Zedwell Capsule Hotel, the UK's largest capsule hotel, has opened above Piccadilly Circus, offering more than 1,000 guests nightly stays in oak-lined pods stacked five floors high. Prices start from £30 per night, a bargain compared to typical central London hotel rates. The Grade II-listed London Pavilion building, formerly home to Ripley's Believe It or Not, now houses a minimalist sleep experience that prioritizes quiet and darkness over traditional hotel amenities.
Check-in and first impressions
Check-in is entirely self-service via kiosks, with guests responsible for syncing their key card to their capsule number. The corridors are dim and labyrinthine, with a faintly eerie atmosphere. Dorms range from four to 100 capsules, mixed by default, though a female-only floor costs roughly £10 extra per night. Zedwell notes this premium covers perks like an in-pod towel and a women-only beauty room with hairdryers; no men-only version exists.
The capsule experience
Each capsule, which Zedwell calls a 'Cocoon', is wood-lined with a Hypnos mattress, Egyptian cotton bedding, and a roll-down shutter. It is roomy enough to sit up and stretch out. Amenities include a plug socket, USB port, light switch, and air-con control. Wi-Fi is good. However, there is no in-pod storage; small bags fit beside the bed, but larger items require paid luggage lockers. The darkness is absolute—no windows anywhere—which helps guests sleep past sunrise. Pods are not soundproof, but a considerate hush prevails after midnight. Guests should note that a padlock for the external shutter costs £8 from reception if forgotten, and towels are £5 extra depending on the rate.
Facilities and location
Communal bathrooms are efficient and clean, with rows of sinks and shower cubicles with changing areas and lockable doors. Zedwell body wash is provided. Facilities include two lounges—a quiet ground-floor one for working and an underground lobby with the Zedwell Bar—plus a café, co-working desks, and a gym in the sister hotel basement. No under-18s are allowed. The hotel sits above Piccadilly Circus, with Theatreland, Leicester Square, Regent Street, and the National Gallery nearby, yet the windowless pods block out all noise. Time Out's tip: bring a towel and padlock to save £13, enough for a pint and bao in Soho.
