Checking into the neon reception area, the prominence of the security staff (it was midday) and the fact that the reception staff are all in high-visibility jackets makes me somewhat concerned.

Upon arriving at my second floor room, immediately it becomes apparent that I am right to be concerned. The room STINKS, I mean, abolutely honks. The odour appears has no apparent source. I check the matresses, they stink, but not the smell that permeates the entire room. I check the lockers, they're all broken, I expect to find a dead baby - luckily there isn't. Finally, after hearing horror stories of travellers in hostels with no toilets having to make their own arrangements, I check the bin. The bin is clean. Phew.

By now, our shouts and screams of shock have attracted the attention of a number of staff members. We tell them the room is stinky, "Well...I'm stinky too" is the reply. One of them offers to "deal" with the smell - we return 20 minutes later to the smell of febreeze and body odour.

The beds were not great, the smell of the body odour and the knackered mattress (were the two connected?) made for an awkward night's sleep. We decided to go and see our friends, who had been a women's dormitory themselves. Security had other ideas, telling us in no uncertain terms to get the hell out. As we had our valuables and shower kit with us (we didn't trust the lock in our room), she gave us an evil stare and implied we were going to sleep on the floor there. I should be so lucky.

I took a shower the next morning. This was an experience I could have done with out, I entered to find a man clutching his crotch tightly with his towel, he looked completely unfazed. The water was freezing cold, I was just glad I had my shower gel with me, and not a bad of soap – heaven knows what would have happened if I dropped it.

The breakfast is not worth commenting on - children will no doubt love it, with the wide variety of cereals available. Everyone else is better off going to the caff down the road.

Avoid like the plague.

As long as you have a good pare of ear plugs, an older person in a private room at the Generator is great. A really good secret. Affordable lodging in London. The location is great, the people fantastic, the average resident a bit young, exuberant, and rowdy ... but all in all great people

In terms of hostels you cant really look past the generator when you're in london! Fun people, great vibe and clean fascilities. The bar is always pretty busy and there are always cold WKD's waiting to be drunk!
The only downside... staying in a room that was right near the generater... it was pretty loud at times!

Ok...Perfect location BUT I've been there a few times and my last 'experience' was very disapointing. First of all, on the website it says breakfast included, but when you get there they charge £4,50 for cereals and toast...(!?) The breakfast was included for the last years for the same price, now you just get nothing for the same price. PLUS, we were on the 5th floor and the toilet were blocked and disgusting the hole week-end and nobody was doing anything about it so we had to go on lower floors. Annnd we had a sink in the room that smelled like rotten fish....Bed OK, nice staff, the bar is not as nice as it used to be. SEcurity though is very important there so don't worry about safety, it is perfect.