The room where the tents are located (Picture: Jam Press/Airbnb)
Ever wondered how to combine the rustic charm of camping with the hustle and bustle of London?
Just head to Airbnb, where you can rent a tent in a living room for £68 a night.
The basic accommodation in Soho’s Chinatown is described as ‘convenient to anywhere’, offering the ‘best location’ for those who stay.
Its listing reads: ‘You won’t forget your time in this romantic, memorable place.’
And while we’re inclined to agree that you’ll likely remember a stay here for a long time, the romantic element is up for debate.
Photos show an open plan kitchen/living room with three small tents lined up in a row, each of which can house up to two people (although it’ll likely be a tight squeeze).
Guests pay up to £68 a night for their festival-style lodgings – including a shared bathroom and kitchen – with longer stays taking the price down to £38 or £1,140 for 30 days.
That does make it cheaper than most other options in the area. A night in a hotel in Soho starts at around £80, while the average rent in London was £2,501 a month in April 2023, according to Rightmove.
But you’re effectively paying for the location rather than any privacy or luxury, and the property’s proximity to Leicester Square station and the theatre district might not be enough to convince you to sleep in such close quarters to strangers.
Given you can get a private room at Hub by Premier Inn for £26 less, it may be worth going slightly further afield.
There are also some extra stipulations on guests in the tents, which are in the communal area of a building where multiple rooms are advertised as holiday lets.
Under ‘other things to note’, the Airbnb post says: ‘The time of shower is arranged only after 10am usually every day.’ Plus, you’ll be be watched by surveillance cameras, placed directly above the tents ‘to protect the luggage and safety’ of other guests.
However you will have access to WiFi, a dedicated workspace, air conditioning, a washing machine and a hairdryer, so it’s not all bad.
Reviews for the place are somewhat mixed, despite the host maintaining a 4.42* rating.
Renaud, who stayed in October 2023 commented: ‘It’s cheap (you’re sleeping in a tent), but it’s clean, and very well located. Worth it if you’re on a budget.’
Also heaping on the praise was Lalaine, who said: ‘I really liked the tent that was assigned to me because it felt I was in safe campground with privacy. I will definitely rebook on my next visit.’
In the opposite camp (tent pun), a reviewer called Alethea wrote: ‘Expect poor privacy staying in the tents obviously, and loud street noise/other guests walking by your tent throughout the night.
‘The bedsheet of the mattress in the tent was disappointingly dirty with strands of hair perhaps from the previous occupants, and a lot of dirt that I had to dust away, but duvet and mattress was comfy.’
Another user named Giacomo called out the host after he and his friend had to sleep in the same tent due to the other two being occupied, saying: ‘The tent was small and it was not designed to host two people. It was like two people sleeping in a single bed!
‘The room was dirty and not safe because there was no key to lock the door, so anyone was able to step into our room. There was not a shower in the bathroom, so we were not able to take a shower whenever we wanted because we had to go into a guest’s private room.
‘Even in the worst hostel, I was able to take a shower whenever I wanted to and to sleep in a decent bed.’
The host replied: ‘I feel disappointed with your reviews and misunderstanding your booking. In our information and introduction, we already indicated that taking a shower is sharing with other guests in a confirmed time and appointment ahead, and the size of the tent is 120CM X 200CM which could be stay for two people.’
It’s fair to say this isn’t exactly The Ritz, but with the increasing price of London rooms, it may be the only option that fits your budget. Just make sure to bring your earplugs…