Birmingham Central Backpackers - Hostel

It’s central and a good price, with the main train station only about a 15 minute walk away. The location is lively and geared towards parties. The kitchen is very clean and well stocked, though breakfast is basic: tea, coffee, toast with jam and some fruit. The community area is nice, but people aren’t very communicative and don’t even say hello back. The shared room is large, with three level bunk beds. There are plenty of showers, but only three toilets on the ground floor. There’s a locker, but bring your own padlock.

The hostel’s in a handy spot, close enough to walk to the city centre, markets, shopping centres and the bus station. Staff were welcoming, and the free self-serve breakfast is useful if you’d rather eat in and save a bit. The bathrooms were clean and well set up, with a toilet, sink, hand dryer, soap and shower. Our single room had a good amount of space, hooks for jackets and scarves, and room to move around. There’s no lift, but the stairs felt safe even with luggage. My main issue was the bed: it was basically foam, and the pillow was hard, so I didn’t sleep well. Still, I’d recommend it.

The mattress and bedding made for a rough night. It felt like sleeping on a slab of wood, since the mattress was just foam. Apart from that, I’d stay here again. The location is central, the staff are really helpful, and the rooms were clean with facilities kept in good shape. Breakfast was free, with a great spread and fruit.

There’s a small charge to leave luggage after check-in, though it wasn’t much. Otherwise, I had a nice stay: the beds were comfortable, the kitchen was good, and breakfast was free. Tea and coffee were available with milk, and I liked the shower too, especially the strong water pressure.