I’m 6ft 3in – and spent the night in London’s tiniest hotel room

Finding a cheap place to stay in central London is no mean feat – unsurprisingly, the capital is the most expensive city in the country for hotels, with a night in a three-star hard to find for less than £100. However, Zedwell Hotels – which “transforms under-utilised buildings into thriving accommodation” – has recently unveiled its latest outpost in the heart of London, and it’s only £30 per night. The catch? You have to spend the night in a capsule.

Almost 1,000 'sleep capsules'

The group says that its Piccadilly Circus pod hotel is the world’s largest, with almost 1,000 “sleep capsules” stacked over five floors around the corner from its flagship property, which has revived the iconic Trocadero entertainment complex with sleek – windowless and tech-free – rooms. The capsule hotel takes the stripped-back principle a step further, bringing the Japanese-inspired pod experience to the capital’s lively West End with “rooms” that measure just 2m x 1m x 1m. So, standing at 6ft 3in, I decided to put the pods – which are marketed as an accessible way to stay in central London – to the test. (Photo: Lana Lanakieva)

Where is it?

Located in the heart of central London, metres from the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus, the hotel has carved out a portion of the run-down Trocadero. Leicester Square, Chinatown, Theatreland, Regent Street and Soho are all on the doorstep, and Piccadilly Circus Underground Station – with direct links to Heathrow, King’s Cross St Pancras and Charing Cross stations – is a minute’s walk away (the hotel has plans to open its own private entrance to the station). (Photo: Getty)

What are the rooms like?

The hotel experience feels almost dystopian. Yes, the word “room” may be doing some serious heavy-lifting, considering the pod’s snug dimensions, but the capsules offer a well-designed alternative to a bunk in a budget hostel dorm. Painted slate grey throughout, the hotel interior is in contrast to the bright lights outside – frankly, the only way to describe the experience is dark. LED strips light your path throughout the hotel, but the windowless and maze-like configuration makes the whole experience quite disorientating. Some may call it minimalist, but if you want a hotel that is architecturally engaging and sensorially stimulating, this is not one for you. However, what it may lack in aesthetic, it makes up for in function, with each oak-lined “cocoon” possessing everything a guest may need: a relatively comfortable mattress, Egyptian cotton bedding, self-controlled air conditioning, and ambient lighting, with shared bathrooms that are cleaned hourly. (Photo: Alex Lancaster-Lennox)

What are the good points?

As someone who has stayed plenty of hostels in Europe, South America and Australia, this is one of the best – far above the low personal bar set by a stray cat sat on my bunk in Argentina. To lock myself away in a capsule around the size of an Ikea single bed, in soundproofed privacy, was surprisingly luxurious, and the built-in charging ports were a bonus. Pods are stacked on top of each other like boxes with stair access and a shutter “door” that you can pull down for privacy. There are also female-only floors and the option to lock your pod from the inside, so from a personal safety standpoint, it was perfect. The Hypnos mattress was comfortable and I slept well.

Are there any downsides?

The set-up would not be advisable for guests with claustrophobia. With 999 potential fellow guests, and the possibility that you could be in a room with between eight and 100 capsules, the lack of luggage storage was a real oversight. There are no lockers, but reception can store a limited amount of luggage, charged at £15 per piece. When I left the room, I had the choice to bring my valuables with me or lock them away using my padlock on the capsule door. However, when it came to bedtime, instead of leaving my possessions outside the capsule, I was forced to spend the night spooning my rucksack. And despite what the products on offer in the vending machines might suggest, this place is designed for a solo stay, whether you’re 5ft 2in or 6ft 8in. (Photo: Lana Lanakieva)

What about food and drink?

For £30 a night, there’s no breakfast included, nor indeed any option to find any food or drinks on-site. There are plans, however, to expand with a food court at a later date. But with the best that Soho has to offer at your fingertips, finding something to eat at nearly any time of day isn’t a problem, and guests also have the option to use the café in the main Zedwell Hotel around the corner. Local institutions include Maison Bertaux for croissants and cakes and Bar Italia for round-the-clock coffee. (Photo: Miljko/Getty)

How much does it cost?

When a hotel in the centre of London is guaranteed to set you back north of £100 a night for somewhere which may not be as comfortable or hygienic as my pod, and a much less private hostel dorm bed costing more than £50 in the capital, Zedwell offers great value. For the price of four pints of Guinness in hyped pub The Devonshire (handily just a stumble away from the hotel), you can’t get much more bang for your buck in the big smoke. Capsules start at £30.60 per night, with a minimum two-night stay on Saturdays, and prices can go up to around £71 on high-demand dates. Did I sleep well? Yes. Did I feel claustrophobic? Not one bit. Did my feet stick out of the pod? Only a little bit. Would I stay again? Absolutely. Zedwell Capsule Hotel, Great Windmill St, London W1D 7DH. (Photo: John Lamb/Getty)