As everybody knows, London can be quite expensive, and you can end up spending more than planned very, very, very easily. So, budgeting is very important, and it’s a good idea to try and plan your trip with an eye to the wallet.
You can start with your stay… but are there hotels that are cheap but maybe not, you know… sad-looking? Yes! And this article is here to help!
Here is a list of good budget hotels in London that will help you save and add to the experience of your vacation; the following places have a reasonable price with very good features – obviously you need to choose your travelling season, keeping in mind that prices will naturally go up in peak season. Do cheaper options exist? Yes, they do, but are either a bit off from the general centre, or not as pretty, which is definitely fine and does not necessarily mean bad! Don’t forget to also check out the multitude of hostels dotted around London, not included in this list of budget-friendly hotels, but definitely a very valid option!
Now, let’s get started!
The Bedford, Balham
It’s located right where the big bright red lights beam five minutes away from Balham station. The lobby and downstairs area of this 15-room boutique hotel showcases a charming circus theme, but the bedrooms are nothing less than amazing: bold wallpapers, Instagram-worthy tubs, the whole ambiance goes for loud but stylish. It appears to be a hotbed for talent: Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini and KT Tunstall have all performed in the club house before becoming big! Same for new comedy talent, putting in its resume a young Harry Hill and Frank Skinner. There’s always something happening in the five bars, be it a swing dance or an open mic night and the buzzing pub guarantees a good time, a great meal (food is half-price on a Tuesday), and plenty of delicious cocktails.
Hub by Premier Inn, Brick Lane
Starting from £65 per night in West Brompton (there are five location with different prices, check them out!) It has a very cool feature: you can run everything, from booking and checking in, to basic room controls – temperature, light, food orders, entertainment – from the app. Although small, the rooms are well-designed, with showers, under-bed luggage storage, a mini desk and free Wi-Fi.
The Z Hotel, Soho
No place is better than Soho. Some of the main museums, shops, restaurants and bars are all within walking distance from the hotel, situated in the theatre district. Z Hotel has some super affordable rooms available. Sure, you won’t get a lot of space for your money, but you do get all the essentials: bathroom, toiletries, flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. Seems definitely good enough.
The Qbic Hotel in Tower Hamlets, Whitechapel
This hotel is really super cool. It is very much focused on community and sustainability, working with local cycling charity like Bikeworks and with Food Cycle. Each room is individually styled, with bright tones and youthful looks. All of them have TVs, rain-shower bathrooms, free tea and coffee and even free bikes (honestly great in the good weather, plus useful in avoiding the expenses of public trasport), and obviously free Wi-Fi.
The Garden Court Hotel near Notting Hill, Bayswater
Explore west London, without paying west London prices: this independent, family-run hotel on a pretty Victorian street is only a stroll away from Notting Hill and Hyde Park. This grand terraced house’s rooms are bright, modern and (apart from the small ones) plenty of space. The lounge, with its wood floor and leather furniture, is a great place to kick back after a full day in the West End, a good walk in the park, or a shopping spree.
The Church Street Hotel in Southwark, Camberwell
In this family-run hotel owner José Radio did a great job to grant its guests some very attractive and original craftsmanship. Thank him for the brightly coloured décor, and for the bed frames that he handmade himself. Find included in some rooms a good breakfast, plus there’s an honesty bar, not to mention plenty of local buzzing options to whet your appetite.
Green Rooms, Wood Green
This is a sort of social enterprise hotel for the arts sitting just 12 minutes to King’s Cross. Green Rooms has discounted rates for artists and creatives.
Expect detailing in original art deco period, complemented with a stripped-back, rustic aesthetic in the rooms, some of which have shared bathrooms. Not to mention that Chef Fan Yi, of Oita’s Kitchen, specialises in Japanese food, and you can enjoy rotating art exhibitions in the lobby, as well as regular comedy nights and live music events.
The Stylotel, Paddington
Located on the more touristy side of Paddington close to the appealing Merchant Square, you can find this small-budget retro-futurist hotel, with metal panelling, hues of royal blue and pod bathrooms. The rooms are small, fitting 2 people tops, but the Stylosuites can host up to three people, and include breakfast.
New Road Hotel, Whitechapel
Here is a hotel that does not hide its roots: the industrial past of a former textiles factory in Whitechapel, shows with the exposed brick walls and huge metal-framed windows. All rooms, even the smallest, come with a kingsize bed; the best loft room has its own hot tub on the roof – love, immediately. You can enjoy the social spaces, that include a games room with a pool table, a library and yoga studio, while the menu at the chophouse restaurant, centering around halal steaks, grills and chops, is devised by chef Marco Pierre White. Find within walking distance Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s good value.
The Spread Eagle, Wandsworth
Listed Grade 11, it’s a Victorian pub with rooms that are the opposite of “standard”: plain walls and soulless furnishings? Not here! Take in the clash of bold wallpapers, velvet curtains and vintage furnishings. Want some more romance? Book the Brewery suite with its very cool looking free-standing copper bath. Find a lively restaurant and well-stocked bar downstairs (Victorian pub, remember?), and lean in to inspect the mix of quirky photographs and paintings that cover every wall. The food is not your average pub grub, and the Sunday roast is rumoured to be one of the best in London. If you find yourself here on a summer evening climb up to the terrace, have a sit and a drink, and enjoy being alive.
These are our picks for the best-value hotels in London, let us know which one you chose!