Very nice hostel. Clean and the staff was helpful. The breakfast was delicious. The location is…read moreperfect. I stayed here in the summer of 2014 with a group of friends. The beds are comfortable enough to get a good sleep. Lockers are spacious, so everything fits perfectly. The bathrooms were clean. It has a very nice yard to sit and relax. The cafeteria is nice, too. The food is good, specially breakfast. Location is perfect, in the middle of Holland Park. You can take a walk or jog in the mornings. A tube station is within walking distance, but being an uphill walk, it can be exhausting after a day walking in the city.

This was the first hostel I ever stayed at so thinking of it brings back fond memories. Nostalgia…read moreaside this was a great hostel in a prime spot. A few minutes walk from the High St. Kensington tube station, right through Holland Park, and by a Tesco Metro for all your grocery needs. Since the hostel has a big kitchen and fridge for the people staying there I definitely recommend going to Tesco for food if you are on a budget. You can either stay in the main building where you check in or the pretty building they show in all the pictures. We stayed in the main building and although the room was a bit cramped it was still OK. The internet on the lobby computers was pricey so I recommend going to an internet cafe instead. What makes this hostel absolutely brilliant is the full English breakfast you get each day. This is the only place hostel I ever stayed in that had more than toast or croissant. The food was great, the staff was helpful, and I give it top marks.

Stayed here in 2002 with friends as a young adult. I had the time of my life there any met some…read morecool people. It was definitely budget friendly, something like $15/night.

Like the others commenting on this hostel, we were also pretty disgusted when we stayed here years…read moreago. (I was hoping that something might have changed since 2010 but apparently it didn't... ). Yes, it is cheap, but it is also terrible. Beginning from the staircase (the only picture I dared to take there) which was dirty and falling apart, continuing with the bunk beds.. first time in my life I was really scared that the person on the top bunk might fall on me in the sleep... they were so unstable! NO NO NO, don't stay here!

This was my first visit to Astor Kensington Hostel. I stayed at Palmers Lodge last time I was here…read moreand while it wasn't the Ritz, it was manageable. This hostel? Awful! I will say the service was exceptional and the person who checked me in was standout, went above and beyond. However, that 24 hr laundry? Eh no. 1 washer and 1 dryer and a Que to use it. Bought on of the laundry soaps from the desk and it turned my white socks purple. I had a 4 person, female dorm and around 11:35pm, after being in my bed for over an hour, I started coughing probably because I was sweating, and couldn't sleep. My roommates kept the light on and kept chatting well after 11pm. It was awful. Ended up walking down the street to the Comfort Inn.

Charming though basic room, helpful staff. Just be warned that you might be on the fifth floor with…read moreno lift--so a bit of exercise with heavy suitcases. Breakfast (cereal, juice, coffee/tea, toast) available for 3.50. Would definitely stay here again.

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.

Best hostel I have been to. The employees were all awesome especially Leo the night shift front…read moredesk, Poppy, and Micaella. Had an absolute blast and they were a great help in finding fun and interesting things to do in the city. Would visit again for sure.

I found on this building completely by chance while wandering down from the Albert Hall. More…read moreamazingly, I happened to be with a friend who's a scout leader, so we popped in. The building is now a curious mix of a hostel run by a German company and an area dedicated to the scout movement. There are reminders everywhere though to the legacy of Baden Powell There is a large exhibition about the history and work of the scout movement from its inception up to the present day and my friend was impressed with the amount and quality of the information. As there's a hostel on-site, there were a lot of young people milling around the lobby area, mainly from the continent judging from their accents. The prices seemed very reasonable for a Central London location though we didn't view the accommodation

Not a very good hostel for young travellers --feels like a drab hotel without the amenities of a…read morehotel. The staff are very kind, but unfortunately this hostel does not facilitate any social connections. No fun little events or bar, which other hostels on the market definitely have. Even the common areas are devoid of conversation or life. Most of their clientele are school groups and older people literally looking for a bed for the night. If you're looking to meet kind, interesting people (save the staff) or learn about new cultures, look elsewhere. Facilities don't add much value, unfortunately. Rooms are quite tiny, especially the four bunkbeds --not much luggage space or even space to stretch your legs. WiFi was absolutely poor. Bathrooms were clean, but also tiny. Not suitable for more than two night's stay. Fantastic location in a beautiful neighbourhood. No nightlife around, however. This place can be so much more than a perfunctory Holiday Inn-of-a-hostel, given its staff and location. Do try make it a more human place.

A lovely property in a lovely part of a VERY expensive neighborhood. Except you're not going to…read morepay a lot of money to stay here. Bring your own towels or sheets or you can buy/rent them for cheap. Internet is free and fast, nice lounge. Most rooms are multi-bunk, like most hostels. Showers are clean and awesome. Not super close to a tube stop, but not that far away either.

Clean, good value and in an excellent location within walking distance to Hyde Park and Portobello…read moreRoad. Would highly recommend.

When I arrived at the hostel I was told another 10 pounds was needed to be able to give me a key…read more No where was that ever stated. I gave him $100 GBD for rest of payment. Then I asked to purchase towelS. Answer... we don't have any. After lugging my suitcase up three flights or stairs I find my room. There were two bunk beds a shower and a sink. This is supposedly a unisex room, but there was no area at all for people to dry off and get dressed without everyone seeing you, the room was about 14ft by about 10feet. There was no where to store luggage.! The desk person had No idea what to do with any question. He wanted me to leave my passport as a deposit for the key. I refused to do that. After all that I went to the hotel next door and they had room for me. I went back to the hostel to get a refund on the nights I didn't use. I had already paid for one night ahead of time so I should get the $95 GBD back. He say he does know how to do refunds to it was just too bad. I will happily pay for the night I showed up but expect a refund for the other nights so it would be 4 days? This is a horrible hostel!!! Some creepy people. It says free wifi but that only if you sit in the teenie tiny lobby area. It is run down. The guy at the desk seemed like he didn't even know how to do anything. I still need to back by tomorrow to get my refund. Horrible horrible place. Great location but would not ever stay here nor recommend it to others. I have stayed in a ton of hostels and never had this experience. Two thumbs and all the other fingers down as well. The one picture looks like great little Day room. The other is what it really looks like and imagine all the cover slips sliding off. . And the final note. It was hotter than hell