Budget
accommodation in one of London's best transport hubs
Two-minute walk
from King's Cross and Euston Stations
Choice of private
or dorm rooms, some with en-suite bathrooms
Bright and
buzzing all-day cafe-bar
Coin-operated
laundry room with ironing equipment
Luggage room with lockers
TV lounge with
tables and beanbags
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Traffic noise in street-facing rooms
Bathrooms were old when we visited (due for 2016 renovations)
No communal kitchen facilities
The YHA London St
Pancras offers fairly typical, no-frills hostel accommodation in the bustling
King's Cross neighborhood of central London. Despite overlooking a busy main
road, its location is a big draw, with excellent transport links practically on
its doorstep from either King's Cross or Euston Stations. Rooms are basic and showing signs of wear -- especially in
bathrooms (which were due for a renovation in early 2016) -- though everything is generally clean and cozy enough. A mix of dorms and private rooms are available, and some have en-suite bathrooms while others share bathrooms. A cafe-bar near reception makes a bright
and inviting social hub, however for a hipper hosteling option check out the Generator Hostel nearby, though it's a little pricier.
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.
Scene
Youth hostel for budget travelers with a buzzy vibe
This modern hostel stands out from the classical architecture all around it, all the more so because of the bright signature green signage of the Youth Hostel
Association. Stepping in
through its sliding doors, the lobby is a surprisingly pleasant and buzzy space,
adorned with fun jaunty notices, cartoon murals, and a daily "What's
On" board of events. It's generally well maintained and decorated, with
playful London-themed art running along hallways and stairwells being a
particularly nice touch. As you might expect from a low-frills, hostel accommodation this property also has its fair share of scuffed walls, strip lighting, and a general budget feel. Guests are a predictable mix of international backpackers,
students, and young shoestring budget travelers with a few frugal families thrown in the mix.
Location
Set on a busy main road minutes walk from King's Cross transport hub
This hostel is set
right on one of central London's busiest thoroughfares -- Euston Road -- just
opposite the British Library in the always bustling King's Cross neighborhood.
The newly revitalized King's Cross and St. Pancras transport hub is just a few minutes' away with excellent tube and overland train connections, as well as the Eurostar
terminal to Paris. Euston Station is a few minutes in the other direction, and is one stop from buzzing Camden Town. Attractions such as Regent's Park, the
British Museum, and Oxford Street shopping are a short five-minute bus journey
away. Expect a 20-minute tube journey to either Buckingham Palace or Tate Modern, and 30 minutes to Hyde Park. Heathrow Airport is a 40-minute train ride from here, while Gatwick Airpot will take about an hour to reach by train.
Rooms
Bare-bones private rooms or single-sex dorms with en-suite or shared bathrooms
This hostel offers
a range of simple, clean rooms including private rooms for two to
four guests, or shared, single-sex dorms with bunk beds for up to six. Furnishings and decor are basic though well-maintained, with the hotel's signature lime green hue in the bedding and simple metal or oak veneer furniture. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, lockers, and
heating/air-conditioning units. Bathroom facilities are either en-suite or shared,
and while generally clean when we visited in 2015, they were old and could use an update (renovations were expected to be complete in early 2016). Towels and bedding are included in the price.
Lower-level rooms facing the road are inevitably prone to some traffic noise.
Features
Pleasant cafe-bar, laundry room, TV lounge with bean bags, and free Wi-Fi
A bright and
pleasant cafe and bar serves a reasonably priced continental breakfast and a selection of light meals --
including burgers and pizzas -- plus coffee, juices, and alcoholic drinks; it is
very much the hub of the hostel. There's also an ATM and a wall where guests
can leave tags with their favorite memories. Further amenities include a
coin-operated guest laundry with irons and ironing boards, secure lockers for
left luggage, and a TV lounge with tables and beanbags, though there are no kitchen
facilities. There is a meeting room on-site with a long boardroom-style table, though this could be better used as a game room or some other type of common space, as business events aren't exactly big business in hostels. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
