Generator London

Me and my friends stayed here recently and had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was incredibly welcoming and the staff were unbelievable. I wanted to particularly shout out Leticia and her wonderful work in locating my missing passport. Her reassurance and dedication to her job set my frazzled nerves at ease. If anyone wants to pursue the moment. ! I highly recommend booking a room. !

Food and drinks and social areas are great! I got a room with a private shower/bathroom, but the ventilation wasn’t the greatest so the room felt damp during most of our stay. Location is close to multiple tube stops, I’d stay at other locations but probably wouldn’t do the bathroom thing again. Felt like I was sleeping in a damp basement

This hostel is simply too big. There are seven floors each with over a dozen rooms, many of which fit eight to ten people. And yet, there are only four washers and dryers each. Only, usually two people working the desk at any given time. And only one rather slow elevator. Even worse, there isn't really a lounge area. There's a bar area that plays loud music and has a party vibe, which is fine if that's what you're looking for. But there is no quiet place to sit. There weren't even chairs in my room. Overall, the place is simply uncomfortable. To paint you a picture, I did laundry one evening. The bench in the laundry room had people sitting on it, and I didn't feel like ordering food or drink in the bar area. So, since I wanted to sit down, the only thing I could do was ride the elevator back up to my fifth floor, walk down two long hallways to my room, climb up into my bunk, and wait. No couch to sit on. No chairs around. Just an uncomfortable and crowded place.

Used Generator for a Society trip and despite some issues with our student union, they were really understanding and patient, not to mention incredibly helpful when we got to the Hostel. Everyone really liked the rooms we had and the location was perfect, we all wished we booked an extra night even though we didn't need it. Massive shout out to Jomade at reception for his patience with our party and the shenanigans he had to deal with, give my man a raise

Rooms had some broken USB ports and no outlets. There was only one bathroom per floor with 4 stalls in it, each with issues. One was taped shut, one was permanently locked, one had no toilet top and a 2 inch (not exaggerating at all) layer of green mold, and the last one was right under the leaky water line that feeds into the showers. Towels were also expensive (5 pounds iirc). The place is not very social, either. Lastly, since I booked it on booking.com two weeks prior, it was an extra 30 pounds instead of if I had rented the bed when I arrived. Do not get this on booking.com

The price was decent for London but still not super cheap, for a private room, and employees were very helpful and nice. Other than that it was kind of rough. Our room was only heated for 2 hours a day, when asked we were told that the heaters come on at 8 pm but when we arrived back to the room at 11 one night the heat was off and couldn’t be turned back on. So it was cold at night trying to sleep in November in London with snow and rain outside. Also the room has no air flow and smelled musty and bad, so we wanted to open the window but since we weren’t allowed much heat we couldn’t for too long. Our room felt a dirty and the pillow and blanket under the duvet covers was dirty and yellow. The bathrooms really could have been cleaned better..just was not an ideal experience and the shower heads leaked cold water. Can’t drink the water in your room or the bathroom so have to go downstairs to get tap water. There was more of a group tour vibe than other solo travelers which is more of a preference, but not a great place to meet other travelers in our experience. Also is just a very very big hostel with no common area other than the bar so that may be why as well. Was just surprised at the upkeep I feel like the employees were doing their best to keep up but as a corporation it seems like they are just trying to wring money out of people rather than provide a good experience.

They are at good place. Reasonable rates I spent a night Location is gem . Room heating should be continued they do it for few hours with cut in between. Many bathrooms are left uncleaned by the users but as a service provider they might need to increase the frequency of cleaning

The bathrooms were really disgusting. I stayed on the 3rd floor. There were 4 stalls. The first was available but had the lid of the toilet removed and a 1 inch layer of mold. The second stall was located directly below the water pipe for the shower overhead. It would occasionally leak a few drops onto you. The 3rd was taped shut and the 4th was permanently locked. Lastly, in my room there was mold on the ceiling. Would not stay again.

Not the best Generator location . The one in Dublin is also quite inferior to other Generator locations I've stayed at . Maybe it's also because I am getting to old to stay at hostels but the noise level in the morning caused by staff members loudly speaking Portuguese to each other gave me a headache . After attempting to check in early which was not possible ( no issue with that as I understand that it's really all about availability and the receptionist tried to do his best which I appreciate) I decided to walk to the Kimpton and drop $300 ( the cheapest room available ) on a single occupancy room because I just couldn't stay here . There's not even a lounge really ..or rather the communal space is limited so I couldn't really sit around for 7 hours waiting to check in my room . While it's a great location ( literally my singular reason for booking this place ) I still recommend booking elsewhere nearby if you can afford it or even another hostel further out .

Location is fine and the bar was OK but everything else was pretty bad. Showers were terrible and you get backwash from all the other showers. I'm still not sure what the "changing rooms?" were for...looked like it wanted to be a shower but no hooks or anything resembling it. The rooms were way too cramped even for 4 people let alone 6. Overall, definitely wouldn't come back...can we also mention the random people in the bathroom? Yikes

Prison like dormitory. No A/C in the middle of summer so the rooms were minimum 85° F every night. Sheet was full of black mold so had to get another one and the one that was moldy they just tossed it in the dirty clothes bin for someone else to get (good luck). Bathrooms were marginally clean, and by that I mean not one time did I go in and they were clean. The shower heads spat water the wrong way. And good luck trying to find a quiet place to make a phone call, inside the music is turned to 11 and outside the security guard yells at you if you are doing anything but sitting there silent, not allowed to make a phone call. 2 stars only because it's $50 a night and semi-decent location. Don't expect anything nice at all though. Good luck.

I made my reservation over the phone using the number on their website. I paid nearly double the price for a female-only room since I was traveling solo. I got checked into a co-ed room without knowing until men started entering my room. I went to the front desk to sort it out, and found out they didn't write down that I wanted female-only when I made the reservation! I had only received a text-confirmation (no email) so I had no "proof" that I booked a female dorm (the price was nearly double than co-ed so that should have been proof enough). They wouldn't move me to a female dorm, all they could do was either move me to a private room for $50 more a night, or check in the rest of the men who were scheduled to be in my room to another room as the day went on... meaning I'd still loose the $20 difference between what I already paid for female-only, and I'd still be in a room with all men, or I pay triple what I had already paid for a private . Everything about this felt super sketchy and I had been traveling for 2 days at that point and was dead tired, so I decided to check out since they refused to refund me or give me a credit for the price difference and went to another hotel where I had a way better experience. Your safety is NOT their priority in the slightest, they just want your money and to put bodies into beds, at ANY cost. I live in a country now where if something happened to me and I ended up getting raped, I'd have zero protection at home. It just wasn't worth the risk. I'm super disappointed because the generator I stayed at in Denmark was incredible. This location really dropped the ball and I won't be staying with this company ever again. DO NOT RECOMMEND FOR WOMEN TRAVELING SOLO.

Here is my full honest review after staying here for 3 days. This hostel is in a perfect location being so close to kings cross. The beds are not bad however the bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. We stayed on floor 2 and the bathrooms flooded constantly with mass amounts of hair or other bodily fluids floating around. The locks did not work on the doors either. We ended up showering on floor 0 because the bathrooms there were much nicer. The bar was cute and the food at the restaurant was good. I tried breakfast the first day but did not go back because it was not good. The staff was pretty rude, especially the girl with the shoulder length brown hair -(I believe she was Australian). Multiple people I encountered said that she was rather rude and an unpleasant person to them. I would definitely not stay here again however it's a hostel so you can't expect too much.

Very warm, upbeat and welcoming staff. Quick to assist, answer questions, and make suggestions. Check in was smooth, no problems. Decoration around the lounge, bars, dining areas are eclectic and modern decor. Lots of people passing through on vacation or on other reasons for travel. Just standing in the lobby, you can hear at least 5 languages in the air. Cool!! I stayed in a women's dorm for 10. So 5 bunk beds, including personal trunk space and vanity area, 1 sink inside the dorm, women's bathroom down the hall. Everyone is very respectful, quiet at night and early in the morning. Guys across the hall or around the corner were quiet too. I was pleasantly surprised how quiet it was at night. Not rowdy at all. Only issue, you can't bring in food from outside and there isn't a kitchen to prepare your own food. So you can either purchase prepared food in the restaurant/pub on the premises , or eat out. Tons of affordable places to eat and drink within a block or few blocks walking. Great neighborhood, safe and easily access to the underground train. I would stay here again!!!

I have mixed feels about this place! Giving it 3 stars for its potential, though my personal experience was more of 1-star kinda time. I booked a bed in an all-girls dorm last minute as a place to crash after a week of solo travel before my flight home the next day. Unfortunately, I wasn't provided a bed sheet (which I didn't notice until I was getting into bed exhausted at 11pm) so I ended up sleeping on the plastic mattress cover all night (ew). I did try to go upstairs to talk to the staff about it, but the line was so long to get to reception, I could not be bothered to wait when I just wanted to go to bed. Plus, my room was right next to the smoking area, meaning it smelled of smoke and I had to listen to partiers chatting all night. When you're only coming to a hostel with the goal of sleeping, this is not ideal. Not much sleep occurred. Like some other Yelpers said, they do nickel and dime you for towels, locks, etc. Glad I came prepared with those things so I didn't have to purchase! All this said, if I were 5-7 years younger and was in more of a party/social mood, I think I could have liked it here. There's a huge bar and cafe upstairs which I could see being a great place to meet people if I'd had more time. The rooms and bathrooms were squeaky clean (super key), and the location was fantastic: It was about a 10 minute walk from King's Cross Station, which I used to easily get to and from Gatwick Airport, and walking distance from all the major sites of London if you're keen to stroll. And if you're Pret a Manger obsessed like me, there are Prets on every corner of this hood! Overall, because of the fantastic location and handy cafe, I'd give it another chance if I could book a private room away from the smoking section, and I'd recommend the dorms to someone in their early twenties who was down to party.

This was my first time staying in a hostel so maybe my review is biased. My friend wanted to stay here because of the "great location and cheap price." She said we would have a private room. She was correct the three of us had a private room, but we had to share a communal bathroom and the room was super small. So small we all couldn't get ready at once. The room was just ok, but I found the heater to be a bit concerning..lots of signs saying that anything put on top of the heater was a fire hazard. Bring a towel with you as they will not provide one. Actual building was nice and modern. Breakfast was extra, so we didn't get it. I could of dealt with the small room situation, but the showers were too much. Without going into too many details I got stuck in the shower. By stuck I mean the latch got stuck and I couldn't open it. This was the FIRST time that ever happened to me. Therefore, this is a public courtesy to warn everyone that the shower latch on the 4th floor does jam so close at your own risk.

Quite unhappy with my first Generator experience. While the location is killer, especially if you are taking the Eurostar, the fact that they want to nickel and dime you to death is tedious. 5 pounds for a towel? 5 pounds to put my bag in a locker? I'll go with other hostels that charge closer to 2 pounds (or less!) for a towel and will watch your bags for free. If part of the point of being in hostels is saving money, you won't do so here. To say nothing of the overcrowded rooms that feature beds with no outlets nearby. A bit like living in a first world slum. You'll find better elsewhere in London. I have before, and will again.

People stay at hostels because they are cheap and affordable but when a place finds ways to rip you off that is a problem. For instance : I brought my own coffee so I asked for hot water for which they charged me 50 pence for? Seriously? Charging for hot water? Who does this? Another thing: They have music blasting 24/7 throughout. Some good, mostly bad blasting as if your at a concert.. What if someone doesn't want the music? Music is fine just keep it mellow.. Also, the food is a joke.. They charge an arm and a leg for it and let's just say that they aren't generous with the portions. Also, it's not that good. And the minute the clock strikes 11 am, they close everything down regardless if you want more , juice or the like. In fact, they quite Jerks about it. Also, they have a TV room. It's on BBC News all the time. When I asked if I could change it I was told that "we aren't allowed to"... Um, yea ok... Speaking of which, they advertise movie night but there was never one so advertising under false pretenses. I can go on and on but I think you get the gist of this review. I stayed here under the recommendation of a friend who must know something I don't because they raved about this place but I recommend you look elsewhere someplace that actually cares about their guests...

The most disgusting hotel i have ever been too. the service is horrible, the rooms are dirty (it looks like the don't even try). the showers are disgusting as well.

Do NOT stay here. Their customer service is terrible. I have tried calling about 15+ times to speak with a worker regarding a missing $700 object, but they either immediately hang up and send me to voicemail, or they answer and give me incorrect information as to who to contact next. My stay here was gross, uncomfortable, unpleasant, and quite honestly upsetting.

I just recently spent the past week here. The place is cleanly, vibrant, and perfectly located for getting around anywhere in London. I highly recommend staying here! Only downfall is the shower pressure. Not sure if this is a common issue in London or not. The management is incredible! I had the misfortune of having my lockbox (equipped with a pad lock) broken into. My travel wallet which only contained my passport, was the only stolen item. I spoke with the manager at the front desk. She was extremely sympathetic and helpful. We ended up looking around my room and found the wallet stuffed under an empty mattress. Thankfully, my passport was still inside and that I had taken all my cards/money with me in my other wallet during the day. If I can recommend anything for travellers, is ask the staff at the front desk if they can keep your most valuable items (passport/id/wallet/money/etc.) at the front desk in the safe. The manager recommended this for me. No matter how safe you believe your items are in the room, in a locker, with a lock, it can still be broken into. There are cameras and security staff everywhere except in the rooms and washrooms. So, it helps to keep it at the front desk where it will be safe. I also recommend taking photos of all your documents just in case they get stolen. Also, send a copy of the photos to someone reliable in the incident if your phone gets lost/stolen. Overall, I had an amazing time here. Even after the bump in the road. The management made my trip so much better by the professional manor in which she dealt with the incident. She moved me into a new room and ensured that the rest of my trip would be enjoyable (which it was). **

HEAT DOES NOT RUN ALL DAY (even in winter) I am disappointed to provide such a low score to this location. It is solely for lack of heating. The first night I slept in a thermal top, thermal pants, socks and gloves using my outdoor jacket on top of my blanket and two hand warmers under the provided blanket. 30F/0C degrees is too cold outside to forgo heat. The heat runs only during certain hours of the night beginning at 9PM to somewhere around 3AM, off for a few hours and then on again to turn off at 9AM. (Or something to this idea) After a day of touring in freezing temperatures, we dreaded coming home. Other positive notes.. The hostel: Interior is funky, hip and trendy from the decor to loud, modern music. Many groups and individuals filled the common areas and bar. Despite the traffic, it was actually pretty clean. 4 person dorm: Not overly small for a dorm room. Each person has access to storage bin under the beds which can be locked. Communal bathrooms: Fine. Communal showers: Poor, smelly, in need of maintenance. Water never reached hot but was warm. I paid for 4 nights and only slept at the hostel for 1. Too cold.

Perfect except for the bathroom : the toilets were often blocked and the showers were to small (and there was nothing to lay the clothes,...). Except that, the hostel was great, big and well located !

This is the fourth hostel that I have stayed at over the past week and a half as my best friend, sister, and I are finishing up our Euro trip in London. Upon arrival we were immediately impressed with the set up of the hostel downstairs. A cafe/bar, lots of seating, music, and a full bar in the back that opens after 8pm. This is clearly catered to young college kids but was fun and seemingly better than most of the other ones we stayed at (Meininger in Amsterdam was the best). About 20 minutes after we got to our PRIVATE room that we PAID approximately 150 pounds for a night, a girl who works at the hostel takes it upon herself to enter our room with a key without knocking first or saying a thing. Again, this is a PRIVATE room that we paid extra for and not a dorm room with college kids. Then, she asks us if we've checked in already. Of course we have. We are physically IN the room??? She leaves and we are disturbed. What if we had been changing? Completely unacceptable. But we brush it off. Two days later we are in our room when the SAME girl walks in once again. I asked her "Can you knock?" To which she rudely replies that she knocked AND said "housekeeping." There were three of us in the room, that did not happen. I told her she did not and it's not okay to just walk into our room. She asked if we had a do not disturb sign. No, we were never given one or offered one nor was there one in our room upon arrival. She's bickering back and forth with us about this, never offering an apology and continues to stand there to put a STICKER on the back of our door after we made it quite clear she needed to leave. At this point we don't feel comfortable at all leaving any valuables in our room. This hostel does not value your privacy. I did see do not disturb hang signs on a housekeeping cart on our way out, but we never received one, nor were we offered one when we subsequently complained at the front desk. I will say most of the other staff members were pleasant and willing to help us out during our stay and offered hospitality. Another issue is the fact that the shared bathrooms were SO far away from our room that it was a trek every time you needed to use it. If we needed to get up in the middle of the night it was difficult to go back to sleep after walking there and back through many doors and halls. Electrical outlets in rooms offered 2 USB ports per panel, but they didn't work. The lady at the front desk was kind enough to let us borrow an adapter which normally cost 6 pounds I believe. This was meant to be temporary until someone would come fix it the following day (never happened). The hostel offers breakfast for 9.5 pounds a day and a cafe menu with about 10 items on it. They post signs around the cafe and seating areas saying no outside food is permitted which seemed extreme considering their tiny menu and taking into account dietary restrictions (my best friend is vegan). This was also the only hostel we stayed at that didn't have a kitchen/microwave/any cooking appliances. For such an expensive hostel you will end up spending even more money not being able to bring in your own food to cook and they really just nickel and dime you for everything. 4 pounds a towel. If you value your privacy and comfort, just spend slightly more for something better. It's not worth it here.

Probably the worst hostel I've stayed in, don't waste your money. This significantly effected my London experience and I suggest you find another hostel that will make your stay more comfortable. 1. The dorm room was under no circumstances worth the money we paid. It was impossible to move around or store your luggage. There was one small sink that wouldn't turn off and a single mirror that was placed so high you could only see the top of your head. Also only 6 working plugs for 9 girls staying in the dorm. It looks nothing like the pictures they have posted. 2. I'm going to give them the benefit that our stay was during Londons heat wave but the ventilation in the hallways and rooms were borderline unlivable. The air was so so stuffy and hot, nobody wanted to go anywhere near the hostel during the day. The staff was not committed to making our stay comfortable and didn't have enough fans for the rooms. 3. The bathroom situation was awful. The showers were always packed with people because there was only one bathroom for probably over 100 people on the floor I was staying on. There were three sinks, no counter space, and a broken blow dryer. 4. Lastly the breakfast was minimal. Although breakfast was 'included' I bought cereal and just used their milk. What they offered was disgusting. Just sliced of ham and cheese which was gross. Old cucumbers, mushy tomatoes, and spoiled fruit cocktail. Would not recommend the hostel whatsoever

I cannot say enough good things about this place. I stayed for a week and was blown away by the hospitality! Steph who works at the bar is absolutely darling. Kind and patient. I saw her deal with some pretty crazy patrons and kept her cool the whole time. There's also a young Australian guy who works behind the bar. He was outstanding and kind. Everyone at the front desk was helpful and patient. The cleaning staff! Also lovely and sweet. The rooms were clean and I felt really safe. I was really reluctant to stay in a hostel and first but SO happy I did. I will definitely be back! Thank you for an amazing time and please give the Australian kid behind the bar my information. I would like to date him. Thanks !

This was my first time staying at a hostel and I was very nervous about doing so. I was very pleased with the experience provided at Generator. The location is very clean and they offer all of the amenities you would need while traveling. Their drinks were a little expensive at the bar but the food was reasonably priced. I definitely recommend getting their breakfast if you stay there, it is a good deal and very convenient when traveling. This is definitely upscale compared to a normal hostel which is why the price is a little steeper than normal, but it is definitely well worth it. It's located right by Russell square and kings cross tube stations which will take you anywhere you need to go in London. At night, they had numerous security guards outside at every entrance which made me feel very safe. The only negative thing I have to say about this hostel is that they often falsely advertised events that were happening. For example they advertised a "ladies night" at the bar when in reality there wasn't one. The staff could also be a little rude at times. However, overall, I was very pleased with my stay here. I definitely recommend it for anyone wary of staying in a hostel for the first time or traveling to London.

First of all; I generally do not like hostels. I am much more a private person, so I do prefer hotels or small capsule-like hostels, where you do get some privacy - although the rooms are small (look at The Jane Hotel in New York. Seriously amazing. They surely do know what a boutique hostel is). I love to travel, so I have to take cheaper options sometimes - and I especially do that when visiting London. Mostly because the extreme prices on hotels. The cleanliness could be way better. I find it so almost at every hostel. Seriously, a hostel get A LOT more money per room than an average hotel, which means they should be able to clean more intensely, or at least as a normal hotel room. The design is pretty great though. No Danish design classics or high end furniture - this is a hostel - but seriously okay. Decorated urban and pretty cool. One of the things that I really dislike about this place is that everything adds up. Everything. Every single thing, you want extra or need, is at extra cost. No service. Neither smiles. Pad lock (5 pounds), adapter (6 pounds), room locker (10 pounds). Charging a small amount is okay, but this overcharging is just a pain. Especially for budget travelers. Bathrooms were generally dirty. Just very disgusting and overflowing with paper, water and sometimes something more smelly than that. No, just no. I really am a positive person normally, but this place is just not worth it. If you really do need a hostel, which I am finished with, you can try YHA. Cheaper thus much better value for money, lots of service and smiles. Think about the add-ons. I will quickly become the price of a night's stay in a 3 star hotel.

This place is definitely for the young traveler. The generator was my first hostel experience, so I went in expecting the worst, and I was surprised it was not as bad as my parents had warned. I stayed in an all female dorm with 6 bunks, and as I was traveling through Europe by myself, it was great to meet other girls to go out and explore with. The dorm style bathrooms are awful, the bar here is full of creepy dudes, but the people are friendly and you get free breakfast and free wifi, so I would definitely recommend this hostel. It's London, so the value you get here is pretty amazing. oh and be warned of the luggage room. See the picture.

I recently stayed at the London Generator on the middle leg of a trek across Europe. We stayed in a large mixed dorm with a shared bathroom. The hostel itself is gorgeous, with a fun, quirky design that really incorporates the London atmosphere. I would probably not return to stay in a large dorm, but I would be willing to give the private rooms a try due to the prices and location. Just don't eat the food! The Good: - The Location. Within a 10 minute walk to 3 major underground stations including King's Cross, Russell Square, and Euston, accessing all of the major attractions was a breeze. - The Fan. While there was no AC in the room, we were given a floor fan which kept the temperature tolerable in the London summer. This was an improvement over the Generator Dublin. - The Staff & Security. Everyone we talked to was friendly and helpful. Security is posted outside at night, limiting access to outsiders in the area which made me feel a lot better as a female traveler. The Bad: - The Bathrooms. The amount of heat and steam in the bathroom made it impossible to get fully dry. The hairdryer was broken, making getting dry even more difficult. Like any public toilet, the stalls were frequently clogged. However, staff were always immediately helpful once alerted to the problem. - The Food. Possibly the worst part of the London Generator was the food. We attempted to eat here twice. The first time the London Burger was so dry I was only able to eat half of it before giving up. For the second attempt I tried the Coronation Burger but ended up throwing 3/4 of it away for the same reason.

Pros: clean and, for the size, decently quiet. Great central location and fair price. Con: no kitchen- what kind of hostel doesn't have a kitchen? They just had a pub and restaurant, which was good, but I didn't appreciate feeling like I was being pushed to buy their food. I stay at hostels to save money and not constantly needing to eat out, and some of my best experiences in hostels are cooking with new folks from all over the world.

I wish I could give this place 0 stars. The staff are rude and the guests are annoying; they blast a terrible radio station in the common room during the day. There is "security" patrolling the hostel 24 hours a day like someone important is here. This is the worst hostel I have been to and I have been to a good amount of hostels. It is Nazi Germany. I felt like someone was constantly on my ass waiting for me to break one of their ridiculous "rules". There are too many people staying here, you have to pay to use the computers and there is no free breakfast. The security guards constantly harass the people staying here. The only good thing about this place is that it is cheap but I would rather pay a little bit extra to stay anywhere else. Worst hostel I have ever stayed at! Read all the reviews before booking here because most elaborate on how terrible this place really is. Please find a more accommodating place to stay, unless you like fascists.

If you're traveling through Europe in the summer months and get even remotely hot while sleeping (or in general), do not stay here. There is no air conditioning in the rooms and the windows open only a few inches. Even after having the front desk provide a fan, it was still incredibly hot in the room. The common areas are really nice and include a full bar and cafe, but the bedrooms are tiny. We had a four bunk room and had to take turns getting dressed because only one person could be moving around the room at a time. The shared bathrooms are fine, and overall pretty clean. Overall a good experience, but the lack of any type of air conditioning made it very difficult to sleep.

NOTE: They got renovated in the summer 2013. We were the first inhabitants of our NEW 4-person room (around 35-40 Euros/night). We could still smell the paint off our walls. The room had 2 bunk beds, a sink, storage for each person, windows w/ curtains and system heater/AC. The room was wayyyy too small for comfort. There's about 3 feet wide walkway in between the beds to walk, so it was impossible for all of us to get ready in the morning without running into each other. There were separate gender bathrooms. However, the shower rooms were still old. I hated how we had to hang our clothes and towel on a tiny hook outside of our stall so it wouldn't get wet, but it ends up falling on the ground anyway - Yikes! I recommend bringing a small plastic bag to hold everything in. Free breakfast was pretty nice: juice, milk, coffee, cereal, ham, cheese, bread, etc. You get one free drink at the bar too! And every night, they have some kind of event in the lobby/bar. Anywho, the three 3 S's are pretty well here: safety, sleep, and sanitary (although the bathroom lacks a bit here). Workers are pretty chill too. What can I say.. I have a soft spot for British guys with accents.

It was my first time using any hostel and when you're traveling on a budget, this place was pretty reasonable. Perhaps it was the cultural barrier but i thought the people at night were a bit on the ruder side. The lockers not functioning well and the hostility, was a bit overwhelming because oh the stress from traveling. Overall cleanliness of the place was okay but the showers we're a bit of a nuisance since it was so cramped and there wasnt space for anything like caddies or towel racks. The wifi was easy to connect to and pretty fast and the common room had a lot of outlets. The people was very diverse, some of them nice some of them stressed. There was a sense of security because there were so many guards around. For the price I paid, it seemed like I got what I deserved

Hostel in a good central location. My dorm was well cleaned but I was disappointed to find out there were only common plugs in the room: the best and most modern hostel have one for each bed! Bathrooms were not always perfectly cleaned but no major issues. No buffet breakfast, it's by order. I didn't have breakfast here because I saw the first day how busy it gets in the bar and you have to wait! no thanks!

I stayed here Summer 2016 with my GF in a private room. The service was quick at the desk and the atmosphere was fun. We came too early so had to put our bags in lockers (about 4 pounds for 6 hours) which was fine. At 2, check-in time, we returned and our room was not yet cleaned. The cleaners were nearby and cleaned it quickly though, so it wasn't a big deal. Once inside, our room was clean, bathroom was clean. Sheets and towels provided free of charge. On the first floor, they have a nice bar/lounge area, a chill room, and a lounge/restaurant that has some decent options that aren't too outrageously priced. The staff seemed friendly enough. The atmosphere of the people was great. There was a nice mix of internationals, younger, and older crowds. I only ate/drank for dinner at the hostel once. Otherwise, we consumed all other meals out in the city so I can't speak much beyond the tasty flatbread pizza and fish and chips. Overall, I thought it was a good experience. My GF and I did a lot of sightseeing so we didn't get to mingle with many fellow hostelers. The staff was always friendly, I felt very safe about the security, the location is great (very close to everything and a nearby tube station). I would certainly stay here again as the price was right, the staff was good, the location was impeccable, and the rooms were clean and standard.

Worst hostel I have stayed in. They had to switch our beds the last night of our stay because they overbooked the hostel. I asked for compensation for the night and they said they couldn't do anything. DO NOT STAY HERE! Wombats is a much better hostel overall.

One VERY early Monday morning, sometime during March 2014, the Baby Jesus smiled down upon my soul and gifted me with the privilege of getting my hands on the much sought after Kate Bush tickets that everyone was flipping the F out about. 550 Canadian dollars in the hole, I was the proud owner of 2 Kate Bush tickets. I was going to London! I love getting private rooms in hostels and settled on the Generator after much research. I booked a private room on-line and the total came to 270 pounds for 4 days. Seemed like a fair price, but god god does that exchange rate sucked my willingness to live; that basically comes out to 500 Canadian bucks. Owwwiiieee. But FRIK IT, KATE BUSH, LONDON. IT WAS HAPPENING. I emailed with the Generator before-hand to ask a bunch of inane questions about the rooms and they were courteous and helpful. I also changed the booking dates a few times with them as well, and they were super accommodating and informative, they even kept sending me updated invoices! They take credit card info to secure the room and do not charge until you check in. Loved it. Arrival: The Generator is suppperrrr central, but tucked away in a quiet side street. I opted to disembark at Kings Cross Station, and after a little confused wandering, I found Tavistock Road and was soon at the Generator sign, I walked down a cute alleyway and up to steps to the hostel. Where I met 1 of the 4 big beautiful Bouncer/Security guards that man the door at all times during the day (2 out of the four always told me what a pretty lady I was/complimented me all the time so A+ on the ego boost service these guys provided.) could come off as creepy, but their Caribbean charm was entirely endearing to me. After a certain hour into the night, security is then placed at the entrance alleyway and you have to show your door card to get in. It made me feel VERY safe and I loved the precautions and security level of the place. Especially as a woman travelling alone. The room: Super super clean. Clean sheets, clean floor, spotless bathroom. I was on floor 3, room 318, and the end of their hall. The private room was tiny! I booked the room for 2, but actually ended up solo, so it wasn't a huge issue for me. But be aware, there isn't much room to turn around and relax in there with 2 people, and their suitcase(s) worth of stuff. The room came with a bunk bed set, a bench and a private equally tiny "wet room" aka, a toilet and shower in the same space with no separation between the shower and toilet. I found that to be a delightful surprise. The wet room also came with a bombass waterfall shower head that had excellent water pressure and temperature. And there was a powerful ceiling fan that sucked out all the moisture and water from the wet room - by next morning, the puddle in the middle of the wet room was gone, and everything was dry. Plus, the door has a rubber stopper, so aside from anything in the wet room, nothing else outside gets wet. The door to the room was a little sketchy, it has to slam to actually close, and there were a few instances where the door closed lightly and didn't lock. And because the doors SLAM LIKE HECK, night time (and basically all the time) is loud. I am a light sleeper and had to buy ear plugs (they ran out of them at front desk sigh) so I could get a good nights rest from all the WHAMMING AND SLAMMING. The food is meh, overpriced and mostly not worth your time. You can get a better deal elsewhere, or pop into the Whiterose literally across the street for some budget eats. I did however get the Generators their full english breakfast because it looked so good, and that's the only thing I really liked. Their burger was run of the mill. Overall, I really liked my stay at the Generator, despite staying at a hostel, I kept to myself and enjoyed the solitude and awesome level of service!

I stayed here for four days in 2004 and it is horrible. I got a filthy private room with uncomfortable bunk beds and shared bath. The window opened on to the alley that came to the front and all night long I heard the loud clunk clunk clunk of luggage wheels on the cobblestones. Every morning at 7 am someone pulled the fire alarm, I was told that it was a tradition. I give them an extra star simply because the room was affordable and their bar was open till 3 am.

I've stayed at plenty of hostels in my life and the Generator does EVERYTHING wrong. This place resembles a big creepy dorm with questionable hallways and pipes running through whichever way it wants. Here's what Generator does wrong: - CRAMPED rooms. Absolute no place to even do a somersault. - Bathrooms didn't work on every other floor - Broken Elevators - Construction right outside our room with scaffolding so people could walk on. - Mushy beds that curve in the middle so you are cacooned in. - Bunk beds where the bottom bunk has about 2 feet before the top bunk. - Expensive for what you get...or don't get. What Geneator does right: - Free drink upon arrival! Woot! - Security that checks key cards after a certain hour. - Free brekky! - Sink in room. - Prime location, about 2 blocks from King's Cross Station If I came back to London, I will NOT be returning to the Generator no matter how poor I am.

Perhaps you're looking for Ryanair in hostel form. Well your search is over, because that place is Generator London. By this I mean that it's cheap and cheerful in the first instance, though gets progressively more expensive when you want anything extra. Also the branding is pretty bright and garish. I'm in two minds about how to rate this place, so let's go through pros and cons. The Good - It was £15 for one night's stay. Pretty excellent considering that on the same night I saw hostels charging £50 and more, and hotels charging around £100. - It's about 5-10 minute's walk from Euston. Hugely convenient if that's your access point to the city, and means you're well connected in terms of transport to get around. - The staff are cheerful and helpful. - The place is huge - there is little risk of there being no room at the inn. - Safety seems to be a big concern for the staff and management, which is reassuring. There is a doorman checking your room key as you go in, a lockable drawer under your bed, and instead of a wishy-washy luggage room they have luggage lockers. - They have a travel shop in the hostel where you can buy padlocks, adaptors, shampoo, towels, and various other necessities. The Not So Good - As I said, £15 is cheap but I can see how all the add-ons would end up making this a more expensive option. For example there's no towel rental, just the option to buy one for £4. Top tip: take your own. Also the luggage lockers cost between £2-12 depending on size and length of time. Extending check-out from 10am to midday costs £5. And so on. - The toilets and shower rooms smelled pretty bad. On the morning they stunk, one toilet was overflowing and the ceiling was leaking. - It took me and friend a fair bit of hassle to get clean sheets for our beds. I think this was partly due to the fact that somebody else in the dorm had been sleeping on them, so not entirely the management's fault, but still. Overall staying here was fine and if you're on a serious budget and aren't too bothered about the standards of where you stay, go for it. I'll be looking for something a bit nicer for my next trip though.

Once upon a time, my brother moved to Edinburgh to go to university, and I had the good sense to take advantage of the situation to get some international travel under my belt. Part of my solo itinerary included three days and nights in London, and after reading a review in a travel guide, The Generator seemed to be a fine bet. Well, it wasn't. It was kind of gross, and pretty loud, and the laundry facilities (which I was so excited to have access to) stunk (after a run through the dryer - twice - things remained quite damp). Generator was my very first hostel stay and I didn't really know what to expect. What I got was a really terrible college dorm. My room (and the folks in it) were fine and trustworthy folks, but the common areas - and the bathrooms in particular - were worn out at best and gross at worst. Shower stalls were missing doors and shower knobs had to be held on to to keep the flow and temperature steady. I would have assumed this was standard hostel fare if I hadn't followed it up with two extremely pleasant, clean, quiet, and cleaper stays in Oxford and Inverness. In their defense, I will say that the location was ideal for me - close to the Tube, and within easy walking distance of many of my scheduled destinations. But: I have no doubt there are better options in London. If you're an 18 year old binge drinker who is going to be out all day and out all night (or in the hostel bar all night for some particularly dire karaoke), this is your place. Otherwise, don't trust travel guide blurbs - those writers clearly have never stepped in the door.

The Generator was my first stop on whirlwind trip of Europe. It was also my last stop when the tour was over 18 days later. I had a great adventure. I saw, heard, ate, drank everything! So among the many experiences, memories, and lessons learned during my journey I concluded that staying in hostels is not recommended for women over age 30. You see, when a woman has lived a certain number of years she becomes accustomed to living and traveling a certain way. This was my first time staying at a hostel and because my trip was put together at the very last minute there wasn't much time to shop around for a hotel and coordinate meeting up with my tour group the next morning. So off I went to London a little unprepared and a little too spoiled from my past experiences at such lavish places like Motel 6 and my friend's sofa. If you are over the age of 30 and have never stayed at a hostel before, this what you need to know: You will most likely be the oldest person there. No one will understand the concept of 'being quiet because other people are sleeping'. Bring ear plugs. The hostel bar is your friend, especially at happy hour. Don't be shy, make new friends...however, 9 out 10 people you meet will be from Australia. Be prepared to have to walk down the hall to pee or take a shower. My room was equipped with a sink and mirror so I could brush my teeth in my room. Keep an eye on your things. The rooms have locks, but you may be sharing a room with 3 total strangers. I had a luggage lock to secure my things in a locker that was in my room. Bring your own towel. You can buy one at the front desk, but don't leave that towel behind if you are moving on to another hostel. (I finally learned this 3 cities and 9 euro later) Breakfast is sometimes provided, but if you're expecting bacon and eggs you're only fooling yourself. Make yourself a little sandwich to go and wrap it in a napkin. It will come in handy if you should find yourself hungry while riding the subway. Take advantage of the little perks. Not every hostel has laundry facilities, so if your socks need washing, please take care of it! The lobby area also has a wall of phone to call home if you get homesick. If you want to charge your cell phone or ipod there's a secure locker where you can take care of that too. Be a good sport. Chances are that you will have to sleep in a top bunk. The lights can go on at any moment. Wear a sleeping mask to keep things dark while your room mates come and go. If you're really that miserable, go outside...there's all of London to keep you entertained.

This place is the SHIT!!! Both times I stayed here I made some good friends, got laid, got drunk and generally found a life. And it was cheap. Or at least relatively so. At least for the dorm beds. But that's how you make friends, staying in a dorm room. You get to know people real well. Also, I don't know if they still do this but when I was there, there was a happy hour where it was a pound a pint for Carling from 6-9. And then on Thursdays there is karaoke and to get the ball rolling they offer a free drink to the first 5 people who sing. Which I always jumped at. That way I could get shitty by 10:30 for about 7 pounds. And that my friends, is a good effing deal. It's so awesome that you should probably book in advance. I also think you get a deal if you book for a week. This is my experience from 2002 & 2004. Things have probably changed but hopefully only for the better.

I had fun when I was at Generator a couple of years back. Went down for a gig and didn't want to put my friends out by lodging at theirs like I usually do (I was with some friends). Stayed in one of the private dorms with two of my friends - it was a mixed gender dorm we wanted and they didn't mind. It was 50 quid for two nights (reasonable since it's in the centre of London) and perfectly adequate in terms of amenities. It was what you expect from a hostel - garish, chipping paint, comfy enough bunks and a wee sink in the corner. I hate sharing showers but it wasn't as bad as I thought. If you're staying in a hostel you expect that. What made me like this place more was the atmosphere. Clearly geared at the 20s to early 30s age group it's alive with party goers, although there are areas to get some peace if that's what you're looking for. It was self serve food where you could make your portions as generous as you wished. The bar was full of a throng of rowdy, friendly people enjoying the London nightlife and we had a blast drinking with people we didn't know. The karaoke night was great and there were heaps of ways to meet people. Booze was cheap enough, too. So in a nutshell, it's got everything you'd expect from a hostel - shared bathrooms for group dorms and a long line of people with a hangover waiting for breakfast. But what made this place excellent was the excitable group of people it attracted. It does everything to encourage travellers and revellers to get out amongst it and enjoy themselves.

Ah, the Generator. Cult classic and perennial fav amongst 20 something backpackers and city-tripping Brits alike, the Generator is in its own class. There are 800 beds, very often all occupied by raucous travellers and inmates or "long-termers" of questionable sanity (like one of the rooms I stayed in which had been kitted out by its resident with a personal fridge, microwave, boxes and boxes of posessions including books and a jar of change - a veritable home whose owner had a new roommate every night). Tip: Utilise the lockers to keep your stuff in if possible - if only to avoid it being pissed on by someone who is so blind he thinks its a rubbish bin (as if that makes it okay). One other tip: don't brush your teeth in the sinks in the rooms - people piss in them. This place is an old army barracks. It feels like one too. I'd say it's worth going for bragging rights and to see some quite awe-inspiring slices of humanity (although not usually the good kind of awe) - but I'm not really sure it is. Read the reviews, laugh at other people's stories - stay somewhere nicer. Really though - this place is totally central, totally decent and totally affordable. Perfect for one or two nights if you don't mind sharing a space with really drunk 20 year old Australians starting off their gap years. If you really want to experience strangers shagging in the same bunk as you or earn a signature "I fell into the Generator trap" tee, stay longer. Note - I haven't been back to the Generator since I was one of said Australians on my gap year - 5 or 6 years ago now, so maybe some things have changed. I doubt it though.

This is one of the cleaner London hostels I've been to. I'm not kidding either. Free wi-fi as well. The rooms get really really hot, this is england, land of no A/C. free breakfast is nice and simple. The bathrooms are okay, but sometimes they are out of order and have no hot water. As for those who comment that it was too much for them, i'm sorry, its a hostel, what do you expect? there was a group of loud screaming school children when i was there. Its budget travel, expect a big subset to be young.

Here's the deal, folks. If you want to go to London, have some cash, want to sleep all day and drink all night, have no interest in doing anything productive while you are there, want to share a room with random men or women depending on the night ... The Generator is the place for you. I stayed there a few years ago. My friend and I were there to work and live in London for 4 months just out of college. We thought it was temporary but due to some different opinions, ended up staying at the Generator for a month and a half. They have a nice locked room where you can store your large bags becasue they don't fit in the lockers in the room BUT anyone can go in if they have a bag there. We learned to hide our stuff under other peoples in odd and strange corners of the room to keep it safe. We stayed in a 6er. 6 people. You can't leave anything on your bed during the day except enough to show you sleep there. Lock everything up and keep your valuables on you. Pretty standard hostel stuff though. People party all night long and drink long into the night. It's kinda crappy. We were trying to get good office jobs and to get no sleep at night because of the debauchery sucked. The free breakfast wasn't bad. The showers have that push knob that slowly pulls out. Right, so you won't leave it running. You end up with one hand soaping your hair while the other holds the button down to rinse off. BRING FLIP FLOPS!! Nasty, nasty floor. In the light of day, the Generator looks old and worn and smells a little like puke. But what can you expect from a place that attracts hard partiers. You can usually get access to a phone pretty easily. When I was there, there was one on each floor and several on the main floor. Some were usually out of order. The real upside is how close this place is to the Russell Square tube stop which keeps you inside Zone 1 for the tube. Makes your tube tickets cheaper. Seriously, I recommend a night or two. Don't stay long. It kills your hopes and dreams. If you are doing an extended stay like I was, find a flat. You can find them for 60pounds per person per week. Better than the 90 something we were paying at the Generator. Life is just expensive there. Oh and by the way, not handicapped accessible. They have an elevator inside but steps up to the front door and yes, you drag your luggage up them.

Best experience ever. I stayed here for two nights different nights during travels in Europe. I have to say hands down the best hostel I have ever stayed in. Really great pricing, clean, comfortable, great atmosphere and amazing receptionist staff. Checking in was a piece of cake. They made it seem less and effortless. I plan on staying in their Paris and Rome location when I'm back in the spring. I would tell anyone who is traveling in a budget or just wanting to meet people in their travels to stay here or any of their other locations. I made some amazing new friends here, had some great drinks at the bar they have and the food is killer, I will definitely be coming back to stay here when I'm next in London

This was the first hostel I ever stayed at. Finding this place was a bit hard, considering I was like 18 in a foreign country. All I can remember was that I was gonna be staying in some pretty shoddy places so I was preparing myself for some bad nights. This wasn't one of them. It's a hostel for godsakes. It's not a 5 star hotel. Yes, there are other hostels in and around Europe, but we're talking London here. You have to compare it to other hostels IN London. You can't hold the same standards for other hostels around the world. Regardless, I liked this place! Small bedrooms that fit like 3 bunkbeds and the bar was the happening spot. It was happy hour and we ended up with 9 pints EACH (there was 5 of us) on our table. They had free food and it wasn't like some bread, butter and water. It was full on pasta and other delicious foods, so that was a plus. Overall, I would definitely stay here again. Especially when they let you pass out in the hall in front of your room door.

hate hate HATEEEE Stayed here for 3 days and had a terrible experience. The whole inside looks like I would imagine a low class brothel would, with neon lights, odd painted walls, and just gross. Rooms are TINY. We got a 4 person private room and we had to stack our luggages on top of each other. There are always people out front for safety, but they were actually creepy and you could not even whisper outside of the hostel without being yelled out. Stayed in many hostels, including one in Alicante, Spain where the showers were outside, but this tops the charts. Oh and bathrooms had no hooks or anything for towel or clothes.

It's a hostel, and as far as hostels go, this is either scraping the bottom of the barrel or totally awesome depending on who you talk to. Rooms are cramped, damp, and sometimes dirty. Some friends of mine ended up with scabies as a result of dirty bed linens (i escaped unscathed thankfully, though honestly, I think it would be cheaper to get and be treated for scabies than to stay at most places in the city since it's expensive) The windows always seemed to be open, adding to the inescapable dampness, but whatever. The staff was helpful (one of the times I stayed there the tube when on strike and they quickly arranged cab transport for guests to either Gatwick or Heathrow) and offers lockers for your passport and other valuables. The rooms can house between 2-8 people, co ed dorm style. It's not glamourous, but it's a place to rest your head. For me, that was fine since any time I've been in London I was typically out all day and by the time I returned to the hostel I was ready to crash. One thing I liked was that the Generator was that they put a strong emphasis on travelers intermingling with their bar which is open rather late. They also had trivia nights and dance parties. ---but watch out for bedbugs

I'm kind of surprised by all the negative reviews, have stayed here several times and always had a comfortable, fun time. I've never stayed in the dorms, but the private rooms are nice, typical ikea with a sink in the room and comfortable bunk beds. Linens/towels were always bright white and very fresh smelling - I especially liked that there were cotton covers on the blankets that were washed between each guest. Check-in is easy and the rooms are cheap (for London and especially the convenient location.) The bar is a fun place to start or end the night, and also very economical. I've always met interesting people whenever I've gone - one time ending up in a kick-line of Australian rugby players singing loudly to "New York, New York," but I've definitely had quiet relaxed times there too. Another nice benefit is the free breakfasts - all the toast and jam, cereal, coffee, and juice you could ever want. Breakfast is not a meal I typically like to spend money on anyway, but great fuel for your day in London.

I came here expecting the same quality as the Generator in Berlin. Well, I was wrong. The one in Berlin was a lot better and newer. But for London, it was not bad for the price. The location is pretty good. Tesco and the Underground is not far and there are a decent amount of affordable places to eat right outside. What sucked was how some people were still freaking loud in the hallway late at night. Our room was at the end of the hall and we stayed during the coldest winter in over a hundred years, so the heater didn't warm us properly, we had to ask for a second blanket. This also meant that I got to use the outside as a refrigerator by hanging our frozen pizza in a plastic bag outside of the window. Oh yeah, free microwave. Free breakfast, cheap dinner. Free wifi. There was one female staff member who was rude in the beginning, but then alright later. Maybe she just had her monthly visitor? I'd only come here if I was on a budget... and I was!

Must preface this by saying this was my first and only time in my life that i have ever stayed at a hostel. I will start with the Pros as it's not nice to be completely negative -location -staff was accommodating to the issues I expressed -ideal for the single/young/does not mind LOUD music and paper thin walls, traveler on a budget Now onto reality... Do not let their trendy hip website fool you. This place is just downright filthy. Perhaps for a hostel it is the Ritz Carlton, I do not know as I do not have experience with hostels, but when you get back from a day out around 10:30PM only to be greeted by drug dealers near the entrance, one's impression should be negatively impacted. Regardless of the dealers, the Generator rooms are filled with dust bunnies (seriously my nose was filled with dirt clogged snots in the morning, sorry if TMI). I am concerned with what I was breathing in. My room had a smell the entire time, that required windows to stay open, always. I had an issue with my first room location as it was sandwiched within high schoolers who were very loud, rude, and not willing to quiet down. As a staff chaperone for a college trip, I tried to speak with their teacher who did not seem to care. The staff at Generator were more than willing to help me out. They gave me a key to a new room, and when I went to check it out, turns out it was occupied! YIKES! They gave me the key to another room, and I woke up 2 women. At that point, I realized how easy it is to get into a room and steal possessions/ or get attacked at night. I never felt safe at night in the Generator. Again, the people working there are kind, and I am sure this is a great place for the single traveler but I could never recommend the place and will be letting my University officials know that this is not the kind of accommodation for a group of college students.

Nice place to stay in central London if you're on a budget. I had a private room with three friends and shared bathroom. Everything was clean and it's a very short walk to Russell Square tube station. Very young crowd. Not advisable for families.

This was my first hostel experience. My initial reaction was that this place reminded me of a college dorm minus desks. You have bunk beds and "closet space" (aka lockers) You also have the community bathrooms and there is no alcohol allowed up in the room area. There is a recreational room where they have computers/internet access, but keep in mind that you have to pay. There is also a bar with loud music and a mini-dance floor. This place is also the meeting location of a lot of the European TOPDECK tours (which i did), so people who do these tours-- you should definitely stay here the night before to ensure that you check-in on time. After two weeks of staying in several of hostels, this place was average. It gives you a secure place to sleep and shower, so i guess it fulfills all the requirements of a hostel!