Palmers Lodge - Swiss Cottage — #8 most social in London

Greece Solo traveler Feb 2, 2026 1.0/10

+ Confortable bed and very clean hostel.. My previous review 16/01/2026 "Paid for 5 days parking and they gave me a paper confirmation with my data, car's data (BN64...) and parking dates to put it in visible place, something that I've done. The next day 12/1, I returned on foot back to the hostel and was a notification ONLY on my car (6-7 cars in parking at that time) that accused me that I used parking without to have the right to do and also informed me that photographs have been taken. I went to reception to complain for the unprofessional behaviour and for discrimination, as well. The male receptionist get angry and asked me to give him the confirmation of parking and he told me that he will check electronicaly, something that confirmed my accusations for unprofessionalism and discrimination, as well. I'm wondering why he hadn't check the system before to put the notification on my car and with which criteria choose my car. During the time that he checked the system I told him that the incident that happened is a big deal and his answer was "Really?" !!! Once he checked the system and realised his mistake, he didn't apologise and he told me and told me "You can leave" !!! During this incident a young female receptionist presents all the time and heard everything. I'mm afraid that kind of behavious are unacceptable in hospitality industry. Booking.com - Genius Level 3 PLUS .." Hostel's response: "Hello, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Unfortunately the parking validation for your vehicle was not in a visible place, which is why the note was left on your vehicle to come to reception to verify you had paid. We are required to verify parking as part of our job.

- Hostel's response: "Hello, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Unfortunately the parking validation for your vehicle was not in a visible place, which is why the note was left on your vehicle to come to reception to verify you had paid. We are required to verify parking as part of our job. You approached reception incredibly angry and while we are sympathetic to your complaints it is not the job of our staff to take verbal abuse and disrespect and after several recorded instances of you being incredibly rude and disrespectful to our staff over several of your previous stays with us, We decided its best to just not prolong interactions with you. While none of this constitutes discrimination I will emphasize we are an inclusive environment and prioritize the comfort and safety of all our guests no matter their background. We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the other aspects of your stay and wish you the best, safe travels! Kind Regards, -Maria Assistant Manager, Team Palmers" MARIA, as you know you are lying on multiple occasions and that's a shame for you, for your role, you are giving the wrong example to your inferiors and you are destroying the reputation of the hostel. My parking validation was in a visible place in my car and I'm challenging you to show me the pictures that confirms what you say. My car plate was invisible too? (1st lie). I've never been disrespectful to your staff and as I mentioned above, there was a witness of incident the young female receptionist that can confirm everything that I say (2nd lie). Now I'm sure that Agi (Manager), will be involved in this incident and hopefully you and the rude receptionists will not be there the next time that I'll stay there. P. S.: In case that you'll continue to lie, be sure that I'll escalate officially. Booking.com Genius Memebr 3 PLUS..

Greece Solo traveler Jan 20, 2026 1.0/10

+ Confortable bed and very clean hostel.. My previous review 16/01/2026 "Paid for 5 days parking and they gave me a paper confirmation with my data, car's data (BN64...) and parking dates to put it in visible place, something that I've done. The next day 12/1, I returned on foot back to the hostel and was a notification ONLY on my car (6-7 cars in parking at that time) that accused me that I used parking without to have the right to do and also informed me that photographs have been taken. I went to reception to complain for the unprofessional behaviour and for discrimination, as well. The male receptionist get angry and asked me to give him the confirmation of parking and he told me that he will check electronicaly, something that confirmed my accusations for unprofessionalism and discrimination, as well. I'm wondering why he hadn't check the system before to put the notification on my car and with which criteria choose my car. During the time that he checked the system I told him that the incident that happened is a big deal and his answer was "Really?" !!! Once he checked the system and realised his mistake, he didn't apologise and he told me and told me "You can leave" !!! During this incident a young female receptionist presents all the time and heard everything. I'mm afraid that kind of behavious are unacceptable in hospitality industry. Booking.com - Genius Level 3 PLUS .."

- Hostel's response: "Hello, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. Unfortunately the parking validation for your vehicle was not in a visible place, which is why the note was left on your vehicle to come to reception to verify you had paid. We are required to verify parking as part of our job. You approached reception incredibly angry and while we are sympathetic to your complaints it is not the job of our staff to take verbal abuse and disrespect and after several recorded instances of you being incredibly rude and disrespectful to our staff over several of your previous stays with us, We decided its best to just not prolong interactions with you. While none of this constitutes discrimination I will emphasize we are an inclusive environment and prioritize the comfort and safety of all our guests no matter their background. We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the other aspects of your stay and wish you the best, safe travels! Kind Regards, -Maria Assistant Manager, Team Palmers" MARIA, as you know you are lying on multiple occasions and that's a shame for you, for your role, you are giving the wrong example to your inferiors and you are destroying the reputation of the hostel. My parking validation was in a visible place in my car and I'm challenging you to show me the pictures that confirms what you say. My car plate was invisible too? (1st lie). I've never been disrespectful to your staff and as I mentioned above, there was a witness of incident the young female receptionist that can confirm everything that I say (2nd lie). Now I'm sure that Agi (Manager), will be involved in this incident and hopefully you and the rude receptionists will not be there the next time that I'll stay there. P. S.: In case that you'll continue to lie, be sure that I'll escalate officially. Booking.com Genius Memebr 3 PLUS..

South Korea Solo traveler Nov 18, 2025 1.0/10

- I stayed in dormitory room 003 for three nights from the 14th to the 17th of November. Despite the storage space under my bed being padlocked, over 200 euros in cash and some clothes were stolen....

United Kingdom Couple Oct 9, 2025 1.0/10

+ The stay here is nothing like of seen before as this property is a hostel which should not been on Booking.com. one room share for eight people. This is unacceptable and unlivable. I could not share with eight people and there’s a bed on top of my bed, the bathroom facility was shocking as half naked people kept walking around. I also booked breakfast which it was sweet cakes and cereal, and also there was nowhere at all to sit which is an acceptable and needed to get a refund for my breakfast as there wasn’t anywhere to sit so I gave the tokens to the manager to refund my breakfast money which was £15. I still haven’t received my refund.

- The stay here is nothing like of seen before as this property is a hostel which should not been on Booking.com. one room share for eight people. This is unacceptable and unlivable. I could not share with eight people and there’s a bed on top of my bed, the bathroom facility was shocking as half naked people kept walking around. I also booked breakfast which it was sweet cakes and cereal, and also there was nowhere at all to sit which is an acceptable and needed to get a refund for my breakfast as there wasn’t anywhere to sit so I gave the tokens to the manager to refund my breakfast money which was £15. I still haven’t received my refund.

Mexico Solo traveler Sep 22, 2025 1.0/10

+ La habitación olía muy mal, había ruido a todas horas por qué el lugar es de madera y cuando pisas truena, no hay privacidad en los baños

- No lo recomiendo en lo absoluto, mejor ahorren y contraten en Inglaterra una habitación privada

Egypt Solo traveler Aug 14, 2025 1.0/10

+ Location and staff

- Expensive And very old beds Everything for money No free lockers

Costa Rica Solo traveler Aug 11, 2025 1.0/10

+ Nada

- Todo

United Kingdom Solo traveler Jul 16, 2025 1.0/10

+ Met some great people in this trip and made a new friend in the common area where we ended up talking all night until after sunrise.

- After a late night and meeting a new friend, I didn’t wake to my alarm. A (female) guest in my 4-bed dorm got extremely angry, shouted nonstop (even after I turned the alarm off), banged on my bed, turned the lights on, opened my curtain, and saw me nearly naked. I calmly said, “Leave me alone and put the light out.” She went to reception and claimed I’d said, “Leave me alone, I’ll punch your lights out,” which she may have misheard due to my Liverpool accent. A male receptionist came, didn’t let me speak, and seemed to treat me like trash for staying in a hostel. He assumed I was the problem, ignored that my curtain was opened, and claimed my alarm had been going off since 7am (it was 8:20). I showed him my phone with an 8am alarm, but he accused me of lying and changing it. I didn’t even know she had complained and that he was on his way. He said she was right because another guest in the room backed her. Whether annoyed or mishearing me too, he wouldn’t listen and said I had to leave under their zero-tolerance policy on threats. I was shocked by how little evidence they had. I asked to speak to the manager (Ag). She was more polite but also said I had to leave. She claimed she’d spoken to the other guests but later admitted it was secondhand from the receptionist. I said she couldn’t assume his version was exact and asked her to consider mine. I said I’d leave the room if needed, but as a regular guest of 2 years with no prior issues, I shouldn’t be banned. I told her I work in investment banking and that my Lexus was outside—because I’d been treated like scum. Her tone shifted. She appreciated my calmness and said I could return. As I left, I asked how it would look if a man opened a girl’s curtain. She agreed it would be worse, but said it was OK if a girl opens a man’s if he’s unresponsive. I said that’s wrong either way. She agreed, but didn’t want to address it. That’s sex discrimination. I love this hostel, but this shows toxic management culture.

United Kingdom Solo traveler Jul 8, 2025 1.0/10

+ Not much

- Dingy. Rough finish. Live Cockroach. The host offered to have the apt treated but honestly the root cause needs addressing

United Kingdom Couple Jul 6, 2025 1.0/10

+ None

- Not safety belongings

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