Crestfield Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Crestfield is the budget choice that scores 9.4/10 on location, the highest in the group — the rooms are small, but the address is hard to beat.
Crestfield is the budget choice that scores 9.4/10 on location, the highest in the group — the rooms are small, but the address is hard to beat.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Rooms at Crestfield are exactly what a London budget hotel should be: straightforward, clean and well organised even when they are small. Recent reviews praise them as "small but well designed, making good use of the space" and "much quieter than expected" — high marks for a budget room in the centre of the city. Beds are comfortable enough for an overnight, and linens are clean and changed regularly. Two things to know before you book: there is no air conditioning, only fans, which can be an issue in increasingly warm London summers, and there is no lift, with fairly steep stairs. Reviews suggest flagging a large bag ahead, and staff are always happy to help.
Food and amenities
Crestfield has no restaurant and no breakfast of its own, but cheap B&B-style places in this area rarely include breakfast anyway. Cafes, restaurants and a supermarket are all a few minutes' walk away. Free Wi-Fi covers the hotel and most reviews say the signal is fine. The front desk is staffed and the team speak good English, stay responsive to questions and help where they can despite being small. There are no extra facilities like a gym or spa, which is normal for a 2-star at this price.
Location and getting there
The location is excellent for the money. It is a 3-minute walk to King's Cross St Pancras, which puts 6 Underground lines and the Eurostar to Europe within immediate reach. Many reviewers describe it as "calmer than expected" for such a central spot — Crestfield Street is a small side street, quieter than the main Euston Road, so the immediate surroundings feel better than the price would suggest. The British Museum is about 15 minutes by Tube, Camden Market is 2 stops, Oxford Street is 3 stops, and Coal Drops Yard is a 10-minute walk.
Things to know before booking
The trade-offs are simple and stated plainly. There is no air conditioning — only fans — so June to August can get warm when London pushes past 30 degrees Celsius; ask for an extra fan in advance. There is no lift and the stairs are steep, so keep luggage light or warn the team ahead so they can help carry it up, and ask about a ground-floor room when the hotel is not full. And there is no on-site food, so plan to walk out for coffee and meals.
Our take
Crestfield suits backpackers and solo travellers who want a strong location from about $63 a night. If you are using the room mainly to sleep and heading out to explore London from early morning, this is the best value play in the area at this budget level. Just come ready for summer heat without air conditioning, and pack light, because there is no lift.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A 9.4/10 location score — the highest of any budget option for the King's Cross area, putting 6 Underground lines and the Eurostar terminal a 3-minute walk away.
- Reviews repeatedly note it is quieter than expected, even though it sits a block off the main road. Crestfield Street is a small side street, so the surroundings are calmer than the price suggests.
- Lovely English-speaking staff who are responsive to questions and quick to help, even though it is a small team running the front desk.
- Clean rooms of adequate size for solo travellers, with beds comfortable enough for an overnight and linens changed regularly.
- A strong overall 7.9/10 from more than 6,000 Booking.com guests — high for a 2-star at this price, where London budget hotels usually score lower.
- No air conditioning, only fans. London summers from June to August can hit 30+ degrees Celsius (86+ Fahrenheit), so a heat-sensitive traveller should think twice in peak summer.
- No lift and steep stairs. Reviews suggest flagging heavy luggage ahead — staff will help carry bags up, and a ground-floor room is sometimes possible when the hotel is not full.
- No restaurant, no breakfast and no extras like a gym or spa. You will be walking out for coffee and food, though cafes, restaurants and a supermarket are all within a few minutes.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- If you travel from June to August, ask the front desk in advance to set up an extra fan — there is no air conditioning and London heat can climb past 30 degrees Celsius.
- Flag a large suitcase before arrival. Staff are happy to help carry it up the stairs, and a ground-floor room is sometimes available when the hotel is not fully booked.
- Skip the in-house breakfast plan you won't find here and grab a coffee and pastry at one of the cafes a few minutes' walk away, then head straight into Coal Drops Yard, about 10 minutes on foot.