Ashlee House

At Ashlee House, the reception area is bright and welcoming, with the London tube map as wallpaper and a funky fake-fur sofa. The other communal areas are in the basement, including a tiny chill-out area, kitchen, and internet corner. The lack of space there would hinder any attempt to meet people, especially since the staff do not allow people to hang out in the kitchen, even though the chill-out area is so tiny.

The shared bathrooms are compact, but fairly clean and with strong hot water showers. Other facilities include a luggage storage room and a laundry. The room is more closet than anything else. The six-room dorms are poorly lit with bunk beds squeezed together and barely enough space to turn around. There is a sink in the room but the light switch is outside! There are six hooks for coats, but not a cupboard or locker in sight. (The staff's advice is to keep any valuables in the luggage room when you go out for the day -- comforting news!)

The most unfortunate part of the hostel is the state of the bedding. The candy-striped duvet covers may look cheery and inviting on the website, but they are clearly not washed very often, and probably haven't been since those photos were taken. One of the girls in our room woke up in the middle of the night crying that her face and legs had been bitten by bedbugs.

The best thing about the hostel is its location. It is situated conveniently near King's Cross/St. Pancras train and tube stations. It is a ten-minute walk from the station, where you can catch train services to the rest of the country. However, the surroundings are rather dodgy, and King's Cross is apparently where a few other hostels are located -- ones provided for the homeless, that is. In addition, the hostel is on a main street across a club that plays loud music throughout the night, so ask for a room facing the back if you can.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
November 2006