Barmy Badger Backpackers

We left immediately after checking in because the room had no private toilet or bathroom, despite the listing clearly saying it did. That was one of our main reasons for booking, so the information felt misleading. When we brought it up, staff blamed us and didn't apologize or try to sort it out. They also refused a refund. We were very uncomfortable and frustrated by both the inaccurate listing and the way our concern was handled. I wouldn't recommend this property.

I arrived on 7 April 2026, and Olivia at reception greeted me warmly and helped with my luggage. During my stay, I kept noticing more improvements at St James Backpackers Earl's Court. It's been beautifully redecorated, and the new Ladies area is a lovely addition. The free breakfast and dinner, along with the location, make it very good value. Guests told me they planned to stay a few more days, and I can see why. Everyone is considerate, enthusiastic, and professional. I'm especially grateful to Eoin, Rebecca, Mike, the Portuguese breakfast male Chef, and the whole House Keeping Team. Thanks to everyone at St James Backpackers Earl's Court for making each day pleasant. I can't thank the management and staff enough for their kindness. Wishing you all health, happiness, and success. Please keep up the good work!

I've been back for years, and the staff are always great. Kevin is wonderful and makes great brownies. Earl's Court has everything I need and makes it easy to get to the places I want to visit. The hostel itself has an enormous back patio, a basement bathroom for women, and free hot breakfast and dinner. I also like that the women's dorms have just 8 beds and huge triple windows.

The volunteers were kind and understanding, and I'm grateful they were there. The rest of our experience was awful. I've stayed in more than 40 hostels around the world, and I've never encountered anything like this. It felt more like an unregulated shelter for older homeless people than a backpackers' hostel. As a woman, I wouldn't come here alone. The hygiene barely met any basic standard. The rooms smelled terrible, the beds were dirty, the floor was sticky 24/7, there was hair all over the showers, and the shared areas seemed neglected. We didn't feel safe at any point. During our stay, staff and later police removed two men after very disturbing behaviour. One appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was lying on his bed after urinating on himself. Another stared at us for nearly ten minutes while making inappropriate gestures. I'm glad staff and police dealt with it, but situations like this shouldn't be normal. When we complained, staff called us rude towards homeless people and said “this is part of the hazards of life when you expose yourself to public spaces”. We asked to leave and get a refund, but that was denied. Instead of addressing our safety concerns, staff accused us of being “rude” towards vulnerable people. The issue isn't the people, it's that the hostel doesn't enforce safety measures or guest standards. The 24/7 check-in with no supervision also means anyone can walk in at any time, which says a lot about the atmosphere. This doesn't feel appropriate for travellers, especially people travelling alone. It was outrageously expensive for these conditions. I've paid much less for far better hostels. What happened here was unacceptable at any price. Basically, avoid this hostel at all costs. It's marketed as a backpackers' hostel, but 90% of the guests aren't travellers. For your safety, comfort, and peace of mind, pick literally anywhere else.