Atlas Hostel

It’s a quiet, pleasant area near Paddington station, and the staff were friendly, though not very chatty. But the room we got wasn’t the one we’d booked, and its condition became harder to overlook the longer we stayed. The floors and ceilings were badly uneven, the kitchenette was falling apart, and the beds squeaked, felt uncomfortable, and were a bit dirty. No bed bugs, though. The bathroom layout was odd and it badly needed repairs. We were there in summer, and the room got extremely hot. The fans didn’t work properly, so we shut the windows and curtains to keep out the sun and heat. Housekeeping opened them all again and also left half the beds uncleaned. London prices may be high and this hostel was cheap by comparison, but we still felt it cost too much for the state of the room.

Mohammed at reception went above and beyond, and I was really impressed with his service. The bed was comfortable too, and the location near Paddington Station worked really well. I’d definitely recommend giving the place a try if you want to stay nearby.

Even arriving around 2 AM, we got a warm welcome. Haidar helped us sort out nearby parking and fixed a problem with our booking, all in the middle of the night. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. There was also a fridge, microwave, and kettle in our room. We were really happy with our stay!

The location was a real plus, with Paddington underground close by, shops nearby, and a quiet area. Our room had a bathroom that worked fine and a kitchen with a fridge. Housekeeping came by during the day to do the dishes, which was nice. But with five friends sharing four bunk beds, the room itself was a letdown. The floors and ceiling were so slanted that suitcases rolled away when left standing on their wheels. The mattresses were very firm, and some beds had crumbs, sand, and little stains when we arrived. No bedbugs, though. The two chairs had huge stains, and there were black spots in the bathroom, possibly mold. The bunks and floors were noisy enough that we heard every movement at night. We stayed in mid-August and the room was very hot. Two fans were provided, but one was broken. After cleaning, housekeeping left the windows and curtains open, which didn’t help. Despite the handy location, I wouldn’t stay again or recommend it.