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The Best Budget Hotels in London: Affordable London Hotels for Your Trip

The Best Budget Hotels in London: Affordable London Hotels for Your Trip

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Looking for a cheap hotel in London. Here are our top picks. 

Finding a budget hotel in London can feel like a huge task. There are plenty to choose from, but how are you supposed to know which are the best? 

Firstly, you need to set some standards! Budget doesn’t have to mean basic or boring. In fact being thrifty doesn’t take much compromise at all these days. 

At least, it doesn’t when you stay at any of the fantastic options included in our guide to the best budget hotels in London.

Best Budget Hotels in London: At a Glance 

Best Budget Hotels in London  – Top Picks Hotel 
Best Overall Budget Hotel in LondonThe Pilgrm
Best Eclectic Budget Hotel in LondoncitizenM London Bankside
Best Modern Budget Hotel in LondonThe Resident Soho
Best Affordable Budget Hotel in London Victoria Inn

Best Budget Hotels in London

The Pilgrm

Paddington

From £89 per night

Pilgrm Hotel

As you can probably guess from the app-worthy misspelling in its name, The Pilgrm is a London budget hotel designed with millennials in mind.

The decor is a mixture of period and contemporary, with artwork on every wall and a whole lot of pot plants offset by wood panelling, and a sweeping dark wood staircase. All the pictures showcased at the Pilgrm are carefully chosen – essentially it’s a rotating exhibition space – which brings something extra to this stylish budget hotel.

As you would expect for the price, smaller rooms are cosy, but they’re all decorated to a really high standard. Parquet flooring and reclaimed radiators continue the hotel’s vintage feel into the rooms, all of which have en suite shower rooms attached.

Add-ons like breakfast and cocktails are available at The Pilgrm, which is very fair given how affordable rooms are. You can also bring your dog with you to the hotel for free this summer, or rent rooms by the day for a discounted price.

If style and affordability are equally important to you, The Pilgrm is the budget London hotel of your dreams!

Paddington: Paddington is a beautiful part of the city, all Regency townhouses and green spaces. 

Hyde Park and the canals of Little Venice make it a great part of London to stay in if you need some outdoors time when you’re in a big city, and, of course, Paddington train station means it’s convenient both for getting around London and visiting the Southwest of the UK. Look out for bears wearing duffle coats and red hats, though!

CitizenM London Bankside

Bankside, Southbank

From £87 per night

Citizen M Bankside

CitizenM run several budget London hotels, but CitizenM Bankside is by far the best location. Set back from the Southbank, the hotel sits right between the Tate Modern and Borough Market, and a short stroll from the river itself.

With rooms available for under 100 consistently, CitizenM Bankside is a great place to stay whether you’re travelling for business or leisure. The hotel has a 24-hour canteen, a large bar, a coworking space and meeting rooms. All decor is modern and clean, and rooms come with a widescreen TV and a king-sized bed.

This is an incredibly practical hotel that doesn’t feel budget. Everything has been considered, so you can get on with enjoying your stay. So, why not check prices and availability at CitizenM Bankside now?

The Southbank: The southern bank of the Thames, known as the Southbank, is home to the South Bank Centre, the BFI, The Globe Theatre, and the Tate Modern. And that’s not all. 
The whole riverside area is a joyous mishmash of brutalist and modern architecture, galleries, bars and excellent restaurants. In the summer, you’ll find street performers and food festivals all along the Southbank, so it’s a great area to stay if you love to be a part of the action.

The Resident Soho

Soho

From £175 per night

The Resident Soho

With three affordable hotels in London and one in Liverpool, The Resident are building an empire!

Formerly The Nadler, The Resident Soho is fantastically located close to Tottenham Court Road Station and a stone’s throw from the British Museum. And if you’re more into hedonism than history, Soho has plenty to offer in the way of restaurants, bars and clubs.

Rooms at The Resident are practical and stylish, with a mixture of modern and mid-century design. It’s no frills, but high-quality, tasteful no frills. Plus, the hotel is in a period building with high ceilings and large, bright windows so rooms feel open.

Amenities reflect the same attention to detail at The Resident as the rooms. The front desk staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to give advice on the intricacies of having fun in Soho, room service is available, and all rooms come with a mini-kitchen that includes a Nespresso machine, a Brita filter and a fridge that can be stocked in advance of your visit.

Whether you want to keep costs down by doing some self-catering, or enjoy the full hotel ‘not lifting a finger’ experience, The Resident is a great Central London budget hotel option.

Soho: Slap-bang in the middle of the city, Soho has long been an exciting place to be. These days, the area has left its slightly seedy and risque past behind and is home to some of the best restaurants and bars in London. It’s also seen as the centre of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene by many, particularly around Old Compton Street.

Mimi’s Hotel

Soho

Double From £179 per night

Mimi's Hotel Soho

As the name implies, this central London budget hotel offers intimate friendly accommodation right in the heart of the city.

The luxury starts early, with a roaring fire, small bar, and lots of dark wood and velvet, the first things you see as you enter Mimi’s Hotel. All rooms boast soundproofing and underfloor heating for maximum guest comfort, and every room has a flatscreen TV full of complimentary movies and boxsets.

Rooms at Mimi’s range from the ‘Tiny’ single to the kingsize ‘Lux’, but even the smallest of them are wood-panelled and comfortably kitted out with Frette luxury bed linen and Molten Brown bathroom products.

If you’re looking for a comfortable, affordable place to stay right in the heart of the action, then book a few nights at Mimi’s as soon as you can.

My Bloomsbury Hotel

Bloomsbury

From £118

The Bloomsbury Hotel

Set in a Georgian townhouse, My Bloomsbury Hotel is your best bet for a budget hotel in arty, historical Bloomsbury.

Rooms range from a ‘Small Single’ to the ‘My Place’ loft-style penthouse suite. All rooms include a wooden writing desk and lamp, which brings some mid-century character to the period property, as well as a TV, free wifi, a minibar and the option of room service. Essentially, everything you would expect at a mid-range hotel.

Unusually for a budget hotel in London, My Bloomsbury offers spa treatments including reflexology and massages. Body Kalm treatments start from £35, so can be added to a budget city break without stretching your wallet to breaking point!

Check prices and availability now to enjoy some serious relaxation at My Bloomsbury.

Bloomsbury: Technically, Bloomsbury is in Camden but you wouldn’t connect the two unless you were told. This corner of the borough is all beautiful communal squares and towering townhouses, until you reach the green oasis of Regents Park at one end and the consumer mecca of Oxford Street at the other, of course.

Z Hotel Covent Garden

Covent Garden

From £70

Covent Garden Hotel

This budget hotel in central London is in the heart of Theatreland – a perfect place to stay when you have tickets for a show and want to stumble straight back to your room once the curtains are down, and you’ve been out for a few cocktails.

Rooms at Z Hotel are cosy, but what else would you expect for such a great price right in the centre of Covent Garden?

Everything in the rooms is high-spec and well-designed, from the comfortable beds to the TV inlaid into the walls. They are designed to make the most possible use of a compact space, with attached shower rooms that do the same.

Z Hotel Covent Garden, like all Z Hotels, offers guests a comfortable bolt-hole in an excellent location. If you’re planning a trip to Covent Garden, why not check availability and book now.

Covent Garden: Home to a whole host of theatres, the opera house, and Covent Garden Piazza, Covent Garden is a hive of activity. You’ll find street performers, lovely little boutiques, and some of London’s best restaurants in this patch of the city.

The Rockwell

South Kensington

From £115 per night

The Rockwell

The Rockwell is a London budget hotel that has something many others lack: space.

Of course, in South Kensington for just over a hundred quid a night you’re not going to get a palatial suite, but standard doubles at The Rockwell are bright and open with plenty of room for your bags, and for spending time relaxing in your room after visiting the V&A or the National History Museum.

The Rockwell also has a medium-sized restaurant and a comfortable garden area for outdoor dining or just chilling out with a drink and a book.

Where The Rockwell saves money seems to be decor. Rooms are clean and well-appointed, but they’re not exactly stylish. That being said, the property is Victorian and retains high ceilings and large windows that are unlikely to disappoint.

If space and relaxation in central London is what you’re looking for, check prices and availability at The Rockwell today.

Kensington: Kensington is known for being well-heeled, but as a tourist, you will probably be there for one thing only – the museums. Along just one stretch of road you’ll find the V&A, Science and Natural History Museums. That should be something for everyone.

The Distillery

Notting Hill

From £125 per night

The distillery

For many Londoners, Notting Hill means one thing and one thing only. The carnival.

Admittedly, the Notting Hill Carnival is one of the most exciting events in London’s social calendar, but the area has plenty to offer year-round too. You can explore it all from The Distillery, a beautiful period hotel, bar and restaurant that feels a bit like staying in your coolest friend’s guest room.

Rooms come with record players and a selection of records (see, your cool friend is trying to educate you) and the gorgeous mid-century modern cabinets are stocked with gin, beer, and tea so you can sit in your room, sip a drink and enjoy the views from the picturesque windows.

Honestly, The Distillery is such a lovely, welcoming hotel that you might not want to leave your room at all. Of course, that would be a mistake when you have the whole of Notting Hill to explore!

If this all sounds tempting, then check prices and availability at The Distillery now.

Notting Hill: Most Londoners visit Notting Hill for one thing only, the festival. And while that’s a highlight of the city’s social calendar, the area has plenty to offer year-round, in particular, it has great bars and restaurants and is home to Portobello Road, a haven for antique lovers and an iconic half-mile of the city.

The Windmill

Clapham

From £129 per night

The Windmill On The Common

The Windmill in ever-cool Clapham is an affordable, comfortable hotel above a pub, but that doesn’t quite sum it up.

Decor at The Windmill is, frankly, opulent. With crushed velvet furniture, wooden floors, panelling, and baths in many of the rooms. All rooms are generously sized, which means that spending time in them is a joy.

As it’s right next to both Clapham Common and Clapham station, The Windmill is well located for exploring both South London and the centre, whether you want to learn to cook at Michel Roux’s Cactus Kitchen, spend a day on the grass of the common, or head closer into town to experience Borough Market and the Southbank.

Of course, you may just want to chill out in The Windmill pub and garden. But that’s okay too! However you plan to spend your time at The Windmill Clapham, start by checking rates and availability now.

Clapham: Close to town but south of the river, Clapham is where Londoners who work in the city but are still young and fun have lived for decades. The common is a huge spread of green, and over the years plenty of fantastic bars and restaurants have sprung up in the area, and the best bit? You’re walking distance from the Southbank.

The Victoria Inn

Peckham

From £110 per night

Victoria Inn

A pub and boutique hotel in still-gentrifying Peckham, The Victoria Inn is one of the best affordable hotels in London.

Rooms are stylish and reasonably sized. They all come with Bose Bluetooth sound systems, Nespresso machines, and HD TVs, plus modern ensuite shower rooms.

Downstairs, the inn serves good pub food including vegan options and offers a pleasant, modern space in which to drink, chat, and watch the football when it’s on.

The real joy of The Victoria Inn, though, is its location. It sits just off Bellenden Road and a short walk from Peckham’s arterial Rye Lane where you’ll find bars, pubs, art, and some of the best food in London (whether you want Jamaican street food, or thoroughly modern bistro fare at Levan).

If you fancy exploring Peckham soon, then check rates and availability at The Victoria Inn now.

Peckham: Once a real cockney hold out (Only Fools and Horses was filmed in Peckham), this South Eastern area of London is quickly gentrifying. But that doesn’t mean it’s over, far from it. From The nights at the Bussey Building to chilled out days on Peckham Rye, it’s a great place to relax and unwind outside of the city centre.

The Hoxton

Southwark

From £159

Hoxton Hotel

The famously stylish Hoxtons in Peckham, Shoreditch, and Holborn are some of London’s most well-known affordable hotels, and with good reason.

Set in an ex-industrial building close to the Thames, Southwark’s Hoxton offers comfortable, flawlessly designed rooms that range from extremely snug to large family rooms. Every room has beautiful crittall windows and a modern, tiled ensuite.

Just like the original Hoxton in Shoreditch, The Hoxton Southwark is a destination for locals as well as visitors. It has two restaurants, Albie and Seabird. The latter is a raw bar, with impressive views over London from its perch at the top of the building.

If spending a few days in one of the coolest hotels in London sounds appealing, then check availability and prices at The Hoxton, Southwark now.

Southwark: Southwark runs from the river south, and so runs the gamut from bustling inner-city to South Eastern residential area. At one end, you can check out the Bankside Gallery, at the other, take a long, calming stroll in Nunhead Cemetery. Travelling through Southwark as a tourist will allow you a uniquely authentic view of the many faces of London.

QBIC

Aldgate

From £76

QBIC Hotel

QBIC London City is bright, cheerful and modern. In fact, this London budget hotel is so bright it can feel like a little bit of an assault on the senses at first. Luckily, incredible prices and a high-quality finish in QBIC’s rooms make up for their slight flamboyance in the decor stakes.

As a green hotel, QBIC runs on renewable electricity and has bikes available for hire. Also, somehow, their rainfall-showers are eco-friendly despite feeling really luxurious.

Aldgate is in the heart of East London, with great connections across the city. Brick Lane is on your doorstep, perfect if you want Indian food or see live music. The Whitechapel Gallery is also close by for art lovers.

If staying somewhere green in East London is a priority for you, then why not check availability and prices at QBIC now.

Aldgate: Aldgate is where the East End finishes and the City begins. You’ll find bars, restaurants and clubs pushed up against shining office blocks and tiny old pubs, with Brick Lane at the centre of it all. If you want Indian food in London, this is the place to be.

New Road Hotel

Whitechapel

From £49 per night

New Road Hotel

Complete with a bar, meeting rooms and coworking spaces, and a Marco Pierre White Chophouse, New Road Whitechapel feels far more like a boutique London hotel than a budget London hotel.

That’s pretty incredible given that you can get a room for well under a hundred quid!

All rooms, from ‘Pocket’ to ‘Loft’ have a warehouse feel and use space impressively. This is helped along by huge windows that make everything gorgeous and bright.

Whitechapel may initially feel a little out of the way, but it’s close to everything East London has to offer, from Spitalfields market to Brick Lane to the joys of Shoreditch, and really well connected to the rest of the city too.

If that all sounds too good to miss out on (it should, because it is) then take a look at prices and availability for the New Road Hotel now.

Mama Shelter

Bethnal Green

From £81 per night

Mama-Shelter-London

Mama Shelter is probably the most fun budget hotel London has to offer.

The 194 rooms are complemented by a restaurant, bar and terrace, complete with excellent food, DJ sets, and Japanese style karaoke rooms. You see what we mean when we say fun?

Of course, it can’t be all work and no play, so Mama Shelter also offers meeting rooms and a gym. It’s pretty astonishing that all this plus great design is available for around a hundred quid a night.

If you’re convinced by what Mama has to offer, then check prices and availability ASAP.

Bethnal Green: Bethnal Green is still somewhat under the radar. Just down the road from both Whitechapel and Spitalfields it has nonetheless retained something of a local feel, with East End boozers and family homes making up most of the landscape. There are some gems to discover, though, particularly a whole slew of great coffee shops.

The Buxton

Spitalfields

From £100 per night

The Buxton

Rooms at The Buxton, an affordable London hotel just off Brick Lane, are simple to the point of sparseness. The period features of the property save them from a bland fate, and the hotel and restaurant’s roof garden, with its 360-degree views of London, elevate the hotel overall.

The garden provides produce for the pub and restaurant below The Buxton’s 15 rooms, which serves seasonal food designed to showcase great ingredients. There’s also a pretty excellent cocktail menu, in case you can’t quite manage to get out of the door and into the heart of East London come the cocktail hour.

The Buxton is a small and intimate hotel that offers a really comfortable base for visitors to explore the East End. If that sounds up your alley, take a look at their availability and rates today.

Spitalfields: Spitalfields is in the heart of East London, complete with winding cobbled streets, amazing bars and restaurants, and the covered Spitalfields market where you can wander for hours, checking out everything from vintage clothes to candles to jewellery. Liverpool Street Station is just down the road, making access to the rest of the city an absolute doddle.

The Culpeper

Spitalfields

From £120 per night

The Culpeper

The Culpeper is a multi-layered delight. First, a pub with huge windows, exposed brick and plenty of cosy corners.

Second, a restaurant with blinding blue booths serving modern European fare with a focus on great ingredients.

Third, an affordable hotel with chic, beautiful bedrooms featuring raw plaster walls, fireplaces, plenty of blankets, and a generally sophisticated air that far outstrips their budget price tag.

And finally, a roof garden with great views of London. Yes, another East London Hotel with a roof garden! But this one also features a cocktail bar and a second restaurant.

If that sounds like a dream London getaway destination, then check out the Culpeper’s availability and rates right now.

The Good Hotel

Royal Victoria Dock

From £70

Good Hotel London

We have one sentence for you: an affordable London hotel on a boat.

Well, a floating hotel anyway. That floating hotel is The Good Hotel,  which also happens to be a social enterprise, supporting charities in London and Guatemala. Seems a pretty great reason to stay that extra night, doesn’t it?

Rooms at The Good Hotel are necessarily small (remember, it’s floating) but perfectly formed. They all have a desk area, an attached shower room, and free access to good wifi.

The Hotel is completed by a restaurant and bar, a social space called The Living Room, and a roof terrace with views across the dock.

Everything you could want from a budget hotel in London, but on water. If that sounds tempting, take a look at rates and availability at The Good Hotel today.

K West Hotel and Spa

Hammersmith

From £99 per night

Executive Room K West

K West is the best value hotel in London with a spa, hands down.

Rooms at the former BBC studios in Hammersmith are a decent size, and tastefully decorated. There’s none of the self-conscious room dressing of some of the East London boutique hotels on this list, but that’s because K West offers something different.

It’s an affordable hotel with a full spa, nail bar, and gym. And that’s rare, even outside of the capital!

If you want to relax for less in London, then take a look at rates and availability for the K West Hotel and Spa now.

Hammersmith: Splayed out beside the river, Hammersmith is well-heeled and, in parts, beautiful. The other parts? Well, they’re glimmering office blocks. You can spend your days at pubs by the water, or wandering the Thames towpath, and your evenings at the Hammersmith Apollo or Lyric Hammersmith taking in a show if you stay nearby.

The Argyle Square Hotel 

King’s Cross 

From £108 per night 

The Argyle Square Hotel is a great choice for a budget hotel in King’s Cross. We’ll admit it: you’re not going to be living in the lap of luxury here, but if you plan to spend most of your time out and about exploring London (which you should), it doesn’t really matter. 

Rooms are small but clean and modern, and most importantly, comfortable. There are options for rooms with shared bathrooms if you really want to watch your budget, but you’ll find double rooms with their own en suites and plenty of natural light should you want them. 

Amenities include free toiletries, flatscreen TVs in every room and complimentary coffee and tea for all guests. 

King’s Cross: Due to having three major train stations within a short walk of each other King’s Cross is always busy. You’ll have plenty of places to eat in the area too, but probably the best perk will be how connected you are to the rest of London. From this location it’s rare that anything is more than a half hour tube ride away. 

Plaza London Hotel 

Bethnal Green 

Plaza London Hotel

Further out in east London you’ll find The Plaza London Hotel, a cosy place to stay with a spread of double and twin rooms that should more than fit your needs. The style is a little darker and more sophisticated than you might otherwise find at this price point which is a nice touch. 

In our eyes though, the best thing about the Plaza is the great stuff you’ve got just a short walk from the hotel. Shoreditch is just down the road with its slew of good restaurants and bars, and Bethnal Green itself has plenty to offer too. 

You’ll also be a short walk away from the underground so you’ll have the rest of London at the tips of your fingers. 

Practical Tips to Consider Before Booking a Budget Hotel in London

  • Price range: These hotels range in price from around £60 to £170 quid per night. Think about what you can afford, and stick to it. There’s something for every budget.
  • Area: Similarly, these hotels are dotted all over the city. What do you need to be near? And do you want to be in the centre, or somewhere more chill? Those are all possible at hotels in our guide. 
  • Vibes: Yes, vibes. What do we mean by that? Well, some of these hotels are super millennial, some are trying for luxury, some are basic but functional. Which of those suits you best?
  • Amenities: Most of these hotels have bars and restaurants, but beyond that amenities really vary. If you want a spa, for example, there are only a couple of options. If you want a gym or a coworking space, a few more. Make a list of all the extras you would like, and weigh them up when you look at the hotels we’ve suggested for you here. 
  • Alternatively, you can check out London’s capsule hotels for more cool budget-friendly stays

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