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The Court Hostel – reviews, photos

194-196 Earls Court Road | Kensington, London SW5 9QF , England
Hotel amenities
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Ranked #263 of 399 Speciality lodging in London
2.5 of 5 stars 45 Reviews
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45 reviews from our community

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Traveller rating
    2
    8
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    5
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Date Rating
Hong Kong, China
1 review
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
“Bed bug bites & witnessing a mouse passing inside room in just 2 nights!”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 November 2011
2
people found this review helpful

Very similar to Katherine F's experience (review on 26/9/11), I got bed bug bites and witnessed a mouse passing by inside my single room just within 2 nights! (For those who had good experience, please don't say that we are wrong - I could only say that you were lucky cuz not all rooms would be full of bed bugs or mice - otherwise the hostel would have been closed down already!) The male "manager" (he denied to be the "manager" the second day after I reviewed the problem to him ... although he clearly told me that he was the manager when I arrived) was very defensive and put the blame on me - he denied having the problem, said it was my problem; and denied other guests having complained (I told him a Swedish guy shared with me that he complained to the manager about the mice problem the day before). His tactics, like some other guest reviews show, are to make you feel like you are the single one who had complained over the years - but the fact was not - you may refer to the reviews here on 26/9, 7/8 & 5/8/2011 and some older posts in this website, or lots of other websites' reviews like 21/9, 21/8, 20/8, 8/8, 24/7, 18/7/11 etc. on Hostelbookers & 11/8, 9/8, 12/7 x 2, 7/7, 4/7/11 etc. on Hostelworld - I did some research after hearing he said that I was the only one who found problems.) He even said they were "the best hostel" (exact wording) in London and challenged me by asking for evidence and where the mouse was!! (Lol - You thought the mouse would be standing here and saying hello?!) His defensive attitude showed that he had no intention to improve the service. Nor was he problem-solving. Conversely the female staff member at daytime was good and problem-solving, that she apologized and then arranged to do overall insecticide work after getting my permission and asking me to put my personal belongings inside the cupboard before doing so. The good service attitude of the lady staff and the location were the only merits of this hostel (that's why I gave two marks for service - without the lady staff, I would give zero mark). Note that the male "manager" was nice too ONLY WHEN there were no problems discovered or when you did not make any complaints. I regret not having read all the reviews of this hostel before making decision.

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  • Stayed November 2011, travelled solo
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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Ask F T about The Court Hostel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
1 review
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
“Please don't stay here.”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 September 2011
4
people found this review helpful

I am writing this for the sake of fellow travellers. I have travelled all around the world and stayed in some pretty poor places and even lived in the Thai jungle for a week but nothing even comes close to this hostel. I'm never one to complain but I just had to write this as I don't want anyone to be fooled by the few good reviews about this place. I had such a horrific stay. I had to change rooms 5 times in the end in 10 days and the last two nights that I had already paid for I had to forget about and leave. I ended up paying £150 for 2 nights in a premier inn. I was seriously desperate. They didn't give me a refund or offer any kind of discount for my stay. The staff were nice until something was wrong or causing work for them. They made you feel like it was your fault!
The first 3 nights I was put in a room over Earl's Court Road where the traffic never stops and I had asked for a quiet room before arriving. So I got no sleep, then finally I got moved to a single room which I had originally asked for as I was doing a long houred, exhausting internship in London for the summer. At 5.30am, I woke to a mouse in my suitcase which then jumped out and scurried under my bed. The guy on reception was like 'O. O dear.' Clearly not a first for him. Ended up being put in a dirty dorm for the rest of the night and then the next day got moved to another dorm. Finally they gave me a single room where I finally got a decent nights sleep even though the heating didn't work and again, was a dirty room. I woke in the morning to about 15 bites over the whole of my body. I couldn't afford to go anywhere else and couldn't be doing with moving yet again, so I complained about bed bugs and they said they'd sort it out while I was at work. The next morning, I woke up with a ridiculous amount of bites, even on my face. I looked awful and had to go to work looking diseased. Final straw and I left with no apology or money back.
The bathrooms are disgusting and the general cleanliness of this hostel is extremely poor. There is just one pan for the whole hostel, so expect to be eating out every night unless you want to join the queue. The kitchen has no room for putting your food and it has no freezer or oven. The shower goes hot and cold and I dont mean just hot. Scolding.
I can't stress enough how I was used to squaller when I travelled the world and I even see it as a challenge to live on little money but I'd strongly advise anyone against staying here. It still shocks me such a place exists in such a nice area of London. Don't say you weren't warned.

  • Stayed September 2011, travelled on business
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 1 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Katherine F about The Court Hostel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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“Enjoyable and Rlaxable Stay”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 31 August 2011
2
people found this review helpful

We travel a great deal and have not, until now, found a hostel we truly like in London. This is a relatively small hostel, but with superb service and a lovely setting. Although not inexpensive, the rate included breakfast and tea on the first day. The location is excellent, the common areas really lovely, and the room, although not large, was outstanding. They have thought of every possible detail that you want in a hostel room -. Definitely a great hostel in a great p;lace will sure come back.

  • Stayed August 2011, travelled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask murdoch r about The Court Hostel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Belfast, United Kingdom
1 review
“An excellent and first class stay at The Court Hostel”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 August 2011

This is fourth time I've stayed at The Court and as always I find The Court to be like a 2nd home now.The staff and Management are very helpful and very polite.The rooms are clean and you can be guaranteed a good night's sleep here..The management also go out of their way in providing a little bit extra for your breakfast compared to other Hostel I've stayed at..It's clean,quiet and a friendly hostel to stay in...J:@)

  • Stayed August 2011, travelled solo
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask James1902 about The Court Hostel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Thunder Bay, Canada
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
“FILTHY and DISGUSTING”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 August 2011
3
people found this review helpful

I don't want to spend too much time writing about this hostel as its not worth the time and effort. All I can say is - STAY AWAY.

The rooms are pure filth. Not only are the rooms dirty and disgusting (they look like they are never cleaned), but to make things worse, there are plenty of cockroaches, bedbugs, and other weird bugs (which I could not identify) which are not there when you get your room, but COME OUT AT NIGHT AND CRAWL ALL OVER YOU AND WAKE YOU UP. I do not exaggerate when I say that I am now TRAUMATIZED.

I would not stay in this place again if they paid me.

The sad truth is, I looked at TripAdvisor before going to this hostel and said to myself "how bad can it be, i'm not a fussy traveler". I've stayed at many hostels around Europe over the years and never would think of complaining about any of them. Now I wish I listened to all the reviewers - and hence the reason for this review.

  • Stayed July 2011, travelled solo
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Service
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Ask CasinoStripes about The Court Hostel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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Additional Information about The Court Hostel

  • Court Hotel
Address: 194-196 Earls Court Road | Kensington, London SW5 9QF , England
Price range (per night):* INR2,619 - 3,511

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2.5 of 5 stars 45 reviews
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