Europe’s largest independently owned hostel chain a&o Hostels has confirmed the acquisition of the former DoubleTree by Hilton Docklands Riverside, marking the company’s first London property and its third in the UK. The new site will officially open as a&o London Docklands Riverside in November 2025, with bookings now available through the group’s official channels.

The property, originally a 17th-century dockland building, sits on the banks of the Thames directly opposite Canary Wharf in Southwark. Guests will have access to a complimentary electric river cab service linking the hotel to Canary Wharf, with connections to London landmarks including Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace. The location is also less than a mile from Canary Wharf Underground station, offering connectivity via the Jubilee and Elizabeth Lines, and just 30 minutes from London City Airport.

The new property will operate as a hotel and comprises three connected buildings, offering 500 rooms and 2,100 beds. A gradual refurbishment programme will begin in January 2026, with an investment of £21 million (€25 million) planned to modernise and convert the historic site, while keeping the hotel open for guests during the process.

Oliver Winter, Founder and CEO of a&o Hostels, commented:
“London is simply a city you have to experience. It represents a deep history, a fierce energy and an incredible internationalism rarely found elsewhere. The opening of our first location here is a real statement for a&o, as a leading destination for travellers, families, school groups and groups of friends. It was at the top of our list as we look to provide value driven accommodation to youth travellers, groups, families and solo guests in an otherwise expensive city.”

He added:
“This acquisition is the result of an intensive and purposeful selection process. It signals that a&o is present at the highest level in the best cities in Europe, with strong partners and a clear focus on sustainable growth.”

The site’s facilities will include double, family and multi-bed rooms with natural daylight and en-suite bathrooms, a Riverside Bar with views of the city skyline, and underground parking with around 50 spaces.

With the acquisition of the London property, a&o now operates 44 hostels across 30 cities and ten countries, offering around 30,000 beds. The group, founded in 2000, continues to expand with the support of StepStone Group and Proprium Capital Partners, who have allocated €500 million for growth, modernisation and new openings. Recent acquisitions include sites in Milan, with future targets named as Glasgow, Dublin, Manchester, Paris, Madrid and Lisbon.

a&o’s core audience includes school groups, families and individual city travellers, with groups accounting for more than half of its customer base. In 2024, the company welcomed 2.8 million guests across its portfolio with 6.2 million overnight stays, and preliminary figures for 2025 suggest continued strong growth with 1.15 million guests recorded by May.

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