New Cross Inn Hostel

Dover Castle - New Cross Inn Hostel is a average, everyday hostel. Any age group could be satisfied here, but note there is a bar downstairs that plays music usually late into the night (its effects depend on which floor your room is on). The hostel is relatively cheap, but the location is not the most desirable in London. The rooms are of decent size and quality but the bathrooms leave more to be desired. A guest at the hostel says it is popular for long-term stays, as they offer a weekly rate (many of the guests we met there were staying for a longer period of time). The hostel offers very little to take your breath away, but gets the job done.

The Location

The location of the hostel is one of the more negative points. It is about an eight-minute train ride (the trains come anywhere from every hour to every thirty minutes depending on the time of day) or a thirty-minute bus ride (bus runs all night). There is no access to the hostel by tube as there are major renovations occuring in London on this tube route. Be sure to get a day pass for zones 1 and 2 at the train station for use on any tube, train, or bus within the city -- it saves you a lot!

The neighborhood is not the most flashy in London. It seems to be slightly lower class. It is not necessarily dangerous as the train and bus stations are just a couple blocks away and the street has a decent amount of traffic, but be wary of walking alone down the side streets.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The bedrooms at this hostel are great. The beds are fairly comfortable and the room we stayed in had a sink (it is unknown if all rooms have sinks). They have different-sized rooms, but all have bunks ranging from four to eight beds. Each guest has his own key to the room. Towels are not included in the room and it is advisable to bring your own sheets.

The bathrooms are this hostel's major downfall. They are terrible! Don't let the pristine condition of the bathrooms fool you -- it is probably because they are never used as the hostel has a major water problem. Do not expect any water at all on the weekends here and if you do get enough water to shower it will be ice cold. There was not even enough water to turn on the sink when we stayed there. While this could be just a one time occurrence, other guests that had been there for a longer time mentioned it as well.

Common Spaces

The hostel offers great common spaces. There is a common room with a TV, movies, and books. There are also multiple kitchens in the hostel to make your own foods and refrigerators to store supplies. The hostel is located directly above a bar that is used to serve breakfast in as well. The breakfast includes toast with toppings, cereal with milk, coffee, and some kind of beverage. While the bar does play music late into the nights, the hostel is not necessarily a party hostel. There are a variety of people that stay here that cannot be placed into one specific group, though it does seem that many are using the hostel as a temporary residence until they find something else (it is kind of strange that they can stay here for a long period of time with the water situation). There is a luggage storage available for free and lockers available for a charge. There is a computer in the lobby with internet access as well.

Summary

Overall, Dover Castle - New Cross Inn Hostel is nothing to write home about. You will have a very average stay and if you are not too picky about your living conditions, you will have a great time here. For the price you will pay compared to other hostels closer in London, it is definitely worth the short travel time. There are some nice amenities at the hostel and the bedrooms are nice, but the bathrooms are way below par. If you are just going to be in London for a weekend, you will find no problems with this hostel and you will surely enjoy your stay.

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March 2008