Boltons Court - 1 bed

It was a boiling 33° London heatwave, and the trapped heat in room 206 was unbearable. There wasn't even a small fan, and the Victorian window opened barely two inches, so ventilation was practically zero and it felt suffocating. After a long, tiring day I couldn't sleep, and at 3 AM I had to sit on the stairs outside the hostel to get some cooler air. Everyone else in the room was fidgeting all night too. I've stayed here twice before and loved it, and everything else was alright as usual, but this time was horrible. I understand there's no air conditioning, but a floor fan is the bare minimum in this heat. Other YHA hostels have them. I hope the team understands what a heatwave means and makes arrangements.

This was my second stay, and I still love the clean facilities and comfortable bed. The staff were great, helpful and friendly. I was in a private en suite room in the backyard. Be aware you'll have to carry your luggage up the stairs to reception and back down to the yard. The room seems to sit under a staircase, so you can clearly hear the upstairs neighbour climbing it, or in my case, running up and down. Each bed has its own socket for charging devices, and there are large lockers in the room, but you'll need to bring your own locks.

The garden was a lovely part of the stay, and I felt safe and comfortable overall. The hostel was in a really convenient spot, the staff were consistently polite and helpful, and the price compared well with other London hostels. I was moved partway through my longer visit because of a school group. The first room had just four beds and was cleaner and more comfortable. The larger ground-floor room I moved to didn’t suit me as much, especially with its separate, less comfortable bed. Bathroom cleaning on that floor was the main letdown, as it seemed inconsistent. More activities or entertainment would also make the stay better.

The stairs were exhausting with heavy bags, especially up to the second and third floors. There was also noise from the creaky floor above and children in the next room, which was disruptive now and then. Still, I had a great stay at YHA. The facilities were clean and looked after, and the staff were friendly and helpful. It’s a convenient, budget-friendly place, and I’d recommend it.