11 best budget places to stay in London
Can you recommend your favourite budget places to stay in London…a good budget hotel in London or hostel? This is probably my most popular request from readers and friends so I thought it would be beneficial to summarise on my blog, my favourite budget places to stay in London. So in no particular order, here are my best cheap places stay in London. Note that if you are new to Airbnb , signup using this link to get £25 off your first booking ( minimum purchase of £55)
1) Wombats Hostel London
Wombats is probably my favourite chain of hostels in the world and has excellent hostels in cities such as Munich and Budapest.
opened in December 2014 and set a new standard for hostels in the UK’s capital. Minutes walk away from sights such as Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and City Hall and you are an easy walk from the buzzing nightlife of Shoreditch and Wilton’s Music Hall.
The hostel building itself is fab. Formerly a seaman’s hostel, the building was converted to an traveller’s palace. It features a huge bar, courtyard, cosy hangout area in the lobby and all the amenities a backpacker could ever wish for.
Rooms come with comfy wooden beds, a private shower, toilet facilities and lockers for belongings. They also provide a set of bed linen, a small welcome drink, Wi-Fi, and their very own city map with essential information with all the going-ons in town.
Wombat’s City Hostel London opened in December 2014 and sets a new standard for hostels in the UK’s capital. Formerly a seaman's hostel, the building was converted to an traveller’s palace. It features a huge bar, courtyard, cosy hangout area in the lobby and all the amenities a backpacker could ever wish for. All rooms come with comfy wooden beds, a private shower, toilet facilities and lockers for belongings. They provide a set of bed linen, a small welcome drink, Wi-Fi, and our own city map with essential information with all the going-ons in town.
2. Hostelle London
Hostelle London is the ideal choice for female solo travellers looking for a comfortable and affordable place to stay in the city. From private rooms to shared dorms, Hostelle London offers something for everyone.
The concept of Hostelle which started in Amsterdam was based on owner Bianca Brasdorp idea of providing a safe and fun place for women to stay in. Whether you are on holiday with friends or on a business trip, Hostelle will aim to make you feel at home. The word Hostelle comes from the word Host in orange that stands for the good host ship we want to offer you in the Netherlands, Barcelona and London, and elle in pink which means she in French and shows the female touch.
Features of the Hostelle include a 24 hour reception, free luggage storage facilities, free lockers and padlocks, a fully equipped and self-service kitche, free coffee and tea throughout the dy, a library with books, magazines and games, laundry wash and dry facilities for £7 and there is a bike rental service from Santander in front of the hostel.
Prices for a bed in the 14 bed dorm start from €22 a night or €32 a night in a 8 bed dorm or €36 a night for a bed in a 4 bed dorm booked via Hostelworld.com
3. Point A Hotels
Point A have several properties in London that offer incredible value, comfort and service and are one of my favourite cheap places to stay in London. Big plus for staying at Point A hostels are their incredible locations -I’m a huge fan of their refurbished Point A London Liverpool Street hotel plus I also love the Point A Hotel in Kings Cross, especially if I’m travelling up to Scotland by train or to Paris via the Eurostar from Kings Cross St Pancreas station.
All the hotels all share the comfy luxury Hypnos beds that give you the best nights sleep ever plus other nifty features like the mood lightening, clever storage space beneath the beds for storing luggage, safe for storing valuables, amazing power shower and fast, working wifi. There’s also air-conditioning unit to cool you down on those stuffy warm days plus they have hairdryers in every room. There’s also a 43 inch Samsung Smart TV with apps like iPlayer and Youtube. In order to keep guests safe against Covid-19, Point A Hotels don’t currently offer their fab buffet breakfast. Instead they do offer a ‘Brekkie Bag’ that is available to order for just £5 at reception. The Brekkie Bag will include a yoghurt pot, fruit (banana or apple), croissant and orange juice carton. It also includes tea or coffee that will be made to order and collected at the breakfast bar.
Other cool feature of many of their London hotels, are their sizeable lounge areas with plenty of plug points- great place to work from. To be Covid compliant, they have reduced the furniture in their communal areas to help guests maintain the required 2m apart from others.
Guests are greeted at check-in via safety screens, room seals will indicate your room has been cleaned to the highest standard and no-one has entered since being cleaned plus communal areas are frequently cleaned throughout the day.
Price point? Room rates vary depending on the day of your stay. Via Booking.com, prices can go as low as £50 on Sunday/Monday to £120 midweek.
Overall verdict- This hotel ticks a lot of boxes for me- great location, Covid-19 safety regulations ensure a safe stay, comfortable beds, nice lounge to work from and good staff. Price in terms of location, comfort is one of the best deals in London in my opinion, especially if you get rooms under £100.
4. Hostel One Notting Hill
Hostel One Notting Hill is definitely one of London’s best hostels at the moment. The first major plus is the location in trendy Notting Hill. The building itself is a beautiful 19th century townhouse with a nice outdoor terrace, perfect for the summer plus there is a ton of great facilities they offer, from a fully equipped kitchen to nice common area plus laundry and lockers to store your belongings. There is a free breakfast included plus there is a free daily communal dinner. The hostel also offers day tours around London.
Price point: Room rates vary depending on the day of your stay. Via Hostelworld, prices can range from €27 ( Non Refundable) to €29 ( Refundable ) for a bed in a 8 bed mixed dorm to €34 for a bed in a 4 bed mixed dorm to €120 for a double bed private.
Hostel One Notting Hill is located in the absolute heart of Notting Hill and within walking distance of many key tourist attractions in London such as Portobello Market, Hyde Park & Kensington Palace!
Guests benefit from facilites like
. Fully equipped kitchen 24/7 access.
. Terrace area.
. Common areas all designed for different moods. To relax, to work or to party.
. Laundry facilities to keep you smelling fresh.
. Personal lockers, outlets and light in all rooms.
. No curfew, so you can come and go 24 hours per day as you please.
5. Astor Museum Inn
The most established property in the Astor chain, one of the star features of the Astor Museum Inn is the incredible location, just around from the British Museum plus a short walk from from the key attractions like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. The hostel has a laid-back and hippy vibe- would call it a quiet but social hostel. Staff are friendly and helpful. There’s free, fast wifi, 24 hour laundry facility, a dining room and common area to enjoy a meal or meet fellow travellers and a common lounge area with comfy sofas and a giant projector screen for movies and sports.
With the British Museum literally on its doorstep, it is impossible to beat this hostel’s location! Located in the very heart of Central London you are a short walk from iconic attractions like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden.
It doesn’t matter if you are shopping down the legendary Oxford Street, watching a play in Leicester Square’s world-famous theatre district, having dinner in China Town, drinks in Soho, or partying in the West End you are always a short walk home to a nice and quiet street in an amazing neighbourhood!
The moment you walk through our doors you become part of our family and we want you to have an incredible experience! We want every detail - from our super clean bathrooms and comfortable pillows to our unforgettable social events - to be perfect, giving you a London adventure that is 10 out of 10!
6. Caring Hotel, London
Where to stay in London a budget? If you’re looking for a comfortable, no-frills hotel in Central London with a nice breakfast, then
Caring Hotel did not disappoint. It was a quiet neighbourhood. My room was on the fourth floor. It’s quite a hike up a very narrow staircase so if you have a lot of luggage, email them in advance and request a room on the first or second floor.
My room was comfortable. Bed was nice. It came with a sink and also a pod shower which was pretty decent. You have a wardrobe for hanging up your clothes plus also a kettle for making tea, coffee. The other big plus of this hotel is how great the wifi was. Brilliant.
If you’re looking for a comfortable room to sleep in with a social edge, check out some of my favourite London hostels below
Kitchen, Access Accommodation Tower Hill
7. Access Accommodation, Tower Hill apartments
Renting and finding good quality apartments in London can be a nightmare. I’ve had a hit and miss with renting apartments via Airbnb- for the price you pay, some of the quality of apartments on Airbnb are pretty shocking. Step forward Access Accommodation. They have a range of high quality apartments across Zone 1 and Zone 2 in some very nice neighbourhoods of London like Camden, Little Venice, Paddington, Canada Water and Tower Hill.
I had the chance to stay at their 2 bedroom Access Tower Hill apartment on Elie Street. First thing I loved about the place is the location- apartment is just right around the corner of Aldgate station plus a short walking distance to Shoreditch High Street and Brick Lane. There’s a bunch of good pubs in short walking distance plus a nice choice of budget eateries. There is a Sainsburys supermarket on the street too plus an Anytime Fitness gym on the ground floor. Check in was a breeze-we were given the entry code to get into the building a code to unlock the lockbox and get our house keys. The apartment itself is large, bright, spacious and very well equipped. You have the luxury of 2 bathrooms which is a rarity in many 2 bedroom apartments so no uneasy queuing for the bathroom early in the morning. There’s a washing machine, dryer and dishwasher which is also a great luxury to have on holiday. There’s a TV with Netflix plus very good , working wifi.
The 2 bedrooms had one double ( 2 singles joined to make a double- not a big fan of this. I would rather prefer they put a double in here ) and a 2nd bedroom with 3 singles. Beds were comfortable and we had a great sleep. Linen and towels are provided, and a silent fan in the room if it’s hot. Overall, besides the lack of a proper double bed and issue of rubbish piling up outside thanks to the nearby restaurant, there’s little to fault with the property. Great location, nice clean apartment with great facilities and the price is great. The 2 bedroom apartment we stayed in starts at around £129 per night and sleeps 5. That is a great deal for the location and facilities. Prices mind you do vary according to season so do try and book in advance to get the best deal. Plus if you do book direct via the Access Accomodation website, you can get 10% off if booking for 5+ night- use the code ‘KASH10‘
8. YHA London Central Hostel
YHA London Central Hostel is a nice base to explore the capital and just five minutes walking from Oxford Street. With friendly staff, a range of activities and deals on popular attractions, self-catering facilities where you can cook yourself plus a nice main café/bar for guests with TV and free wifi. We stayed in a 4 bed family room with ensuite bathroom. The bunk beds were comfortable and came with a reading light each and charging point , room was small but quiet, equipped with lockers, and a secure digital key card access.
Prices: Private en-suite Family Room – sleeps up to 4 people and costs between £60 (low season) to £129 per night (high season) per room.
Thanks to its central location, modern facilities, YHA London Central is a great choice place for backpackers to stay in the capital.
If you’re looking for accommodation where you’ll feel secure, this London backpackers’ hostel can deliver. With key card access required for both the bedrooms and the corridors, rest assured that you’ll be safe and sound!
9) Green Rooms London
Green Rooms Hotel is a refreshing departure from your typical hotel in London. It is the UK’s first arts led social enterprise hotel. This means that if you are an artist or a creative person coming to London for work, looking for an affordable but high quality place to stay, then this is your hotel to stay in London.
The hotel oozes personality and character. The art deco building itself dates from 1935 when it was the premises of The North Metropolitan Power and Electricity Company’s office and showrooms.
Location is fantastic: Hotel is located opposite Wood Green tube station, just 12 minutes from King’s Cross and 20 minutes into Central London on the Piccadilly Line.
The brains behind this pioneering idea is Nick Hartwright, founder of The Mill Co Project which provides affordable studio space at various sites in London. With the aid of London-based architects SODA and hotelier Kurt Bredenbeck, the man behind the Hoxton Hotel, Nick has put together a hotel which he believes will provide artists visiting London, an exciting , inclusive and accessible creative environment to sleep, work and play from. It is a very cool concept.
The rooms itself are clear , tastefully furnished with vintage furniture. Some of the rooms in the Green Hotel feature lights, rocking chairs and throws designed by the clothing brand Folk. The bed is extremely comfortable and there are USB ports in the plugs.
There’s no TV or phone, and they’re not vastly spacious, but the bed is pleasingly firm, and there are neat touches like USB ports in the plugs. They’ve stripped out all the unnecessary stuff like TV and phone: honestly who has time to watch TV when you’re in one of the world’s most exciting cities?
The other cool feature of the hotel is the ground floor lobby that doubles up as a bar and exhibition space plus also is home to a pop up restaurant. Budding local chefs are invited to apply for a 6 month residency where they can get 6 months rent free to use the kitchen and also receive expert tips and mentoring to help take their businesses to the next level. Past chefs have included Johnny Smith from Shoreditch’s Michelin-starred Clove Club, Esteban Arboleda from the Colombian Street Kitchen and Marie Mitchell who runs Island Social Club (ISC), a collective of pop-up restaurants and music nights that explore Caribbean London subculture. The food is fabulous and extremely good value with a 3 course meal plus drinks coming in at around the £20-£25 mark.
The hotel also wants to be a functioning community space which welcomes local residents and creatives by hosting a diverse programme of regular events, exhibitions and workshops.
Price point?
Dorm beds: Artist rate starts from £18 and normal rates from £24; Doubles (room-only): artist rate starts from £72 and normal rate is £84 ( Artists: please reserve rooms directly with the Green Rooms Hotel )
Green Rooms stands out in the world of big chain and formulaic hotels. Definitely worth booking a room here during your next visit to London
10) Generator Hostel, London
Generator London was the very first Generator and you'll find it in the area of Russell Square in the heart of the West End. It's the ideal spot from which to enjoy London, as everything you’ll want to see is just minutes away by tube.
Generator London is a destination in its own right and is a great place to socialise and reflect on your experiences of the day. Head to our bar and chill out areas to enjoy a well deserved drink or two. Our social scene is lively, friendly and not to be missed. We've also got great beds for sleepy heads.
Choose from a wide selection of rooms from dorms, to quads, to private rooms with innovative mod cons. Fast and free Wi-Fi is all yours too. To get the most out of your stay visit the travel shop and our city experts will help you plan an itinerary that will take you to all the city’s hidden treasures.
I arrived quite late on a Wednesday night, close to midnight and the place was still buzzing. Reception staff were friendly and checked me in super quick time. There was a problem with lights in my triple bed dorm room so I got quickly checked into one of their very slick twin private ensuites. The room was compact, cosy and very comfortable. There was a clothes hanging rail, full length mirror, comfy beds, linen and towels were supplied plus wifi signal in the room (4th floor) was excellent. It would have been nice to have plug point by the bed instead of in the opposite corner of the room. The ensuite bathroom was very stylish with a powerful Grohe Shower and came with complimentary Waitrose toiletries. It definitely feels more like a budget boutique hotel room.
Downstairs they have a bunch of cool social spaces where guests can relax. If you want to party, they have a cool Generator Bar that organises a number of events for guests. On Wednesday night the Karaoke night was in full swing. Away from the bar they have a nice chillout lounge complete with flatscreen TV and nice low lighting where guests were surfing the net on their laptops or tablets. During the day, within this lounge, they have a nice in-house cafe where you can order coffee and their excellent brownies.
Alternatively they do a very moderately priced ( Around £6 mark) range of hot food and snacks. I ordered a BLT toasted sandwich with fries which washed down with a bottle of Luscombe Ginger Beer. Nice.
The other cool feature in this Generator Hostel is the movie room ( 2nd Luxury Hostel I’ve found to have a dedicated movie room) , the other being where guests can relax and watch a movie. During the day, it acts as a very cool chill-out space where guests geek out on their laptops or sleep off their hangover. Other top facilities include their travel shop where you can buy your underground tickets, book a walking tour and just get good general travel advice. They also have storage room facilities for storing your luggage.
Areas of improvement? I personally would not go for their £4.50 continental breakfast. Your usual selection of breads, ham, cheese and cereal. Coffee tasted pretty awful.I’ve had better breakfasts in hostels plus they were for free.
Otherwise, there’s not much to quibble about the Generator Hostel, London. Love the location, just a few blocks from Russell Square underground station and walking distance to the British Museum and Leicester Square. Bunch of cool cafes , bars and budget friendly restaurants in the neighbourhood. It’s definitely one of the best hostels I’ve stayed in London and a cut above many similarly priced budget hotels in the city.
Generator London was the very first Generator and you'll find it in the area of Russell Square in the heart of the West End. It's the ideal spot from which to enjoy London, as everything you’ll want to see is just minutes away by tube.
Generator London is a destination in its own right and is a great place to socialise and reflect on your experiences of the day. Head to our bar and chill out areas to enjoy a well deserved drink or two. Our social scene is lively, friendly and not to be missed. We've also got great beds for sleepy heads.
Choose from a wide selection of rooms from dorms, to quads, to private rooms with innovative mod cons. Fast and free Wi-Fi is all yours too. To get the most out of your stay visit the travel shop and our city experts will help you plan an itinerary that will take you to all the city’s hidden treasures.
Hope you enjoyed my suggestions. If you have any recommendations of where to stay in London a budget, please do share below. ( PS If you are visiting London, you maybe interested in my cheap eats guide to London by locals Julia Rampen and also Steve Lowy Plus here is a recent guide we wrote listing 50 cool things to do for free in London.
Please note that some links on this post and blog contain affiliate referrals. By clicking through, you are helping me reduce this site’s running costs plus please note- I only link and recommend places I prefer.
Thank you, thank you for this! My son moved to London something under a year ago, & I’ve been puzzling over to visit him without raking up a huge overdraft! The first time I went he treated me to a super hotel. The second I shared an apartment, which would work out wonderfully for a couple or more folk, but staying solo is more problematical. I will definitely be consulting your list the next time!!! Did I say thank you??
Wheyy. Impact. Thank you for the awesome feedback. Glad to know my article will help your future travels to London. Please do drop by again Linda…good to hear from you
Universities also rent out their student accommodation (“Halls of Residence”) outside of term time – you can get a night in a studio bedroom plus a shared kitchen, with internet for £40-50/night.
Guy- spot on. LSE and number of London Universities in the summer offer some great deals on staying in their halls of residence: something I hope to check out in the near future. Cheers for the awesome tip!
Definitely agree with your choice of Clink78. Check out my review here http://www.myhiddengems.co.uk/2011/11/cool-backpacker-hostels-london-clink78/
And The Victoria Inn is a great budget option in Peckham
http://www.myhiddengems.co.uk/2012/03/a-budget-stay-in-leafy-peckham-london/
Cheers Maxine! Clink! 78 is definitely a hidden gem and after the recent refurb, looks even better. Victoria Inn-cool, I have to check this out on my next trip to London. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Jesmond hotel on Gower street in Bloomsbury….I don,t know the current rates but I looked it very much
Yep Teresa- Jesmond has been on my radar for awhile so I definitely add that to my list of places to review in the near future. Thanks for the feedback and dropping by at the BudgetTraveller
I’ve tried many of the places you listed above and I agree with all of them. For such an expensive city, London has some great budget accommodation options if one digs deep enough.
You are definitely the London expert Marie…stayed at others like Premier Inn/Travelodge or Ibis?
A google search will reveal some really cheap bedsits,
I found a hostel for £13/Night in London on roompaddy.com,I am yet to find anywhere else cheaper.
Cheers for the tip re roompaddy.com £13 a night in London? I’ll have a look….
This is so helpful! I stayed at a Wimdu place for 45 pound, self-contained studio in zone 2. By far the best deal I’ve seen in accommodation here. I wanted to check out Tune, but didn’t get the chance. Maybe soon 🙂
Which one would you recommend for a mother and her teen daughter in February? Thanks!,
I’d for Tune Hotel (Liverpool Street)-Very comfy and cosy.
Also try umi hotels in Notting Hill-great value and rooms.
I have stayed in Click! 78 Hostel. Its very cheap with excellent services and also the location of the hostel is close to many wonderful places. Thanks for providing such list. !
The prices listed on this website do not correspond to the ones listed on the hostel/hotel sites.
Hi William
Thanks for pointing this out. Prices vary a lot according to season so I always advise people to check on the booking websites. Prices I have quoted are low season prices.
HI there,
We are a family of five adults from Australia (ages 19-40) would like to stay close to the city. We Dont mind staying in the one room. What is your best suggestion please? I was exhausted from looking and then found your blog! we are needing to book ASAP as we are arriving September so hopefully you can reply in time… in the mean time ill keep looking.
Sorry Nick that I am late on this one. Did you find something? Apartment always works out to be the best solution -did you try Airbnb?
“Guilty” is my first preference in London as not so cheap, not bad service and affordable price!
Guilty? Are you referring to Clink Hostel here? 🙂
HI, no worries – yes thanks. found a great place near vauxhall station on air bnb.
Hi Kash, great post about on affordable places to stay in London. We all know that London is one of the tourist destination in the world and also a particular traveler will find an economical hotel or place to stay. This tips of yours is useful to me and to others. Continue to share information like this. I am also planning to visit London next month. Thanks for this.
Hope you had a great trip and the guide came handy 🙂
Hello Kash
I cannot decide whether to stay at Generator or Wombats. Despite Breakfast, which one would you choose regarding location, clean, bathroom, guest kitchen. Looking forward to your reply 🙂
Hope you found a good solution and thanks for commenting 🙂
Thanks dear for sharing this amazing and informative blog! Actually, we are planning a family tour to the most famous places in London. We want to spend a week in London. Could you tell me what time would be the best for us?
I stayed at the Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage back in 2014 during the World Cup. I remember the people gathering to watch the games. I had the time of my life in that hostel. Such a friendly and warm atmosphere! I went back last year but only stayed for a couple of days so I could not enjoy it as much. Either way, it’s definitely my favourite hostel in London!
Really cosy place- bed and breakfast meets hostel kind of vibe. Glad you enjoyed your stay and will pass on your good thoughts to Titus and the Palmers team.
Hi, loved this post. Thank you. My husband and I will be staying in London for 4 or 5 nights in late Sept/Early Oct. We’re in our early 50’s with a backpacker/off the beaten path kind of mentality. We love the idea of being with other travelers of any age, by have to admit we like to be asleep by 10 pm or 11 pm. So…of your recommendations, are there any that you would particularly recommend for us or would call out as “louder” late night than others?
Sorry for being late to reply to you on this q- Point A and Green Rooms are nice. Hostels wise, Wombats City Hostel on Dock Street is fantastic. Palmers Lodge are not too bad too. What did you book in the end?