I had a great time during my stay here. I instantly found the people here to be much friendlier…read morethan at my other hostels I've stayed in. I found that the employees also hang out near by as some also are live ins. The only problem I found was it was incredibly dusty, dust bunnies everywhere! fortunately I had a top bunk. The water was freezing most of the time to shower, particularly in the morning, so you might want to time it out mid day if possible, tip from a backpacker hostel life traveler room mate. I stayed in a chill coed room for 3 nights where I found to be partially full. It's really a luck of the draw who you might get to sleep next to if they snore or so, fortunately I only had one night of loud snoring and it was reasonable with the free earbuds they offer at the lobby. The lobby and quad areas are super chill like ideal to mingle and meet people to hang with. It was like staying in a camp / college dorm type experience I guess. I found the location to be ideal, easy access to public transportation and underground. I walked / bussed most of the places I went such as Box Park, Brick Lane, Leadenhall Market, etc. I particularly loved all the street art. There's also a 24/7 market I found convenient to purchase groceries from, which I left in the fridge. The kitchen is neat, small, but everyone seemed to be respectful in not eating anyone else's food unless they put in the Share Shelf if left behind by other travelers. Some people also used the kitchen pots and pans to make their meals. There's breakfast offered, decent eggs, toast, oatmeal, juices, coffee. Had I known I probably would've stayed here longer, i would totally stay here again.

This place was disgusting. I'm surprised they can pass health code. The 16- person dorm we were in…read morehad no windows and no ventilation, with two attached bathrooms. It was humid and smelled strongly of sweat, mildew, and beer. The trashcan was piled over feeling when I checked in, and was still like that when we came back to the room at 8 PM. We attached a fan to probably in the door with to try and air out the room for three hours, which helped a little bit but only for a short time. Most disturbingly, the room where they keep valuables in bags is left open, unlocked, and on my end at all times. I asked if I could leave my new MacBook air in my backpack there, they gave me a number for it and gave me an other number tab. But when I came back the door was open and people are just grabbing their own bags, this is easy to do since the bag room is not behind the desk, it's beside the (super super grimy) area where people hang out. I thought maybe it was just a temporary thing, but it was like this for two days straight. We decided to leave three days early, and split a hotel. They did give us our money back on some of those days, to be fair. They also emptied the bins when I asked, and were nice about it (the staff were great in general). But I have stayed in hostels in India, and all over Europe, this was one of the worst I've ever seen, and definitely the worst in Europe. They seemingly put very little money back into the hostel itself. It's also really loud with yelling throughout the night, but that's because it's in a party area and not the fault of the hostel. We are all confused as to how to get such good reviews, it's just gross, and unsafe, and I'd not recommend it.

3-night stay in 4-bed mixed dorm in March/April…read more The cafe area was so cute! When we arrived mid afternoon, there were so many people milling about on their laptops or chatting. It gave a pleasant feel. This is also the area you check-in at. The front-desk staff were very friendly and walked us through how to use our key cards and where things were located. The room looked like a dorm room, as expected, with bunk beds and lockers. We also had a private bathroom and shower, which I was pleasantly surprised about. We couldn't get the A/C to work, so we had to keep the windows cracked at all times. It would've been nice to be able to open the window completely for more airflow as it got stuffy/warm often. The beds are a place to sleep... don't expect much comfort. Loved the basement common areas! So much space and unique places to sit. It is also a bar at night with karaoke and lots of people mingling. Overall, it was a clean and fun hostel experience.

I and my wife got the whole room for ourselves and this was during the two day heat wave. So, there…read moreis no option to book AC rooms while booking on their website and apparently they have AC rooms but it's random. You are either lucky enough to get it or not. I don't thinks that's fair. Room service is not prompt. And the restrooms and the rooms stink. Absolutely no ventilation in the restrooms. The only solace is the bar in the basement which has some nice vibe but watered down drinks. The Wombats at Budapest was 10 times better and that's the reason I chose to stay here, but I'm disappointed.

I stayed at the Don Gratton House (the student dorm of the London Arts College) for the second time…read morethis year and was again pleased with what I got for very little money (for London, i.e.). The rooms are very basic, as you'd expect from student accommodation (no TV e.g., no room service except new bedsheets and towels once a week), but clean and neat, and of course en suite. The bathroom was acceptable too, on both occasions. Friendliness of the staff varies quite a bit: the students who work at the reception are usually nice, but don't expect a smile or hello from the security people. The location is very good indeed considering the price: Whitechapel underground station is a five minute walk; from there you'll get to central London with the Central or Hammersmith & City lines within 15-20 minutes, with a train every few minutes. There's also an overground service from that station. Don Gratton House, thanks to the heavy grid iron gate and the chip card system, is very safe for travellers. As an area, Whitechapel is distinctly working class, and dominated by multi-ethnic people, mostly Arabs. There are many small shops and pubs close by for a final drink before checking in at night. Overall, a pleasant enough experience on both visits for this budget traveller. Will probably come back soon.

Horrible customer service and maintenance standard. During my stay since September, I have gone…read morewithout hot water (two weeks!), light in the bathroom (two weeks - and still ongoing), a broken kettle, a broken freezer. There was also a ten day period where the security system was broken and the gate was open for anyone who wanted to wander into the property. There is no urgency in resolving issues which tenants have and a severe communication problem from the management. For the price, there are not any reasons I could recommend that anyone live here.

Known the world over for hospitality and accommodation…read more A good friend of mine was completing a course in London and found it easier to rent a room there than bother finding a short term let Considering the cheap rent the room was a decent size and the showers and toilets were right next door and were frequently cleaned. Food is served every morning and night at a discounted rate. It is a basic meal but it serves well. It would be the perfect place to stay if you are travelling through London and need somewhere cheap, convenient and clean to stay!

A great place to stay right in the heart of the city. Prices range for 170 pound a week for a…read moresingle to 152 for a twin shared pp.It s actually has two sites the one on errol street and another 2 secs down the road on fann street right on the edge of the barbican esate. Theres two meals a day included in the price as well as internet(wifi) and free gym usage. Although it can be nosiy as its full of students and is next to a busy road it is a great place to stay as its 10min walk to covent garden and even less to the eastend.

I lived in Ashwell House for 3 years (2015-2018) and I had the best experience!…read more Ashwell is a unique University Hall of Residence for many reasons. Below are a few... 1) Central location - close to the majority of London universities 2) The Hall is cleaned every weekday, and meals and a laundry service are all included in the cost of the accommodation for a VERY reasonable price for such a central location. 3) The atmosphere is very pleasant and it's easy to find people you get along with - during shared meals and daily get-togethers 4) With a library and many study rooms, you find a great motivation to study hard 5) There are regular cultural activities such as having guest-speakers, concerts, trips, service projects etc. (I had the chance to visit Rome, and took part in a volunteering project in Kenya!) 6) The staff are friendly, warm and easy to approach for anything you may need

Look, this is a hall of residence for a very specific type of person. There are a lot of…read morerestrictions such as a curfew and meal times, cleaning times, etc. There are also a lot of influences and pressures, to dress a certain way, to be involved in house activities, to attend religious and spiritual gatherings. If these standards are not adhered it can become quite uncomfortable and you may feel judged or looked down upon. The Opes Dei members try to maintain a level of control in the house that is probably no comfortable for most people. Enter at own risk...