London Backpackers

I am young and like to have fun, and not usually very picky, but this place just didn't do it for me. It's all the way in Area 4, way out of the way of the London center (so plan on paying a lot for the tube.) The atmosphere is average -- there's this weird real estate business right in the middle of it, and it's extremely dirty. Maybe it was just the double room I was in but, I kid you not there was mildew on the walls. And there's no wifi. On the upside, there is free internet, a kitchen, the staff in generally helpful, and it does allow you to see another part of London (but it's not too interesting). Overall, I would not suggest going here. I'm sure there's better ones.

I would recommend you stay somewhere else! This is the worst hostel I've stayed at, and is in my opinion, substandard for it's price. For a four-night stay, we had to change rooms twice. The beds were really uncomfy (unless you happen to like springs digging into you) and felt like they were going to collapse at any time. It's situated on a pretty major intersection, and it's very noisy all day and night. Earplugs are a must. You can try and close the windows, but then it will be even hotter and more uncomfortable than it already is. The bathrooms were not cleaned very often (perhaps not ever) and you have to hold down a button the whole time you are taking a shower or the water stops. And you can't even choose the temp. The kitchen wasn't much better. It was also dirty and way underequipped. When we stayed, there was one bowl! There was no space to keep any food, so we had some stuff in our dorm. We didn't know you were not supposed to have food or drink in there, and the cleaner so generously threw it out for us without any notice. Some positive notes -- there is a washing machine and dryer, but it costs 4 pounds. Free computers with net, but they weren't always working and there were often people using them otherwise. People staying were nice. There is a games room in the basement, but it should be renamed to the smoke lounge, as it's the only place to smoke in the whole hostel all the smokers gather here -- and the ventilation is not good. In conclusion, there are better places for the same price, and not so far away from the centre.

Fine compromise between affordable price and reasonable comfort. Having used hostels in London before I must say that this is step ahead of those. Of course, it's not a hotel. And so the rooms might be cramped sometimes, and the kitchen might be a terrible mess after someone has passed through it as if he was Attila and a good number of Huns. If you want a room of your own, and restaurant food, maybe you are looking for a hotel. Pay for it, and you'll get it. But as a hostel it is really reasonably priced. You got a self-catering option (very appreciated to save some pounds in a city as amazingly expensive as London). It's away far from the center (about half an hour by tube), but because of that is much cheaper than similar but centrally located hostels. The same kind of accomodation (four bed room and no breakfast) will cost you as much several pounds more a night. Anyway the tube station is something like twenty meters from the hostel. And there are night buses to to get to Golders Green (if you are flying from or to Stanstead this is a blessing, as National express busses stop right there). Plenty of restaurants, pubs, and supermarkets nearby to make your shopping (and a Jewish bagel shop in Church Lane that you should not miss). Safe and relaxed neighbourhood. If you can stand a shared room, a shared kitchen, and a bit of noise of the nearby tube and road, this is a fantastic option to sleep in London.

I really enjoyed my stay here. The staff are very helpful, the beds comfortable, and the area was very safe at all times. At 4forty-eight, I am somewhat older than the average guest but I was never made to feel uncomfortable in anyway. The only negatives here are that I stupidly forgot to bring my own towel and facecloth (bedding is provided). Also, the tube is very close but in Zone Three, which is somewhat far from most of the attractions but gave me a chance to check out Camden Town and Hampstead. The weekend Market in Camden is an absolute must and the Coffee Cup Restaurant in Hampstead is a hidden jewel (turn left from the Tube and down about a block and a half). There's not enough space for all of the guests to keep food for the stay and never enough dishes or utensils. The street and Tube noises were very distracting at night but I always have earplugs with me. Considering the fun I had during my stay I can more than forgive the Tube location and the lack of utensils and kitchen space. And my last issue is a hazard of living in a modern city. All in all I would stay here again in a heartbeat, even at my advanced age.

I really enjoyed my stay here, the staff really helpful. One night nearly the whole hostel cooked pasta and we drank till about 4 a.m. It was great. I have been travelling for about 4 months and have never had so much fun in a hostel. The place was also very safe with cameras and locks on all rooms with keycards to come into building, so we never had a problem. I think this place is very nice and I will for sure come back when I finish seeing France on my way home. the only problem I had with the hostel was that I drank too much and didn't get to sleep — ha ha ha. Thanks to the staff.

Good points: the communal areas, especially the smoking room. They had a funky, cozy atmosphere, which was nice. It's close to the Tube station and the bus station for the airport. It was the cheapest place I could find for a double room in London. Bad points: Our double room, which we nicknamed "the cell," was pretty awful and I also question its legality, from a fire-safety point of view. The only light source came from a 4 x 3-ft. piece of glass near the roof, which just looked into another room so that if they had the light on our room was really bright. Also there was another tiny window, which was smashed, that looked out onto the corridor and was just opposite the creaky dormitory door that slammed shut every time someone went through it — not very good for sleeping at all! The room was also excessively hot and lacked privacy because the tiny window had to be left open in order for you to breathe some oxygen. The showers were also lukewarm and you had to press the button every two seconds for the water to run. I did really like the hostel other than our room because it had a nice atmosphere with good communal areas. It seemed like a lot of people were staying there for the summer to work in London.

The only reason I give this hostel 4 stars instead of 5 is that it's way out at the end of Zone 3. It takes a while to get to, but the hostel is RIGHT by the station, so that's handy. There's a nice friendly guy at check-in, and there's free Internet in half-hour blocks (when there's people waiting behind you, which there almost always are; you can go on longer if there's no one!) You can reserve Net time too if you need to. I was in a friendly 10-bed girl's dorm, with a huge mirror and lots of space. I didn't feel cramped or anything. Overall it was very nice.

We really enjoyed our stay at London Backpackers — the staff were really helpful and the facilities are really good. I thoroughly recommend the breakfast in the cafe next door — it's cheap and filling. It's next to a train station and only about 15 minutes from Camden Town.

Nice place, and very safe with locks on all rooms and security. I liked it, and I will come again.

I'm mixed about this hostel. It is really convenient to the Tube, but not really convenient to the center of London (it's the last stop in Zone 3). During the day, the area has a lot of convenient shops, but I'm not sure about the safety of the area at night. On my first night, I saw two guys anger a third, who then chased after them. At some point, a bat came out, and about five cop cars quickly arrived. All this I saw out of my window. Also, though there is no curfew, if you plan to return after 10 p.m., you need to put down a £10 deposit for a door key. Additionally, there is only one set of bathrooms. I don't know about the guy's, but the girls had three stalls, three showers (separated by curtains only), and two sinks. Yet, when the cleaning crew (who didn't clean very well — it looked the same to me after they left) came about, they had to totally close the bathroom for about 5-10 minutes. The beds in the ladies dorm weren't anything special, but they weren't horrible either — fairly clean. If your main concern is saving money, this is a fairly decent hostel. But, if you want to be close to everything, spend more and go elsewhere.

Very convenient to the Tube station but Zone Three is a pain, not to mention more expensive. The street is noisy but the beds are fairly comfortable. The free Internet is nice, and the showers, while group, are hot and have good pressure! Very safe and clean.

Cheap and clean place, close to trains and buses. I liked it a lot. The only problem was the weather was a bit bad when I stayed there. But the hostel inside was good and I will come back. Thank you.

Thank you guys! We loved it, the place is great, all new, clean and very safe. The staff were brilliant and very helpful. Keep up the good work!!!

I like this place. It's in a very safe and nice area — and it's very cheap with free Internet and clean rooms. It's a nice place to stay and next door to the train station.

Pretty bloody average. £9 a night is out of date, the cheapest price is £12. No breakfast is included. No power points (electrical outlets) in rooms (in my room at least). It's good being next to a Tube station, but it's in Zone 3. Better to go with something in Zone 1 or 2 for the same price or a pound or two more. Free Internet was good, though.