COUCHSURFING IN LONDON ULTIMATE GUIDE
If you’re the type of tourist who wants to live like a local, eat like a local, and even sleep like a local, then why not dabble in the Couchsurfing universe during your next trip to London?
With over 4.8 million members in more than 200 different countries, Couchsurfing.org helps connects travellers who are looking for a free place to crash while they explore a city or country. Free hospitality networks and free tours are incredible ways to save money and meet locals while abroad. With over 230,000 Couchsurfing hosts in London to choose from, visitors in London can easily find a free place to sleep after a day of sightseeing, whether it be on a couch in a Soho flat, or even a private room in Greenwich.
To some the idea of sleeping on a stranger’s couch may seem daunting, but to avid Couchsurfers, sometimes staying in a stranger’s house is safer than staying in a shared dorm room of a hostel, or even a budget hotel in a sketchy London neighbourhood!
Nevertheless, if you’re concerned about how to stay safe when Couchsurfing in London, or even if you’re new to Couchsurfing and you don’t know where to begin, here are some tips on how to Couchsurf in London:
A rough guide to Couchsurfing in London
Besides having a free place to crash while you explore London, Couchsurfing is a great way to meet locals in London who will give you great tips on how to get around London, save money on transportation costs, and even take you out to various pubs, restaurants or cafes in the area as well.
Some hosts have Couchsurfers staying at their home every week, or even up to ten people at a time. Other hosts will offer to cook you meals, or give you keys to their house if they plan on leaving for a few days, however this isn’t always the case. Most of the time hosts will even join you for a fun night out in London, while other hosts simply offer you a bed to crash and then go about their business while you stay in their home. Regardless of what type of host they are, normally people offering their homes on Couchsurfing.org tend to be open-minded travellers who are interested in helping out another traveller as they tour around their hometown.
To find a Couchsurfing spot in London, you will need to sign up for a profile on Couchsurfing.org. Currently, Couchsurfing requires all members to have an active paid subscription, which costs $2.39 per month or $14.29 per year. Once you have an active subscription, you’ll be able to search for different Couchsurfing listings in and around London and send messages to specific hosts. Once you have an account, you can also verify your profile, which can increase your chances of receiving a quick and positive response from hosts.
You can always create a Public Trip on Couchsurfing.org with more information about the dates you’re hoping to stay in London. Your post will then be made public to various hosts in London who may contact you. However, if you’re new to Couchsurfing, chances are you won’t have much success doing this until you’ve received a few positive reviews and references.
Hosts prefer when users write personalized messages with more information about themselves and why they want to visit their city or country. Copying and pasting generic introduction messages to several different hosts is discouraged in the Couchsurfing community. When writing your message, try to be as detailed and specific as possible about your future trip. Also, try to contact the host well in advance (up to 7 to 15 days, or even more), as some hosts won’t respond to last-minute requests.
Typically, it takes several back-and-forth messages for the host to agree to your stay. After agreeing, the two of you will then discuss when and where to meet. Don’t be offended if the host doesn’t provide you with their address beforehand, as this is normally for safety measures.
Usually, hosts allow you to use their kitchen to cook your own food (and it's a nice gesture to offer to cook for the host as well). It’s common courtesy to bring a gift for your host, and offering to help clean their home can show your gratitude.
However, it’s important to note that Couchsurfing can sometimes be a long and drawn-out process. Hosts may cancel at the last minute or take days, weeks, or even months to respond to your request, especially in a large city like London where they receive many requests daily. If it’s your first time Couchsurfing in London, it may be a good idea to start your search weeks in advance for a successful and enjoyable experience.
Another great way to meet other travelers and locals is by attending Couchsurfing meetups. These gatherings are organized by the Couchsurfing community and take place regularly in many cities, including London. By joining these events, you can make new friends, find travel companions, and get tips about the city. Attending meetups can also help you build your profile and gather reviews.
Where to Couchsurf in London
There are tons of Couchsurfing options in London to choose from, ranging from a pull-out couch in a Soho apartment, to your own private bedroom in a house in Shoreditch.
Normally the majority of London Couchsurfing hosts tend to live outside of the city centre where the rent is much cheaper, and even if you luck out and find a host in central London, it is usually more competitive to stay with them as chances are they’re receiving tons of requests on a daily basis. Therefore, you will probably have better luck finding a host living outside of central London, such as in neighbourhoods like Greenwich, Clapham, Hoxton or somewhere south of the River Thames.
How to stay safe when Couchsurfing in London
Normally reputable hosts will have several (or more) reviews by past Couchsurfers who have stayed with them before, so always keep an eye out for any hints that the person isn’t all they match up to be. Normally the rule of thumb is that if the host has around 30 friends/connections on the website along with 15 vouches, chances are your London Couchsurfing experience will be a positive one.
The biggest red flags when it comes to finding a Couchsurfing host in London would be if there’s any negative reviews (or no reviews at all), and whether the host is trying to sell or promote something in their profile. If you are a solo female traveller, it might be a wise idea to avoid male hosts altogether and stick with women hosts (most of whom only offer their home to female travellers anyways). If you do decide to stay with a male host, it wouldn’t hurt to write a friendly message stating what your intentions are so they don’t get the wrong message, and that way you can avoid any awkward situations during your stay.
Once you have confirmed that you are going to stay with a host, make sure you make an official request and/or a logged invitation so that the website knows when and where you’ll be Couchsurfing in London. You could always tell a friend or family member where you’re staying, as well as any extra information about the host (provided that your loved ones don’t contact them unless it’s an emergency, of course).
Sometimes hosts offer to pick you up at a police station or a safe meeting point like a restaurant, cafe or tourist attraction to help you feel more at ease. Be aware that it’s not uncommon for hosts to not show up, so you should always have a back up plan, just in case.
And remember, just because you’ve confirmed that you’re staying with someone doesn’t mean that you’re obliged to do so. As a matter of fact, it’s not uncommon for hosts/Couchsurfers to not show up at a meeting point, so don’t ever feel like you’re being rude by backing out at the last minute (your safety comes first, always!)
And last, but certainly not least, even if a host has a ton of positive reviews, if something is telling you that the host isn’t all they’re cracked up to be, then always go with your gut instinct.
If you are looking for affordables ways to travel, you might want to join some of the free tours in London that depart daily.