Safestay Holland Park

The beds were super comfy, much better than other London hostels I've tried, and the restaurant and hangout area was a lovely spot to chill during the day or evening. The traveller community vibe was great for solo travellers and groups alike. Staff were super lovely and friendly. A big shout-out to Ricardo, Veronica and Mihaela, the loveliest people, and thanks for making my stay so good 👍 I'd recommend the tasty breakfast too. Had a fantastic stay here.

The location, inside a park, gave the place a really pleasant, peaceful feel, and the room was clean and well maintained. I had a good stay overall. The bathroom was shared, and the sink in my room wasn't working properly. Better facilities would make the experience even better.

The gardens outside were nicely kept and colourful, and the building itself is unique. The location was good and the price very cheap, so I guess some of the problems may be expected. Still, as a first-time hostel guest, I had mixed feelings. My partner, sister, and I shared a private room while in London for a concert, and I expected it to be cleaner. The floor looked untouched, with crumbs on it and even in the beds. The shower was annoying because you had to hold the button the whole time, and the water was boiling hot with no way to adjust it. Some flooring was ripped, the walls were stained, and the pipes were rusty. There were lots of older men staying there, and on both mornings the same man stood talking on the phone right outside our ground-floor window. We didn't feel comfortable opening the curtains. A staff member came in without knocking to do housekeeping. We told him several times we were fine, but he kept insisting on emptying the bins while we were trying to get ready for the concert. At night the hostel felt spooky because you have to walk down a long, dark alley beside a forest, and anyone can let themselves in. It needs more security. The signs also need to make the entrance clearer, since it was confusing to find.

I planned to stay five nights, but left after three. The rooms didn't look like the pictures: there were no privacy curtains on the dorm beds, the sheets were yellow-stained, and the lockers wouldn't lock with a padlock. I was covered in bed bug bites. In all my years of travel and staying in hostels, I'd never dealt with bed bugs before. The bathrooms were disgusting every night: urine and feces on the toilets, mold in the bowls, no toilet paper, spit on the floor, and vomit in the sink. When I returned my room card, nobody asked why I was leaving two days early. Maybe they don't care since I'd already paid. I told them the room had bed bugs and got only a blank stare. I stayed here 18 years ago when it was a YHA, and they should have kept it that way. I know it's a budget hostel, but it didn't meet even basic hygiene standards. Prisons do a better job.