1974
It all began with a simple walk through Holland Park.
Alan Rivers and his then-business partner, Simon Lofts, noticed something striking: backpackers everywhere, sitting in doorways with nowhere to stay. And so, Astor Hostels was born.
A Story of Adventure, Growth, and Giving Back: The Astor Hostels Journey
It all began in 1974, with a simple walk through Holland Park. Alan Rivers and his then-partner, Simon Lofts, noticed something striking: backpackers everywhere, sitting in doorways, with nowhere to stay.
That’s when the idea struck: why not open the first independent youth hostel? And just like that, a dream was born.‘With the UK in recession and the property market at a standstill, we thought, “Why not?”’ Alan recalls. ‘Honestly, we didn’t have a clue what we were doing, but that was all part of the fun!’ Fast forward to 1976, and Astor Hostels was thriving, with four locations and nearly 1,000 beds full of adventurous travellers.
Over the next five decades, Astor Hostels became a cornerstone of backpacking culture in London, having occupied more than 30 sites across West and Central London and even running a 600-bed summer hostel in Portugal, where they transformed a school into a buzzing traveller’s haven.
Now, the story continues with Alex Rivers, Alan’s son, taking the reins and carrying the Astor legacy into the next generation. ‘I grew up surrounded by the Astor crew, with roaring parties and unforgettable characters,’ Alex shares. His vision is clear: to grow the company and expand the ever-growing community of people who’ve stayed, worked, and made memories at Astor Hostels.
But Astor is more than just hostels. In 1999, Alan felt it was time to give back. He founded the Rivers Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults around the world. From providing social, health, and educational support to helping disadvantaged kids in the UK, Kenya, Vietnam, Thailand, Brazil, and Colombia, the Rivers Foundation has made a lasting impact.
Astor Hostels isn’t just a place to stay; it’s a community, a legacy, and a movement of kindness and adventure. Whether you’re a traveller passing through or someone looking to make a difference, there’s always room for you in the Astor story.
How about joining us on this incredible journey?
It all began with a simple walk through Holland Park.
Alan Rivers and his then-business partner, Simon Lofts, noticed something striking: backpackers everywhere, sitting in doorways with nowhere to stay. And so, Astor Hostels was born.
The era of big hair, shoulder pads, and raucous rebellion.
With Madonna, David Bowie, and Sting as the soundtrack, the possibilities felt endless. Astor Hostels was thriving, expanding to include Astor Victoria and Astor Kensington.
"If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends!" Guests from around the world flocked to our London hostels to soak up the Britpop phenomenon, maybe even stopping by Covent Garden to pick up the hottest band tees.
The world didn’t end with Y2K it only just began. Astor Hostels continued to grow, opening our Hyde Park location in 2007. A perfect base for exploring the buzzing streets of 2000s London.
While Instagram and Facebook were taking off, we kept inspiring real life adventures and authentic connections. With the addition of Astor York, we became the go to spot for backpackers looking to feel at home on the road.
A challenging year for all. Amid the global pandemic, we held onto hope for brighter days ahead. We adapted to new ways of living, found strength in our communities, and discovered resilience we never knew we had.
Astor Hostels turned 50 and of course, we celebrated in style! A party to remember, with over 400 guests and staff (past and present) coming together to reflect on the journey so far and look ahead to future adventures.
