Barmy Badger Backpackers is not a bad hostel, but not an awesome one either. Earls Court is just a few stops away from major London sites and the night bus makes it super easy to get home from a late night of clubbing.
The one major flaw about Barmy is the permanents there. It must be about 80% permanents that stay there, and most are Aussie. Needless to say, they are very cliquey and even put down travelers. Since these people get up early and work, they get upset when you cramp their style by taking a shower in the morning or taking too long in the bathroom.
Making it down for the free breakfast is often difficult because the workers have usually already ravaged the complimentary breakfast (cereal, milk, and bread with margarine or jam). There is a giant Tesco about two blocks away where you can stock up a bit and put your food in one of the two fridges.
Security at Barmy is good enough. They have a key code entry at the front door. There is someone at the front desk until around 10pm and they generally know who is staying there because only a few travelers come and go. There is also a key for the rooms.
They do accept credit cards, but charge extra for using one. They don't give you a map of the city seeing as the hostel is not geared to travelers as much. The whole scene is kind of depressing sometimes; people would gossip, people would get super wasted, people would be depressed about not having work. One night the fire alarm was pulled on several occasions and the owner did it because he was having fun -- don't get me wrong the owner is a really good guy, but he does like to have fun with people.
All in all, Barmy Badger Backpackers is a good place, and cheap, particularly if you take advantage of the kitchen and nearby Tesco supermarket.
Once you get out of Earls Court Station (Tube), the main Exit towards Earls Court, hang a left. Walk down about three or four blocks and take a left on the street with the Sainsbury Local on the corner. It's about five places down on the left.
— Exklusive Hostelz.com Übersicht
February 2005
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