Are you planning a city break to London and want to find comfortable accommodation on a budget? It is possible to find cheap hotels in London but to save you time we have curated a selection of the best budget hotels in London to ensure your visit does not break the bank.
London is one the most popular cities to visit in the world and also one of the most expensive. With so many landmarks, attractions and sights to include in your itinerary choosing the right accommodation in the right location is vital.
While there are an abundance of hotels to choose from it can feel quite daunting if you are visiting London on a budget when the price of staying in London can seem exorbitant. To help you save time searching for budget London accommodation we have 9 great value recommendations in this article.
All of these hotels are located in or near the city centre – within Zone 1 of the Underground. Staying central is one of our top tips for first-time visitors to London. Although you will find cheaper accommodation the further you are from central London it is often not worth the time you will need to travel in and out each day on public transport.
While these hotels may not offer the range of amenities and comforts of the more expensive mid-range, luxury or boutique hotels in London they do provide the budget traveller with basic comfortable accommodation.
Many of the budget London hotels we recommend in this article are also recognisable hotel brands you will find across the UK. Do you want to know what you can expect from the various chain hotel brands you can find in London? Read our guide to London chain hotels here.
Best budget hotels in London
Z Hotels
An affordable hotel chain in London are Z hotels. Located in prime spots in central London including my personal favourite Covent Garden ensure you book early as these rooms are snapped up months in advance.
The Z Hotel Holborn
The Z Hotel Holborn has air-conditioned rooms, a bar, free WiFI, and a shared lounge. Room amenities include a desk, a flat-screen TV, private bathroom access, bed linens and towels.
- Location – Holborn
- Family rooms? Yes
- Accessible for disabled guests? No
- London’s sights nearby – Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, British Museum and Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
- Walking distance to Tube station? Holborn Tube station is a short walk away (200 m)
The Z Hotel Trafalgar
The Z Hotel Trafalgar offers air-conditioned rooms, a bar, and free WiFi. Each room has a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom with shower, and bed linen and towels.
- Location – Westminster
- Family rooms? No
- Accessible for disabled guests? Yes
- London’s sights nearby – Lyceum Theatre, Royal Opera House, and Trafalgar Square.
- Walking distance to public transport? Metro – Charing Cross 0.2 km / Train – Charing Cross Station 0.2 km
The Z Hotel Covent Garden
The 113-room Z Hotel is located in the West End of Covent Garden. Free Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the hotel, including within the lobby and café areas on the ground floor.
- Location – Covent Garden
- Family rooms? Yes
- Accessible for disabled guests? Yes
- London’s sights nearby – Convenient location for West End theatres, shops and restaurants.
- Walking distance to public transport? Covent Garden tube station is 350 m away, while Leicester Square and Charing Cross stations are both within 500 m from the property.
Point A Hotels
Point A offer some of the best affordable hotels in London.
Point A Kensington Olympia
A 24-hour front desk and a common lounge, as well as free WiFi throughout the property, are among the services available. The hotel provides continental or buffet breakfasts.
- Location – Kensington and Chelsea
- Family rooms? No
- Accessible for disabled guests? Yes
- London’s sights nearby – Located a little further out the hotel is 1.5 km from the Natural History Museum, 1.8 km from the Victoria and Albert Museum and 2 km from the Royal Albert Hall.
- Walking distance to public transport? Earls Court Tube station is located 400 meters from the hotel
Point A London Westminster
The rooms are cosy but well-designed, with a pleasant Hypnosis bed, en-suite bathrooms with a power shower, free high-speed WiFi, USB charging point, air-conditioning, and a flat-screen TV with 240 channels. To ensure you get a good night’s sleep, blackout drapes are also included.
Point A Hotel London Westminster offers a 24-hour reception and contemporary lobby area.
- Location – Westminster Bridge
- Family rooms? No
- Accessible for disabled guests? Yes
- London’s sights nearby – Located in central London 700 m from London Eye and 900 m from the Houses of Parliament.
- Walking distance to public transport? 20 meters from Lambeth North Tube
Kensington Gardens Hotel
Kensington Gardens Hotel is located in Kensington and offers rooms with city views. All rooms at the hotel come equipped with a flat-screen TV, satellite channels, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer, and a desk. Each room has its own bathroom.
- Location – Westminster
- Family rooms? Yes
- Accessible for disabled guests? No
- London’s sights nearby – Portobello Road Market is located 1 km from the hotel
- Walking distance to public transport? 200 meter walk to Bayswater Tube Station
Ibis Styles London Kensington
A TV, tea and coffee facilities and a hairdryer are all available in each room. Every room includes a private bathroom as well. In the contemporary bar area, guests may unwind with a drink. A 24-hour front desk, as well as various restaurants and bars close by.
- Location – Kensington and Chelsea
- Family rooms? No
- Accessible for disabled guests? No
- London’s sights nearby – Kensington Museums such as the Natural History Museum and Science Museum, plus other popular sights such as the Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace are not far away.
- Walking distance to public transport? Located only a 3-minute walk from Earl’s Court Underground Station
Click to book your stay at the Ibis Styles London Kensington
Chelsea House Hotel B&B
The Chelsea House Hotel is a Victorian-style hotel that offers comfortable rooms with en suite private bathrooms and TV. In addition, tea and coffee facilities are available.
A continental breakfast buffet is provided in the morning, and the building provides free Wi-Fi internet access throughout its public areas.
- Location – Kensington and Chelsea
- Family rooms? Yes
- Accessible for disabled guests? No
- London’s sights nearby – Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre and Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea Football Club, can both be reached in 15 minutes’ walk or less. Numerous pubs and restaurants are also nearby.
- Walking distance to public transport? 5 minutes’ walk from Earl’s Court Underground Station
EasyHotel London City Shoreditch
All easyHotel London City Shoreditch’s rooms have air-conditioning, heating and en-suite bathrooms.
WiFi is available for an additional charge. The hotel has a 24-hour front desk. Luggage storage is also available. Bars, restaurants, and cafés are located within walking distance of the property
A great budget hotel option.
- Location – Shoreditch
- Family rooms? No
- Accessible for disabled guests? Yes
- London’s sights nearby – Brick Lane is 1.8 km from the property
- Walking distance to public transport? Located a 5-minute walk from Old Street and Barbican underground stations.
Click to book your stay at the EasyHotel London City Shoreditch
Clink 78
This former courthouse (with prison cells) turned hostel comes personally recommended by one of our readers who reported that it is clean, safe and organised.
Offers mixed-gender or female-only dorms with free wifi, lockers and shared bathrooms. Private rooms are also available.
Clink 78 is also ideally located in Camden near St Pancras station so ideal for transport links.
- Location – 78 King’s Cross Road
- Family rooms? No
- Accessible for disabled guests? Yes
- London’s sights nearby – 1 mile from the British Museum
- Walking distance to public transport? 9 minutes walk from Kings Cross train station
More London hotels & accommodation options for a range of budgets
If you prefer something other than one of these budget hotels in London you will find additional suggestions in these articles
- Where to stay in London – area and neighbourhood guide – If you are unsure of the right area to stay in London we recommend starting with this article
London Travel Guide & Itinerary Planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks)
