Seeing London on a Shoestring This Summer

In the London area this summer, more than 300 single rooms are available in student residences for about $18.50 a night through the Youth Hostel Assn. of England and Wales. London, in addition, has six youth hostels offering shared accommodations.

The residences include:

--About 140 single rooms and 30 double rooms at the White Hart Lane school between mid-July and Aug. 31. Contact All Saints Hall of Residence, White Hart Lane, London N17, telephone 081-885-8324.

--Between mid-July and mid-September, 190 single rooms will be available at Wood Green Halls of Residence, Brabant Road, London N22, phone 081-881-4432.

Reservations for White Hart Lane and Wood Green Residence hostels can be made through Hamstead Heath Youth Hostel at 4 Wellgarth Road, London NWN 7HR, phone 081-458-9054.

Hamstead Heath is one of the permanent hostels in which travelers can expect to share a room with several others of the same sex. Although this means less privacy, the advantage is that it’s an ideal environment in which to meet other young travelers and share experiences and information. (The nightly rate for seniors in the world of youth travel, 21 and older, is about $24.)

Other London hostels:

--The King George VI Memorial Youth (also known as Holland House), Holland Walk, Kensington, phone 071-937-0746, has 186 beds available for $28 per night.

--Earl’s Court Youth Hostel offers 131 beds in an old town house at 38 Bolton Gardens, London SW5 0AQ, phone 071-373-7083. Cost for youths is about $22 per night; seniors, $24.

--Oxford Street Youth Hostel at about $30 per night for small rooms may not appear to be a bargain, but considering that it has a central location, it can be a most comfortable option for the jet-lagged budget traveler.

It’s on the top three floors of a modern building at 14-18 Noel St., London W1 1PD, phone 075-734-1618. Rooms are shared by a maximum of four people, and the hotel is limited to 87 guests. If you call from the airport, a bed can be saved. Reception is open until 11 p.m.

--Highgate Hostel, located in a Georgian House, 94 Highgate, West Hill, phone 081-340-1831, is the only YHA hostel that still imposes an evening curfew. It’s in a traditional London village, about a 30-minute ride from the city center. Youths pay about $17 per night, seniors $19. The doors close at midnight.

--Carter Lane Youth Hostel is scheduled to open in August after refurbishing. Located in a Victorian building, it was once the home and school for the choirboys of St. Paul’s Cathedral. It’s at 36 Carter Lane, London EC4V 5AD, phone 071-236-4965. Youths pay about $28 a night, seniors $30.

At the London youth hostels, the charge is about $1.85 less for youths under 21 years. Another $1.85 can be saved if the stay is before June 1.

Most hostels have added currency-exchange facilities to their services. Currency-exchange services are available at Center Lane, Earl’s Court, Hamstead Heath, Holland House and Oxford Street hostels.

Call and check the availability and location of rooms, however, before lugging packs to any residence or youth hostel. Beds can be reserved over the telephone with a Visa credit card for most British hostels. Writing is OK, but if you don’t make a reservation with seven days’ notice, and you don’t include your first night’s payment, a bed will be held only until 6 p.m. And if a booking is received at a youth hostel already booked, your reservation will be transferred to another London youth hostel.

The British Tourist Authority has free copies of “Young Britain,” a 32-page information and accommodation guide for young visitors. Its topics include study and exchange programs, transportation discounts, work opportunities, entertainment and budget accommodations in hotels, hostels, student residences and religious centers. For copies, contact the British Tourist Authority, 350 S. Figueroa St., Suite 450, Los Angeles 90071, (213) 628-3525.

Although youth hostels and student-style dormitory hotels often offer the cheapest accommodations for young travelers, if sharing a room with others is not an ideal situation, then bed and breakfast establishments may be an alternative.

In addition to being economical, the B&Bs; give youths an opportunity to live like the locals--in a home. But be prepared to share a bathroom and pay higher prices in and near big cities.

In some B&Bs;, such as those in the English countryside, breakfast can be a full meal, including eggs, bacon, toast, jam and tea or coffee. In big cities such as London, breakfast may be limited to toast, jam and a hot beverage.

Guidebooks and local tourist offices can be good sources for finding inexpensive B&Bs.; In small villages, ask local business people about B&Bs; in their towns. Get names at grocery stores or even bakeries.

In London, arrange to stay in a bed and breakfast through the British Travel Center, 12 Regent St., near Piccadilly Circus. There is, however, a booking fee of at least $6. Rates available through the Travel Center start at about $31 to $51 per person, per night, for a single.

Or contact Alma Tourist Services. They represent about 50 homes, mainly in southwest London, and offer lodgings for about $25 per person, double occupancy, and about $31 single. All lodgings are within walking distance of the subway. The trip to central London takes about 25 minutes.

Alma Tourist Services is at 10 Fairway, West Wimbledon, London SW20 9DN.