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Onetenzeroseven is now closed.

It’s time for a new adventure:
I’m still making jewellery over at shop.sillyloaf.com and blogging over at sillyloaf.com/blog so come and hang out!

See you there! x xx

Whenever I stay at a Clink hostel, I feel like I’m having a sleepover with friends and I was excited to try out the Clink78 hostel in London after a couple of amazing stays at ClinkNOORD in Amsterdam. Clink Hostels invited me down to London for their huge birthday celebration, a day exploring the hidden gems of King’s Cross and a couple of nights bunking down in one of their mixed dorm rooms. If you’re looking for where to stay in London – Clink78 Hostel is an absolute bargain, starting at £13 per night.

Soaked in history, the Clink78 hostel inhabits the former Clerkenwell Magistrates Court, where Charles Dickens is said to have worked as a scribe. The original courthouses are still in tact, but with a modern upgrade – you can now snuggle down and watch TV in one of them or plead guilty while catching up on your emails in the other. Clink have taken the historical foundations and added colour and fun with huge painted quotes running around the room and mesmerising neon lights.

There are a whole bunch of room options available for 1-14 people, including the opportunity to stay in one of the original jail cells that have merely had a colourful upgrade and a few home comforts added. There’s also the Bird’s Nest – a girls only floor with a beautifully painted mural and full length mirrors.

We stayed in a 10-bed mixed dorm, one of the less colourful spaces in Clink. Bunk beds are set out side by side to make the most of the space in the room, with privacy screens at either side. The dark brown wall colour wasn’t the most inviting, but the gorgeous wooden floors gave me proper floor envy and the two old style radiators make the whole space feel cosy. There are lockers underneath each bunk, with just enough space to fit a cabin sized bag, and a small personal items locker above the pillow on each bed – don’t forget to bring a padlock or two*! The reading lights are very dim, though, which is good not to wake your sleeping neighbour, but not great for reading under.

Breakfast is down in the basement in their huge kitchen and hang out space, with tonnes of chunky wooden benches to spread out on. There is no hot food available like there is at ClinkNOORD, but there’s toast, cereal and fruit with coffee, tea and fruit juice.

During our visit, Clink celebrated 20 years of their Clink261 hostel and 10 years of Clink78 with a huge 90s inspired bash in the basement ClashBar, named after the band who were charged in one of the courtrooms for shooting at pigeons with an air rifle. The space is huge with a fully stocked bar full of spirits, bottled beer and draught. The decor is awesome, with mismatched lamps growing out of the wooden cladded wall that towers over the seating area, so soft you sink into the cushions. The booze is also super cheap!

If you’re looking for where to stay in London that’s budget friendly, Clink78 is a no brainer, especially with the new regeneration of King’s Cross sprouting from the back of the train station. With private rooms starting from £56 a night for two people, a romantic getaway isn’t out of the question either, especially if you like a little fun and colour with your overnight stay.

Clink78 is on King’s Cross Road, a 10 minute walk from King’s Cross Station with beds starting from £13 a night.

Loves x xx

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