This is the first hostel I've stayed in, in over 20 years and was a pleasant surprise. Centrally…read morelocated to tube, groceries and restaurants. Is an older building, but the cleaning staff does a great job, especially in the bathroom, which is always my concern in shared spaces. The beds are a bit firm for my old back, but I do like the material they're made of which makes them impervious to stains, bugs, etc. And most importantly, staff are kind and helpful. Affordable, kind, clean and great location for a London stay.

This is a great hostel and I hate that it's poorly reviewed based off ofonly two people. I stayed…read morelast weekend whilst attending a job fair in Kensington. It was about £19 a night in the four bed female dorm. There's great storage under the bed, lockers with a safe and plugs at every bed. The en suite bathroom was a plus, as I had to get up early. The shower was a pain in the ass to work. The staff was amazing. As a previous hostel worker, I know they can make or break a place. Everyone was super friendly and they hung out in the TV lounge with everyone else. It's a nice little crew and very welcoming. The kitchen is stocked and open most of the day. Breakfast was toast, coffee and tea. But it's free. And there are plenty of places nearby to get something. Sainsbury's is on the corner, fast food sushi, pret, a pub and more. It's right on the Piccadilly line which now runs all night in weekends, very convenient!

I thought it was a good hostel to stay at since there were a few free amenities that weren't an…read moreoption at the other hostel we stayed at in London. I really appreciated the free umbrellas available in the check-in area. Took in a show and had to catch a bus and I was glad we were able to use these during the walk. Another pro were the free storage rooms to hold the bags until we could check in at 2PM. Once the rooms were opened the clerks would bring the bags to the room, which was great since there are no lifts and the stairs can be a daunting climb if the bags are heavy. Also, I liked the lounge area and the dining area. Both were very open and welcoming. This place definitely promoted getting together with other hostelers. About this place. It used to be a hospital during the second World War and would house casualties and the infirm. I can only imagine how it must have been with all the stairs running up and down to each of the rooms. It's a pretty cool hostel now though. Found the rates to be slightly higher than other hostels, but it didn't stop me from staying here. It was comfortable and clean and rooms were adequate.

Decent, could be improved very easily. First off there are no curtains on the beds which always…read moredrives me crazy because it's a problem that could be solved with very little money or effort and is a universal crowd pleaser at hostels. Secondly, there were no events on the night I arrived, which was a Monday. Not necessarily expecting or wanting a banger but they could easily throw together a movie night or something. More importantly it was bizarrely difficult to get in touch with the staff when I arrived despite reception being 24/7. I had to buzz like 3 times at 5 in the morning and was panicking thinking I wasn't going to be able to get in. Well aware it's a weird time but when you advertise 24/7 reception I feel like I'm justified in being angry when I'm left in the cold with my suitcase for 15 minutes trying to get ahold of someone. On the plus side, beds were cozy and the neighborhood really couldn't be better. You're right down the street from the best museums in London and super close to the park. It feels remarkably safe and there are whatever stores and restaurants you could possibly want no more than a 15 minute walk away. I also accidentally left my laptop in the common area all night and it went completely untouched (table stakes to be fair but you never know). It's one of the cheaper hostels in London and considering that I would recommend if you're looking to save money.

A nice hostel in the heart of love london. Only 25mins walk to buckingham…read more What i liked: -clean -friendly staa -kitchen -they provide nice discounts Do book early as this hostel is very popular with travellers from asia.

Staying at a hostel is the way to go when visiting London on a budget. I stayed at the YHA Oxford…read moreStreet during my recent trip to London. This hostel was centrally located within a two-minute walk from Oxford Street and a ten minute walk from the famous Piccadilly Square. The building is nondescript and the front entrance is slightly hidden except for a sign that says YHA Oxford Street. Once inside the hostel, you'll need to take a short ride on the elevator or walk up three flights of steps to get to the reception area. The reception area is tiny and is often occupied by travelers either checking in or checking out. This is also where you sign up for tours or group activities. The staff members are cordial but not overly friendly. I stayed in a four-person dorm with three other ladies. The room was about the size of a typical one-bedroom with four bunk beds. The room had a small sink and large individual lockers. Showers and toilets were located just across the hall from our room. The hostel offers a breakfast for £4.99 each morning that consists of croissants, cold cuts, toast, coffee/tea. Taking advantage of the breakfast presented me with the opportunity to mingle with the other travelers in the small break room that seats about fifteen people. The guests were a mix of young adults and families. This is not a party hostel, which is great for people like me who plan to be out and about as much as possible and then want to come back to the room at night to actually get some sleep. The location is safe. Both the main entrance and the individual rooms were accessible using a key card. Each bed had an individual outlet next to it. WiFi was available in the common areas, but not in the individual rooms. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. The YHA isn't the Ritz-Carlton, but it's a good value for the money.

This place is awesome! The rooms are clean and spacious, the bathroom is much better than I…read moreexpected. Two private showers with locking doors and two private stalls. The owner is kind and worked with me changing my reservation last minute. It is a mile from the train station, but the walk was easy and interesting. Totally recommend if you're visiting London.

The Pickwick! This…read moreplace was a huge part of why I had a terrific time during my stay in London. The location is outstanding -- in the heart of Bloomsbury, down the street from Russell Square, five minutes from the British Museum and the University of London. The interior is not posh (it's a hostel) but it's clean and well-maintained. Patrick, the owner, goes out of his way to make you feel at home, and is a great resource for visitors to the city.

I liked Astor Museum, but didn't love it. The staff were pretty friendly overall, though there were…read morea few with a bit of an attitude. The location was nice and central. The 4.5 pound breakfast was a great price, but be ready for cereal and toast. My room was a 6 bed all female dorm. It was a pretty clean room, but our sink wouldn't drain, which bummed me out. Additionally, the bathrooms were upstairs, so you had to walk by the main door to get to the bathroom, which I did NOT like. Way too public for a shower or first thing when you get up. The bathrooms themselves were fine. The toilets were good, but the showers didn't have enough ventilation and so they stank of mold. I did appreciate all of the social events the hostel put on and having a kitchen.

It was all lovely. Great first-time hostel experience. Bed was comfortable, and I felt very safe…read more Staff was exceedingly friendly.

What's up with the bad reviews? Clink 261 was my 1st hostel and I thought it was great even after…read morebeing spoiled by hotels all my life! Located near Kings Cross - the main crossroad of central London's transport, this hostel is an affordable living solution that has awesome amenities for young travelers. Perhaps it was recently updated, but each bed has its own USB charging port, UK power outlet, and light. The bed was a bit firm but even as a difficult sleeper, I thought the bed was pretty comfortable! The only gripes I have about the room are that the free Wi-Fi was not working (although the staff mentioned that it was temporarily down and in repair) and each bunk bed shared one locker basket (no problem for me but only because everyone in my room was trustworthy). Each floor has one toilet and two shower rooms. The toilet and the showers worked fine, so again, I think there was an update since the bad reviews about cold or un-pressurized shower. However, Clink 261's biggest draw is the common room that has free breakfast and a social atmosphere with fellow young travelers to meet! It's definitely a cool way to meet new people or simply have a conversation. Also, the free breakfast of toast and cereal with tea and coffee was an awesome amenity especially in an expensive city like London. Anyway, I thought I was going to hate it because I never stayed in a hostel before but because of Clink 261, I won't hesitate to stay in one again if everything else is too expensive. If you are a London traveler who doesn't require the hotel pamper, Clink 261 is an excellent choice! --- REMEMBER TO BRING: 1) UK plug adaptor 2) Toothbrush and toothpaste 3) Towel 4) Shampoo, conditioner, body wash 5) Combination lock If you forgot, you can buy them at the desk. Welcome to hostel life! --- tl;dr version: 1) Comfortable hostel with awesome updated amenities 2) Free breakfast and free wifi 3) Great place to meet fellow travelers

I stayed here precovid, so not sure how things are now, but this was a run of the mill hostel. My…read morefriend and I am stayed in a mixed room and met some interesting people. My only real complaint was the bathroom was on a different floor, which wasn't ideal. Otherwise, it wasn't special, but it was fine.

Great hostel. Friendly staff is always willing to accommodate and help in any way they can. There…read moreis a Bar/Cafe/Restaurant in the main lobby and the food is reasonably prices as well as delicious. The rooms are very clean and the showers are hot. Unlike most hostels I've stayed at the sheets are already put on my bed and they were clean. The building is newly renovated and everything is nice and new. They also have pay for internet (1 Pound for 20 minutes) and laundry facility's (4 Pounds for a load) One of the best features that I enjoyed while staying here was the fact that you can buy discount tickets for plays and attractions all throughout London at a discounted rate.

An excellent hostel a half block from a major rail and Underground station, where the Eurostar…read moreto/from Brussels and Paris is based. It also is on the Piccadilly line, which is direct to/from London Heathrow Airport with no transfers to other lines. Also a gazillion other transit lines that let you visit most tourist places in London with one transfer or less. I stayed in a five dorm room with bunk beds and it was spacious, with an en suite bathroom, with an extra set of bathrooms in the hallway. Reasonably modern and clean. Each bunk had its own power outlet and small light and ledge, which was really nice, compared to other hostels Front desk reception was polite and efficient. The wifi worked pretty well, though only available on the ground floor bar and restaurant area and the 1st floor, where there is a lounge.

I had a great one night stay at Clink 78. I was flying out of London in the morning and was looking…read morefor a place to stay close to King's Cross Station, as I was taking a train to the airport. This was my first time in a hostel and I had a very good first experience. Booking a room was very easy and didn't take much time. One thing I noticed was that you had the option to click which you preferred: an upper or lower. When I arrived in my assigned room, I noticed that my locker was being used by another patron, but I just used another. I wanted to charge my phone but the power bar above my bed didn't fit my adapter and the USB ports were not working. I spoke to the front desk and they switched me to the bed beside mine since i was only there for one night. Once again, that locker was in use, so I kept my stuff in the original locker. When you check in you receive a voucher for a free drink which was great! Whilst at the bar I met some very nice people who i then participated in the beer pong tournament with. A very fun place to stay!

I really wanted to like this place. It's got a fun party vibe and is absurdly cheap. But my…read moreexperience wasn't great. I shared a 12 person mixed dorm. It was extremely cramped and had no ventilation. In the morning it was smelly and steamy from so many bodies. Since there was so little space there were people's belongings everywhere and the room was so crowded. I have only a few hostel experiences so I'm no expert, but my next hostel was an 18 person mixed room and it was so comfortable and spacious in comparison. They have cool nightly events like karaoke as well as a bar with cheap food downstairs which is great. It is a very young crowd- 18-25 I'd guess and at 34 I felt quite old and out of place though I met and hung out with some cool young folks. The shower situation is also not great. The showers are hot but have a button that needs to be pressed every 30 seconds or so to keep the shower going. Since I have long curly hair and my showers need a little more time for detangling I basically just rinsed and couldn't wash my hair. Overall this place is safe and super cheap. Its conventiely located to Kings Cross and the area is nice. If you are looking for something for a night or two go for it, it's not terrible, but again I was very relieved to have more space and shower at my next hostel.