Although you rarely hear about hostels in the United States, they are very popular over the big pond and tend to be chosen more over bed and breakfast places and big hotels. In a hostel, you generally are renting out the bed you sleep in and a small area for yourself while you share a bathroom and other facilities with whoever else is staying there. Essentially it is a dorm room type living situation for anyone who chooses to stay. These are much more popular in east London due to the fact that they are incredibly affordable and easy to get in to. Some tourists only stay in an area for a day or two, so by staying in a hostel, you can pay much less for your bed area and not have to spend a whole bunch of money on a hotel room with amenities and accommodations for just one or two nights.
For tourists traveling the world, saving as much money as they can on different things is crucial. Hostels are much more popular amongst the people who are money conscious and need to budget more wisely. Even though they may not seem very safe or clean, they actually are the more popular choice among people because of the company and social aspect. Running into obstacles in a hostel can happen but for the most part, people are very respectful and aware of their boundaries and lines. Hostels can be considered the more liberated type of sleeping arrangement when compared to hotels and bed and breakfast places, but they are still extremely popular.
You need to have great social skills or be very people oriented if you are willing to stay in a hostel in east London. They are not meant for privacy but are meant for socializing and enjoying other people’s company. It is a great way for you to get to know other people who may be doing the same tourist thing that you are doing. East London is a great place for exploring and discovering new lifestyles and ways of life. Staying in a hostel is just another way to see how other people live and experience new cultures with them. They allow strangers to leave as acquaintances and acquaintances to become across world friends who will hopefully meet again in the future, on another exploration of new worlds and areas.