The Hostelz.com Review
Clink Hostel is a great choice. It's friendly and fun without being a major party hostel. You can have fun at the bar but also get a good night's sleep. The hostel is a former courthouse and the dorms are former cells -- probably not best for claustrophobics! The hostel is clean and well managed.
The Location
The location is pretty good. King's Cross is not the best part of London but has been cleaned up. Exercise caution at night though. King's Cross is a short walk from Russell Square, which is a nicer area. King's Cross St. Pancras station is a short walk from the hostel. There are eating places and bars nearby the hostel.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There is a choice of four-, six-, eight-, ten-, and twelve-bed dorms. All dorms are mixed. There are some dorms and some private rooms with ensuites. These are tiny wet-rooms, so the whole bathroom gets wet and there is not much space to change. The shower pressure is not strong. The communal bathroom facilities are plentiful and consist of rooms of toilets and also single toilets in separate rooms. There are rooms of showers -- rooms for female and male only -- and mixed rooms with hooks for clothes. Shower rooms are very dark and gloomy.
Dorm rooms are accessed by key card. There are small lockers under the beds, so bring a large padlock. There are coat hooks in the room and an extra sink. The room we were in was very cramped with not enough room for luggage. The room (and the rest of the building) is painted brightly, but the room is still very dark -- just a tiny window high up on the wall. So the rooms are not at all cosy -- you would not want to be in your room other than to sleep. The room and bunks are rather claustrophobic. The bunks are pod style with a light above each bed.
Common Spaces
The old courtroom has been left as it was -- it functions as a bright and airy TV room. Many people use their laptops in here too. Whilst the courtroom layout gives great character, it is also not very relaxing with seats facing all different directions, like in court! It's difficult to find and get to a seat. It's not overly social in there unless you get a seat on the sofa that has been pushed in at the back of the room! There is a computer room. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hostel at a price.
In the basement there is a well equipped kitchen with seating areas in the kitchen and outside of it.This gives a nice friendly, communal atmosphere. There is a funky bar with a very fun atmosphere and cheap drinks and snacks. The bar is a great place to meet people. As there is a bar, guests are not allowed to bring their own alcohol into the hostel. After the bar closes, people socialise at the tables outside the kitchen. It is a great lively atmosphere.There is a luggage room but it does not seem very secure since reception hand out the key to anyone who asks and do not escort people to the room. Be aware that check-in is not until 2 p.m.
Summary
Clink Hostel is an enjoyable place to stay short or long-term -- unless the lack of windows bothers you! It's clean and sociable but also quiet enough for when you want to relax.
The Location
The location is pretty good. King's Cross is not the best part of London but has been cleaned up. Exercise caution at night though. King's Cross is a short walk from Russell Square, which is a nicer area. King's Cross St. Pancras station is a short walk from the hostel. There are eating places and bars nearby the hostel.
Rooms and Bathrooms
There is a choice of four-, six-, eight-, ten-, and twelve-bed dorms. All dorms are mixed. There are some dorms and some private rooms with ensuites. These are tiny wet-rooms, so the whole bathroom gets wet and there is not much space to change. The shower pressure is not strong. The communal bathroom facilities are plentiful and consist of rooms of toilets and also single toilets in separate rooms. There are rooms of showers -- rooms for female and male only -- and mixed rooms with hooks for clothes. Shower rooms are very dark and gloomy.
Dorm rooms are accessed by key card. There are small lockers under the beds, so bring a large padlock. There are coat hooks in the room and an extra sink. The room we were in was very cramped with not enough room for luggage. The room (and the rest of the building) is painted brightly, but the room is still very dark -- just a tiny window high up on the wall. So the rooms are not at all cosy -- you would not want to be in your room other than to sleep. The room and bunks are rather claustrophobic. The bunks are pod style with a light above each bed.
Common Spaces
The old courtroom has been left as it was -- it functions as a bright and airy TV room. Many people use their laptops in here too. Whilst the courtroom layout gives great character, it is also not very relaxing with seats facing all different directions, like in court! It's difficult to find and get to a seat. It's not overly social in there unless you get a seat on the sofa that has been pushed in at the back of the room! There is a computer room. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hostel at a price.
In the basement there is a well equipped kitchen with seating areas in the kitchen and outside of it.This gives a nice friendly, communal atmosphere. There is a funky bar with a very fun atmosphere and cheap drinks and snacks. The bar is a great place to meet people. As there is a bar, guests are not allowed to bring their own alcohol into the hostel. After the bar closes, people socialise at the tables outside the kitchen. It is a great lively atmosphere.There is a luggage room but it does not seem very secure since reception hand out the key to anyone who asks and do not escort people to the room. Be aware that check-in is not until 2 p.m.
Summary
Clink Hostel is an enjoyable place to stay short or long-term -- unless the lack of windows bothers you! It's clean and sociable but also quiet enough for when you want to relax.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2009
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Clink78 Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Best in London so far but book online I've stayed in about 8 hostels in London so far (most of which were pretty average) and this was easily the best one. The staff were friendly, breakfast was good, luggage room handy and the bar was an excellent place to meet people. The building is interesting, bathrooms are on the corridors rather than in the dorms (which I like as there's less waiting and you feel less rushed.). There didn't seem to be many groups either, which is also good. The beds are quite unique in the way they are positioned so close to each other but being covered up on 3 sides with their own light and plug, they felt very private. Location is handy for transport links/tube and as with most places in London there's plenty of convenient shops and pubs around. It's by no means the coolest or most tourist area around but it's safe. I'd definitely stay here again, particularly if you're at a loose end and fancy a few drinks and meeting people in the bar because it's certainly sociable. One warning though: if you have to extend your stay don't pay for it on reception, book it on the Internet. I stayed two extra nights via two separate bookings. The first quote which the ‘computer said' was £38 in a 12 bed dorm (I paid £22 for my first night). I declined and booked one the next morning, again from reception but for £32 (the Internet room, while really cool looking as it's an old court room was always packed and I was in a rush). My 2nd booking was also quoted at £32 but I didn't check when paying and later found out I was charged a whopping £42 for one night a bed in a 10-bed dorm. Clink72, take note and please don't rip people off. There's no need and you tarnished an otherwise great stay (minus one star for this). — Anonymous , UK (2011-10-11) Fun youth hostel Really cool people, central london area, clean, showers are kinda crappy but i wore flip flops in the shower so it was no big deal, comfy beds, awesome bar area, and computers you can use for a small fee. Also friendly and helpful staff. — Adina , USA (2010-08-21) One of the worst hostels i stayed Clink hostel was really an awful hostel to stay in. I can't think of anything good about it. The room was really hot and sweaty and you couldn't open the window. The showers were mixed, without doors and it smelled like a zoo. They weren't cleaned during the whole stay. Staff walked in into our room twice, while it was locked and we were in!
Staff overall was really impolite and you there was always a queue during check in and out hours. Location wasn't that good as well, nothing to do in the direct surroundings. Bad atmosphere in general, we didn't meet anybody fun. — Maarten , Dutch (2010-05-16) Cool place try this one. most interesting hostel i've stayed in. friendly staff, and clean. bit of a walk with a big backpack. — debs , irish (2009-11-02) Welcoming was really nice, very nice and welcoming staff, really enjoyed my stay there. wasnt expensive either. — Tess , france (2008-07-27) Nice This hostel was very nice if you are young and laid back. The facilities were adequate and clean. The pod style beds were cool and gave for a little bit of privacy. Enough privacy that people got laid at night. It was an interesting experience and would go back again. I would not recommend it for people who are not interested in a little bit of a party. — Matt , USA (2008-02-25)