London Kensington and Earl's Court

Astor Hyde Park, 191 Queen's Gate (020 7581 0103; www.astorhostels.co.uk) Built in the 1800s as a grand Victorian House, the Astor Hyde Park was also a hotel once upon a time. The flagship among Astor Hostels, the Hyde Park location is all high ceilings, aged grandeur, and comfort. The hostel is very close to beautiful Hyde Park. The six-floor hostel has no maximum stay, but it's not meant for long-term stays. Everything is cleaned twice a day, and the kitchen is cleaned three times daily. Careful, though—backpackers subject to delusions of grandeur could easily mistake the other residents for servants in their personal mansion. The hostel keeps some of that old grandeur in the teas with live music and the spacious common room. High Street Kensington. Turn right onto Kensington High St., then turn right onto Queen’s Gate. Free linens; beds are made fresh daily. Laundry: washing machine £2.50, washing powder £1, dryer £1 per 40min. Lockers £1.50 per day, £7 per week. Free Wi-Fi. Coin-operated computers for those without laptops. Every room is ensuite, except 3- to 4-bed rooms, which still have private bathrooms. Winter prices around £15-20. Summer weekday dorm prices £20-£26; doubles £80; twins £70. Weekend rates go up by £5 per dorm bed and £10 per double and twin. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Air conditioned.
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Vicarage Hotel, 10 Vicarage Gate (020 7229 4030; www.londonvicaragehotel.com) Posh and warm, the Vicarage Hotel provides an affordable experience of superb comfort. Each room is individually decorated, and the walls are bedecked with ornately framed, original paintings. The red-and-white-striped chairs on the landings are perfect reading chairs, and the rich red carpet only adds to the comfortable atmosphere of this simple B and B. High Street Kensington. Turn right onto Kensington High St., left onto Kensington Church St., and continue straight onto Brunswick Gardens and right onto Vicarage Gate. Singles £56, with bath £95; doubles/twins £95/125; triples £120/160; quads £130/176. Reception 7:30am-7:30pm. Breakfast 7:30am-9am. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Air conditioned.

YHA Earl's Court London, 38 Bolton Gardens (020 7373 7083; www.yha.org.uk) In one of the pleasant in-between spaces of London which are central yet oddly removed, YHA Earl's Court London is a fairly spacious hostel which, despite its shared bathrooms, grants everyone their own space. Some of the rooms even have their own areas for storage. Frequented by families as well as backpackers, the hostel is welcoming and affordable. West Brompton. Turn right on Old Brompton Rd., left onto Earl’s Ct. Rd., right onto Bolton Gardens. Continental breakfast £2.95. Sheets are included, beds are made daily. Shared bathrooms. Laundry: washer, dryer, and detergent £4.50. Lockers in room, padlocks £3. Internet £5 per 24hr., £9 per week. Check ahead, but generally beds in single-sex 4-, 6-, and 10-bed dorms £20-24.50. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet.

YHA London Holland Park, 20 Holland Wk. (020 7937 0748; www.yha.org.uk) A patchwork hostel of three buildings (one of which used to be a noble's house), the Holland Park YHA doesn't feel like a typical hostel. This bizarre otherness is furthered by its location at the rear of Holland Park, making it feel like a Park Ranger's office. The tranquil garden space, which features a fountain inhabited by fish and weird-looking duck-like creatures, is particularly peaceful when there's a classical music concert in the park. The Hostel frequently hosts school groups, but, despite the crowded rooms, for some it will be a welcome deviation from the norm. High St. Kensington. Turn left onto Kensington High St. right down Holland Walk in Holland Park. Use night gate at the rear after 10pm as the park closes. £21-27.50 per bed for adults; £16.50-21.50 for under 18. Breakfast 7:30-9:30am. Dinner is 5-8pm. Kitchen open until 10pm. 7-day max. stay. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Air conditioned.
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Oxford Hotel, 16-18, 24 Penywern ( 020 7370 1161; www.the-oxford-hotel.com) A comfortable, simple hotel seconds away from the Tube, the Oxford Hotel provides amenities like fridges, LCD TVs, safes, and ensuite bathrooms with every room. The two breakfast rooms are bright yellow and pleasant. One is sometimes partially used to store luggage, and the other looks out onto a simple back patio with wooden stairs and a few chairs. Earl’s Court. Right onto Earl’s Court, right onto Penywern. Reception is at 16-18 Penywern. Wi-Fi £5 per 3hr., £2 per 1hr., £8 per 5hr., £20 per 24hr. Luggage room £5 per day per room (to be used within reason). Singles £75; doubles/twins £85; triples £95; quads £105. Rates change, so check in closer to your stay. Reception 24hr. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has internet. Air conditioned.

Baden-Powell House (Meininger Hostel) 65-67 Queen's Gate ( 020 7590 6900; www.meininger-hotels.com) A clean, simple urban hostel, the Baden-Powell House's Meininger Hostel is located close to the Tube. With a ping-pong table on the roof terrace and a foosball table in the lobby, you might not even need such easy access to the Tube to have a good time. Gloucester Rd. Left onto Gloucester Rd. Right onto Queen’s Gate. Continental breakfast £5 per day. Laundry is £2.50 for washing and drying. Linens included. Each room has lockers. Free luggage room downstairs. Wi-Fi £1 per 20min., £5 per 24 hr., £8 per week. Dorms with shared facilities £15; max. 14-bed (coed) dorm £21; Max. 14-bed. Single-sex dorm £23; 3-to-8-bed £24. Singles £69; doubles £45. Breakfast M-F 7-10am, Sa-Su 7:30-11am. Takes credit card. Wheelchair access. Has internet. Air conditioned.