In the shared kitchen and living room, immediately catching your eye is the pinball machine "Doctor Who", inspired by the 1960 British television series, designed in 1992 and still in optimal state. It has a complex and intriguing gameplay that lets you choose one of the seven Dr Who characters. The ingenuity and extreme scoring variables demanded too much of novice players. This, and a vintage cult theme of their parents most youngster did not bother for, deprived this intelligent machine from getting the attention, sells and credits it deserved.
What would have happened if those reluctant players could have mastered this pinball machine for free? It's for you to find out, because one generation further, you can enjoy a double cult vintage experience, endlessly, even with a free beer of tea on the side. Or at least, as long you've booked yourself a room in this neat minihostel in London. This is your chance!
We booked nr. 3 and the cozy room (still much bigger than the average "closet with bed" in a London tourist hotel) was clean and light. The bed - although a little on the soft side - was very comfortable. The wooden floor looked marvellous. Still, it's not a luxurious place, so you can witness wear and tear. We prefer this realism above better maintained but boring three star hotels.
The kitchen is excellently equipped, and on every day we were welcomed by the cheerful cleaners, and some of the guests. No need to sit down with each other if you don't feel like it, but - again - if you do not fancy the anonymity of a hotel lobby, this is a splendid alternative to exchange travel tips and plans.
Talking about tips: we did almost everything on feet, but plan your walks before you go. London has many faces, [Censored] Maps is indifferent to beauty and not every corner brings you joy to wander around. We walked to the historic Phoenix Theatre in West End (35 minutes) and Come from Away seduced us like a rollercoaster, while we normally hate musicals (tickets starts at GBP 20) If you are on a budget, of course don't miss the free National Gallery (30 minutes) the Tate Modern (60 minutes) or witness intimate concerts of supertalents in the Royal Academy of Art (30 minutes). Getting hungry? At a 15 min stroll you find the affordable Vegan Planet. A Chinese restaurant with amazing dishes and very divers combinations of tastes. Simply superb. Time fled and after 2,5 days we had to catch the train from Pancras (7 minutes) to Rotterdam. A small comfort that here lies the true heaven for pinball addicts, tucked away in an old warehouse, the Dutch Pinball Museum. See you soon!