is perfectly located for the South Kensington museums (Natural History, V&A, Science Museum are all free and 15 minutes away on foot).
🎯 Insider Tips
- 1Free breakfast saves you £5-8/day. Actually eat it.
- 2The Natural History Museum, V&A, and Science Museum are all free and within a 15-minute walk. That's three world-class museums for £0.
- 3Earls Court has decent pubs on Old Brompton Road. Skip the tourist restaurants on Earls Court Road.
- 4Cromwell Road buses go straight to Knightsbridge and the West End. Often faster than the Tube for short hops.
🔥 Why We Love It
£20/night with free breakfast in central London. The math speaks for itself.
BBQ terrace and garden. A genuine outdoor space, not a fire escape with chairs.
Historic building with character. High ceilings, period features, a real London house.
Female-only dorm available at budget prices. Consistently praised as clean and safe.
Daily housekeeping. Clean common areas are not a given at this price.
📖 The Full Story
Barmy Badger occupies a historic building on Longridge Road in Earls Court, London's traditional backpacker quarter. The building has character that purpose-built hostels can't replicate: high ceilings, creaky stairs, and a garden terrace that feels like someone's back yard rather than a commercial outdoor space.
The BBQ terrace and sun deck are the social centerpiece. During summer, the garden is where travelers actually hang out, cook together, and share stories. The shared kitchen is well-maintained with daily housekeeping (unusual for budget hostels), and the lounge has the worn-in feel of a place where people genuinely relax.
Earls Court Tube is a four-minute walk, giving you Piccadilly and District line access. The Natural History Museum, V&A, and Science Museum are all within 15 minutes on foot. Cromwell Road buses connect you to Knightsbridge and central London. The area has solid pubs and affordable restaurants, plus a Tesco Express for kitchen supplies.
At £20/night with free breakfast, Barmy Badger is one of London's genuine budget options. It's not flashy, not social-media-friendly, and the building shows its age. But it's clean (reviews consistently confirm this), the staff are helpful, and the garden makes it feel like a home base rather than a transit point.
✨ The Vibes
💬 What Travelers Say
Shreyasri
🇮🇳 India · April 2026
“Host was very nice and courteous! One of the few hostels with a female-only dorm which was comfortable. Room had enough space for luggage.”
Joan
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · April 2026
“Clean and quiet. Staff were friendly and helpful. Bunks comfortable. Bathroom was great, clean and a good shower pressure.”
Rihan
🇨🇦 Canada · April 2026
“Restrooms were newly renovated and clean. Free breakfast and easy check-in/check-out. Great value.”
Amanda
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · April 2026
“Staff are always friendly, helpful and approachable. Room was clean with fresh linen. Good location for Earls Court.”
📍 What's Nearby
Earls Court Tube Station
4 min walk
Natural History Museum
15 min walk
Victoria & Albert Museum
15 min walk
Science Museum
15 min walk
Tesco Express
3 min walk
Old Brompton Road Pubs
5 min walk
📋 House Rules
- •Check-in from 13:30 to 23:00 (notify arrival time)
- •Check-out by 10:00
- •Adults only (18+)
- •No smoking inside
- •Quiet hours from 23:00
- •ID required at check-in
From
$20/night
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Room Types
10-Bed Mixed Dorm
$20
Budget mixed dorm with locker and shared bathroom.
1 person (10 per room)
6-Bed Mixed Dorm
$25
Smaller mixed dorm with more space.
1 person (6 per room)
4-Bed Female Dorm
$28
Female-only room, clean and quiet.
1 person (4 per room)
Private Double Room
$75
Private room with shared bathroom.
2 persons
🏠 Amenities
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