Equity Point

The staff were friendly and the place was clean during our one-night stay. The breakfast was simple but good. The shower drain was blocked, but they fixed it straight away. I do wish staff kept an eye on the buffet around children, who were putting their hands into the shared cereal scoops.

The Wi-Fi was okay, but only if you pay for it. The breakfast was inedible to me: toast with honey, jelly and cheese, plus a small choice of cereals. Our room was in terrible shape, with a filthy, tiny bathroom and a thin, unwashed blanket that smelled. One bed was cracked, so it didn’t feel safe to sleep on it with someone underneath.

Breakfast is included, with cereal, toast, boiled eggs, coffee and tea. The place is in a practical spot not far from the underground, and it’s functional and safe if you just need somewhere to sleep and get a good price. I don’t think the quality matches the cost, though. It has the feel of an old college dorm, with people coming and going all night, so you’re quite likely to be woken up. I had some trouble with the shower drain and water pressure. I don’t know much about hostels, but that’s been my experience here.

Our ground-floor room was lovely and clean, and I’d rate that room four or even five stars. Some of my friends had awful rooms with an almost unbearable smell of mold and who knows what else. One had an allergic reaction, and I got a stomach bug after visiting one of those rooms, though that could have been a coincidence. The location is really nice and breakfast was tasty. It’s fine for a short visit if you can get a ground-floor room. Honestly, the third- and fourth-floor rooms are quite horrifying.