“A man who is tired of London is tired of life,” Samuel Jonson once quipped. These days that could easily be updated to “… is tired of spending money.” Yes, the great Thames-side metropolis has more to recommend it than we could possibly fit in here, but kind to your bank balance it is not, and the rapacious desire to buy up and commercialise every square inch of public space continues on abated.
Fortunately, help is at hand. We at TravelMag, using our extensive local knowledge have searched high and low, north and south, east and west, for the very best affordable and cheap 4 star hotels in Central London. Because, hey, just because you’re not a millionaire, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to live like one.
Henley House Hotel
From £128/ night
A charming boutique hotel in the Royal Borough of Kensington, known for its museums and its high property prices. Situated within a traditional townhouse (though “traditional townhouse” in Kensington is a manor by most people’s standards), this is a perfect, relaxing place to stay, offering all that a modern traveller needs, be that a smart TV, WiFi, friendly staff, or a minibar.
The Nadler Kensington
From £104/ night
Boasting smooth and stylish modern services, well insulated rooms, and a calming, cool colour scheme throughout, this is an ideal, sweet smelling, and incredibly reasonable place to launch any foray into London town. Also in Kensington, there are plenty of excellent top end cafes right on the doorstep, and some of the city’s most popular museums are just a short walk away.
The Cleveland
From £107/ night
Close to Paddington Station – currently going through something of a renaissance in world consciousness because of a certain bear – this is an excellently situated establishment beneath an elegant Victorian façade, offering everything from free WiFi to modern kitchenettes and luxury private bathrooms. An excellently equipped, surprisingly reasonable option with 24 hour staff, where thanks to its self-catering facilities, budgeting doesn’t have to stop at the door.
Shaftesbury Hyde Park International
From £108/ night
A few steps from Hyde Park, one of the largest urban green spaces in the world, there’s something surprisingly calming about this fine old town house that’s been converted into a fine old hotel. And despite its traditional exterior, the rooms are as up to date as they come, with air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs, plus, of course, there’s WiFi and a 24-hour reception.
Park Grand Paddington Court
From £118/ night
Sumptuous is the watch-word here. The kind of hotel that defies the limits of its pricetag and offers a service that you’d expect to pay twice as much to acquire. With a modern interior lavished with traditional trimmings, it couldn’t be more “London” either, and neither could the sleek bar, at which you’re invited to lounge back in after a hard day hitting the streets. Maybe you’re not tired of London, certainly we presume you’re not tired of life; but for when you’re just plain tired, there could be nowhere better.