233 Willesden Lane, London, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Affordable hostel located in a quiet suburb of London
Common areas decorated with charming vintage pieces
Beds are comfortable with privacey curtains in shared rooms
Free simple breakfast with croissants and cereals
On-site restaurant and self-serve kitchen available
Hip Bike Shed bar with drinks and a billiards table
Boardroom and event space available
Outdoor terrace with picnic space
Free on-site parking and Wi-Fi
A half-hour drive from central London
Shared bedrooms can be stuffy
Some guests complain about noise from fellow visitors
About a half-hour tube ride northwest of central London, the Palmers Lodge Hillspring is a 71-room hostel with a variety of room configurations from dorms to private rooms. The budget property has a lot of vintage charm with a hip bar, low-key restaurant, and several lounging spaces. Guest can also cook their own meals in the self-serve kitchen. Perks like free breakfast and parking add to the property's value. Travelers who want a budget stay closer to the center of town may want to consider the Generator London Hostel, which has similar amenities and is a short ride to many major tourist attractions.
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Scene
Hostel with a hip, sleepaway-camp vibe and rustic furniture
While the bland exterior of Palmers Lodge Hillspring resembles a dorm or a school with brick walls and generic windows, the inside is fun and cool. The lobby and lounge have several stuffed leather chairs and sofas that look like they were plucked from a 1970s bachelor pad. A handful of tchotchkes add to the clubby aura, including an antique clock, a hanging animal skin, and mounted antlers. The pub-like Bike Shed bar adds to the collection of conversation items with a kayak, a brass cash register, wall-sized Union Jack, a room full of classic motorcycles, and a billiards table. Palmers Lodge restaurant is more low-key, with wood benches and a tile floor. Outside is a garden with a terrace as well as a large lawn and picnic tables for eating or lounging. Most guests are young budget travelers who don't mind the removed location away from the center of the city.
Location
In a quiet suburb, a half-hour tube ride northwest of central London
Palmers Lodge Hillspring is located in bucolic Kilburn, a half-hour drive or tube ride from the city center. Much of the surrounding area is residential. Two tube stations are nearby: Willesden Green is a seven-minute walk away and Kilbrun is about 15 minutes on foot. Wembley Stadium is about 14 minutes by car or 25 minutes on the tube, while getting to Heathrow takes about 35 minutes by car or an hour on public transportation. Gatwick Airport is 70 minutes by car or public transportation.
Rooms
Private and shared rooms with simple, rustic decor
T he 71 guest rooms at Palmers Lodge Hillspring are simple and rustic; they're available in a number of private and shared configurations. Private en-suite rooms range from Twins to Family Rooms, and most have little room to move about, with the majority of the floorspace dominated by beds and wardrobes. Rooms have safes, but TVs are only available in the common areas, not in the rooms. The shared spaces range in size from four to 20 beds and many are arranged like wood camp barracks with wraparound curtains surrounding each bed for privacy. But some visitors complain that these spaces aren't ventilated well enough. Lockers are available for guests' valuables. Bathrooms are small and vary with either wet-room-style showers, shower stalls, or shower/tub combos.
Features
Restaurant, bar, free breakfast, laundry, and meeting space
The amenities at Palmers Lodge Hillspring are more impressive than what's found at most hostels. Food is available both at the on-site restaurant and can also be made in a self-service kitchen. Coffee and tea are free in the common areas. The Bike Shed bar serves drinks and also has a billiards table and there's a garden and a terrace for relaxing. A simple breakfast, with croissants and cereals, is included in room rates, and laundry and dry cleaning can be arranged. There are two conference spaces available for meetings and events, and while there's no business center, there is a computer station for guest use. Free Wi-Fi is available in some common areas, but the connection doesn't work throughout the property.
