Astor Kensington

Astor Kensington is bright and clean and feels small and homey. Dorm rooms are like your bedroom at home -- expect a great night's sleep and a room you are happy to chill in! It's a relaxing place -- not a party hostel. It has everything for a few nights stay but lone travelers may need somewhere bigger and livelier to meet people.

The Location

The hostel is located close by Gloucester Road tube. Look carefully for the small hostel sign -- it is easy to miss! It is between an Italian restaurant and a News Agents.The location is mainly residential with a few eating places around and a Sainsburys supermarket just down from the hostel. The Natural History, Science, and V&A museums are a short walk away.

Rooms and Bathrooms

There are private rooms (some of which have en-suites) and dorm rooms (which are female only or mixed). They vary in size from four to ten beds. Dorms are comfy and homey looking. The dorm we stayed in even has a desk and chair! It has a sink and mirror and shower. Not all dorms have showers. The sink taps in our room are the wrong way round -- cold water comes out the hot tap and vice versa. Dorms are accessed by key card. There are large lockers under the beds, so bring a padlock. There are coat hooks.

There are one or two communal bathrooms per floor and they are clean. They are single bathrooms with one toilet and one shower per room. There are soap dispensers. Shower pressure and temperature control is good. There is plenty of space to change in bathrooms. But you may have to wait a while for a bathroom because there are only a few. Getting a dorm with shower inside is therefore recommended -- although you will have to get dressed in your dorm, as the dorm shower cubicle is very small and there is no hook for clothes. There was a good heater in the dorm and an air conditioning unit for summer.

Common Spaces

There is a small lounge area with two sofas, computers with internet (at a price) and a foosball table. Wi-Fi is available in the hostel for a price (including a weekly rate). There is no television in the lounge, so people tend to hang out in the kitchen where the TV is. The kitchen has a large seating area and this is probably the best area to meet people. Many people cook dinner here in the evening. The kitchen is very full at night with guests watching TV. There is not enough room for all guests! There is some drinking of alcohol and socialising going on in the kitchen but it doesn't get wild.

Free breakfast is available in the kitchen which consists of fruit, cereal, and toast with a large selection of spreads. Bread and fruit is available all day.There is a blackboard in the kitchen with activities for the week written up, such as cheap bar nights that hostel staff will take you to. There is a lift in the building and a luggage storage room.

Summary

This is a nice, clean place for a comfortable stay, but party animals should look elsewhere!

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
February 2009