The Hostelz.com Review
Journey’s Waterloo has a great location -- it's tucked away in a residential area so you get to see that side of London, however, it is less than five blocks from the Underground and less than a five-minute walk to Big Ben.
Location
We feel it is in a great location, and with such access to the Underground (which is not that expensive) you could really get anywhere in the city. Finding it is quite easy -- you just get off at Lambeth North from the Underground, but once you get off you will be on Lambeth Road. The hostel is actually on Lambeth Walk, which is a street that comes off Lambeth Road, and this street curves around. Just follow the addresses and you will find it no problem!
Rooms and Bathrooms
There is an option for private rooms, but we stayed in a ten-person and it was completely comfortable. The main lobby door closes at 11 p.m. but all of the doors are accessed by a code they give you when you check in. You have a key code to get in the main door after 11 and a key code to get into the dorm room; it also has a key code to get from the lobby into where the dorm rooms are, so not just anyone can walk into the dorm area! When checking in, ask when they last changed the codes and if it was not as recent as you would like you may request they change them. There are no in-room lockers but there is luggage storage in the lobby.
The bathrooms are very clean but they are not very big. They are dormitory style so there are separate spaces for shower, toilets, and sinks. There seems to be enough for everyone except for in the morning when everyone is trying to shower. The shower areas are small but they are nice because they have the stand-up shower and a separate changing space. It is a great hot shower with good water pressure, but you have to hold the button while showering.
Common Spaces
The hostel has a very large main lobby with plenty of common space containing couches and coffee tables, as well as a large television. There is a large hang-out area with a pool table and the front desk sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Within this same room there are three computers with reasonably priced internet and free Wi-Fi if you have your own computer, but only in the lobby, not in the rooms. The hostel does have a book exchange and some board games.
Your reservation comes with a free breakfast in which you could eat as much cereal, toast, and milk as you wanted with plenty of spreads for the toast (jams, Nutella, some honey spread, peanut butter). It is a social hostel if you want to hang out downstairs in the main lobby but if you want quiet and to sleep, upstairs in the dorm rooms it is peaceful.
Summary
Overall it is a good hostel -- we would stay there again when traveling back to London. The hostel staff are helpful and can give advice on what to do and help you find your way (they directed us to the airports we needed to go to)!
[Marie's note: I googled and it appears London Eye and Journey's Waterloo are the same, but I am not sure which is the current name they use so I left as is]
Location
We feel it is in a great location, and with such access to the Underground (which is not that expensive) you could really get anywhere in the city. Finding it is quite easy -- you just get off at Lambeth North from the Underground, but once you get off you will be on Lambeth Road. The hostel is actually on Lambeth Walk, which is a street that comes off Lambeth Road, and this street curves around. Just follow the addresses and you will find it no problem!
Rooms and Bathrooms
There is an option for private rooms, but we stayed in a ten-person and it was completely comfortable. The main lobby door closes at 11 p.m. but all of the doors are accessed by a code they give you when you check in. You have a key code to get in the main door after 11 and a key code to get into the dorm room; it also has a key code to get from the lobby into where the dorm rooms are, so not just anyone can walk into the dorm area! When checking in, ask when they last changed the codes and if it was not as recent as you would like you may request they change them. There are no in-room lockers but there is luggage storage in the lobby.
The bathrooms are very clean but they are not very big. They are dormitory style so there are separate spaces for shower, toilets, and sinks. There seems to be enough for everyone except for in the morning when everyone is trying to shower. The shower areas are small but they are nice because they have the stand-up shower and a separate changing space. It is a great hot shower with good water pressure, but you have to hold the button while showering.
Common Spaces
The hostel has a very large main lobby with plenty of common space containing couches and coffee tables, as well as a large television. There is a large hang-out area with a pool table and the front desk sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Within this same room there are three computers with reasonably priced internet and free Wi-Fi if you have your own computer, but only in the lobby, not in the rooms. The hostel does have a book exchange and some board games.
Your reservation comes with a free breakfast in which you could eat as much cereal, toast, and milk as you wanted with plenty of spreads for the toast (jams, Nutella, some honey spread, peanut butter). It is a social hostel if you want to hang out downstairs in the main lobby but if you want quiet and to sleep, upstairs in the dorm rooms it is peaceful.
Summary
Overall it is a good hostel -- we would stay there again when traveling back to London. The hostel staff are helpful and can give advice on what to do and help you find your way (they directed us to the airports we needed to go to)!
[Marie's note: I googled and it appears London Eye and Journey's Waterloo are the same, but I am not sure which is the current name they use so I left as is]
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
June 2008
Their Description
London Eye Hostel Details
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London Eye Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
I stayed there with my mother in June 2007 and I really liked it, the people were very nice, there was breakfast, and you can cook your own meals. In 2007 the staff spoke english. I think they even are English, but anyways. The only thing I thought was a little bit negative was that the toilets didn't always flush right, that's not only pretty embarrassing but also stressing. I will probably stay there again this summer, looking forward to it. — Shivon , The Netherlands (2009-03-07) Very poor management, ridiculous I stayed here a few nights ago. It was all fine 'til we got robbed of possessions in our rooms. This was due to the staff letting someone in our room to access their stuff then not changing the codes. They were not security-conscious at all and very unhelpful when we had to contact the police. Would never stay there again. — Anonymous , UK (2008-05-26) Downstairs area is nice. Large meeting room, big kitchen with lots of supplies and internet (except is was down 3 of 5 nights we were there). The rooms are tiny. I could touch each side of the walls by spreading out my arms (about 6 feet wide). We found foreign hairs in the room. We were forced to switch rooms halfway through stay. The funny thing is, the room we switched to was exactly the same as the first room. Why did we have to switch? Hell if I know. The staff was OK, except they didn't know the area worth a sh*t, which is a shame, because we were travelling and were looking for some helpful advice. Also, the staff used the downstairs area as their personal entertainment room. Watching loud, crappy movies while drinking with friends. That was a little irritating. — El Stone (2007-01-10) I've actually made a stop there two nights ago. Things must have changed a lot there. It's a great place to stay in London (very useful if you need to travel via Waterloo, at ten minutes' walk) -- at a stone's throw from Big Ben, a great meeting room downstairs (brand new and perfectly clean!) with a large screen for video, pool, computers, games, books, and a long bar which enables you to enjoy an evening without having to go out after a busy touristy day downtown. The staff was great (very friendly with everybody, and very efficient too). Even if not an English speaker, he spoke perfect English! It was a very safe place to stay (with digital lockers everywhere, almost a bunker!), the area seemed safe too. Toilets and bathrooms were perfectly clean (brand new showers too). Same for the Ikea beds (new clean sheets and blankets provided!). Good self-service breakfast where you can eat as much as you can (lots of choices of jams and chocolate spread, lem curd, peanut butter etc)! Well, it's true that a few people are not actually travelling but are living there for a while but at least they're at your disposal to socialize quickly as they already know each other. Plus if you really want to speak with travellers, they are some too! Don't worry about it! So, good luck to this hostel which is as good as the HI ones I've already experienced around the world. Hopefully it's going to get rid of this negative image! I'll recommend it to my friends anyway. — Steph (2006-05-31) This hostel is really after reconstruction! It was pleasure to stay there! Whole area was nice and clean, always hot water in showers. The people there were friendly and helpful. Internet access, big TV screen, lockers. Breakfast included, it contains basic staff like cereals, bread, jams, tea, coffee, milk. It has a great location not far away from Big Ben (twenty minutes walking or ten minutes on a bus). I do recommend this hostel! Reasonable prices! — Irena (2006-05-18) Despite what most people think and tell, it is perfectly suitable for groups, even with little children and some elderly (in our case somebody who had his 80th birthday!). We came with the complete family. Facilities are centralized on the floor, and are clean and good. In the central room below group activities can be performed, if agreed upon with the management. Sleeping was perfect. It was even silent there almost in the middle of London. Two streets away you are at Big Ben. The location is superb! For your meals you have to take care yourself. I didn't experience that as disadvantage. The personnel are kind and helpful. Well, to be short, they did a fine job! Compliments! We had a wonderful time! — Marcel Mathijsen (2005-07-24)Note from the owner: It's true what most of the people have said about our hostel... it has been all of these things and more over the past 18 months. We have been making continuous improvments, spent a whole lot of money and things are getting there. Personal apologies to anyone who didn't enjoy there stay, Give us another try... you wont regret it! — Ben - The boss (2004-10-31)
I have not stayed at this hostel, but I don't care to because I e-mailed them to ask about the comments listed on this page and never got a reply. I assume that no reply means no answer to my inquiries as to the cleanliness and new management of this establishment. I will look elsewhere for accommodations in London. — Anonymous (2004-09-16) On behalf of Journey's Hostels, I would like to point out that the hostel is under different management. With a brand new refurbishment and a new team, Journey's London hostel is now a fantastic place to stay in, with broadband internet access, sun terrace, large screen entertainment, and many more fantastic new facilities. Why not come and see for yourself?! — Amy (2004-08-18) I stayed there in September 2003. It was one of the funniest experiences I ever had: cold showers (you get used to that) and dirt everywhere (I didn't get used to that -- my sister and I played a game called "try not to touch anything"). Our room was the only one with a lock and the toilets didn't flush. There were no lockers and no breakfast. I don't know if there are better hostels in Great Britain, but next time I'll probably try a different one. — Anonymous (2004-05-06) I stayed there in summer 2003. It is extremly dirty, there are no lockers and no breakfast. The staff did not speak good English.
The bed I slept in the first night was covered with other people's pubic hairs. The showers only had cold water and had not been cleaned for ages, room doors had no locks and the toilets did not flush very well.
DON'T GO THERE unless, you plan to travel to countries with low hygenic standards and want to get used to it. — Anonymous (2004-05-04) I stayed here in February 2003 - it must have been a radical improvement if what beer queen says is true. I only gave it one star because there was no zero star rating. This hostel was one of the worst experiences of my life. An old, run down pub filled with middle aged broads getting sloshed, equally run down old rooms and amenities. The room and/or the people in it smelt bad, were in bed at 8:30 pm at night (ie this must be where they spend most of their time), the touted free english breakfast nowhere to be seen, not a traveller in the whole place to be seen (presumably they were all on the dole)! Safe deposit facilities weren't accessible except between very sporadic hours, so I spent the night with my valuables between my legs, and waking up from bad dreams of my luggage being raided! I don't care what you guys say about renovation, once was enough for me, DO NOT GO TO THIS HOSTEL!! — Aussie boy (2004-04-02) Very dirty hostel. Dirt, hair, and other trash was all over the floor. I didn't even want to touch the bed. The staff doesn't speak very good English. The only minute, saving grace is that they are doing remodeling. I also got the feel that people were living in the hostel, not just vacationing. The lounge looks nice, but the rest of the hostel is awful. — Anonymous (2004-03-17) Unclean and unfriendly staff (most couldn't speak English). I have heard it used to be a good hostel, but new people took it over and now it's not a very nice place. — Anonymous (2004-03-10) I've stayed at the Lambeth off and on for a over two years. The pub brought in the wrong type of people. During mid 2003 the whole place fell apart, even the front door was left off the hinges for a week. September 2003 and it's under new management. The pub has gone and replaced with a lounge with refreshments served at the bar. The kitchen is now open to all. Now a place you can relax and chill between travelling. A change for the better. — Tom (2003-12-06)