Pros
- 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
Cons
- 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
Bottom Line
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.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Cribs
- Internet
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.
- Eight-minute walk to Paddington Station
- 25-minute walk to Notting Hill and Portobello Market
- 18 minutes to Piccadilly Circus via tube
- 23 minutes to British Museum via tube
- 23 minutes to Trafalgar Square via tube
- 25 minutes to St. Paul's Cathedral via tube
- 26 minutes to Westminster Abbey via tube
- 27 minutes to Buckingham Palace via tube
- 28 minutes to London Eye via tube
- 35 minutes to Tate Modern via tube
- 41 minutes to Tower of London via tube
- 27-minute drive to Heathrow Airport (more with traffic)
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.
Related Hotels
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.
- Eight-minute walk to Paddington Station
- 25-minute walk to Notting Hill and Portobello Market
- 18 minutes to Piccadilly Circus via tube
- 23 minutes to British Museum via tube
- 23 minutes to Trafalgar Square via tube
- 25 minutes to St. Paul's Cathedral via tube
- 26 minutes to Westminster Abbey via tube
- 27 minutes to Buckingham Palace via tube
- 28 minutes to London Eye via tube
- 35 minutes to Tate Modern via tube
- 41 minutes to Tower of London via tube
- 27-minute drive to Heathrow Airport (more with traffic)
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.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
-
Balcony / Terrace / Patio
-
Cabanas
-
Cable
-
Cribs
-
Full Kitchen
-
Internet
-
Kids Allowed
-
Poolside Drink Service
-
Swim-Up Bar
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
