Oxford · England
Central Backpackers
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Booking.com
You absolutely get what you pay for. I stayed once before and got bed bugs. I stayed again, this time in a stinky dorm reeking of mildew. Bed close to the window made it hard to sleep with noise outside. Life is too short to be uncomfortable.
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Confirmed Booking.com
The only problem I faced was that I stayed for just one night in the hotel. Two days after coming back from the hotel I developed a very bad allergy on my arms and hands. After disccusing with my GP, I found that it could be because of the bed bugs or the hotel bedsheets not cleaned properly so because of that I got the allergy. I cannot say for sure if I got the allergy from there but this is the only possible reason that comes to my mind. I would suggest taking your own bedsheet and pillow cover there and dispose them off when leaving the hotel.
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Confirmed Booking.com
Bedbugs in bed303 mate
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Confirmed Booking.com
I got bedbug bites. 5 on my left upper arm and two on my left calf. They are quite inflamed. Now I have to treat my possessions as well as my home in the states, which will cost me money. So, I wish I had spent more money and stayed somewhere else.
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Possible Booking.com
Nombre de douche insuffisant pour le nombre de personnes dans l'auberge et il manque un miroir dans les espaces douches à mon sens Dans les chambres les lockers sont vraiment trop petits, ma valise cabine ne rentrait pas dedans, j'avais un cadenas pour ma valise pendant la journée donc ça a été mais je préfère mettre ma valise dans un espace qui n'est pas de la moquette (pour éviter notamment les punaises de lit si il y en a un jour) Pas de rideaux à chaque lit
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Confirmed Hostelworld
Truly I want a refund on my entire stay. A day or so after arriving, both my friend and I are showing signs of bedbug bites. The only other place we stayed before this was an extremely clean airbnb that bleach cleaned all their linens. We stayed for a week and had no bites, so this is definitely an Oxford backpackers hostel issue. I should’ve known they can’t properly sterilize the sheets when I saw they weren’t white or bleached anyways. The nightclubs also stay open till 3am. No sleep at all.
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Possible Google Maps
El servicio muy amable y el espacio como tal está genial. La ubicación es céntrica y las zonas comunes están limpias. Al mismo tiempo quiero destacar que en nuestra habitación (Habitación 4) había chinches, con la suerte de que no nos picó ninguna. Por otro lado hay un pub que está sin insonorizar, por lo tanto, no se puede dormir hasta las 3 que cortan la música.
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Confirmed Google Maps
my bed had bedbugs and i woke up with my entire body covered in bites also it’s on a very noisy street so if that bothers you, you’ll probably have trouble sleeping. i hope the issue has been rectified because it’s a nice hostel otherwise.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
It is very close to loud clubs and very hot, so sleep quality is quite low. Also, I had a bad experience with bed bugs at this location. Would definitely recommend AirBnb or hotel if you have the option.
HostelPunk native reviews
First-party field notes
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Vibe Analysis
Central Backpackers is best treated as a practical Oxford crash pad with a social edge, not a soft landing for deep sleep. The location is the big win: close to the train and bus stations, near the centre, with food options around and Blenheim Palace buses nearby. The hostel has a well-equipped kitchen, free tea and coffee, luggage storage, bedside power and lamps, and sometimes simple hostel programming like movie nights, game nights, pub quizzes, and cookouts. Staff can be warm and helpful, and the common areas can feel friendly when the place is clicking. The building sits by loud bars and clubs, and bass can run into the early morning. Rooms can get hot, stuffy, cramped, and musty, especially when windows need to stay open for air. Beds are basic, privacy curtains are generally absent, lockers are small, and bathroom capacity can feel tight for the number of beds.
Signals to check
- Noise from nearby clubs can be severe, sometimes with bass until around 2:30-4:00am.
- Rooms may be hot, poorly ventilated, crowded, or musty.
- Cleanliness is uneven, especially around bathrooms, showers, shared tables, and dorm smells.
- There are repeated concerns about uncomfortable mattresses, no bunk curtains, tiny lockers, and too few showers or toilets.
- Access involves stairs and no lift, so heavy luggage or mobility needs may be difficult.
- There have been serious past bite-related complaints, including bedbugs and scabies.