EastEnd Beds

We cut our stay short and left after two nights instead of three because we didn’t feel safe. The hostel is close to the underground, but the neighbourhood felt uncomfortable in the evening. Around 11pm, we passed several police officers arresting a very violent man, and there seemed to be a lot of police activity at night. People were shouting outside the building too. We were glad the staff were friendly, though. The shared bathrooms were dirty, with just one restroom per floor. Underwear had been left hanging there for days, and there was mold on the ceiling. In our private room for three, the linen and mattress didn’t seem clean, and stains on the walls and ceiling looked like blood. The building also smelled strongly of smoke, even though smoking was forbidden. One evening we came back to a clear smell of vomit. Other guests looked as though they might have been using drugs, and one stopped us from going farther, saying the place was a complete mess. Staff were cleaning, but using the shared areas afterward still didn’t feel good. It was cheap, but I’d recommend staying somewhere else.

The bathrooms were better than I expected: the showers worked well, and the toilets and bathroom were quite clean, with plenty of toilet paper, space and soap. The shower room wasn’t heated, though, so I ran the water first to warm it up. There was no central heating in the bedroom either, but the small heater worked well. I slept surprisingly well despite the Mile End Road location, and most people respected quiet hours. Getting around was easy for work in Bow and Ilford, with a minute’s walk to the District and Hammersmith line and local buses. The four of us shared a small but cosy bunk room. There was a sink and mirror for brushing teeth, plus a long table for toiletries. Mold on the wall was right above my head, though. Clean bed linen and duvets were included, but I needed to bring my own towels and toiletries. I missed having somewhere to put coats and bags: there were no lockers, so I tucked mine under the lower bunk and winter coats ended up everywhere. For what I expected from the reviews, it wasn’t bad. It was worth the price and I’d stay again, hopefully with the same or a better experience. Central heating in the rooms and bathrooms would help.

We booked another hotel in a cab on the way to our appointment. It cost less than this place. Afterward, we returned by cab in the dark, grabbed our bags while the driver waited downstairs and left as quickly as we could. Walking around there at night felt dangerous, and we were worried about being robbed or stabbed. We’d arrived late for the appointment because reception was empty and the building door was locked in the middle of the day. We couldn’t reach staff by the listed number or doorbell, and waited half an hour on crowded streets before someone came. He didn’t apologize, and this seemed like the usual welcome routine. The reception itself stank of urine. The receptionist took his time texting while checking us in, even though we said we were in a rush. Only after we’d paid in advance did he tell us our private room, which he called a “suite,” was in a different building. That hadn’t been mentioned when booking or paying. We had to haul our luggage down narrow stairs and along crowded, filthy streets to a run-down building about a 10-minute walk away. The area was covered in rubbish, with groups sitting around smoking. It didn’t feel safe even during the day, and I’d be scared to walk there after sunset. Inside, the fecal smell was awful, maybe from a broken toilet or ventilation that wasn’t working. Rubbish was scattered on the stairs, and we climbed three narrow flights holding our breath. The owner didn’t show us the room, just told us to go up to the top where the “suites” were. An alarm went off when we opened the door. The room was nothing like any suite I’ve seen: a small supposed double bed under a sloping ceiling too low to sit up straight, no windows, and a dirty, sunken mattress with “clean” sheets for us to put on ourselves. The bathroom had an uncovered skylight visible from outside. That same fecal smell was still there, and I could hardly breathe. We left our luggage and rushed to our appointment. I later read reviews describing experiences much like mine and wished I’d checked them before booking. I would not recommend staying here if you care about your health, safety and money. There are good London hotels in better neighbourhoods at similar prices. This place was a nightmare and should be inspected by authorities, and shut down for violating hygiene and safety rules.

It’s in a great location and the staff were friendly, but the hostel itself was disgusting. The toilets, showers and rooms were dirty, and there was never toilet paper or paper towels. Our double room mattress was filthy, and we found rubbish under the bed when we checked in. There wasn’t a mirror in the room, although the booking site said there would be. On the day we checked out, I heard squeaking and saw the carpet moving. It looked like a rat or mouse was underneath, scratching its way in. I’ve stayed in cheap hostels before, but this was absolutely revolting. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, not even someone I dislike.