Hostelle

It was a calm, welcoming place to stay, and felt clean, safe, and well organised. I slept comfortably, the facilities were looked after, and the common areas were easy to relax in. As a women-only hostel, it felt especially comfortable for a solo traveller. Hostelle London is close to Bethnal Green station, with lots of food and shops nearby. I had a really lovely stay and would definitely come back. I'd recommend it to anyone visiting London.

The room door handle is broken, so getting in can take several tries at entering the code and wiggling the handle. I went to reception and was told it wouldn't be fixed for at least a week. It's Wednesday, and that's completely unreasonable. Getting into your room should be quick and easy. Edit: the solution being provided

The location is still a real plus, close to Liverpool Street Station, the tube, good food and Shoreditch, and the rooms were clean when I stayed here in 2024. I had two lovely visits then, but this time the staff made the stay miserable. I don't plan to come back, and I'll stick with Wombat next time because the staff there have been consistently nice. The common room was another problem at night. Some night watchmen played music loudly after midnight and sang along, ignoring guests who asked them to turn it down. It felt like we were intruding on their living room. The young women on staff seemed indifferent or rude, and one shouted at me when I asked for help. On 2 April, at checkout, my bag had been moved in the luggage room. I was worried and asked the front desk woman with dark hair and leopard print earrings for help. After finding my bag on the top rack, she shouted that I had bothered her for no good reason. I don't know who moved it. I was also concerned when a creepy man on the street tried to follow another woman into the hostel. Staff seemed unconcerned and said to tell the watchman if it happened at night. So much for a safe women's hostel. A good location can't make up for staff like this.

The common areas feel homey, with a comfortable spot to relax or chat, and the kitchen has the things you might need. The rooms and beds were good too, and it stayed quiet at night and early in the morning. There was no rowdiness or extra noise. The staff were especially kind, particularly Leah and Yasmine, and there were activities planned during the week. I also really enjoyed the Sunday breakfast. It was a lovely, comfortable stay in London, and I'll definitely book again. 🖤