Wombat's City Hostel London

The Wi-Fi was the one thing that bothered me. It wasn’t reliable everywhere, and I found it much more consistent on the bottom level, around the kitchen, café, and bar, than on the ground level. Aside from that, I enjoyed my stay. The service was friendly and straightforward: I’d booked a seven-person room, but because of maintenance they put me in an available six-person room at no extra cost. The dorm was clean and quiet for me, and each bed had USB, power outlets, curtains, and lights. The bathroom and toilet weren’t too small. The breakfast buffet is an add-on rather than included, and it was standard but plentiful. Refills of hot chocolate from the coffee machine were so convenient. I’d recommend adding breakfast if you won’t be getting English breakfast elsewhere. If I remember right, there weren’t organized social activities, but it was still easy to socialize in the shared rooms. I’d probably stay here again if I come back to London.

There’s a common kitchen for anyone who wants to cook, and the on-site Wombar & Café is a nice spot to relax or socialize. The rooms were clean and well kept during my stay. Each bunk has a little fan, a locker for personal things, and its own luggage storage space, which was really convenient. I had a great time at this hostel.

The mattresses are thin on rigid metal bars rather than a flexible base, and I personally slept very poorly. Earplugs are essential: without them you can hear trains or the Overground in the distance, and the noisy metal bed frames as people turn over. If you’re young and energetic, this might suit you; if comfort and sleep matter most, probably not. Wombat’s Hostel is well located if you like the slightly fancier side of London or the northern areas. It’s clean, secure, and well maintained, with a nicely decorated space, a good café, and a safe-feeling vibe. Downstairs there’s a great bar with free table tennis and pool. In an eight-bed dorm, though, one toilet and one shower can be limiting, and there’s no soap, so bring your own. The rented towels are quite small. The room temperature was fine, but the windows don’t open. Some eight-bed dorm layouts do offer a bit of privacy, and they let you store luggage after check-out, which is convenient. Prices are relatively affordable.

Really nice hostel, and I loved having a bathroom in the room. It’s close to a train station, though getting to things took about 25-40 minutes. The room could’ve been cleaner: there was hair all over the floor and beds, like it hadn’t been swept. Apart from that, it felt very clean.