Oxford Street Youth Hostel

The Oxford Street Youth Hostel is a claustrophobic nightmare for any one with anxiety, though this Oxford Street hostel has the most interesting layout. For the person who enjoys intrigue; the Oxford Street hostel is well organized within a milieu of intrigue.

First, the outer entrance to the Oxford hostel building is so small that, while walking to find it, you could possibly miss it. Chances are favorable that you will mistakenly pass this Oxford Hostel entrance though once you successfully find the Oxford Hostel entrance you are in for an interesting surprise.

 

Extraordinary Entrance

First, you pull open the exceptionally heavy door, to walk up six flights of stairs and open the only door that is in front of you. After you walk into an extremely small space, the door quickly closes with a loud startling bang behind you. Before you have time to change your mind about entering this Oxford Hostel, you have now realize that you are actually locked in a small 4/4 seemingly solid steel room that is considered the entrance, and neither door in front of you nor in back of you will open.

The anxiety challenged person is now panicked, though seemingly cool, in case you are on camera, while also looking for a way out of this small space or at least to leave and possibly start over in which to decide on whether you even want to go through this seemingly madness of an entrance that abides … as the door-way … into the most intriguing, and interesting hostel lobby one could ever imagine.

I only wanted to ask some questions! Now you want to panic though you know that panicking is not going to help, so you must relax enough to try to place your focus on the text on the wall directly in front of you that reads: “Push the Button to talk with someone”. Quickly and without hesitation I pushed the button! A feminine voice with a Spanish accent asked; “What do you want? I quickly and clearly replied: ‘I am interested in information about the Oxford Hostel”. The feminine voice then says, “Push the button”. At this point I am ready to push just about any button the voice wants me to push; I just want out!

The door suddenly makes a loud bolting noise as it opens and now you are locked in an even smaller room, standing room only, with a sign on the right that states: “push the white button and take the elevator to the 3rd floor”. I immediately realize that the sign is beckoning me to enter and take an elevator that has an even smaller space than the previous elevator. So I am getting into this even smaller elevator … as getting into this elevator is the only way in which I can get out of this dungeon of a space as you cannot go back once you start this journey of trying to get to the lobby of the Oxford Hostel in London.

I am hoping that it should be over soon. I quickly get into this even smaller elevator and as a means in which to calm myself in hope of this madness to be over, I started counting aloud slowly to myself, 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9 … 10 … 11 … 12 … 13 … 14 …

At my count of fourteen, the elevator door jolts open with a loud bolting noise, and I quickly step out to notice on my immediate left, the Oxford hostel desk with a long line accompanying it. I wanted to tell the woman at the desk something about this means of entry into this Oxford Hostel, but I decided not to, as I am sure she has heard it from others before me.

I believe that it is not possible for someone to go through the experience of entering this Oxford Street Hostel and not speak about it. The nicety about this Oxford hostel is that this Oxford hostel is certainly without question, secure. I am sure that many travelers must find the entrance into the lobby of the Oxford Hostel an experience that is quite interesting. This Oxford Hostel entrance is somewhat hip, sort of James Bond ish.

I was surprised to find the level of security in London as security cameras are everywhere!

 

Some Basics

I found that the OXFORD area of London is an interesting winding street full of people on top of people weaving in and out. If someone is not walking directly behind, you then they are directly in your face or may have just dodged hitting you. I now had pleasant thoughts of my return to quiet reserved Paddington Place, which is in a peaceful area of London, with few people.

The Oxford hostel is the same price as the Equity hostel except the oxford hostel is 24.50 a night if you are carrying the AYH hostel card. The price to stay at the Oxford hostel without the AYH hostel card is 27.00. It is possible to buy AYH cards on the spot at the Oxford hostel.

At the Equity London Paddington hostel, no AYH card is needed, only 25.00 pounds, though 30 pounds might be expected on Friday and Saturday still, it is possible to find deals if you book on-line, and again, these are prices during high season.

Meanwhile at the Equity

     At the Equity hostel in Paddington place, 6:00 p.m. London time Spanish music is playing, one young woman, and I and two young men are here at the tables. Everyone is on his or her computers including me. In the hostel room the other women are watching movies on their laptops, looking for jobs, or e-mailing their friends at home. It is interesting that as there is a large number of people from various countries, it appears that the computers are somewhat of a separation/distraction of hostellers mingling more. I wonder how it might be if computers did not exist at this time.

 

Job Comes First

I noticed when I initially arrived at this London Equity hostel that an older blond Australian woman, on the lower bunk, stayed in the room a great deal and on her computer. Then I over-heard her mention that she was trying to find a job and that finally she did find a job so tomorrow she will be going out to see a bit of London.