Like other world-class cities, London has a full menu of accommodation options. Tourists can choose from an assortment of budget inns, hostels, mid-range hotels and five-star luxury hotels. Despite being an expensive place in general, London does have its share of cheap and mid-range accommodations. In short, there is something in the city for people in every budget range. London’s different neighborhoods have their own array of hotels, meaning that visitors can not only find a place within their budget, they can usually find a place within their budget in or near the parts of the city that they want to visit.
Here are the best places to stay in London.
Hostels
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London has many hostels, each with its own personality and its own positives and negatives. Some places, such as the Astor Museum Inn Hostel, located in the Bloomsbury District of central London, offer rooms to younger travelers. All guests at the Astor must be between 18-35 years of age. Actually, Astor has four hostels in London. These offer basic shared rooms and a living-room-like common area. Hostels are among the cheapest places to stay in London, but the price break comes with a lack of the amenities that many people expect from their hotel. Most hostels have no extra services, no private bathrooms, and no restaurants. However, it is hard to beat the price. The City YWCA is arguably one of the best options for tourists on a budget. The Y offers weekly rates that are just over £100. Again, you won’t get much more than a place to sleep and shared facilities, but it is hard to beat the price. Another positive is that some hostels offer a very central location.
Budget Hotels
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Budget hotels occupy the next step on the price ladder. Guests at budget hotels can expect a bit more privacy than tourists who are staying at hostels, but the amenities are still usually very basic. Many tourists consider the price for a budget room, usually about £50-60 per night, a worthwhile trade-off for the extra quiet and privacy. Some hotels, such as the Travelodge London Docklands, in the East End, offer online specials that can really save savvy travelers money. Rates can be found for as low as £10 – £20 per night. The nearby Ibis Hotel Docklands is at the high end of the budget price range, but its amenities, including satellite TV, internet and a nice onsite cafe make it a great value. Some budget hotels, like the Alhambra Hotel in Bloomsbury, include breakfast and tourist information along with the price of a room.
Mid-Range Hotels
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People looking for a true hotel experience will find a good balance between cost and amenities in London’s mid-range hotels. These three-star and four-star hotels generally cost between £100 and £200, depending mainly on their location and amenities. The Mercure London Paddington is a prime example of what people can expect from a mid-range hotel. The rooms at the Mercure are quite small, but the décor and amenities bring to mind a high-end hotel experience and the location, in the heart of London’s famous Paddington neighborhood, is hard to beat. Plenty of well-known chain hotels, such as Novotel (with a branch located in Hammersmith), Holiday Inn (Bloomsbury and Mayfair) and Hilton (East End) offer rates that most travelers would consider in the mid-range in terms of price.
Luxury Hotels
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London is a great city for people seeking a high end hotel experience. One of the world’s best known five-star hotels, the London Savoy, located in the heart of th West End’s theater district, has it all. It boasts the perfect location, it oozes elegance, and it has all the amenities and superior customer service that anyone could ever hope for. The Ritz Hotel London is another recognizable name in the upscale hotel landscape. Many visitors come to eat at the onsite restaurants even if they don’t plan on staying. The Ritz boasts a perfect location in Piccadilly. It has been around for more than 100 years, so the classic ambiance and elegance are as much a part of the experience as the luxurious amenities. It should be noted, however, that this is not a place for people who aren’t comfortable in upper-crust settings, but it is a perfect choice for luxury-seekers. The Soho Hotel, meanwhile, offers a boutique hotel experience for people who want their room to have a little funkiness. The Soho, located in its namesake district, has more than its share of amenities to compliment its unique ambiance. Like other luxury hotels, guests can expect to pay more than £250 for a night at the Soho. An experience at the Savoy or Ritz can be even more pricey.
