Halpin House (South Kensington)

Bed bugs, dirty with no towels in toilets or showers. More of a HMO than a hotel!!!

Halpin House LHA is one of the biggest scams in London. The place operates under the illusion of being a “hostel,” but in reality, it’s an unprofessional and chaotic setup where volunteers are treated like royalty while paying guests are treated like a nuisance. The staff has zero respect or responsibility, and the entire system feels rigged against anyone who actually pays to stay here. To make things worse, the building is in appalling condition — there is a massive bed bug infestation that they continuously try to hide instead of resolving. Hygiene and comfort are non-existent, and management simply doesn’t care. If you value your money, your sleep, or your sanity, stay as far away from Halpin House LHA as possible. This place should be inspected and shut down before more guests get scammed or bitten.

Bed bugs, I woke up in the middle of the night and I was beaten. It was horrible to wake up in bite marks. I also wasn't expecting someone who lives there permanently in the twin room. It was noisy, I wasn't able to sleep. The guy keeps doing his stuff all night with lights on.

Everything

I was bitten over 200 times by bed bugs all over my body after being forced to switch rooms mid-stay. The bites triggered severe allergic reactions, swelling, and pain. I had to see the doctor twice, take antibiotics for two weeks, and I am still on antihistamines and topical cream. The hostel management has been completely unresponsive and has ignored all of my formal complaints. I have since read other reviews reporting bed bug issues, yet the manager falsely claimed they had “never heard of bed bugs” in this property before. This is not just unacceptable – it is a serious health hazard and shows total disregard for guest welfare. Avoid this place at all costs.

Bed bugs!

Bathroom smells and sink clogged. Shower room also smells musty. Kitchen is not that clean, has some dishes in the sink and stove top.i i saw BEDBUGS when i was about ready to check out in my towels and bed and bathroom that i reported to the receptionist (he told me the other room close to me has it and the person inside brought it).

Bed bugs. Smelly toilet and clogged sink. No one at reception.

Unfortunately, I discovered there were bed bugs in the room. No one informed me about this when I booked. I only realized the problem when I arrived late on the second day and saw that one of the long-term tenants had covered her entire bed with anti-bedbug protection. She told me about the issue. I was terrified and didn’t sleep for two nights. I didn’t open the bed at all and slept fully dressed, afraid of being bitten or taking the bugs home in my luggage. This is not just uncomfortable, it’s a serious health and hygiene risk.