The Queens Hostel

The bathrooms were the biggest drawback. The bin was often overflowing with toilet paper, mold had built up on the ceiling because of poor ventilation, and we lost water for a few minutes on two occasions. Our room had three bunk beds. The mattress and pillow weren’t very comfortable, though the sheets smelled fresh and the room was clean overall. Nights were fairly quiet apart from passing traffic. It’s a small, welcoming place on two main floors, with several bathrooms and a large kitchen. We didn’t use the kitchen, so I can’t comment on it. Staff were consistently kind and helpful. White City Underground Station is about a five-minute walk away, and the hostel is in a quiet spot near a lively street with ethnic restaurants and grocery shops. For what it costs, the value seemed fair.

The quiet atmosphere and strict rules made it easy to get proper rest. The rooms were decent, and the staff were friendly. The kitchen was handy, with a fridge for perishables and room to keep dry food. Just be aware it closes at 9:30pm and opens again at 6am.

I’ve stayed in several London hostels when I needed to be near my next shift, but nowhere felt as much like home as Queens Hostel. The location is great, the kitchen is nicely equipped, the facilities are clean, and the beds are comfortable and a good size. The rooms, especially upstairs, don’t feel overcrowded. It was like the guests had been specially selected. The staff are friendly and amazing, and the manager doesn’t tolerate any nonsense 😂. It really was a home away from home, and I strongly recommend it. The rules are strict, especially for the kitchen, but stick to them and you won’t regret staying here.

I felt unsafe the whole time, from seeing a scary man out front as I approached, who was lurking around the building all night, to finding out that bedroom doors stay unlocked and have no locks. I’d read later that reviews mentioned stolen belongings. Management and reception had told me the hostel was very safe, but I was scared enough to stay in my room the entire time. I’ve never felt that way before. The booking terms should explain these rules before arrival, when cancellation isn’t possible. You can’t take phone calls in your room and have to go outside. Phones are supposedly not allowed, yet someone blasted music in the shower for 15 minutes. There’s nowhere in the room to store bags, and there’s no elevator, so you have to use the stairs. You also need the doorbell to get back in whenever you leave. Reception is unstaffed from 11pm to 8am, so during those hours you can’t retrieve stored bags or get back into the building. The owner was rude when I was crying in my room and upset about all this. She said I was being rude and told me to “listen,” though I could hardly understand her. I don’t know why people call the owners lovely. I felt I was treated poorly because I’m Australian, and it felt very racist. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, even if they were dying.