Backpackers | Hostel in Kensington, United Kingdom

Stay in one of the coolest and poshest parts of London (Kensington/Chelsea). Breakfast is all you can eat and includes freshly made pancakes, eggs, cereals, toast, juices etc. We'll keep you safe - our Reception is 24/7 and we have a large international team, including the house cat (Tyson), living on site to help you squeeze the most out of your stay. Free high speed WiFi throughout, a huge garden patio with free gym, communal lounge with a 85-inch UHD TV with cable, Netflix & PS5. Guests can also use our modern shared kitchen to cook their own lunch etc. The hostel is 15 minutes walk from Natural History & Science Museums and Hyde Park. Madame Tussauds, Harrods and Buckingham Palace are also a 15-minute train ride away. Booking Terms & Conditions Welcome to Saint James Backpackers! These Booking Terms and Conditions ("Booking Terms") form a legal agreement between you (the Guest) and Saint James Backpackers (the Hostel). By making a reservation with us, you agree to be bound by the terms below: 1. BOOKINGS All booking payments must be made by card. We do not accept cash for bookings. 1.1 Pre-authorisation We will pre-authorise your payment card for the cost of the first two nights. For one-night stays, the full amount is pre-authorised. This process holds the funds without charging you until check-in. If pre-authorisation fails, we’ll contact you for new card details. You must provide these within 24 hours, or your booking will be cancelled. 1.2 Security Deposit A refundable cash deposit of £10–£20 is required at check-in. If paying by card, a £1 transaction fee applies, and £10 will be returned. The deposit is refunded upon return of your key and confirmation of no damage. 1.3 Damages Damage or lost keys will be charged against your deposit. Charges may include: £50 per bent/broken bed support strut £200 per broken window £10–£20 per lost/broken key If damage costs exceed the deposit, guests are responsible for the full amount. 1.4 Booking Extensions All extensions must be arranged directly with our reception team—not via third-party websites. 1.5 Breakfast A complimentary breakfast is available from 8:00 am to 9:45 am. 1.6 Age Policy No minimum age in a private room with a paying adult Minimum age for shared dorms: 5 years, with a parent/guardian always present Guests aged 17 can stay without a guardian with written parental consent 1.7 Luggage Storage Free luggage storage before check-in (with prior arrangement) After check-out: £5/day per bag, subject to space availability Please note only 1 large and 1 small bag per guest are allowed in the rooms. Extra bags can be stored for a additional fee and accessed anytime. 1.8 Pets No pets or animals are allowed. 1.9 E-Transport E-bikes, e-scooters, and devices with large rechargeable batteries are not permitted inside due to fire risk. 1.10 Maximum Stay The maximum stay is 1 month, after which you must vacate the hostel for at least 1 month. 1.11 Guest Information All guests must provide valid contact and ID information at the time of booking. 1.12 Modifications We’ll do our best to accommodate changes to your booking, subject to availability. If the updated booking costs more, the difference must be paid. No refunds are given if the cost decreases. When booking beds in shared dorms, we aim to group guests from the same booking but can’t guarantee it. 1.13 Non-Transferable Bookings are non-transferable. Any suspected resale will result in cancellation without refund. 1.14 Group Bookings Groups of 10+ guests are subject to special terms and must book through our reservations team. We reserve the right to cancel non-compliant group bookings. 1.15 Promo Code Bookings All promo code bookings are non-refundable and must be paid in full at the time of booking. Unsuccessful payments void the reservation. 2. Fees & Payment 2.1 Additional Charges Any additional charges must be paid at the time they are incurred or upon check-out. 2.2 Card Requirement Guests must present the card used for booking upon check-in. Pre-authorisation may be required. 2.3 Refunds Refunds can only be made to a valid card or UK bank account. No cash refunds will be issued. 3. Cancellations 3.1 We may cancel your booking if: Payment details are invalid or not updated upon request False or misleading information is provided Your stay poses a legal or reputational risk to the Hostel A previous refund has already been issued for the same booking 3.2 Guest Cancellations We operate a 48-hour cancellation policy. To cancel without charge, notify us at least 48 hours before the start of your stay. 3.3 Force Majeure If we’re unable to fulfill your booking due to events beyond our control (e.g. natural disasters, pandemics, legal restrictions), we will offer a refund or rebooking option, subject to availability. 4. Check-In & Check-Out Check-in: From 2:00 pm Check-out: By 10:00 am Late check-out may be available for a fee, subject to availability. Failure to check out on time may result in a fee of: £10/hour per bed in dorms Full daily rate for private rooms 5. Group Bookings (10+ Guests) Guests under 18 must be accompanied by adults A £200 refundable security deposit applies per group Groups are responsible for all damages and lost keys Minimum 1 adult supervisor per group of minors is required A 10% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm booking Final balance must be paid 21 days before arrival Amendments are free up to 21 days before check-in. Later changes may incur fees and are non-refundable. 6. House Rules All guests must follow our house rules Valid photo ID (passport, driver’s licence, national ID) is required Guests are responsible for their belongings. We are not liable for lost/stolen items. Items left behind are held for 24 hours only Any disruptive or unsafe behavior may result in removal without refund 7. Bed bugs prevention We take all reasonable steps to monitor for and eradicate bed bugs. Certain countries (e.g. France) are hard hit with infestations and we are careful to monitor all beds after check out for signs of bugs. We also routinely preventatively treat rooms. However, despite our best efforts bugs are brought into our hostel/home by guests e.g. in their luggage and this results in bugs in rooms. In the event they are discovered we will close off the relevant rooms and treat effectively before reopening. In the unlikely event that you see signs of bed bugs we ask you to report your issue to reception immediately so we can investigate and take appropriate rapid action. The guest will then be offered 2 options: (1) A move to another room; (2) A refund for that night onwards if the guest declines the room move and elects to check out early (note there must be evidence of bugs confirmed by SJB for a refund) Please note that a guest cannot be refunded for days they have already stayed with us. Similarly, any guest that raises concerns after they have checked out will not be refunded. 8. Personal Data We handle your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. By booking with us, you agree to its terms.