Within walking distance to concert venues and Westfield Shopping Center
Private rooms with mini-fridges, desks, and en-suite bathrooms
Basic dorms with mini-fridges, kettles, and closets
24-hour cafe offers assortment of drinks and snacks
Communal kitchens available on each floor
Small outdoor patio with tables and chairs
Wi-Fi and public computers (for a fee)
Coin-operated laundry room
24-hour reception desk
On the outskirts of London
Wi-Fi costs a fee
No breakfast offered
Reports of cold showers and bothersome noise due to thin walls
Rooms lack air-conditioning
The two-pearl Abercorn House is located in Hammersmith, which is quite far from the main attractions of London, but well-placed next to public transportation and Westfield Shopping Centre. This budget choice is popular with backpackers as the 30 rooms provide bedding, towels, mini-fridges, and closets. Both private and dorm rooms lack air-conditioning, and they have thin walls and bothersome noise. The amenities are limited to a 24-hour cafe, laundry room, patio, communal kitchens, and (for a fee) public computers. Surprisingly, breakfast is not available and Wi-Fi costs extra. Travel Joy Hostels Chelsea might be a better option as it provides freebies like breakfast, Wi-Fi, and walking tours -- as well as has a hip bar attached to the hostel -- though rates are slightly higher.
Scene
Budget-friendly hostel with a few public spaces and contemporary design
Abercorn House attracts a younger, budget-minded crowd who doesn’t mind taking a metro or two to get to London's main attractions if it means saving money on lodgings. The charming brick building has outdoor and indoor common areas, most of which are modern and clean. The lobby is small, but functional with a reception desk and 24-hour cafe. Further in, there’s a living room with a flat-screen TV and tables and chairs (plus a few couches) where guests can interact. The TV room leads outdoors to a lovely patio with greenery and iron chairs pulled up to light gray tables. The atmosphere isn’t as lively as some hostels.
Location
Located in Hammersmith, far from central London but near concert venues and a mall
Abercorn House is located on the outskirts of London in Hammersmith. The location is best suited for guests who want to visit the Hammersmith Apollo (seven-minute walk) or O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (17-minute walk away). Europe’s largest shopping mall, Westfield Shopping Centre, takes 23 minutes to reach on foot. The neighborhood has plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars, but it'll require public transportation or a car ride to experience London’s most famous attractions and neighborhoods. The closest metro stop is a four-minute walk away, and there’s a bus stop that’s three minutes away on foot. London Heathrow is a 23-minute drive from the hostel.
Rooms
Dorms with bunk beds and mini-fridges; some private rooms have en-suite bathrooms
Rooms at the Abercorn House are simple and mostly clean. They offer plain walls, tiled floors, white bedding, and minimal storage space in the form of closets. Dorms lack the traditional lockers found in most hostel rooms. They do have mini-fridges, coffee- and tea-making facilities, central heating, Wi-Fi for a fee, bedding, towels, and small desks or tables. Dorms come with up to four Ikea-style bunk beds, and there are private rooms with double and twin beds. Most rooms have shared bathrooms that are clean and modern. There are a few private room types with en-suite bathrooms and small showers, though no toiletries or hairdryers. Take note that the thin walls allow for bothersome noise, and some guests note that there isn't enough hot water to go around.
Features
Cafe open 24/7, communal kitchens, and coin-operated laundry room
Most hostels offer breakfast and free Wi-Fi, but that’s not the case at Abercorn House. There’s no breakfast provided -- but there is a 24-hour cafe with hot and cold drinks and snacks available. Wi-Fi costs a fee, as do the public computers. There are some convenient features at this hostel, such as communal kitchens on each floor that include sinks, stoves, ovens, mini-fridges, kettles, and toasters. A communal laundry room with coin-operated washers and dryers is a nice perk.