2-6 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, London W2 Tube Bayswater, Queensway Bus 12, 94, 148 Tel (020) 7229 5101 Websitewww.astorhostels.com
BUG Review
This large hostel is a comfortable place to stay that has the usual amenities such as a kitchen, TV lounge, laundry, Internet access plus a good bar; however it could be better maintained.
Price Dorm bed £12.50-18 Twin room £50
Prices include breakfast Prices are in local currency and are inclusive of all taxes.
Credit Cards American Express,Diners Club,JCB,MasterCard,Visa
Reception Open 24 hours
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This was the first hostel I ever stayed in, and I can honestly say every hostel since has been better maintained. The employees clean the bathrooms with pure bleach, and if you're not careful right after a fresh cleaning, you could end up with some nasty bleach spots on clothing (I speak from experience!) The dorms smelled like a unique mixture of cigarettes, body odor and dead skin cells, and I imagined bed bugs crawling all over me at night from the dirty mattress. The leaky skylight had been covered in plastic, and I was awakened every morning to what sounded either like an owl in pain or a couple moaning in a room next door.However, I met some of the coolest people here, and it is dirt cheap for London. Add to the fact that the location is absolutely fantastic, and it may just be worth the weird smells and sounds.
Pros:
really cool people stay here and the staff are good to
Cons:
i had good time, but could have cooked breakfast and juice
neil-the-great
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
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(4)
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(5)
Atmosphere
(5)
Really liked this hostel! I had always heard how bad things were in london but found everyone really nice and pretty helpful. They have great bar and lounge area where you can meet up with people 24 h who are backpackers like you.
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(Review ID: 2249)
Not horrible if you want to meet people, April 6, 2004
Reviewer:
Aaron
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
The good- Incredibly friendly and helpful staff. Travel office people are very nice too. Great atmosphere. Stayed there 5 nights and met tons of people. Good bar with cheap booze. Satellite TV with movie channels. Great for chilling out after a day of sightseeing if you don't want to drink. Cheap rates. Great location.The bad- No toaster. I don't expect much out of a hostel breakfast, but I'd prefer not to have to eat cold bread in the morning, especially in a country where toast is a way of life. Just shell out 15 quid to buy a toaster. The kitchen had major problems. Not necessarily disgusting, but only one burner out of four worked on the stove when I was there. This created major problems around dinner time.The ugly- Bathrooms and rooms are downright disgusting, even by hostel standards. I felt dirty after getting out of the shower. The skylight in my room leaked. The last morning I was there, I found two lovely cockroaches in the bathroom.My take- If you can deal with the dirt and inconveniences, or if you're just cheap, this is a great place. If you want to meet fun people or simply be near the main sights of London, this is a great place. If you're picky about where you sleep however, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
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2 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2250)
filthy showers, February 28, 2004
Reviewer:
Ari
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
This hostel is dirty and cramped with the most hideous bathrooms of any hostel I've ever stayed in with no proper doors and unisex. The location however is is fantastic only a stones throw from 2 tube stops it can't be beaten. The staff were quite friendly and that makes up for a lot.
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(Review ID: 2251)
Dirty, dodgy but friendly staff, February 23, 2004
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
Stayed for one night, just as a stop over in London so for price £11 it was bearable. The area it is in is nice and convenient to the underground but thats all - inside the hostel is a different story - the website photos are very misleading! Rooms are ok as long as your not sharing with Chinese. Lack of toilets and showers is sick - what they do have are small, dirty and probably still over-flowing! Breakfast is cramped and limited! Only stay here as a last minute thing!
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4 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2252)
walls oozing mold, January 14, 2004
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
o.k what do you expect for 9 euros a night, but the dorm room we stayed in had oozing walls. Stay here if you only want a cheap place to crash, don't expect to take a shower(not advisable to do here), or eat anything resembling breakfast. On the plus side the hostel is close to two tube stations.
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(Review ID: 2253)
Clean, but no atmosphere, January 11, 2004
Reviewer:
Sarah
( sarstar18@hotmail.com)
from Perth, Australia
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
I stayed here recently, and it was really a last minute stay. Booked online (great), and we had no problems fitting a group of 5 (males and females) in to one room. Easy to find off the queensway and bayswater tube stations is great.The beds, showers, toilets and rooms were very clean and the beds were comfy.Breakfast was VERY early at 730am and ending at 9am, when this very stern lady would announce that breaskfast was over and that no-one could remain in the room.Breakfast was simple...toast (ran out early), corn flakes and tea and coffee.We stayed here for 2 nights, and found it OK. I am sure that if you searched harder you could find a better place for 11 quid. However, it suited us and we made up for the lack of atmosphere by going out and experiencing some london nightlife!!!
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1 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2254)
great location but otherwise, December 26, 2003
Reviewer:
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
Overlooking hyde park is the hostels only selling point. It was dirty and not very secure. The breakfast was disappointing and it was given down in a cold room that felt more like a dungeon. The staff were short and unfriendly. I will definately not be staying there again.
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1 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2255)
Good hostel for backpackers!, December 7, 2003
Reviewer:
Dave LeFevre
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I was travelling by myself and was pleased when I arrived at the hostel. (Stayed August03) Great access from the tube, good location next to Hyde Park. The hostel was definately big and a great place to meet people, which is the most important thing when travelling Europe. Breakfast was not so good, but you should only expect to fill your stomach enough in order to make it to lunch, especially when it is no extra charge. Rooms were clean, bathrooms and showers acceptable. Pretty good TV room with cable, bar downstairs for socializing. I would definately recommend this hostel to anyone travelling and anxious to meet people, and receive friendly and warm advice for touring London.
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1 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 2256)
Okay place, not great, September 19, 2003
Reviewer:
Cheryl
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
I stayed here in June of 2002 in a private room. The room had a sink in it, but the bathrooms were shared. The bar downstairs was fun with good happy hours. Great location, right by hyde park, notting hill and the tube. The kitchen was gross and so was breakfast. Overall not a really clean place, but somewhere to sleep. Beds were fine. I might stay there again if the price was right, but would not plan to cook or eat there.
Really liked this hostel! I had always heard how bad things were in london but found everyone really nice and pretty helpful. They have great bar and lounge area where you can meet up with people 24 h who are backpackers like you.
