Located in a pretty residential area three blocks from Hyde Park
Near Paddington Station for the tube and trains to Heathrow Airport
Private rooms have towels, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi, coffee, and tea
Pedestal sinks, bathtubs, and large medicine cabinets in bathrooms
Free continental breakfast and Wi-Fi in common areas
Breakfast room with a flat-screen TV and adjacent outdoor space
Cafe with board games and 24-hour lobby snack bar
Free daily Royal London walking tours; other themed tours with fee
Free, limited on-site parking, subject to availability
Dingy rooms with marked-up walls, scratched furniture, and stained carpet
Bathrooms have rusty fixtures, cracked tile, and moldy grout
Wi-Fi, towels, and padlocks come with fees in dorms (typical for hostels)
Elevator is frequently broken and stairs are steep and narrow
Fees for using public computers and credit cards to book
No air-conditioning or laundry facilities
This two-pearl hostel ranks a couple notches below comparable stays at the same price point. It's located in Paddington tucked inside a pretty seven-story Georgian-style row house, and, like many hostels, design is an afterthought. Its 68 rooms have run-of-the-mill bunk beds and limited amenities -- but are also dingy and in need of a refresh. Free breakfast, a small cafe, and a 24-hour snack bar are bonuses. The most notable feature, however, are daily walking tours, including a free, two-hour Royal London excursion. Even still, the YHA London Central or Clink78 Hostel in King's Cross are smarter bets and offer more stylish budget digs.
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Scene
Ho-hum hostel in need of a refresh that draws budget-minded travelers
Despite its 19th-century exterior, Equity Point London Hotel has a contemporary atmosphere that's somewhere between college dorm and low-key coffee shop. The lobby and common areas are doused with high-spirited colors, message boards are covered with papers and scribbles, and informational pamphlets are jammed into wall racks. The downside: furnishings show wear and spaces feel institutional, which may be a turnoff to guests outside of their college years. The property attracts a younger set less interested in Equity Point's tidiness than its social aspects. Families and travelers on a shoestring budget also find their way here.
Location
Attractive neighborhood near Hyde Park and Paddington Station, but far from most sights
This hostel is situated on a busy street in a residential neighborhood although the area is generally quiet. An eight-minute walk will get you to Paddington Station for the tube and trains to Heathrow Airport. Restaurants, bars, and shops are a step removed but crop up near the station. Except for charming Notting Hill and bustling Portobello Market, major tourist sights and areas of interest are at least a 30-minute walk.
Rooms
Basic hostel furnishings and worn bathrooms that could use an upgrade
The basic, uninspiring decor in guest rooms here is typical for hostels and wouldn't normally raise an eyebrow -- unless it's worn and dingy, which can be the case.
Rooms have the same colorful touches as common areas, but walls are marked-up, carpeting is stained, and furniture looks weathered. Curtains are chintzy and ultra sheer. Bathrooms need the most attention, with rusty fixtures, cracked tile, and moldy grout, but they have pedestal sinks, bathtubs with showers, and large medicine cabinets.
Dormitory units range from quads to quarters for eight, with women's dorms available. Metal bunk beds have thin mattresses but come with reading lamps and charging outlets. Clothing can be stashed in steel lockers, which require a padlock, and desks have mirrors and mounted hairdryers. Twins and family rooms are private; lockers are swapped for closets, towels and Wi-Fi are included, plus you'll find electric kettles, free coffee and tea, and framed prints that add some cheer. Summer travelers take note -- there's no AC.
Features
Interesting walking tours plus free breakfast, Wi-Fi in common areas, and a 24-hour snack bar
Ironically, the hostel's standout feature isn't located on the property -- it's the daily walking tours, featuring a free, two-hour Royal London tour and two other themed tours (The Grim Reaper and The Pub Crawl) that are reasonably priced.
A free continental breakfast is served in a space reminiscent of a high school cafeteria except for a flat-screen TV in the corner. Rainbow-bright paint and flat bench pillows attempt to liven things up. An adjoining outdoor area with picnic tables are set up in an interior courtyard, though it's slightly claustrophobic and dreary. To satisfy late-night munchies, the lobby's snack bar is open 24 hours. There's also a cafe with mismatched decor that serves hot beverages and muffins.
The hostel has an elevator, but guests with mobility issues should be aware that it's frequently out of service. Free Wi-Fi is available in common areas, though some guests say connections are slow. Charges apply for using the public computers (printing is free at reception), and a small nightly fee is tacked on to rates for those paying with a credit card. The hostel doesn't have laundry facilities, but there's fee limited parking subject to availability.
