Top 8 best hotels in London for a limited budget, from modest hostels and compact rooms to luxury bedrooms in historic mansions
London, one of the most popular cities among travelers from all over the world, can be very expensive if you are not careful in your spending. With delicious food on every corner, plenty of attractions scattered throughout the city, and exciting entertainment, it can be a lot easier on the wallet. That said, there are some great options in London where you can stay overnight for little money. These can be found in both independent hotels and global chain hotels, many of which have 4 or even 5 star status.
Finding a room for less than £100 a night in an exquisite hotel is quite possible. Better to spend your savings on entertainment and visiting interesting places to bring as many bright impressions from London as possible. And this top budget hotels in London will help you with finding temporary accommodation for your trip.
1. The Corner London City
This cozy hotel in the East End has over 170 modular rooms in a shabby-chic style. It's in the heart of a vibrant neighborhood surrounded by the best high street restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs and art galleries, perfect for travelers exploring the city and its people. Budget The Corner London City calls itself the greenest among hotels in London, employing various initiatives to reduce water consumption, electricity and CO2 emissions.
After a tiring day of walking around London, guests return to a comfortable room with a super-king bed with an organic hypoallergenic mattress and an en-suite bathroom with a rain shower and mist-free mirror. All rooms are personalized with custom handmade furniture, locally made accessories and bathroom fixtures. In-room amenities include a 32-inch TV, customizable lighting, a safe and organic toiletries. Free Wi-Fi is available everywhere. Rooms in different categories can accommodate 2-3 adults or a family with children.
The hotel has a casual bar and kitchen where you can have lunch or dinner or just socialize over drinks. The rate includes a continental breakfast with appetizers. You can also save money on your stay with packages from the hotel, such as getting 20% off a stay for a few days. There are offers for travelers with pets as well, including a bed, bowl, welcome dog treats, and a discount on nearby pet salon services. The hotel is not only geared towards individual travelers, but also families with children. Therefore, the restaurant has a "kids-only" area where they can play and watch movies while their parents relax. By the way, pets can also be brought along.
2. Church Street Hotel
In the heart of Camberwell, the family-run, Mexican-style Church Street Hotel is worth checking out if you're looking for an unusual "themed" placeto stay cheaply in London, with fun design and delicious food. This is one of London's most individual boutique hotels, presenting a charming and cheeky, even kitschy hideaway. It consists of three townhouses and draws its inspiration from America and colonial style, emphasizing it with an abundance of details: hand-painted Mexican tiles, prints and sculptures, handmade iron beds, stylish furniture and antiques. The rooms are decorated with lots of wood and colored mineral glaze and have a look reminiscent of a Mexican casino. An emphasis on traditional art is combined with modern amenities such as luxurious linens and 650g cotton towels, premium toiletries, LED TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi. The eclectic rooms were designed by master craftsman Jose Raido, using bright colors to match Mexican sunsets.
The best budget hotels in London are often home to interesting pubs and restaurants. For example, the Church Street Lounge occupies a cozy all-day lounge in old Havana style, where guests can sit with a complimentary cup of coffee or tea while admiring the high ceilings, wood paneling, and oak shutters. Or make drinks - the honesty bar offers an excellent selection of whiskey, tequila, rum, wine and beer. A continental breakfast is served here in the mornings. There's also a Spanish-style tapas restaurant, Angels & Gypsies, with a creative seasonal menu, and the Communion Bar in the basement, decorated with beautiful hand-crafted stained glass windows.
3. Motel One London-Tower Hill
In the heart of London's financial district sits one of the most luxurious hotels for tight budgets around. The Motel One chain operates more than 6 dozen hotels in various European cities. The London hideaway is hidden behind the glass façade of the bar-restaurant One Lounge: the reception desk is at the back of it. In fact, it is one of the best accommodation options in the center with reasonable room rates, amenities offered for it and a winning location. The Tower of London is not far from the hotel, and in a few minutes you can walk to Tower Bridge and head along the Thames to the tourist center of the city. Tower Hill Underground Station is 500 meters from the hotel, providing access to anywhere in the city.
Motel One London-Tower Hill has 291 rooms of varying class and configuration, with one double bed or two twin beds and queen-spring mattresses. Rooms have free Wi-Fi, TV, air-conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities and en-suite bathrooms with showers, while bedrooms on the upper floors are complemented by beautiful city views. Rooms are small in size - about 16 square meters and can accommodate 1 or 2 guests. Considering the cost of a single bedroom from £120, this is a great example of cheap hotels in London for individual travelers.
Around the clock, guests of the hotel can visit the One Lounge, whose decor references the nearby Tower. It's a great place to relax, work or socialize. Seated at the knight's table on genuine leather sofas, you can enjoy a wholesome organic breakfast or toast and snacks during the day, and relax in the evening by perusing the extensive bar menu. Pets are welcome at the hotel and must be advised in advance at the time of booking.
4. The Judd Hotel
A classic arrangement of traditional-style accommodation is offered by The Judd Hotel, set in two Georgian-style townhouses built in a crescent shape. Part of the hotel is in the building opposite. It boasts an excellent transportation location within minutes of metro and rail stations. You can take public transport to Oxford Street in 10 minutes, and Regent's Park and the West End with its many restaurants, stores and theaters are accessible within a 20-minute walk.
The hotel offers 56 modern, stylish and cozy rooms for accommodation at a great price. Both single person bedrooms and family rooms for several adults and children are available. They have en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, laptop safe, TV, free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee making facilities. The windows overlook Cartwright's gardens and tennis courts, which are also available for use by hotel guests. A hot buffet breakfast is included in the rate. A single room can be booked from £90. That being said, the central London location makes this hotel a good option where to stay inexpensively for travelers who intend to explore its historical sites, museums, theaters, stores and restaurants.
5. The Luxury Inn
Good budget accommodation in London is also worth looking for among bed and breakfasts. For example, one of them, The Luxury Inn, is located in the center of bustling Dalston and offers modern amenities and furnishings with historic charm. The premises of an old print shop has been converted into a stylish family-run mini-hotel, but the unique design details retain references to the area's industrial past.
It is a modern guest house that consists of a loft-style communal lounge and four rooms with elegant understated décor. On the first floor there is one bedroom, a dining area and a kitchen where a self-service breakfast is served. The kitchen is accessible at all times and is equipped with a fridge, microwave and oven for cooking, as well as the necessary stock of breakfast foods, coffee, tea and juices. Three more bedrooms are located on the second floor. Each room has an en-suite bathroom. The rooms are spacious thanks to high ceilings and skylights. They are equipped with a Nespresso coffee machine, flat-screen TVs with Netflix access and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms have a patio. If you're visiting London on a business trip, book a room with a small work area. The hotel's patio features a beautiful lush garden for guests to relax outdoors.
The hotel is a 15-minute drive from Borough Market and Buckingham Palace, while Dalston's trendy restaurants and cafes are just steps away. There is a subway station nearby, and London Dalston Junction Train Station is a 10-minute walk away. The hotel allows pets at an additional cost. A double room with patio and garden with breakfast included can be booked from £90.
6. Stylotel
The 19th-century Victorian facade hides one of the most unique and unusual hotels in London for a limited budget, notable for its futuristic design. Shiny glass surfaces, aluminum panels, square leather seats in the reception area and stylish lighting make it look like a spaceship or submarine.
The hotel is 100 meters from Paddington Station and is split into two parts, one of which is above the excellent Sussex Arms Bar pub. It has recently been refurbished and is one of the most original bars in London thanks to its aviation-themed decor. Patrons can sit on the original Concorde seats and turn to a huge drinks list including ales, local and imported lagers, wines and spirits, and admire the original 19th century ceiling and stylish decor elements.
There are no boring typical rooms at the Stylotel: they are all unique, modern and affordable, making it one of the top best hotels in London for a limited budget. There are 11 bedroom configurations, making it possible for any guest to find a space that suits their needs. All rooms have air conditioning, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and elevator access. Standards are small, equipped with en suite bathrooms with showers, TVs, full-length mirrors, and gorgeous furnishings. Suites are complete with a kitchenette and sofa bed, great for travelers staying for longer stays. A generous buffet breakfast is included, served in the dining area.
The front desk is open 24 hours a day and concierge services are available, including excursions, tours, performance tickets, etc. There's a stylish lounge next to the front desk that can be used for working, socializing, watching TV with friends, or just to sit with a complimentary cup of coffee and snacks to gentle music.
7. The Z Hotel Soho
Another one of the top best hotels in London for a limited budget is located in the Soho neighborhood surrounded by countless restaurants, pubs, stores and bars. This is one of the best accommodation options directly in the center, rather than within a 10-minute bus ride. The three-star hotel is nestled between the bookstores and theaters of Charing Cross Road and Cambridge Circus, and the breakfast room and bar overlook lively Old Compton Street. Tottenham Court and Leicester Square tube stations are about a 5-minute walk away.
The hotel consists of 12 converted Georgian-style townhouses with a pleasant courtyard and semi-open corridors. It has prepared 85 stylish single and double rooms for its guests, each with everything you need for temporary accommodation. There are also family rooms with bunk beds to accommodate 4 people. The centerpiece of the room is a large bed with beautiful linens, mattresses and organic wool blankets. There is a small desk, free Wi-Fi, a shower room, TV, complimentary toiletries and everything you need to make tea and coffee in the room. However, the rooms are small, with compact storage under the bed, and some have no windows, which is not at all uncommon for the most budget hotels in London. However, the price from 80 pounds and the wonderful location justify this value for money, so its rooms are in particular demand among tourists traveling light.
Breakfast is served at The Z Cafe, which serves a daily continental breakfast with fruit salads, croissants, bacon, cereals and pastries. During the day, you can snack on salads, hot appetizers and sandwiches. During the warmer months, tables are set outdoors on the patio, where you can also enjoy another perk of the stay - complimentary wine and cheese sessions in the evenings.
8. Green Rooms
This hotel is located a little out of the way, yet close enough to the city center. Opposite the Green Rooms is Wood Green tube station and 12 minutes away is King's Cross. Central London can be reached via the Piccadilly line in 20 minutes.
This artsy hotel is at the same time a social enterprise and offers affordable accommodation in a creative environment. A restaurant and bar and several event spaces are also part of it. The hotel has a collection of rooms in different categories. The standards have a large bed, simple and stylish furniture and original wooden flooring, while the bathroom is shared and located on the floor. Corner rooms are slightly more spacious and have one king-size bed or two single beds. Suites are similar in size and appearance to the corner rooms, but have their own bathroom. The most luxurious accommodation is available in the studio suites on the basement level. They sleep up to 4 guests and are great for longer stays. There are double beds, a kitchenette, a work area and a bathroom.
Another option for cheap London hotels are dormitory rooms. At Green Rooms, they are located on the first floor behind the lobby. They are essentially two "dorms" or hostels (one for 12 beds, the other for 14), which are suitable for accommodating large companies or travelers looking for socializing and new acquaintances. They are equipped with shared female and male bathrooms, and each guest also gets their own locker for personal belongings.
The hotel often hosts events on weekends, from yoga classes to art exhibitions and music nights, so travelers who expect new experiences, interesting experiences, and an artsy atmosphere will definitely put it on the list of hotels in London worth visiting on a budget. A place on a bunk bed in the shared rooms costs around £35, while accommodation for one guest in a private room starts from just over £100.
