172 Westminster Bridge Rd, Lambeth, London, SE1 7RW, United KingdomView Hotel Details
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The Walrus Bar and Hostel Guest Reviews
3.8/5
Good
25 review
To ensure the authenticity of the displayed ratings, we do not simply calculate an average. Instead, we take into account the review credibility and the date of the guest's stay to determine the final rating.
Verified reviews
Location3.9
Amenities3.8
Service3.8
Cleanliness3.8
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All reviews(25)
Positive reviews(20)
Reviews with photos/video(4)
Negative reviews(5)
tzunglin lee
Bed in Twenty-eight Bed Dormitory
Stayed in Oct 2024
Solo travelers
8 review
4.2/5
Very Good
Posted on Oct 26, 2024
With a really good location near Waterloo station. Quite many attraction spots nearby on foot. Staff are nice. With breakfast for each room guests. Highly recommended.
Guest User
Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory
Stayed in Aug 2024
Solo travelers
11 review
4.2/5
Very Good
Posted on Aug 22, 2024
Shared in a 4 room 301. Small room but functional. For the price and location a very good deal. I would book again!
VxPat
Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory
Stayed in Dec 2023
Solo travelers
2 review
4.0/5
Very Good
Posted on Jan 5, 2024
Good but the floors are too high and there's no lift.
Anonymous User
Bed in Twenty-eight Bed Dormitory
Stayed in Mar 2023
Solo travelers
4 review
4.0/5
Very Good
Posted on Apr 20, 2023
Not bad!!!!!!!! Just like the picture, staff are nice.
Great location, people in the room are quiet.
Yujia
Bed in 4-Bed Female Dormitory
Stayed in Mar 2023
Solo travelers
1 review
4.7/5
Amazing
Posted on Mar 31, 2023
Clean and welcoming.
Julia
Bed In 6-Bed Female Dormitory
Stayed in Apr 2023
Solo travelers
17 review
4.2/5
Very Good
Posted on Apr 9, 2023
Great location. Nice staffs. Cheap luggages storage. If you need a quiet place for sleep, this may not be the one for you, as the train is really close to the window and you may hear them crossing one by one very clearly. But it's ok for me.
Anonymous User
Bed in Twenty-eight Bed Dormitory
Stayed in Dec 2022
Business travelers
112 review
5.0/5
Outstanding
Posted on Dec 30, 2022
Very good place to stay! Will come back in the future for sure! Thanks!
Guest User
Bed In 6-Bed Female Dormitory
Stayed in Sep 2024
Solo travelers
1 review
5.0/5
Outstanding
Posted on Sep 20, 2024
Cleaning is timely, bedding is very comfortable, suitable for one person, service staff and boss are very friendly, I checked in very late, the boss waited for me to check in and helped me take my heavy luggage to the storeroom, service is perfect 💯, if there is any problem, call to solve it very promptly. Located in the downtown area, there are many bars and restaurants nearby, very convenient! Super cost-effective!
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Guest User
Stayed in Nov 2024
Other
1.0/5
Posted on Nov 2, 2024
Extremely disappointing. Most importantly, the entire building is NOT CLEAN - perpetually damp throughout and significant mold growth in bathrooms / shower areas. For some reason, there are wooden crates in the showers and this is where much of the mold is growing from. I spent one night (out of the four I had booked) but decided I could not stay for the remining 3 after awaking to a damp, smelly spot on my mattress that had been covered up by a clean sheet (see attached picture). When I flagged these issues to the on-site staff member and asked if any of the costs from the remaining three nights could be refunded, I was told they could do nothing and gave me a management email. This put me in touch with Paul, who was needlessly rude and condescending. Apparently, I left the hostel without warning and demanded a refund without any valid reason. I was also told that my complaints are "just part of sharing accommodation facilities with other guests", and that "the mattress should have been flipped". Clearly some major management issues going on here. Highly recommend anyone considering staying here seek out other options.
Guest User
Stayed in Jul 2024
Solo travelers
5.0/5
Outstanding
Posted on Jul 21, 2024
I have numerous ongoing London walking projects and love using this friendly hostel as my base. Just minutes away from Westminster and comprehensive tube/rail connections. Ah yes, the trains. The Walrus is within touching distance of the overbridge leading to Britain’s busiest railway station (Waterloo). You have to take this one on the chin. Fortunately as a train fanatic, I’m fine with a bit of the old clickety clack. Squealing on the tight curve may be an acquired taste though. Earplugs are provided on every bed should you require them. The building is old and bathroom facilities are limited. I solved this problem by simply showering in the evenings. Never needed to wait. Water always hot enough. Considering the very reasonable prices, you wouldn’t expect to be fed but a complimentary breakfast of tea, toast, cereal and fruit juice is available in the bar area. There is also a well-appointed little kitchen upstairs to prepare your own food. Nice to have this option. Not every London hostel offers it. There are plenty shops on your doorstep. A bustling neighbourhood. The beds are clean and comfortable. Some of the dorms are large but I’ve always found my fellow guests very respectful. Good mixed crowd. I’m in my early 50s and certainly don’t feel out of place here. If you are looking for a budget option within easy walking distance of many famous sights, the Walrus fits the bill. The place feels very safe and access codes are emailed to you if you check in online. Great place to get your head down before a day’s exploring in one of the world’s most amazing cities. I will be back. I am the Walrus!
Guide40967779873
Stayed in May 2024
Couples
2.0/5
Posted on May 27, 2024
When we arrived the staff were friendly and since we were early for check in they let us leave our bags. When we checked in we were given 3 codes for the front door, our room and the bar door. When we got into the room it was alright for a 28 bed dorm. The beds were not very comfy but it was clean enough. The lockers were big which was good! The toilets were very small and cramped. They weren’t well equipped and didn’t get cleaned regularly. The kitchen was alright as it had a hob and a microwave. The hostel offered free breakfast which was great. It was very loud outside at night and since there was a bar downstairs it was quite loud there also. The location was fantastic as it was next to the underground and a short walk to London Eye. Overall, I would recommend for the location but there is a lot of improvement that could be made.
Guest User
Stayed in Dec 2023
Other
5.0/5
Outstanding
Posted on Dec 4, 2023
Great value for money and in the best of London locations, 24 hour check in and out using digital access codes makes it very convenient, and of course the bar downstairs! 😊 There is no lift, and you can hear noise from Waterloo train station, but the positives far outweigh this.
Guest User
Stayed in Dec 2023
Other
5.0/5
Outstanding
Posted on Dec 1, 2023
Unbeatable location, friendly staff, clean hostel facilities and a lovely bar downstairs. The gentle rumble of passing trains didn’t disturb me but if you’re an early/ light sleeper do consider the highly central location.
Guest User
Stayed in Sep 2023
Other
1.0/5
Posted on Sep 5, 2023
I would want to rate it "0" in terms of experience . For all my stays in hostels in the UK and the recent one at YHA Hostels (the best experience) , this was probably the worst . I arrived in the evening only to be met by unfriendly young faces managing the reception. The 28 bed room was a rather dingy one with several storage locker doors broken . The worst was the bedding which was stained, dusty and the pillow was covered with hair. Having had a long journey and tired , I found myself dusting my bed and used my own pillow cover as I did not have much choice to choose another place to stay in the middle of the night. Its a shame that basic clean facilities (bedding) were not provided , despite paying almost 35 pounds for a night. I would have reported this directly to the gentleman at the reception next morning had I not had to rush to catch the train. I am sure to never return here and would not recommend anyone either.
Guest User
Stayed in Aug 2023
Family
3.0/5
Posted on Aug 6, 2023
I traveled with my own family (spouse and girls age 22 & 17) and my best friend’s girls ages 14,16, 20- 8 people total. We spent 4 nights total. We never stayed in a hostel before so we had nothing to compare it to. Adults here age 50. Ummm, I wish there was a lift to our room on the 4 floor…We survived, actually I guess it’s good for us…. I’m on vacation. Used to community kitchen. Room to seat six at a single table. Most all things to prep a meal. Grocery near by. That all worked out. Room: bunk beds…Comfortable enough, rooms were clean in all regards for a very old building. Bedding clean- enough said. Showers & toilet rooms. Over all impeccably clean given the age. Quirky & each was different. I noticed showering on floor 2 was very different than showering on floor 4. On floor 4 the water would occasionally taper off to, well, off. After about 60 seconds it came back. I also had the water run cold & then come back up to hot on the 4th floor. I found the 2nd floor shower next to the stairs to be the best because of the window sill. Bar. Dirty, to the point of not wanting to spend time there, staff very friendly & helpful. Locals friendly. Neighborhood- seemed sketch on the surface but quickly realized it’s safe, in fact mostly commercial. Located 15 minute walk to the Eye and River front. The hostels site says 5 minutes, it’s not, it’s 15, unless you are 20 years old and speed walk everywhere. *** YOU NEED TO KNOW**** the train. It’s abutting the building. It’s LOUD. It runs till 1 am and starts again at 5am. The staff says midnight to 6:30 am, it’s not, it stops from 1am to 5am. Otherwise you are at a hard 35°turn and the wheels squeal like a pig at slaughter- it’s brutal, not gonna sugar coat it. Our solution: noise canceling headphones and earbuds. Most of us found the earbuds we brought good enough. The 20yo used the complimentary ear plugs and said they worked great. That’s it. My rating is 3k Tara because of not knowing how bad the train is until after we checked in (Misrepresented)