It’s a brilliantly located hostel. However, as other reviewers have commented, I’m surprised at this hostel’s high rating. Because although the staff here are super friendly and accommodating, everything else is poor.
Beds don’t have privacy curtains, which in today’s world, is pretty unforgivable. Especially when the dorms can be so hot that guests sleep on top of their bedding with little clothing!
I moved to a different dorm during my stay, both were very noisy and very warm (during good weather). They are no hooks to hang anything including wet towels, so dorms are messy.
The bathroom for my first dorm was small, old and felt dirty. By contrast, the bathroom for my second dorm was modern and clean - world’s apart!
The entire property isn’t particularly clean, partly because they rely on the live-in staff to do the cleaning, rather than using a proper cleaning company like most other hostels do. The staff are lovely, but they are not professional cleaners.
There’s a real lack of communal space to have some alone time, or do some work. The TV room is small, leaving only the kitchen area, which is always busy. Also, annoyingly the kitchen must be vacated mid-morning (at exactly when guests will want to make breakfast) so that the staff can clean it - bad decision!
The laundry situation was dire, with one machine, that was partly broken.
I loved the staff, so I wish this hostel was better, but it’s pretty terrible. There are MUCH better London hostels for your money.
