IN the middle of London is a new hotel that claims to be the largest of it’s kind in the world – and rooms are the cheapest in the capital.
Zedwell is one of the city’s newest hotels to open, right in the middle of Piccadilly Circus.
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Being so central, you can normally expect hotels to have high prices – the nearby Ritz and the W Hotel can command nightly rates of £500 or more.
Not Zedwell – the new hotel claims to be the world’s biggest capsule hotel, and with that, comes the small price of just £30 a night.
That definitely makes it the cheapest hotel room in the city (unless you want to bunk up in an 18-bed dorm).
Having opened last month, it sits directly above Piccadilly Circus Underground Station, so tourists would walk by without knowing this ultra trendy hotel was there.
With the door currently hidden under scaffolding, I almost missed it too.
But what is it really like to stay there?
Inside, decked out with a modern concrete and timber design, there are nearly 1,000 individual sleep capsules over five floors.
Guests use an iPad to self-check in, before being directed to one of the correct floor and room.
Each dorm needs a key card to access, too, so you can only enter the dorm you are assigned, which definitely makes it feel secure.
It’s a twist on the traditional ‘dorm style’ hostel set up as each guest gets privacy and security of being tucked up in your capsule, with the ability to lock it from the inside.
Choosing a female-only room (there are also male-only and mixed), each of the square pods were stacked with a top and bottom pod.
On first glance, the dorm rooms, which are minimalist and dimly-lit looked a bit like a car park or a storage locker.
It’s nothing like you’d expect a hotel room to look, so it takes some getting used to.
I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to sleep in a multi-story car park.
However, inside, I was surprised to find a cute little space, with mood lighting and welcoming interiors.
Each capsule is made from oak and come with a single Hypnos mattress, Egyptian cotton bedding, individual mini aircon or heat, smart climate control, noise reduction, and ambient lighting.
There is also a plug socket inside, two USB plugs and a mirror.
However, being a private pod ‘room’ means there isn’t much storage space – there are no room for suitcases inside.
I felt like a Sylvanian Family creature shutting themselves in my room
You have to leave them outside your capsule, so be sure to put your valuables in the pod when you lock it or take them with you.
If you want to leave your case at the hotel after you checkout, the hotel charges £15 to store them securely with them.
Make sure to bring your own padlock too, so you can lock your pod if you plan on going out (although reception let you buy them on-site as well).
There are clean common areas too, which felt more adult then teen-backpacker, which includes a lounge and co-working space.
I was impressed with how clean the communal bathroom and toilet area as well, with light jazz music playing overhead.
But the big question – how did I sleep?
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More used to a double bed than being boxed in by four walls, pulling the door down behind me feeling a little bit like a Sylvanian Family creature shutting themselves in a mini garage.
Surprisingly, it didn’t feel as claustrophobic as I thought it would – as a 5″5 woman, I was able to sit up and easily stretch my legs.
Even more surprisingly, I had a great night sleep, with no rowdy drunken people or loud talkers disturbing the peace.
I did get woken up once by someone opening up their dorm door at 4am.
With each pod door made from plastic and metal, it means they don’t open and close too quietly.
Aside from that, I couldn’t fault my stay. In fact, it was so quiet and dark, I actually slept in an hour later than I usually wake up.
The hotel itself felt very safe too, with a security guard on the door and someone in reception 24-hours a day, as well as CCTV on each floor.
And even outside, the central location means everything you need is on your doorstep, from the London’s West End to Chinatown.
It’s great for friendship groups or solo travellers or if you have a big night out in Soho planned and don’t want to get the tube home.
Halima Aziz, Head of Hotels at Criterion Hospitality said, “We are taking the capsule hotel concept to the next level, one that combines an exceptional location with a focus on simplicity, thoughtful design that balances accessibility with privacy and quality rest, right in the centre of the city.”
I hope the capsule concept takes off in London.
The city is crying out for affordable places to stay and for £30? It can’t be beaten.
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