The Best Budget Hotels and Hostels in London

A city break in London doesn’t have to be expensive, you can still bag cheap hotels in London if you know where to look. Despite the trendy pop-ups, designer shops, and boutique hotels, there are plenty of places where you can find a bargain or book an affordable night’s stay – even £20-£25 for a bed in a hostel dorm.

Finding a cheap hotel or a hostel to stay in can take some hunting, so we thought we’d do some of the research for you to help you find the best deals quickly. Here are some of the best budget hotels and hostels that you can stay in reasonably cheaply, while still being safe and comfortable.

SoHostel

This trendy yet affordable hostel puts you right at the centre of it all, surrounded by lots of shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars. Book a dorm room or an affordable private room in this vibrant hostel to make the most of its location and its regular activities. Get to know other people on their travels in the cosy common space and take part in quizzes, drinking games, and karaoke nights. Or simply relax with a drink in the rooftop tiki bar.

Generator London

You can find Generator hotels/hostels in lots of cities around Europe, but this London location was the first and offers a cheap hotel experience in London. It’s a modern and comfortable hostel that offers a great price as well as plenty of amenities. You can hang out in the common area and meet fellow travellers there, enjoy a drink or a bite to eat in the hotel bar and restaurant, and enjoy a friendly game of pool or foosball. And they hold regular social events to help everyone enjoy their stay a little bit more.

Clink78 Hostel

This hostel may sound like you’re being locked up for the night, and that’s because it’s housed in a former courthouse. You might even find yourself staying in a former jail cell. This place has a real party atmosphere and can accommodate up to 500 guests, so you won’t struggle to meet other travellers and socialise during your stay. There’s a large kitchen and bar area to hang out in, and the hostel organises a variety of events, from DJs to bingo nights. It’s close to King’s Cross and St Pancras, so it’s nice and easy to get to as well being a cheap hotel in London.

Wombat’s City Hostel London

Wombat’s City Hostel is located conveniently close to attractions such as the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, not far from the City of London. If you’re visiting London for the nightlife, then Shoreditch is a great option when staying in this hostel. Or you can stay in and enjoy a drink at the Wombat’s bar and join the many events held at the hostel, including karaoke nights. They also run regular walking tours from the hostel so you can see more of London.

Hostel One

Not only can you get an affordable bed for the night at Hostel One, but you also get a free homemade dinner provided for you by the staff every evening. You can meet other hostellers while you enjoy your dinner, and there’s also a guest kitchen if you want to prepare any of your own food. This Notting Hill hostel has a nice, sociable atmosphere, and it’s located close to Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens if you’re looking for nearby tourist attractions.

Point A Hotels

Point A is a chain of hotels with 7 locations in London, all offering private rooms at affordable prices. Rooms are a reasonable size and are all kitted out with comfortable beds, en suite shower rooms, smart TVs, and plenty of storage space. They offer a breakfast buffet or a to-go breakfast bag from reception for a reasonable price.

The Kings Cross St Pancras hotel is a great choice for quick trips to and from the station, or try Point A Shoreditch for great nights out during your stay, and there’s Point A Canary Wharf if you’re looking for low-cost accommodation during a work trip. Their other London locations to check out are Liverpool Street, Westminster, Paddington, and Kensington Olympia.

Z Hotels

Going straight from A to Z, the Z Hotels are another chain with various locations around London. Soho, Shoreditch, Tottenham Court Road, and Piccadilly are just a few of their prime locations, so you can pick the one that suits your London plans the best. The rooms aren’t the largest, but they still offer comfort and plenty of amenities, and you can even enjoy a free wine and cheese platter every evening. The Wi-Fi is fast and you can easily keep yourself entertained on evenings in with Sky Movies and Sky Sports in your room.

Green Rooms

If you’re a creative type travelling or relocating to London for work, then Green Rooms is the place for you. It’s part hostel and part hotel, and also has two studio apartments for longer stays, so there’s something for everyone. Green Rooms is a social enterprise designed to support artists and creatives with affordable accommodation and events spaces.

It’s not centrally located, so might not be suited to your typical tourist, but Wood Green tube station is across the road and Alexandra Palace train station isn’t far away, so it’s still easy to get around. You can stay there if you’re not an artist, too, but prices are slightly cheaper for artists.

New Road Hotel, Whitechapel

The New Road Hotel in Whitechapel offers affordable accommodation in a former textile factory, and you can see these industrial roots in the hotel’s style and décor. It is a 4-star hotel with a Marco Pierre White restaurant in-house, but still offers reasonable prices. The rooftop space is complete with fitness equipment for your on-the-road workouts, and there are common areas on every floor of the hotel for socialising together or with other guests. And its Whitechapel locations puts you close to local bars, restaurants, and galleries, as well as attractions along the River Thames such as the Tower of London.

CitizenM

This isn’t the cheapest option on the list, but it prides itself on offering all the amenities of a luxury hotel at a fraction of the price, so it’s the place to go if you’re looking for something that balances luxury and budget. If you’re working on the go, then there are convenient coworking spaces for you to use, as well as the hotel bars once it’s time to relax.

CitizenM has three locations in London; there’s the Tower of London hotel for lots of nearby tourist attractions, the Shoreditch hotel for all the artsy trendiness that area has to offer, and the London Bankside hotel in Southwark for the markets and landmarks south of the River Thames.

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