Smart Camden Inn
3-star hostel · London, London
Long Weekend score
Mixed4 serious reports in 296 reviews: a physical hazard (4)
Guests rate nearly every hotel highly: half the hotels in London are rated 8.2 out of 10 or more. So our score shows how a hotel compares with the rest, not how luxurious it is.
- Rated higher than 31% of London hotels
- 71% of guest comments are praise
- 95% of guest photos show no damage
How this score is made
- Rated higher than 31% of London hotels. Compared with 5,640 hotels in London. Counts for 50% of the score.
- 71% of guest comments are praise. 453 praise, 188 complain. Counts for 30% of the score.
- 95% of guest photos show no damage. 57 of 60 photos. Counts for 20% of the score.
- Serious reports are never counted in. They are flagged beside the score, because one matters even when everything else is good.
- From $38 a nightdorm beds for two, before tax
- 5 min walkto Mornington Crescent station
- 296 guest reviewsfrom the last 2 years
- 60 guest photostheirs, not the hotel's
At a glance
For
- A station within walking distanceMornington Crescent is 365 m away
- Location129 praise · 1 complain
- Staff116 praise · 18 complain
- Value41 praise · 7 complain
Against
- Room size67 complain · 5 praise
- Quiet at nightcomplaints rising: 5.7 in 100 a year ago, 14.2 now36 complain · 18 praise
- Problems in the bathroom28 of 296 guests
- Heating and air conditioning20 of 296 guests
- Unexpected charges and refunds14 of 296 guests
What guests reported
What guests say
296 reviews from the last 2 years. Most praised: location (129 guests). Weakest: room size, where 67 of the 72 who mention it complain.
Location1291Strength
Very convenient to Northern line and Kings Cross.
Booking network, July 2026, rated 10/10 by this guest
Walk in distance from underground and bus is right in front of the hospital.
Booking network, July 2026, rated 9/10 by this guest
It was cheaper to take the train there, rent a bed, and then take the train back to London Stansted Airport, than to seek accommodation anywhere within reasonable distance of London Stansted Airport, because London Stansted Airport is garbage.
Booking network, March 2026, rated 7/10 by this guest
Staffcomplaints falling: 8.6 in 100 a year ago, 5.3 now11618Strength
Jean was very helpful he went above and beyond for everything we needed.
Booking network, September 2026, rated 10/10 by this guest
The position, the kindness of the staff, the lobby with all the thoughts of the other guests written on some colourful card at the wall
Booking network, November 2025, rated 10/10 by this guest
The poor welcome in front of the arrival of customer [only by a part of the staff.]
Booking network, August 2026, rated 1/10 by this guest
Value417Strength
It's a very good option for the price.
Google, August 2026, rated 4/5 by this guest
Clean, very comfortable and cost effective for central Camden.
Tripadvisor, April 2026, rated 5/5 by this guest
The price is so expensive for what it is, but I guess that's London!
Booking network, July 2026, rated 7/10 by this guest
Cleanliness10935Mostly good
Great faculties, clean, renovated.
Booking network, May 2026, rated 10/10 by this guest
Clean environment, helpful staff, free Luggage Service, breakfast with essentials, quality wifi and very cozy space
Tripadvisor, November 2025, rated 5/5 by this guest
It smelled really bad, the bathroom was super tiny (you could barely wash your teeth without everything getting wet) and filthy (bc there were none people using it).
Booking network, July 2026, rated 5/10 by this guest
Bedscomplaints rising: 0.0 in 100 a year ago, 6.2 now2414Mostly good
Also probably the comfiest hostel mattress I've ever slept on!
Booking network, April 2026, rated 8/10 by this guest
Bed was nice and spacious, bathroom was clean, staff were amazing, and it is at an excellent location.
Booking network, November 2025, rated 10/10 by this guest
Three bank bed units is so uncomfortable, also the toilets are very small and narrow.
Booking network, May 2026, rated 4/10 by this guest
Room condition54Split
The beds were rusty, and the air conditioning unit was covered in black stains (possibly mold).
Google, September 2026, rated 1/5 by this guest
The building and direct neighbourhood is degraded and resembles affordable supported housing area.
Tripadvisor, May 2026, rated 1/5 by this guest
Quite a small hotel/hostel, I booked a private room that was nice, small but modern and clean.
Booking network, February 2026, rated 9/10 by this guest
Breakfast66Split
The in-house breakfast was a great added convenience.
Google, December 2025, rated 5/5 by this guest
Clean rooms, fine breakfast, good facilities inside, pleasant and helpful staff, near Camden market and underground station.
Tripadvisor, August 2025, rated 5/5 by this guest
Quiet at nightcomplaints rising: 5.7 in 100 a year ago, 14.2 now1836Weak spot
Our window was next to the street and room was noisey but reception provide complimentary ear plugs, with the usage of them, you wouldn't even know.
Google, April 2026, rated 5/5 by this guest
Every move from the room upstairs could be heard and the bed in the middle space was so small that you could not even seat, apart from that the bed itself was comfy.
Booking network, September 2026, rated 7/10 by this guest
Weird smell in the hallway, bedroom was small with nowhere to put belongings and walls were very thin (would recommend the free ear plugs at reception for sleeping)
Booking network, June 2026, rated 7/10 by this guest
Room size567Weak spot
Service was fine, rooms were quite small - couldn’t sit upright in my bed due to how high the beds were stacked with low ceilings.
Google, September 2026, rated 2/5 by this guest
Small bed, small bathroom, small room.
Booking network, July 2026, rated 7/10 by this guest
Breakfast a little light in terms of diversity and very narrow spaces in general (rooms, corridors).
Google, September 2026, rated 4/5 by this guest
Too few mentions to judge: food and views.
Who stays, and their score out of 10
From every review of the last two years that gives a score and says who travelled, including those with no words.
All 1,070 Google ratings
Problems guests raised
Raised most: problems in the bathroom, in 28 of 296 reviews.
Problems in the bathroom28 of 2961 in 11 reviews
The room was a bit small and crowded, very small bathroom and the floor gets all wet after every shower.
Booking network, June 2026, rated 8/10 by this guest
And toilet was hard to flush 302
Booking network, September 2026, rated 6/10 by this guest
Heating and air conditioning20 of 2961 in 15 reviews
There was no actual AC in our room, only a portable one and we couldn't regulate the temperature so it was hot with it off and cold with it on.
Booking network, July 2026, rated 6/10 by this guest
The rooms and bunks are too tight and no abestos in the room to keep them warm especially during the winter and cold weather.
Tripadvisor, April 2026, rated 3/5 by this guest
Unexpected charges and refunds14 of 2961 in 21 reviews
We checked out immediately after the first night, although had paid for 4 nights (no money back).
Tripadvisor, April 2026, rated 1/5 by this guest
Took away one star because doing one load of laundry was £10 and my partner struggled with the bunk layout being on the top bunk (small space to get into, fine once settled).
Google, April 2026, rated 4/5 by this guest
Something broken in the room13 of 2961 in 23 reviews
The socket and light by my bed didn’t work so I was unable to charge my devices over night.
Booking network, June 2026, rated 6/10 by this guest
Also 1 bedside light didn't work.
Booking network, September 2026, rated 7/10 by this guest
Complaints the hotel left unresolved10 of 2961 in 30 reviews
Staff were distracted talking on phone, rooms were almost claustrophobic much smaller than photos suggest, shared bathrooms were tiny, spoke with a roommate who expressed they were trying to swap rooms due to harassment from another roommate and feeling uncomfortable - staff ignored their request…
Booking network, August 2026, rated 4/10 by this guest
Although we complained repeatedly, both we and others in the room, and were promised to kick him out, did not and did not stop giving problems.
Tripadvisor, April 2026, rated 4/5 by this guest
Feeling unsafe10 of 2961 in 30 reviews
So, you have to trust unknown people or take things always with you.
Booking network, November 2025, rated 1/10 by this guest
The hotel staff broke into privet lockers, through locks and stole anything they wanted.
Google, February 2026, rated 1/5 by this guest
Serious reports
4 in 296 reviews, most common first. Shown beside the score, never averaged into it.
A physical hazard4 of 296 reviews
When we were sleeping at night, the mirror fell onto our belongings and broke my Apple Watch screen!
Google, October 2026, rated 1/5 by this guest
These are guests' own accounts from their reviews. We have not verified them, and the hotel may dispute them. A report is counted only when the guest says it happened at the hotel and holds the hotel responsible.
Photos, checked
3 of the 60 guest photos we checked show damage or dirt (5%).
What it advertises, against the photos
The hotel says it has no swimming pool, spa, gym or hot tub.
Price, place and rooms
Price
Dorm beds for two start at $38 a night, from 304 dates checked in the coming year.
Prices on booking sites, the day we checked
What each seller advertised on the one day we checked.
- Booking.com$83
- hostelworld.com$83
- Super.com$249
- Vio.com$266
- deals.etrip.net$266
- h-en.reserving.com$291
- amimir.com$291
- trivago.deals$323
Lowest advertised nightly rate for two adults; taxes and local fees are not included. Shown in US dollars.
Nearby
Mornington Crescent station is 365 m away by road, about 5 minutes on foot. There are 5 bars or clubs within 200 metres.
- Nearest main road: Camden High Street74 m
- Nearest shop: Super News2 min walk119 m by road
- Nearest station: Mornington Crescent5 min walk365 m by road
- The British Museum2.6 km
- Big Ben4.8 km
- Buckingham Palace5.0 km
- Tower Bridge6.6 km
The lines are 5, 10 and 15 minutes on foot.
Distances follow the streets, not straight lines.
Rooms
14 room types, from 4 to 15 m².
- Budget Twin Room4 m²Sleeps 2
- Double Room12 m²Sleeps 2
- Private 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Ensuite Bathroom15 m²Sleeps 4Bathtub
- Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room (18-45 Years)15 m²Sleeps 1
- Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Private Bathroom (18-45 Years)15 m²Sleeps 1Bathtub
- Private 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room with Ensuite Bathroom15 m²Sleeps 6Bathtub
The other 8 room types
- Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room (18-45 Years)15 m²Sleeps 1
- Bed in 9 Bed Mixed Dormitory Room (18-45 Years)15 m²Sleeps 1
- 1 Bed in 9 Bed Female Dormitory, Ensuite15 m²Sleeps 1
- Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room (18-45 Years)15 m²Sleeps 1
- 1 Bed in a 12 Bed Mixed Dorm with Private Shower15 m²Sleeps 1
- 1 bed 6 Bed Shared Dormitory, Ensuite15 m²Sleeps 1
- 1 Bed in a 9 Bed Mixed Dormitory, EnsuiteNot statedSleeps 1
- Private 6 Bed Dorm (Ensuite)Not statedSleeps 6
From the hotel's own room descriptions, checked against each room's photos.
How it compares
How it ranks
Guests who booked rate it 7.8 out of 10. 31% of the 5,640 hotels in London are rated lower, and a typical one is rated 8.2.
Every review site, out of 100
30 Google reviewers ticked "Quiet", yet 36 guests complain about noise, and Camden High Street runs 74 m away.
Google rates it 72 out of 100 and Booking network rates it 78. Booking network only takes reviews from people who booked and stayed, while Google takes them from anyone.
If room size matters to you
Here, 67 of the 72 guests who mention room size complain. These nearby hotels do better on it.
More hotels in London
The nearest first, with our score for each.
How we know
296 reviews counted · 100 photos checked · updated 12 October 2026
- We collected this hotel's 873 most recent reviews from Google, Tripadvisor and the Booking network. 296 of them describe a stay in the last 2 years and are the ones counted here; the rest were 68 older, 107 in other languages and 402 with a score but no words.
- The hotel replied to 157 of its 200 newest Google reviews.
- 1 in every 100 reviews thank a staff member by name.
- 2 reviews mention a free upgrade, a cake or a gift.
- We looked at 100 photos: the first 40 of the hotel's own and the 60 newest from guests.
- Every number on this page is counted, not estimated. Anything in quotation marks is a guest's own words.