Duchy House is located right in Central London within walking or biking distance of most of the biggest attractions and many restaurants.
I spent nearly a month at Duchy House and overall had a great experience. The staff here are all very friendly and welcoming. The shared kitchen was never too busy and had plates and utensils to use when cooking. I often saw cleaning staff throughout the building maintaining cleanliness.
The room was basic and was essentially a dorm room but it had everything I needed. As the description mentions, this area of London is very noisy due to cars and sirens— earplugs helped me sleep. The bathroom also had a slightly unpleasant odor but fortunately the window can open. Be aware that during the summer it can get very hot and humid— fortunately the staff provided a fan. The twin bed was decent and was able to fit me event though I’m 6’2”. My room was cleaned once weekly.
The value here is really in the location. Walk outside the building and just steps away are Tesco convenience stores, restaurants, and Covent Garden. Just a couple blocks away is Victoria Embankment which is a beautiful park that has comfortable lounge chairs and even an outdoor gym. Waterloo bridge is also next to the building which can bring you to the bustling South Bank, along which you will find many vendors and street performers.
During my time I was able to walk/ bike to the Tate Modern, The Shard, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth Tower, Tower of London, and more. I went with the London pass to see as many attractions as I could and found it convenient. I highly recommend using Santander cycles as they where only £2 per 24 hours for unlimited use up to 30 minutes per rental.
If you stay here I also highly recommend trying Gauthier in Soho which offers a delicious vegan fine dining menu. For cheaper options I just walked to the local Sainsbury which had £3.50 vegan meal deals which included a main, snack, and drink.
If I were to come back to London I would not hesitate to stay here again due to the amazing location in the heart of the city. Thanks to all the staff and Anthony for hosting me!