London’s sheer size can be intimidating to many of its visitors, particularly when it comes to selecting their accommodation. With hotel rates in the city centre notoriously expensive, it can be tricky to find one that isn’t going to blow your entire travel budget in one go. Luckily, London’s scope and scale also means it is blessed with a huge number of accommodation options, many of which are situated in the city’s outer reaches and offer far better value for money.
We’ve researched London’s hotels to find 20 of the best and most affordable options. In doing so, we focussed on a number of factors, including location, transport links, pricing and guest reviews, in order to provide you with the best possible spread. We hope you find one that suits both your tastes and your budget.
Point A Liverpool Street
From £83/ night
Situated just moments from the vibrancy of Brick Lane, lined with ethic eateries, bars and market stalls, Point A hotel combines close proximity to The City with an array of entertainment and dining options. Guest rooms come with a flat-screen TV, an ensuite bathroom and complimentary toiletries. Elsewhere in the hotel, there’s 24-hour front desk, coffee and snacks on offer throughout the day, and daily continental breakfasts. For visitors arriving by air, London City Airport is just over 5 miles away.
Oyo Kings Cross
From £140/ night
A few minutes’ on foot from King’s Cross St. Pancras Station, this hotel is ideally located for guests arriving by rail. Set in a charming Victorian terraced townhouse, it features a range of rooms offering either shared or ensuite bathrooms, a TV and a wardrobe. Free WiFi is available in all areas of the hotel and charged private parking is available on-site. Notable nearby attractions include Regent’s Park and The British Library.
Ridgemount Hotel
From £176/ night
A few minutes’ walk from the British Museum, one of London’s most illustrious cultural venues, Ridgemount Hotel puts guests at the heart of the capital’s action. Guest rooms are equipped with a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom. A choice of Full English or vegetarian breakfasts are served each morning and reception staff are on hand to offer tips and recommendations for what to do in the local area. Other popular nearby landmarks and places of interest include Dominion Theatre and the bars, pubs and restaurants of Old Compton Street.
Meininger Hyde Park
From £25/ night
Another affordable London hotel that’s close to some of the city’s finest attractions, The Meininger combines a desirable location in well-heeled Kensington & Chelsea with simple but convenient amenities. There’s a choice of private and shared rooms, each equipped with a TV and wooden floors. The vast green expanse of Hyde Park are less than 10 minutes away on foot and The Royal Albert Hall is also close by. Two nearby tube stations offer easy access to the rest of the capital.
Point A Kensington
From £57/ night
Also in the upscale Kensington & Chelsea district, this 3-star hotel features a cosy shared lounge and a choice of buffet or continental breakfasts served each day. Guest rooms come with air-conditioning, a desk, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom. For guests planning to attend a Chelsea football match, the club’s Stamford Bridge stadium is just under 2 miles away. Shopping enthusiasts will also enjoy the proximity of the iconic Harrods department store, which is just over 1.5 miles away.
Thistle Barbican Shoreditch
From £99/ night
Shoreditch is one of London’s most cutting edge districts and this hotel is virtually on its doorstep. Guest rooms here feature a private bathroom and satellite TV and elsewhere in the hotel there’s a leisure centre with a pool, a restaurant serving British and European dishes and a separate bar where guests can relax and socialise over drinks and snacks. For those arriving by car, there are a limited number of parking spaces available at an extra charge and on a first come first serve basis. London’s financial district is a 10-minute walk away.
Ibis London Blackfriars
From £85/ night
Part of the popular ibis chain of affordable hotels, ibis London Blackfriars is one of the only hotels on this list with its own on-site restaurant. Other services include continental and cooked breakfasts served each morning. As for the guest rooms, they all come with an ensuite bathroom, flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, iPod dock and scenic views of the city. A number of pubs and bars are within easy reach, and relaxing walks along the Thames river bank can be enjoyed nearby.
Best Western Swiss Cottage
From £117/ night
Housed in a charming Victorian-era building, this Best Western hotel is located a little away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre in the well-heeled suburb of Swiss Cottage. Close to a tube station, it’s easy to get into the centre from here, and it’s also close to Regent’s Park, one of London’s finest parks. Guest rooms are decked out in elegant style and some contain original Victorian furniture. Elsewhere in the hotel, there’s a chic bar and lounge area where antiques, grand piano and oil paintings offer plenty of character. The colourful vibrancy of Camden market is a short walk away.
QBIC HOTEL LONDON CITY
From £132/ night
Ideally placed for accessing London’s financial heartland as well as the hipster-dominated entertainment venues of East London, it’s fair to say this hotel’s location has something for all types. Based on the Cubi all-in-one ‘Qbi’ pod concept, each room has a comfy bed, a flat-screen TV, and an ensuite bathroom with a powerful rain shower. An on-site restaurant offers all-day dining as well as a range of alcoholic, soft and hot drinks, and there’s also meeting rooms available for business travellers. Free high-speed WiFi is offered in all areas of the hotel, including guest rooms. The bars, pubs and music venues of Shoreditch are a 10-minute walk away.
LONDON FULL HOUSE
From £41/ night
A small snack bar, tea & coffee throughout the day, and convenient access to Central London and the West End via local transport links help make this a popular hotel choice for guests on a budget. Each room is equipped with an ensuite bathroom and free toiletries, and free high-speed WiFi is available in rooms and communal areas alike. The foodie mecca of Borough Market is just two tube stops away and, for hedonistic types, London’s iconic Ministry of Sound club is easily reachable on foot.
The Angerstein Hotel
From £43/ night
The genteel borough of Greenwich is a great base from which to explore all that London has to offer. There is a huge variety of charming shops and restaurants nearby as well as the famous Greenwich Observatory and Cutty Sark tourist attractions. London Bridge can be reached in just 15 minutes by train and the O2 Arena is a 10-minute drive away. As for the hotel itself, it is housed in a Victorian building dating back to the late 19th century and features an on-site bar with pool and darts facilities, plus a TV showing live sport.
YHA London Thameside
From £26/ night
Spitting distance from the banks of the River Thames, this vibrant youth hostel will please guests who enjoy waterside living on a budget. Most rooms contain bunk beds and all have bathroom facilities, while some also come with a TV. Amenities include an on-site care/bar and restaurant, 24 hour reception and free luggage storage. There are underground and overground stations within walking distance and famous attractions including The South Bank and Borough Market are also close by. The O2 Arena is a 5-minute tube journey away.
MEININGER Hotel London Hyde Park
From £24/ night
A great choice for culture vultures, this hotel is close to the Natural History, Science Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum. A choice of private and shared guest rooms are available, each equipped with a TV and private shower room. Famous London landmarks and places of interest, including Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace, can be reached in 10 minutes on foot. Gloucester Road and South Kensington Tube stations are both nearby too.
London Olympus Hotel
From £47/ night
Named after the 2012 London Olympic Games, which were staged in the borough, this hotel features guest rooms decked out in traditional but stylish décor. Each also has a private bathroom, a TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee-making facilities. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel too. There a number of transport links nearby, including overground and underground stations, making access to the city centre fast and simple. There’s also a bus service to Stansted Airport within easy walking distance. Notable attractions including The Theatre Royal can be reached on foot in less than 10 minutes.
London Full House
From £69/ night
This simple but clean guest house is an ideal choice for foodies, located just a couple of train stops from London Bridge where you’ll find the food heaven of Borough Market. Guest rooms are tastefully decorated and have an en suite shower room with complementary toiletries. Elsewhere in the hotel, there’s a small snack bar with a microwave and a toaster for the free use of guests. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. Elephant and Castle Underground Station is just over 5 minutes’ walk away, offering direct connections to the city centre and buzzing west end.
Hotel Oliver
From £95/ night
Close to the upscale shops of Kensington High Street, this affordable hotel is within easy reach of the city centre and all it has to offer. Some of London’s finest museums, including the V&A and the Natural History Museum, are a short walk away and there are plenty of transport links for reaching other parts of London too. As for the hotel itself, free tea and coffee is available in the breakfast room throughout the day and night, along with free WiFi. For those arriving by air, the nearby Earls Court tube station goes directly to Heathrow Airport. The hotel can also organise secure parking on prior request.
Gower House Hotel
From £74/ night
The guest rooms at this well-located hotel in elegant Bloomsbury all come with LCD TV, tea/coffee making facilities, free toiletries, free WiFi and ironing facilities on request. Guests can enjoy a continental breakfast in the ding room each morning and there are a number of restaurants to be found nearby. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is directly opposite and the magnificent British Museum is just a few minutes’ walk away. Other notable districts and landmarks, such as Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, are also within easy reach by foot.
Leigham Court Hotel
From £74/ night
Nestled in the south London district of Streatham, this hotel is housed within a striking Victorian building that was once home to Lord and Lady Leigham, two members of the British aristocracy. Each well-equipped guest room offers a TV, a hairdryer, and tea/coffee-making facilities, while hotel services and amenities include 24-hour reception desk, daily breakfasts and a free on-site car park. There are a number of shops and restaurants close by and the centrally located Victoria Station is just over 15-minutes away by train.
West Cromwell Hotel
From £50/ night
Located in the bustling district of Earl’s Court, on the western borders of the city centre, this family-run hotel has a 24-hour front desk and serves a daily breakfast. Guest rooms have a private modern bathroom, hairdryer, TV, telephone, tea/coffee facilities and free WiFi. A tube station and a 24-hour supermarket can be reached in a few minutes on foot, and upmarket Knightsbridge – home to the world famous Harrods department store – is comfortably walkable too.
ibis Styles London Leyton
From £48/ night
Situated on a major through route in east London, the Ibis Styles London Leyton is just half-an-hour’s tube ride from the city centre. Spacious guest rooms come with a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, tea/coffee making facilities and free WiFi. Elsewhere in the hotel there’s a lounge bar and dining room serving continental breakfasts each morning. The recently regenerated district of Stratford, home to the Olympic Village, is 10 minutes’ walk away and there’s also a tube station within easy reach on foot.