Astor Museum

The location can't be beat, and the staff is friendly, helpful and entertaining. The rooms are clean, as are the bathrooms (the showers were a bit gross, though - bring shower shoes), and overall its a pretty nice hostel. However, for the price, its a little too hostel-y. We expected a more hotel-like atmosphere, which is not at all what we got. Though, in London, everything is expensive, and I don't know if you'll really do much better.

Stayed there for 4 nights and had a blast. Within walking distance of the tube, right around from the British Museum, and many nice restaurants, souvenir stands, and pubs. Easy to get around town from here. I was able to hit all of the priority sites and have a nice quiet neighborhood to retreat to after a full day of sightseeing. The hostel was great with friendly, helpful staff. The showers always appeared to be clean, although I was up higher - so they may get less use. If you arrive too early, there's a downstairs luggage room to leave your things until check-in time. Take in the British museum while you wait if you get the chance - it's very close and free! Cabs come through the area regularly, so no problem nabbing one. but I was able to walk all the way to Trafalgar Square and beyond from there in about half and hour, so not unreasonably far from the major sites. All in all a great place for the bargain traveler.

I actually think this hostel could have been good, my friends and I might have just had a bad run-in. We reserved a 4-person room well in advance through Studentuniverse.com (we've never had problems with this method before), but when we got there, we were told there was a mistake with our booking and would have to be in a 8-person room for the first two nights, and be split up for the third--not cool. Also, our 8-person room was in the basement right outside the kitchen which apparently turns into drunk-party central every night. Needless to say, it was loud--and one night someone even pulled the fire alarm as a prank and ran into our room laughing, then ran back out--nobody else was in the room with us that night, so yes, he had a key and was therefore an employee. The guy that actually runs everything is really nice, but I dont think he had alot of control of his staff. The location though is pretty amazing--right across the street from the British museum and a quick trip on the tube to get to places like piccadilly square, china town, and abbey road. In short--don't get stuck in the basement. The only reason I reccoment it is because it's the best value for your money (keeping in mind that it's the heart of London)