A colourful pod hotel in the heart of Soho

Finding somewhere affordable to sleep in central London isn't easy, which is exactly why Otherwander Soho exists. London studio SODA has turned a former backpacker hostel on Dean Street, near Oxford Street, into a capsule hotel with 566 sleeping pods, which the hotel calls nests.

The hotel was aimed at design-conscious Gen Z travellers, but SODA says people of all ages are now booking. The two early 20th-century buildings were kept and connected, and a poor post-war addition at the back was replaced with a brick extension that holds the fully accessible rooms and facilities. Its arched details take their cue from the Soho streets around it.

Inside, you check in with a QR code in a glossy white lobby called the Gallery. Beyond it is the Huddle, a warm social space with pink and green banquettes and a horseshoe-shaped neon bar. A staircase changes colour as it climbs five floors. The pods come in single and double widths, stacked in fours with built-in steps, and each has its own lighting, ventilation and sound insulation. Bathrooms are finished in terrazzo, with plenty of rain showers.

Colour also helps you find your way, and the lighting shifts from quiet weekday mornings to lively Friday nights.

Our summary of a story from Dezeen, published 27 September 2026. Read the original