London may be one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit, but I’m here to tell you – it doesn’t have to be!
In fact, in recent years the city’s cheap hotel offering has got much better, so here’s my top picks when it comes to cheap but chic London hotels that will look great on Instagram without costing you a fortune.
How Do I Get the Best Price Possible?
Knowing what hotels are good value is one thing but finding the best rate is another!
As prices are forever changing, I’m a big fan of sharing how I find the best rate possible so that you can save money not only this time, but in the future as well.
The Best Cheap but Chic London Hotels
The Z Hotel Strand
Cheapest price: £60 a night
Amazing location close to Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. This is a crash-pad hotel with snug rooms and glass-partition bathrooms. Storage is under the bed and some rooms are windowless; all have aircon. There are a bunch of other outposts including Soho, Holborn and Shoreditch.
Moxy London ExCel
Cheapest price: £67 a night
Moxy is a more affordable offering from the Marriott brand, and this outpost is a great base for those wanting to be near the ExCel or the O2. You’re by City Airport but the soundproofing does its thing! Rooms are neutrally-decorated and functional. You’ll find other Moxy Hotels at Heathrow Airport and London Stratford.
Kip Hotel Hackney
Cheapest price: £70 a night
This is your city crashpad in monochrome. Cheapest rooms are a mini-pod with a single bed, TV, desk and chair, no window and a shared bathroom. Also available are dorm beds and studios as well as the usual doubles, twins and family rooms. You’re right next to Hackney Central overground, just one stop from vibey Dalston.
Point A
Cheapest price: £80 a night
Self-styled ‘budget boutique’ hotels – this has CHE written all over it! Rooms at Point A are minimalist and compact – the perfect crash pad for when you want to spend your time (and money!) out and about rather than in your room. The cheapest rooms are windowless. They have establishments across the city including Kings Cross, Kensington and Shoreditch.
Roomzzz London Stratford
Cheapest price: £83 a night
Cheap and cheerful aparthotel across from Stratford Park, well placed for the O2, ABBA Voyage, London City Airport and Westfield Stratford. Apartments are smart and bright with space to work, eat and cook, and all have a kingsize bed.
hub by Premier Inn
Cheapest price: £83 a night
hub by Premier Inn offers small modern rooms in prime locations all over London, including Marylebone, Kings Cross, the West End and the City. All rooms have a pull-out desk and free superfast W-Fi. Not all rooms have windows, or air con.
Mama Shelter - London Shoreditch
Cheapest price: £93 a night
A very cool spot just ten minutes’ stroll from hip Colombia Road. There are three sizes of room to choose from, all neutrally decorated with pops of colour. Not all have windows. There’s a lush garden terrace and even a couple of karaoke rooms here if your stay really takes off!
Good Hotel London
Cheapest price: £95 a night
A cheap hotel with a conscience, in a great location for anyone who wants to be near the O2, ExCel or London City airport. The hotel donates all profits to social causes, creates jobs for unemployed Londoners, and is in fact built on a repurposed floating platform! Be aware that rooms don’t have TVs. There’s a rooftop open in summer.
Zedwell Piccadilly Circus
Cheapest price: £99 a night
For an unbeatable West End location, stay in a Zedwell ‘cocoon’. This is essentially a windowless pod but feels cosy and inviting thanks to smart lighting and a warm wooden finish. You’re practically in Piccadilly Circus here, so it’s great for shopping and theatreland. They also have a Tottenham Court Road premises and a Greenwich one too.
ARK Canary Wharf
Cheapest price: £103 a night
A smart, adults-only aparthotel for travellers who want a base near Canary Wharf. Accommodations come with fully-equipped kitchens and there’s a pool and concierge too. Hop on the Jubilee Line to reach the attractions of central London.
Locke at Broken Wharf
Cheapest price: £105 a night
Stylish studio apartments in pleasing muted shades, with inviting co-working areas, a gym and killer river views. This is a great City location just 10 minute’s walk from Bank tube and across the river from Tate Modern.
The Corner London City
Cheapest price: £109 a night
A cheap and cheerful option five minutes from Aldgate East and Algate tubes, making it easy to whizz all over London. Rooms each have a futuristic-looking bed, where the ensuite bathroom is encased in a kind of capsule behind the headboard. Cheapest rooms are windowless, but they do have air con.
The Pilgrm Paddington
Cheapest price: £119 a night
A chic yet affordable townhouse hotel conveniently located for nearby Paddington Station. Decor is mid-century modern, with lots of dark wood, cosy furnishings and cascading plants. Choose a compact single or bunk room for a bargain stay.
citizenM
Cheapest price: £124 a night
CitizenM hotels are all about giving you a well-priced city centre stay in smart surroundings. Rooms are compact – this is really just a spot to lay your head – and communal areas are slick and inviting. Choose from Bankside (near Borough Market and the South Bank), Shoreditch (near Spitalfields and its restaurants) and Tower of London (for… well the Tower, and fancy City bars).
The Buxton
Cheapest price: £150 a night
A stylish yet affordable boutique hotel close to Liverpool Street. Stay in one of the compact 15 rooms and enjoy a drink on the rooftop or at the ground floor bar. Brick Lane is on your doorstep, and Spitalfields Market and Liverpool Street Station are around a ten minute walk away.
