With its flagship luxury hotels such as the Savoy, Ritz, Claridges and Dorchester, finding the cheapest hotels in London may seem a daunting task, but there is a range of budget accommodation available all over the British capital for those willing to compromise on some of the finer luxuries. Here are five places to stay that will keep your hard earned pounds in your pocket.
Cheap Hostel in Central London: Barkston Budget Rooms in Earls Court
A favourite base for the Australian and Kiwi community, Earls Court is a vibrant area for tourists looking to sample some good nightlife. It is also conveniently located for Central London with the Victoria and Albert and Natural History Museums and shopping in Harrods within walking distance.
Barkston Rooms is a large and popular backpacker spot, with 96 rooms ranging from singles to dorms for 4-8 people, including one female-only dorm. Wireless Internet, a television lounge and self-catering kitchen is available, with prices starting from £13.90 a night for a shared room.
The Cheapest Hotel in London? Pemberton Gardens Guest House in Holloway
Set in two cottage-style buidings just off the Holloway Road and within walking distance of Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, the Pemberton Fardens Guest House is one of the cheapest places to stay in London, but easily accessible to the centre with the Archway Tube station on the Northern Line just five minutes away.
Accommodation is basic but clean, with facilities including central heating, wireless Internet, parking, a self-catering kitchen and shared bathrooms. The twelve rooms range from singles to quads with a shared bed in the quad available for just £8.80 a night.
Overnight Savings at the Airport: Heathrow Lodge
As one of the world's busiest airports, the demand for accommodation around Heathrow Airport is unrelenting, but an overnight stay can be expensive. A popular budget accommodation option near London's main airport is Heathrow Lodge, where prices start at £15 a night for a shared room of four beds.
Due to its convenient location five minutes from the airport, Heathrow Lodge is a preferred budget hotel for many flight crews. An additional benefit for guests is the free airport shuttle bus which is included with an overnight stay. Accommodation ranges from single rooms with shared bathrooms to family rooms for four with en suites.
Cheap Accommodation in Central London: Bayswater Budget Rooms
Bayswater is an excellent base from which to discover London, located as it is opposite Hyde Park, next to Notting Hill and conveniently positioned on the Central Line. In an area with some of the priciest real estate in the capital, it is possible to spend the night for just £12.80 at Bayswater Budget Rooms, otherwise known as the Holiday House Hotel.
The forty rooms range from singles to dorm rooms with shared bathroom, although there is a female-only dorm with an en suite bathroom. Additional facilities include a television lounge, wireless Internet, laundry facilities and a shared kitchen.
Discounted Hotels in London: Cromwell Crown Hotel in South Kensington
Slightly more expensive but excellent value over in fashionable South Kensington is the Cromwell Crown Hotel, where a single with shared bathroom starts at £35 and a bed in a quad room costs £20. These prices do include a continental breakfast, however. Most of the rooms are en suite.
As with most things in life, you get what you pay for, but for those on a budget looking for cheap accommodation in London, there are alternatives. It is not a cheap city by any means, but some basic research prior to visiting can result in significant savings. Enjoy!
Paul Bradbury - Author of Hvar: An Insider's Guide to Croatia's Premier Island, and Lebanese Nuns Don't Ski
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