The Hostelz.com Review
Britannia on William is certainly one of the better hostels in Northbridge. It's smack in the middle of the nightlife, yet safe, clean, and comfortable. The atmosphere is very relaxed and everyone seems to enjoy their stay. The building itself is a bit old but you only notice it by the squeaky floorboards and in the dining area, which is spread out among four smaller rooms. This hostel houses quite a few long-term residents but still has a nice mix of people, some staying for a a couple of days, and others a couple of months.
The Location
This hostel is located on William Street, which is one of the main streets in Northbridge. It's a five-minute walk from Perth train station and Wellington Street bus station. It's very easy to find indeed and in a prime location -- staying at this hostel you'll be in the heart of Northbridge entertainment area. And it's only ten minutes' walk from the mall and shopping streets. One of the Perth City free bus services, the Blue CAT, stops a hundred meters from the hostel and takes you around the city. You're also minutes away from Western Australian Museum and Art Gallery, State Library, and PICA center for contemporary arts.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Britannia on William offers single, double, twin, and triple rooms as well as dorms. Not all of the rooms have windows -- the rooms without windows are a bit stuffy due to poor air circulation and the rooms with windows can be noisy. The dorms (four-, six-, or eight-share) are a good size. All have bunk beds and lockable cupboards (bring your own lock), which can fit a small backpack and a fan for the summer heatwaves. Everybody is required to keep their room clean and no abundant mess is tolerated. Housekeeping changes the sheets and empties the bins, but the vacuuming is only done when needed.
Toilets and showers are newly renovated and plentiful. All of the common areas are cleaned daily.
Common Spaces
Common areas include kitchen, dining area, TV room, internet cafe, and an outside seating area with BBQ facilities. Kitchen and dining room are cleaned at least once a day. There are twenty computers available at a reasonable hourly rate.
The outside seating area is very popular during summer months. You can smoke, sit, have a BBQ, and listen to music. The music is turned off around 11 p.m., but the parties usually continue hence the noise in the rooms with windows. There's free tea and coffee available in the kitchen, multiple stoves, and plenty of crockery. Fridges are cleaned if they seem to get out of control and there's even a freezer.
Summary
Britannia on William is a nice place. It's big but relaxed and there's always something going on. Toilets and showers are in perfect condition, the kitchen is ok. It's cleaned every day but there seems to be a permanent issue with cockroaches. The rooms are ok, too, although a light sleeper may suffer from the noise. But that's the price you pay when living in Northbridge. This hostel is recommended for everyone, but especially for people staying longer -- this is your home away from home!
The Location
This hostel is located on William Street, which is one of the main streets in Northbridge. It's a five-minute walk from Perth train station and Wellington Street bus station. It's very easy to find indeed and in a prime location -- staying at this hostel you'll be in the heart of Northbridge entertainment area. And it's only ten minutes' walk from the mall and shopping streets. One of the Perth City free bus services, the Blue CAT, stops a hundred meters from the hostel and takes you around the city. You're also minutes away from Western Australian Museum and Art Gallery, State Library, and PICA center for contemporary arts.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Britannia on William offers single, double, twin, and triple rooms as well as dorms. Not all of the rooms have windows -- the rooms without windows are a bit stuffy due to poor air circulation and the rooms with windows can be noisy. The dorms (four-, six-, or eight-share) are a good size. All have bunk beds and lockable cupboards (bring your own lock), which can fit a small backpack and a fan for the summer heatwaves. Everybody is required to keep their room clean and no abundant mess is tolerated. Housekeeping changes the sheets and empties the bins, but the vacuuming is only done when needed.
Toilets and showers are newly renovated and plentiful. All of the common areas are cleaned daily.
Common Spaces
Common areas include kitchen, dining area, TV room, internet cafe, and an outside seating area with BBQ facilities. Kitchen and dining room are cleaned at least once a day. There are twenty computers available at a reasonable hourly rate.
The outside seating area is very popular during summer months. You can smoke, sit, have a BBQ, and listen to music. The music is turned off around 11 p.m., but the parties usually continue hence the noise in the rooms with windows. There's free tea and coffee available in the kitchen, multiple stoves, and plenty of crockery. Fridges are cleaned if they seem to get out of control and there's even a freezer.
Summary
Britannia on William is a nice place. It's big but relaxed and there's always something going on. Toilets and showers are in perfect condition, the kitchen is ok. It's cleaned every day but there seems to be a permanent issue with cockroaches. The rooms are ok, too, although a light sleeper may suffer from the noise. But that's the price you pay when living in Northbridge. This hostel is recommended for everyone, but especially for people staying longer -- this is your home away from home!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
December 2008
Their Description
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Britannia on William Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
The worst Hostel in Oz Stay Clear. the rooms were filthy and cramped the hostel doubles up for a long term stay for ex prisoners. Nice. The staff were rude and uncaring both to me and others there. All they wanted to do is to take your money. Found some stranger in my room going through my underwear, went to complain to the Hostel managers only to find out he was the culprit! On complaining he threatened to have be thrown out onto the streets. This is the worst place I have ever stayed in four years of traveling thankfully I found a nicer hostel around the corner, told them my experiences they told me he had been doing things like this for years! Avoid! — katie Bristow , English (2008-09-17) Average i was staying there for a week, the price was cheap, and quite clean. but the bed and the blanket were full of dust! the service was bad! our room's light spoiled for three days without repair even though we had informed them. the staffs were not very helpful. never paid effort try to help us. what they care is money. we forgot to get back our deposit and when we went back tried to get back the deposit the stuff was saying she cant do anything. not even copy down name and try to help us. the impression was very very bad. — tong , malaysian (2007-07-04) Friendly staff, great position, easy access to transport, renovating as we speak. — Fiona (2006-08-31) I came to Perth with the intention of getting a flat -- two and a half months later I am still at the Britannia. The staff are amazing and everyone staying there is like family. The bathrooms are new and the whole place is clean and comfortable. I really recommend this hostel -- friendly, helpful, clean, in the centre of town, and a lot of fun. — Laura (2006-08-17) Clean, friendly, safe and close to CBD. — Joanne (2005-06-16) This hostel was a bit of a letdown after some of the other showcase YHA places, definitely not what you'd expect if you've already stayed in Melbourne, Sydney or Adelaide. There were cockroaches sneaking around the kitchen and dining area and the place looked like it needed a bit of work. — Monkey (2004-12-30) The hostel was nothing special, but it was cozy, safe and clean. The staff were really friendly and helpful--they even found me a job! Matt on reception was a real hottie! I would definitely stay at Britannia again. — Anonymous (2004-08-24) The rooms were ok, but some were a bit cramped. The free breakfast was great! The staff members were not that friendly, but the adjoining travel shop was helpful. — Anonymous (2004-03-31) The building might not look like much but the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff more than makes up for it, we think Matt on the reception desk is really hot too! ;-) Overall this hostel is a great place to stay. The kitchen is fantastic and the free breakfast really hits the spot!!! — Anonymous (2004-02-10) Compared to the YHA in Adelaide or Melbourne it's not such a high standard, but it's a cosy place and all facilities and breakfast and staff are absolutely friendly! — Andrea (2003-08-19)