Piccadilly Backpackers Hostel

Warning -- Scabies
I knew even before I stayed in Piccadilly not to have high expectations but it was worse than i thought. Unfriendly staff, disgusting toilets and rooms. On our first day when we were going to put our bags in the baggage room, we saw the person who worked looking through someones bag! But the reason I'm writing is that after staying there my friends and I got scabies -- small insects that lay eggs under your skin and makes your skin itch like hell. so even if it's cheap don't stay there you will regret it, i know i did.

The whole place was just a dump
ok they say it has twenty-four-hour showers. it didnt when i was there. there wasnt a bar and the restaurant opens at 7:30 a.m. til 10 a.m. they allow anyone to walk in during day time. at 10:30 i was asleep only to be woken up by the cleaning staff basically telling to me get out of bed (i didnt). only good thing about this place is its location.

Crappy
We decided to stay here -- the location can't be beat, and it's true, it can't. But the place is gross. The female showers stink from not being cleaned, and there is chronically no hot water. The internet is reliable but not free as mentioned in another review. The room was a little closet with rickety old bunk beds jammed into every corner. Worst was the bedbugs! Our roommate got them in the Japanese-style rooms that are supposed to be the nicest. At first the hostel tried to deny she got them there, and wouldn't move her. Then after she went to the doctor, they finally admitted that it wasn't a new problem at their hostel and moved her into our room, where she had trouble sleeping because of the itch of these bites that ran over the entirety of her body. No good! Even if the place were free, I wouldn't stay here again. Yuck.

Good
I found the hostel to be quite nice.The staff was very friendly.We were seven ladies in a eight-bedroom dorm.The room was spacious and had it's own shower and washing basin and the toilet was right next to our room. It's a great location. Near to all the best sights. Had no problem with the hostel. You get what you pay for!

Bedbugs
I stayed a week here and was severely bitten by Bedbugs, when I was diagnosed the doctor said it was chronic around Piccadilly Circus this problem. This was the first time I was in London (I'm originally from Australia). I initially had welts and hives all over my neck and upper shoulders. I had scarring on my body, which my pyjamas did not protect me. It was very severe I was placed on corticosteroids so I could get sleep and would not itch. It did not fully heal for a month but what hurt the most was the permanent scarring, which meant I could not were my usual dresses or t-shirts. I have to now cover up. There has been a problem with this place for ages, according to the cook who I spoke to in the elevator. He saw how bad I looked and asked me, which is how I found out about it. I overlooked all the bad reviews thinking that it would be ok, but now I know better, and thought I would warn other people about this problem so they do not suffer like the way I did. The place needs a complete overhaul, new mattress, and chemical treatment of its walls and floors. But they only think of money. This Piccadilly backpackers only cares about the number of people it can get in through its doors, nothing else. Because of its location I chose it, but it can never replace all I had to endure physically. Stay here at your own risk. If I have known, I would travel further out from london than have to deal with this place. It's not worth it.

I got bitten by one hundred fleas!
Please don't believe in what you see in the Piccadilly Backpacker hostel website. I booked a twin private room and it was terrible. The bunk bed was misplaced and blocked the door. We couldn't open the window and it was terribly hot! I couldn't even breathe. Above all, it was horribly dirty! You might think why I rant so much because this is a hostel. I don't mind staying in a dirty place but this one is unbearable and I saw tons of fleas on my bed and my blanket. At first, I got bitten but it was not that bad. The next night it was so itchy and I had to scratch a lot. I told the staff and they said they would clean the room. I'm not so sure about that. Now, I am back home in Thailand and there were like a hundred bite marks! Literally! I had to pay the doctor visit and the medication. I'm not worth it. Please don't say that we poor people deserve this. At least, they should be responsible and keep the room clean.

Good location, bad everything else
Yes, the location is great. That's it. The carpeting was loose in numerous areas, which I tripped over repeatedly. All of the showers on my floor were broken in some way. It was insanely loud. The staff weren't very friendly. Worst of all, we had a fake fire alarm at 1:30am, which, according to another guest "happens quite frequently." Can't recommend this place to anybody.

Location, Location
Stayed there Sep 2006 and there were renovations going on in the Common Room, halls, and kitchen area. Had a semi private room all to myself for five nights. A double bunk, sink, and locker with showers and toilets just across the hall with plenty of hot water. Free breakfast consisted of tea, instant coffee, two slices of toast with marg and jam and a Tang type of juice. Since I travel with my own coffee, their toast, marg, jam, and juice suited me to start my day. We did have a flood in the bathroom when one of the toilets overflowed so people should learn what not to put down toilets. The people ranged from the usual young ones in couples, traveling families, a school group from South Africa with teachers, another senior like myself, numerous Japanese young people with their huge bags and everything in between. The elevator worked fine but was slow at times and filled with luggage and people checking in or out. I found the security staff very kind but some of the reception and cleaning staff had limited English skills but tried their best to answer your questions. It was a bargain for a London visit.

Worst time of my life
Extremely rude staff, numerous freezing cold showers, sh*tty breakfast, internet crashes with no refund, terrible beds, no amenities in the lunch room (forks, knives, toasters) numerous fake fire alarms in the middle of the night. terrible time overall. all it has going for it was the location and the security was reasonable.

Great location -- had a good time, staff were helpful with pointing me in the right direction for the local shows and night spots to visit. Met lovely group of Girls traveling together from Italy. Would go back mainly because of the location, saved money from having to take the tube as you are in the heart of it all!

ok, so this is the place to stay for two days max. the location is great and the price not too bad. Not for extended periods of time. the kitchen has a microwave and that is it. the bedding is fresh and the rooms are clean but a little rundown. hot showers are rare, and the friendliness of staff are come and go. the TV in the TV room has only five channels and of that only one is clear. this place is great if you don't intend to spend much time here and your objective is to see the sites.

Let's start with the positive. The location is wonderful, as is the price. But that's where it ends. The lift is a death trap, the staff not polite at all, the rooms tatty, the showers cold, the breakfast is toast and orange beverage. I stayed in a mixed dorm and had two young people getting drunk and taking mushrooms on my top bunk. Incredible loud party hostel. The only redeeming quality really is the location. This is a great place for young partygoers but not if you want a decent night's sleep, a smile, and a hot shower.

This hostel is really not well-run, but any gung-ho traveler should be able to handle it. Location is ideal (Piccadilly is the place to be), as is price (12 pounds/night is great for London). That said, the staff are lousy and reception is on the fourth floor, which makes quite a bit of sense, especially if your room is on the ground floor and your key card mysteriously deactivates every time you walk out the door. The lift doesn't work and looks like it never will. Staff patrol the halls to keep folks from hanging out in the hallways, and many an innocent question overheard at reception was spurned away scornfully. No extra blankets, and asking nicely is a futile effort. Breakfast consists of sliced bread. The pathetic story takes a tragic turn, however, when I check out with my three roommates and leave my money belt in the room. Yes, I am a fool. When I return it's been brought to the front desk, by the maid, the surly staff member tells me (oh they definitely made sure to make me feel like an idiot for -- well, for being an idiot), only to discover later in the train that two twenty-pound bills missing. Indeed. But if you are savvy enough to hold your ground against disgruntled, evil staff members, and are not much of a breakfast-eater, then I'd recommend the place for the two strong pros mentioned above.

brilliant! this hostel is ideal for sleeping in and getting around london! dont believe what others say! what do they want its a hostel for gods sake, if they wanted a hotel they should have spent hotel money! its central to london, a place to sleep thats safe, secure and warm! we also met patrick swayze! yes the movie star who was in the show next door! so the week was brilliant! great for nights out in soho, not far to walk home. This hostel is the best for London.

When we arrived we were greeted by a dozen smokers sitting on the front steps to the entrance then an American guy who kept talking to his friends whilst taking out details.We then went to the fourth floor where Reception was. When we got up there we had to kick our way through hige white bags of dirty laundry.We were also greeted by a young guy wearing nothing but a towel, which did not cover most of his body. When in recpetion a dark haired girl asked us rather rudely and uppishly 'bookings." There was no "Hi, how are you -- enjoy your stay!" nothing. the common room was an absolute fright, a disgrace. Finally we got to our rooms -- 327. Four-bedroom dorm. All I can say is, i got my mobile out and phoned my parents in utter disbelief. Crummy ceiling, a bottle of pickles from a month June (06) (we were there July 06) and the ornaments were 'edible' bride and groom tops from a wedding cake. complete with a huge edible sheep knitting. (Bizarre.) The mens shower rooms were abismal, toilets were disgusting. not very many people spoke english. Everything seemed like such a bother for them. The internet wasnt working and they promised video nights and games. not once and we were there for five days. it must have happened when we blinked or something. The heat in the place was unreal. 18C outside (54F) and inside it was 32C (82F) whilst we tried to sleep. the only good thing about it was that it was extremely central and also we had a picture of Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in our room out of Gone With The Wind. They charge you for a lock which you need (however, round the corner there is a locksmith and i got a great lock for my locker for £2) they charge for all bathroom amenities and for keeping your luggage -- (£5 a night!). £108 for five nights. Worth it for the centralness of it, not worth it for the accommodation and staff who were so rude it was unreal. One out of ten. I would go back if the place had a complete makeover and got rid of the staff but I doubt it as they are making a fortune out of tourists. It's extremley central and if you dont mind living in a horrible place for five days and men practically wearing nothing but towels then -- you'll love it!! We met a french girl who stayed there for two weeks and a French guy who is staying there for a month. he also paraded around the room in his boxers as we all did as it was sooo hot in the building. except for reception which was air conditioned. Constant sweat in the rooms. Horrible horrible place.