St Pancras YHA

This was our first stay in a YHA hostel and I was very pleased with the price, friendly service and quality of accommodation - firm beds, double glazing so the Euston Road did not disturb our sleep, bathroom not glamorous but very clean. Lots of places to eat nearby including of course St Pancras Station of which we had fantastic views from our room. The key feature is of course location - St Pancras is opposite, Euston Station 5 mins walk, so you have easy access to tube and buses (there are several stops right outside the door). Would definitely stay here again.

YHA London St Pancras was just what I needed for my stay in London with my 11year old son. I chose it for its location and prices – why spend a fortune on London hotels if we are only going to spend our nights there? I prefer using my money for sightseeing, entertainment and shopping.

The location is very convenient: The King’s Cross – St. Pancras tube station, just two steps away, not only has all the lines (as well as buses) needed for exploring London, but also a direct connection to Heathrow airport every 4 minutes and (very important when you have luggage!) – an elevator, while most London underground stations have at least one flight of stairs before you reach the street.

We had a private room for 43£ /night, which is excellent. (I booked it some 5 or 6 months in advance and all private en-suite rooms were already sold out!). Our unit consisted of 6 private rooms and 4 baths, so it was quite OK. The room itself was basic (bunk beds, cupboard, one armchair and a non-working TV), but very airy, clean, freshly painted and with a brand new carpet on the floor. Mattresses were very good – nothing Spartan about them from my point of view! – with new bed linen, covers and two pillows each, so we slept very well. Breakfast was included in the price and consisted of a breakfast basket (cereal, fruit, croissant, yogurt, butter and jam) and a bacon baguette or a burrito, breakfast drinks and juices too, of course. Breakfast area in the lobby is also very nice and new and the staff are friendly and helpful.

All in all, it’s a good youth hostel and I would recommend it to all people, not only “youth”, who put their priorities in exploring the city and not in comforts.

Some practical advice to future guests: No need to pay the additional YHA fee (3£/night, I think). Just become a member of your country’s hostelling organization before traveling to London. When booking, ask for a room on high floors and not facing the street to minimize the noise (ours was on the 5th floor and there was still noise, but bearable). Come to breakfast before 8 o’clock or at 8 at the latest, because there are seven floors in the hostel and less then ten small breakfast tables… Don’t pay 1£ for 15 minutes internet surfing. There is a post office opposite King’s Cross that charges much less. Last but not the least: since you are lodged opposite the great new British Library, don’t miss the opportunity to see their BL highlights gallery. It’s worth a visit.

Back after its 6 month refurbishment, YHA St Pancras is still one of the best hostels in London. Located opposite St Pancras station and a short walk from King's Cross and Euston stations it is perfectly located for getting to the Tube - and hence most parts of the city quickly. Covent Garden and the West End are about 15 minutes walk away if you so desire!

There have been a few changes since the refurb - the restaurant has moved from the first floor and is now on the ground floor, whilst the lounge (previously in the lobby) is now where the restaurant used to be. Sensibly, the inclusive breakfast is now gone in favour of cheaper room rates (no great tragedy as the quality of the food was always a bit hit and miss - and there are plenty of cafes around the King's Cross/Euston area anyway), and the restaurant has tried to go a bit more upmarket with a kind of "cafe bar" style. However, the self catering kitchen has sadly been removed.

Most of the dorm rooms are en-suite; there is a communal bathroom in the corridor for those that don't. This is the area that hasn't changed all that much - but they have taken the trouble to fix all the broken fixtures and fittings and other bits of tattiness. All the dorms are equipped with air conditioners, and are double glazed so not too much noise from the eternally busy Euston Road leaks into the room.

Best of all they have replaced the old key locks with a hotel style swipe card system for getting access around the building. No grumpy concierge to deal with in the early morning hours anymore - you can walk straight in and now the front desk is staffed by a YHA representative 24 hours a day.

In all - still great value for money and can be heartily recommended if you are doing London on a budget.