Journeys Kings Cross St.Pancras

Caution: Brace yourselves, for this tale is woven from the shadows of my first-ever hostel experience, one that haunts me still. Beware the enchanting lobby, a facade veiling the horrors that lurk within. The communal bathrooms, veritable pits of filth, would send shivers down the spine of even the bravest soul. A ghastly sight, the showers devoid of privacy curtains, leaving one's modesty stripped bare. And lo, the cost of cleansing one's attire amounted to a princely £15, while the elixir of bottled water commanded an outrageous ransom of £7. Even humble custard creams, once mere morsels of delight, transformed into extortionate monstrosities priced at a scandalous fiver, when a mere street away, Tesco dispenses them for a paltry 80p. Ah, the room itself exuded a putrid stench that would curdle the very breath from your lungs, and outside, the cacophony of chaos painted scenes of wailing souls and unspeakable horrors, a symphony of dread that seemed to mimic the rhythm of stabbings occurring every five minutes. The very neighborhood, Islington, an apt backdrop for such malevolent miseries. Sleep dared not visit without the accompaniment of the blinding light, a shield against the thieves that prowled in the night. Alas, even the promised morning reprieve in the form of "free" breakfast proved a mockery, as the stale cereal and curdled milk offered a feast for the desperate and the damned. Heed this solemn warning, my dear readers, and shun this den of despair, for in my heart of hearts, I beseech you: I would not, nay, I could not, extend the curse of this place upon another soul.

I stayed in a 12 bed mixed dorm. Check in was fast. Staff friendly. Very busy hostel. No bed stayed empty long. Free tea and toast and cereals at breakfast time. Kitchen available to cook in. Also always busy. Communal dining area. Mixed gender bathroom. Separate showers on upper floors. Towels are £2 to use. Also toiletries and sundry items available from reception. Entry to building and room by keycard £10 refundable deposit. Dvds and xbox available to hire. Lots of activites to take part in. Staff on duty 24 hours. Tiki bar open 4pm till midnite. Happy hour 6 till 7pm. £2.50 for Stella. Great music. Hostel let down by outdated equipment and broken fixtures and fittings.People in the dorm can arrive at any time even at 2am. So good nite sleep never quaranteed. Dorm was cold and floor space full of suitcases and shoes. Dorm mopped every day and staff changed bedding for new guests. People pee on toilet seats so anti bac wipes are advised. Hand basins were cracked. Coin operated washing machind and dryer located in smoking area. Lockers available plus luggage storage but limited. Your bag can get buried. Rates vary from £10.99 to £30 a night. Refundable cancellations if 48 hours in advance. Strict policy on drugs and outside alchohol. Area serviced by pubs and clubs such as SCALA and loads of resteraunts. Also Tesco. Hostel is 10 mins from Kings Cross St Pancrass. Tickets to gigs and attractions available at discount at reception. Loads of information on display. The owners need to put money into refurbing it. Theres a more modern hostel not 50 yards away. Can reccomend if you,re not fussed about your surroundings

Pre-warning: This is the first hostel I have ever stayed at and I haven't stayed at another one since. The lobby was very lovely and artistic, but do not let it fool you. The communal bathrooms were very dirty. The communal showers had no privacy curtains. It was £15 just to wash dirty laundry. Bottled water was £7 too. Custard creams as well marked up to a fiver when the Tesco down the street charges 80p. The room smelt horrible and the outside commotion sounded like someone was getting stabbed every five minutes. It is Islington so I'm not surprised. Everyone had to sleep with the light on and someone tried to steal my Doc Martens so I slept with them on. The free breakfast in the morning was stale cereal and curdled milk. I would not recommend.