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

Age discrimination is policy here.. I guess seniors are too feeble to climb onto bunk bed.read more

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.

Nothing fancy. But the price is great. And the location is awesome! Bathrooms are down the hall…read more But there is a sink in your room. No AC. Dorm style rooms. They provide you a bottle of water (one bottle) as they recommend you don't drink from the taps. Be prepared to be in a momentary or hostel setting; and in a 100+ yr.-old hotel. You check in and they give you one bottle of water... and you are supposed to live on that I guess. Is that legal in the UK? There's poison in the pipes, so they remove all responsibility by giving you one bottle of water. No place to refill... one bottle of water. They don't say the water tastes bad; they say don't drink the water... And you get one bar of soap for your stay. I kept mine on a piece of cardboard all week. Had to pry it off the paper and wash off the print before using it each time. Why not at least give you something to carry the stupid piece of soap around in? Heck, a plate would have been okay... something. This is a boarding house for college students. But they open it up during the summer for guests. I wondered if the kids were under the same conditions. If not, the concept of hospitality is suffering. And if the kids are operating under the same conditions, then I'm concerned about them. I'm a civil engineer by training, so the clean water issue really bothers me... But I stayed here again the next time I was in London; so I can't rate it less than a three. Just be prepared for austere conditions...

Excellent location! Dorm rooms mean shared bathrooms, so know what you're signing up for. The staff…read moreis very friendly and the residence is very well cleaned and maintained. Even if it is old it is very well maintained and clean. The best part about it is the location, Sainsbury's superstore 10 minutes away by foot and two tube stops 5 minutes away. South Kensington is an amazing neighbourhood to stay in. I recommend staying here if you are a solo traveller who does not want to compromise a low rate for location.

You get what you pay for. This place is way cheaper than any hotel around the hostel in the…read moreKensington area. Of course you have make compromises. The staff is very friendly and helpful and even willing to let you store your luggage in the luggage room overnight while you are on a trip to somewhere else. The Gloucester Road tube station from the important District and Circle line is only a 6 minutes walk away. A Sainsburys is just around the corner. Starbucks and Tesco are opposite of the tube station. Unfortunatelly I'm not very happy about the general condition of the bathrooms. They have definietly seen better days. The same applies to the bedrooms which are okay as long as you keep in mind that you don't pay too much. Earplugs are always a good idea in a hostel. In this particular one it's even a better idea since there's a train passing by every few minutes. WiFi is available for free for 40 minutes each day. But it seems to only work on the reception floor. The breakfast is okay. But don't exprect ham or sausages. It's more for vegetarians. The breakfast hall looks like a place for homeless people where they get warm soups. Would I go again? Yes, if my budget is tight.

While considerably more expensive than other hostels in London, the Astor Kensington was worth the…read moremoney. The staff and other guests were all very friendly here. Staff is extremely accommodating in explaining where things are/how things work. They also provided me with an extra blanket upon my request. The free breakfast is pretty good- it includes fresh fruit which is nice. Planned activities at the hostel like movie nights were enhanced when staff made hot chocolate to share with everyone. This hostel is a bit hard to see from the street- the sign is hidden behind one for a discotheque. But its a quick walk to the Gloucester Rd. tube stop and there are several grocery stores very close by. This hostel also has an elevator which is good to know if you are a handicapped traveller or if you have a really heavy suitcase.

I booked a bed here and asked for a very simple medical accommodation: sleeping on a bottom bunk…read more The hostel refused to gaurantee the request as they do not think this is a reasonable accommodation. Travelers with medical accommodations should be aware before booking.

This hostel was filthy! The shower floor and curtain looked like years since they had been cleaned…read more The staff while I was there was super immature and aggressively rude. The eating area cleaning person just swept the grime and dirt around the floor with the mop. A table that had all kinds of large food crumbs under it was that way for days. I left early because it was so disgusting

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.

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.