Cheap hotels in London

So i wanted to do another post but about a more specific area of hotels. This time im going to talk about cheap hotels in central London and how you can find the ideal hotel for your needs right in the heart of the city. So one of the first things that you have to realise is that hotels in the centre are always going to be more expensive that the equivalent accommodation on the outskirts of the city. However with that being said it is possible to find cheap hotels if you know what to look for and you are prepared to prioritise the most important factors that you need in a hotel. However im not going to make you do all the work! Below im going to list a few hotels that are all considered budget but also right in the centre of London, hopefully there will be something to fit everyone’s needs here, wheather you are looking for the cheapest hotel possible or something more expensive:

• Washington Mayfair Hotel. According to google maps this hotel is just 0.7 miles from the geographic centre of London and that’s pretty close in my book. An average room is going to cost around £130 per night during the week. I know that may seem like a lot but you must consider that this is a 4 star hotel right in the middle of the main square mile of the city.
• Saint Georges Hotel. One problem i had when making this list was how to you classify weather a hotel is central or not. My main criteria was to keep the distance under a mile as im not sure if you can really call a hotel further than this central. Saint Georges is also 4 star and has all mod cons like WiFi and widescreen TVs. During the week the lowest you will get a room for is around £100 which i think is the cheapest i have found so far.
• Hotel Russell. Another 4 star hotel, are you starting to notice a theme here. The simple fact is that there are very few if any low grade hotels in the centre of London as it just wouldn’t be cost effective for them to run. However there are still good deals to be had as this hotel is around £110 per night during the week and closer to £140 during the weekend. Again it is a 4 star hotel that is AA attested so you cant really go wrong.

As you can see prices for the centre really are quite high when you compare London to other cities not just in the UK but all over the world. I suppose thats the price you pay for staying in one of the most popular tourist destinations and right in a prime location! Still there are some good deals to be found if you are prepared to look. As you can see one of the biggest factors is the time of week. The same room could be as much as 50% more expensive at the weekend compared the start of the week. You may also want to lower your criteria for what you consider central as i have stayed within the so called “Square mile”. At about 2 miles out you can expect much cheaper rates in places like Kings Cross and Marble Arch. When you think about it an extra mile if you are going to be taking a taxi isn’t really going to make that much difference. However i know for many people their main reason for wanting to be in the centre of the city is the special atmosphere that is found only there. There are also the views to consider too, as the skyline in the square mile is one of the best you can see.

So hopefully this provides just a small insight into finding the right hotel for your needs. I will hopefully be doing some most area specific posts for London soon so stay tuned! As a side note id just like to mention a new blog a friend of mine has built Newry hotels which features some reviews of places to stay in this city in Nothern Ireland.

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So you wont be surprised to hear that given the incredible heat wave in the city last week that more people than ever are now looking for cheap hotels in London and outside the city centre. With temperatures of up to a reported 34C in some areas of the city it’s not hard to see why people are still travelling from all over the world to experience the capital city in the high summer. Especially when you compare it with some southern areas of the continent such as Spain which reached a measly 24C! So with all of this in mind i thought i would take the opportunity to review another cheap hotel in the city. The hotel this time it is a 3 star visit Britain assessed hotel right in the heart of the city close to the Thames. Huttons hotel has recently been refurbished to a pretty high standard with a wide range of rooms throughout.

Apart from the location the other main factor is the price which the price as you can get a standard double for around £50 which for a hotel in this location is great. I know some people will still be discounting location as the most important factor when choosing budget travel accommodation but being 5 minutes from many of the main attractions in central London is a major bonus. Everything from the London Eye to the Houses of parliament are just a short walk away and as such you can expect to save a significant amount on both taxi and London underground fees. As always it does matter what dates you are booking for as room on Friday is going to be at least £20 more than the same on a Sunday but that is probably true of most hotels. I still don’t think many people understand the benefits of booking not just out of season for London but also at different times of the week as some of the price differences can be huge. London like many tourist cities is still thought of as a “weekend city” by most, in that the majority of people coming to the capital do so for the weekend. This goes for both foreign visitors and native Brits too. Staying from Monday to Wednesday can be much quieter as well as cheaper which may or may not suit your needs.

So anyway i got a little sidetracked but not for the first time! As mentioned before the price and location of this 3 star hotel right in the centre of London really is a rare bargain. Also as mentioned before it is visit Britain attested which does make a difference as you know there is some kind of independent assessment of the accommodation. So check out their site at www.huttonshotel.com if you are interested.

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Hostels are becoming a more attractive option for people these days instead of staying in a hotel. The price drops we have seen as far for hotel rooms in London is really quite astonishing bringing many cheap hotels into the range usually reserved for hostels. This makes staying in a good rated hotel an option now for many travellers who are visiting the city on a budget. This is not to say that many hostels also haven’t considerably increased their standards in order to compete.

Some hostels in London have had some very dramatic make-overs. Such as the YHA in central London which has had over £4 million spent on new decor and amenities for the guests. However with this being said im still a great believer in the benefits of a cheap hotel in London and the comfort and security that it can provide. For many having their own private room and space is a must and while a good 3 star hotel may be slightly more pricey than a hostel i think it is money well spent.

I don’t usually recommend 2 star hotels in the blog as i have often found that the price difference between a 2 star and 3 is quite small but the difference in the hotel itself could be much greater. However i am always looking for great deals and also hotels with character. The Lincoln House Hotel is certified by an outside agency which is always a plus as is still don’t trust self certified to a large extent. The unique thing about this budget hotel is its impressive Georgian architecture which really gives you a slice of authentic period London. Also the accommodation is situated under 2 miles from the city centre which is a huge plus for those wanting to explore the city. You are right beside Hyde park and very close the Piccadilly Circus and the west end.

The rooms are also well fitted out with en-suite and complementary WIFI access throughout. This place would primarily be thought of as a B&B in most scenarios but i wouldn’t let that put you off as the friendly service and homely atmosphere is something many of the larger hotel chains are sorely lacking. You also have many extras like satellite TV plus i am told the mediterranean breakfast is one of the best you can get in London.

For a single en-suite you can expect to pay between £60 - £70 and for a twin between £90 and £100. It is worth noting that compared to other cities London is still quite expensive and its worth keeping this in mind when you are trying to find a cheap hotel in the city as you should not get your expectations too high for price reductions. Hopefully ill have some great tips soon on how you can find the accommodation of your dreams within your budget.

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This is an AA approved 3 star hotel and i think its important to note the difference between a self certified hotel and one that awards its own cert. While im not saying that hotels are over exaggerating their facilities if they are self certified but it is a possibility. Personally i think its always best to go with a hotel that is certified by a good outside agency like the AA as it just gives you that extra bit of confidence with your booking.

Anyway on to the hotel, its on the outskirts of London (under 10 miles). It is quite a large hotel with 2 gyms a spa and swimming pool which is very good for a 3 star in this price range. You can expect to pay around £80- £90 a night for a room which is reasonable. You could say that this would be mainly thought of a business hotel as it has banqueting suites and conferencing rooms with wifi enabled throughout. I know that some business hotels can have a bad reputation but i think this facility may be the exception and a great choice weather you are travelling for business or pleasure.

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