The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Central London

Budget hotels in Central London can be hard to come by, so it’s a good thing the CitizenM chain is on hand to break the mould. On the doorstep of the Tower of London and with easy access to London’s top attractions, CitizenM offers comfortable rooms at fair prices – what’s not to love? Many of their rooms offer XL beds and mood lighting, for those relaxing evenings after a busy day, while the power shower will have you refreshed for yet another day of urban exploration – and there’s no need to rush back, the canteen is open 24/7 for your convenience. We would recommend making the trip for a colourful cocktail at the bar.

An affordable hotel in Kensington? Surely not. Yet the red and gold colour scheme here will have you feeling like royalty in no time, not to mention the satin pillows on which you can lay your crown (if you have one). The economy single might be advertised for the budget-conscious traveller, but you won’t feel like any luxury has been spared as you take advantage of the complimentary wifi and Smart TV with Google Chromecast. Downstairs, the hotel restaurant, the Light of India, names Anthony Hopkins and Take That as former guests. Not bad footsteps to follow in.

Shoreditch, fast becoming a hip destination favoured by the youth of London, is an ideal starting point for exploring the alternative side of the capital. This three-star hotel gives you everything you need – comfortable beds, complimentary breakfast and soundproofed rooms – without the hefty London price tag. If you’re looking to soak in some culture then head out to the nearby British Museum, or make a beeline for the bar if partying is on your mind. With plenty of drinking holes to tick off the list, you’ll be glad your bed is but a stone’s throw away.

Whatever your reason for visiting the capital, the Lancaster Gate Hotel can cater to your needs. Spacious rooms and modern furnishings provide a cosy place to rest for the busiest of city breakers, but if you’re looking for some downtime, a chance to refuel is provided at the on-site restaurant. Munch on an eclectic mix of Asian and European dinners under the stained-glass windows, before rounding off your meal with a fruity dessert. Don’t worry, room service is available for when you’ve had one too many from the jazz-themed Serpentine Bar the night before.

This family-run hotel in Notting Hill is the ideal cheap hotel in London, with modern rooms, great service and proximity to the biggest attractions in the capital. Opt for a comfortable single if you’re riding solo, or a deluxe double for your own coffee machine and stylish ensuite, all available for an affordable price. Take a stroll through the nearby Kensington Gardens after you’ve dined in the hotel restaurant for the perfect wind-down. In town for the Notting Hill carnival? Look no further.

This independent bolthole, at the crossroads where bustling Brick Lane ends and the quieter Osborn Street begins, is named after a Victorian social reformer who invested in textiles here in the 1800s and later owned the Truman Brewery (which still exists, a couple of minutes’ walk away). This heritage is honoured in design touches throughout – exposed brick in the small but airy bedrooms, leather-crafted key tags and vintage furniture in the downstairs restaurant. Innovation continues in the responsibly-sourced dinner menu; try a starter of pollock ceviche served with slices of blood orange, or the oyster mushroom gnocchi garnished with gently wilted baby kale. Many ingredients are plucked from the rooftop vegetable and herb garden, which, incidentally, is the hotel’s crowning glory – a tiny suntrap high above street level, only for guests.

Liverpool Street is one of the most accessible areas in London thanks to its mainline train and Tube stations, so it makes sense to base yourself here if this is your first visit to the city. Point A is a basic, affordable hotel that still manages to be cool – in part thanks to its hip location near Shoreditch, Brick Lane and the Old Spitalfields Market. It’s the little comforts at this hotel that take the stress out of your stay: power showers, ultra-cushy Hypnos beds, air conditioning and an ironing room, so you always step out looking fresh.

Housed in an old textile factory, New Road Hotel is a chic budget accommodation option that retains all its former industrial glory. Different sized rooms flaunt exposed brickwork, Crittall windows and deep-stained parquet flooring. One, simply called Loft, features a balcony complete with sweeping views and an al fresco hot tub – perfect for a sunset soak. The hotel eschews minibars and coffee-making kits in favour of free vending machines on every floor – each one offers unlimited tea, coffee and hot chocolate. But the restaurant, Mr White’s English Chophouse, is what really sets this place apart. Helmed by chef Marco Pierre White, it has a menu of steaks dripping in garlic butter and gnocchi gratin bubbling with emmental cheese and truffle sauce.

Sleek design and impeccable service are the key assets of the California Hotel. Inside, bright and geometric wallpapered walls give the rooms an arty look and feel, while the common areas stick to a vintage vibe. And if your super-soft double bed isn’t sumptuous enough, you can always upgrade to a floating bed – the first of its kind in the UK – in one of the California Rooms. Next door, sister hotel the Megaro is renowned for its spongy buns and buttery pastries, while the hidden basement speakeasy is the go-to for a sneaky nightcap.

The Lodge Hotel prides itself on being “sophisticated, hip yet cosy”, and it does a pretty good job at all three. One look at the arty room design, colourful furnishings and low ceilings will have you convinced of that. The hardest part is choosing which of the 73 rooms will be yours; it’s hard to say no to the superior room with a goose down duvet, air conditioning and full HDTV, but even the cheapest classic room comes with your own fridge and Nespresso machine. One thing that won’t need thinking time is what to get for breakfast – opt for the full English, because why get anything else?