London Hotel Tips by supercarys

I stayed at the Astor Hyde Park for several days. The first was a large dorm room, second ws a four bed dorm, last time I was there I had a two bed female dorm.

Dorm Rooms
The large 12 bed dorm was fine apart from the fact that someone got into the wrong bed and the real owner started shrieking at him at about 2am, telling him it was her bed and waking everyone else up.

The four bed dorm was ok apart from the fact that I didn't get a key because the person staying there a few days before me hadn't returned the key - I still think it was unacceptable for them to not give me a key. Luckily, the people in the room who did have a key were nice enough to let my use theirs if I needed to go to the loo at night.

The other problem was that the bed above me (bunk beds) had about 40cms clearance, making it EXTREMELY difficult to get into, and the bits of wire holding it together were all hanging down ready to poke my eye out if I sat up in a hurry.

The two bed dorm was on the very top level and it is a real slog to get up there with your luggage, let me tell you! There are 4 levels with high rooves so it was like a 6 storey climb!

Showers
The showers are the usual hostel quality (not very nice) but at least you had temperature control and a lock on the door.

Breakfast
The breakfast is free. You get corn flakes, tea, coffee, fresh bread rolls, toast and spreads. It's quite good.

Internet / Payphones
Internet is quite expensive at a pound for half an hour, you can get it cheaper in cafes on Bayswater. There are payphones on several levels available for use.

Unique Qualities: Some of the staff are really friendly and very helpful, others are surly and full of themselves (like the guy who wouldn't give me a key). When I was ill, one guy, Cameron, was really helpful and went out of his way to try and make me more comfortable, helping me find a doctor and calling me a taxi but giving me back his commision. On the other hand, I was kicked out of the lounge room when they were cleaning (I had to change dorm rooms and there was nowhere else for me to go) despite the fact that I was so ill I had to lie down and instead I went and sat in the toilet for half an hour while they cleaned - no sympathy there.

At roughly £20 a night, it's expensive for what you get, but that's the average price in London.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Address: 2-6 Inverness Terrace, , London, England W2 3HY
Directions: Get the tube to Queensway station, it's closer than Bayswater
Website: http://www.hostels.com/en/availability.php/HostelNumber.521