London is a beautiful city. It’s oozing with culture, the parks are out of this world and the theatres are second to none. But it doesn’t come cheap right! The very best hotels cost between £500 to £1,000 per night. Yikes! But don’t let that stop you. There’s tons of great choices, if you’re on a budget. You don’t need to stay in a hostel bunk bed, next to randy teenagers! This article gives 17 of the cheapest hotels in Central London.

 

Whatever your situation, there'll be a hotel for you. Regardless of whether you're a solo traveller, or travelling as a family. I've also provided details of cheap hotels with gyms and swimming pools. 

The Very Cheapest Hotels

 

1. Cromwell International Hotel

 

The Cromwell International Hotel is the very cheapest hotel I could find! With a double room starting at £30/night. About the same price as breakfast for two at Starbucks. The location is pretty swanky too, in Kensington. You are 1 mile away from Harrods and 1 mile from Hyde Park. 

So what gives? The reviews are terrible! Every review I read, mentions the awful smell. That is some achievement! People also mention the poor service, tiny rooms and old mattresses. If you stay here, don’t expect anything.

2. Easy Hotel South Kensington

 

The Easy Hotel South Kensington also has a location to die for. It’s in the heart of South Kensington, near Hyde Park and Harrods. Prices start at £38/night for a double room. The hotel doesn’t look too bad, all things considered.

It describes itself as a 3* hotel. Expect to have a small room, a clean bed and a hot shower. I looked at reviews, and there appears to be no issues with cleanliness. That’s often a problem at budget hotels. Some reviews complained about room size and the lack of housekeeping. However, if you’re paying £38 for a room, you need to adjust your expectations!

 

Easy Hotel London [South Kensington] http://t.co/XkmdHZHWGe pic.twitter.com/wjz1cHwWub

— ???? ?? (@nayeftech) July 19, 2015

3. The Z Hotel Trafalgar

 

 

The Z Hotel Trafalgar is right in the heart of the action. 5 minutes walk from Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square. It’s 15 minutes walk to Oxford Street and 20 minutes to Buckingham Palace. As locations go, it doesn’t get any better.

I found rates as low as £50/night. The reviews are also excellent! People mention that the hotel is clean, modern and the service was good. There were large price differences on different websites. Booking.com had the lowest rates (from £50/night), whereas other websites charged more.

The video above has a walk through of one of the rooms. Looks decent!

4. Wedgewood hotel

The Wedgewood Hotel is another budget option in Central London. It occupies a classy location in Notting Hill. Just 5 minutes walk from Kensington Gardens. It’s not right in the middle of the action, like the The Z Hotel Trafalgar. It’s a bit more quiet around here. I saw rates as low as £47/night for a double room.

The reviews of the hotel are hit and miss. Expect small rooms and cheap beds. I think this is fine for the price. Some people complained about cracks in the ceiling and the thin walls. However, if the hotel spends £100,000 to repair the property, they wouldn’t charge £47/night!

5. Alexandra Hotel

 

The Alexandria Hotel has rooms from £59/night. It also comes with breakfast included. The hotel is located near Paddington Station, which is one my favourite parts of London. You’re just 2 minutes away from Hyde Park. You can get to Oxford Street in 10 minutes. Little Venice is less than 1 mile away. Little Venice is an underappreciated spot in London. The canal and surrounding area are beautiful. There’s also loads of food and drinks outlets by the water.

The hotel looks pretty good. The rate above comes with breakfast. For your £59, you get a clean room in a great location. Can’t say fairer than that! The reviews on the whole are very positive. Most people said that they would be happy to return.

6. Dock Side Hotel

And now for something completely different! Up until now, the hotels have been in the touristy parts of central and west London. Dockside Hotel is located in the trendy and upcoming east side of the city. It’s 10 minutes walk from tower Bridge. It’s also well located for the Business District. In London, the business district is referred to as “the city” – somewhat confusingly! Prices start at £51/night.

The reviews look to be hit and miss. People mention that the hotel is well located with friendly staff. There’s a few negative reviews. However, they look to be entitled individuals that expect red carpet treatment!

7. The Belgrove Hotel

The Belgrove Hotel is right next to Kings Cross Station. It’s a basic hotel. I saw room rates starting at £62. The location is also one of my personal favourites. You’re two minutes from St Pancras Station, where you can get a train to Paris. The area has also undergone lots of regeneration, and is really nice. You’re 10 minutes walk from Angel, which is packed with independent coffee shops and artisan bakeries. Full Disclosure: I lived in Angel for 10 years, so I might be biased! The British Museum is also a 10 minute walk.

Reviews mention that the hotel is basic, and without amenities.

8. Haven Hotel

Haven Hotel is another excellent budget option. The hotel is right on Edgeware Road. 5 minutes walk from Hyde Park and 10 minutes from Oxford Street. It’s also close to Little Venice and Paddington Station. I saw room rates starting at £66/night. You would struggle to get a restaurant meal for that price in London!

The hotel is clean, basic and well priced. Exactly what you need, when you look for the Cheapest hotels in Central London. The area is noisy, so that’s worth bearing in mind.

 

9. Paddington Park Hotel

The Paddington Park Hotel has rates from £70. The location is pretty wonderful – 2 minutes away from Hyde Park. For comparison, houses in that area start at £8million! The reviews are pretty good too (for a budget hotel). People mention that the place is clean, comfortable and recently renovated. The rooms are small, but the price benefit is passed to the customer.

The video above has a walk through of one room.

10. OYO London 24 Sussex

The OYO London 24 Sussex is a stupid name for a hotel! That aside, the hotel looks like a good option. The room rates varies wildly. I saw prices as low as £74 and as high as £236. So it’s definitely worth checking out. The hotel itself is right next to Paddington Station, and is a short walk from Hyde Park and Little Venice.

The hotel is located on 5 floors and there is no lift. Other than that, the hotel seems pretty tidy. The hotel is in a large townhouse. The rooms and facilitates are clean and modern.

11. Hotel Oliver

Hotel Oliver is a 2* Hotel in the Heart Of Kensington. Google Maps says “simple rooms with free breakfast and wi-fi”. The hotel is well located for Harrods and Hyde Park. Rates start at £72 for one night. A lot of reviewers mention the smell – which is never a good thing!

The rooms look dated and small. However, if you are on a budget, you’ll struggle to get anything cheaper.

Hotels with a gym

12. Comfort Inn Victoria

 

The Comfort Inn Victoria is the cheapest hotel in Central London, that has a gym. Rates start at £91 per night. Although I did see rates as high as £250. It’s right in the heart of Westminster, and well located for Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. There is free breakfast for all guests and the rooms look clean and modern.

The hotel has a fitness center. It contains some exercise machines and some free weights. Not bad for a budget hotel. On a personal note, I like to keep fit – but I never have the motivation in a hotel! I love a hotel pool, but won’t get out of bed to use the gym!

13. Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington

 

The Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington looks pretty nice. It’s right next to Hyde Park and the high end shops in South Kensington. Rates start at only £105. It’s not one of the cheapest hotels in Central London. However, it’s very good value. The hotel is large and modern. There’s conference rooms, an outside area for dining and a fitness suite.

The reviews look pretty good on the whole. People say that they have visited the hotels multiple times.

14. Blakemore Hyde Park

 

The Blakemore Hyde Park is right next to Hyde Park (you may have guessed that..). Rooms start at £108/night. The hotel itself looks very nice, with a classy white façade. In addition to the fitness suite, the rooms look to be spacious and modern.

The neighbourhood itself is pretty quiet. You’re about 15 minutes from Paddington Station and 20 minutes from Oxford Street. That 20 minute walk would be a pleasant stroll along Hyde Park Place.

As for the gym, it looks good. With dumbbells, weight machines and cardio machines. If your budget stretches, then this hotel looks excellent value.


Hotels with a Swimming Pool


Now we’re talking! I absolutely love swimming and I love a hotel pool. In London, rents are expensive, so most hotels don’t have a pool. For that reason, there’s a jump in price to get a hotel with a pool.

I get quite annoyed with expensive city hotels, when there’s no pool. This happened when I stayed at the Intercontinental Paris Le Grand. The hotel is pricy, with rooms costing €600 per night. However, there’s no swimming pool at the hotel. In addition, there’s no coffee machine in the rooms. Just a pack of instant coffee!


15. Park Plaza London Waterloo. Great Value

 

The Park Plaza London Waterloo is a Radisson Hotel. It’s a smart and modern hotel, with a nice looking pool and gym. Room rates start at £145/night. It’s the best value option if you want a swimming pool. It’s not the cheapest hotel in Central London, but it’s good value for money.

The hotel has an excellent location. You’re 15 minutes walk from Big Ben and the London Eye. Waterloo is located South of the River Thames. This side is cheaper, than the north. However, I personally love the area. Walk along the river bank and get a great view of the Houses of Parliament, St Pauls Cathedral and the Shard.

The hotel itself is well rated. It describes itself as 4*, and the reviews are very good.

 

16. Holiday Inn London Kensington. Best for families

 

 

 

The Holiday Inn London Kensington High Street is an excellent option if you want a swimming pool. Rates start at £181/night. The hotel is smart and modern. The swimming pool and Jacuzzi look really nice, as does the bar.

Location is excellent. Very close to Kensington Gardens and the high end shops in South Kensington.

I’m a big fan of Holiday Inn Hotels. I stay in them a lot. They have excellent coverage in the UK, and they are excellent for families. At all Holiday Inns, kids eat free. As long as one adult is eating, then there is no charge for the kids. In addition, they often allow four people to stay in a hotel room. They have a double bed and a separate sofa bed. It’s a squeeze, but it offers great value. If you’re travelling with kids, I would definitely consider this hotel.

I’ve stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Bicester many times. It’s perfectly located for the Bicester Village Outlet Mall. The hotel is also great value, and there is free breakfast for all guests.

Another Holiday Inn I like, is the one in CDG Airport in Paris. Review here. I paid €72 Eur for one night. That was for my entire family. In addition, the hotel is actually located on the airport site. There is also free breakfast for all guests.

I travel a lot, and I can’t afford 5* luxury every time. Knowing tricks like these, makes my travels possible!


17. Montcalm East, Autograph Collection. 5* Value

Montcalm East, Autograph Collection is a Marriott Hotel. The Autograph Collection is one of Marriott’s upscale brands, so it’s not one of the cheapest hotels in Central London. Rates start at £184/night, which is pretty good. Be careful however, as the price goes up to £500/night on some days!

At £184/night, there’s not many cheaper options, if you want a swimming pool. The hotel is located in trendy Shoreditch. This region is full of startup companies. Expect to see men with designer beards, artisan bakeries and independent coffee shops.

The swimming pool and hydra pool look lovely too.

Conclusion

Well there you have it! 17 of the Cheapest Hotels in Central London. Whether you’re coming alone or with a family, I got you covered. There’s budget rooms for £50/night. There’s family rooms and a swimming pool for £180/night.

London is a truly great city. It’s open to all. It’s not just a playground for the filthy rich.

I wrote a guide to Best Western Hotels in London. Best Western are a company with modern hotels in good locations. Most importantly, the hotels are fairly priced. The article covers each hotel. What attractions are close by. What you should expect to pay. 

If you find yourself in Marbella, then I suggest you read this article. I stayed at the Playa Andaluza, which is an excellent hotel for families. It’s a massive resort, right on the beach. There’s so many activities, including miniature golf and giant chess! You also stay in an apartment, rather than a hotel room.

The Plaza Premium Lounge in Heathrow Terminal 4 is a great option, if you’re travelling through the airport. There’s an extensive buffet and a full bar. There’s also a beautiful tree (yes tree!) in the lounge.