The cheapest nicest hotels in London
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It’s no secret that London is an expensive city: arguably one of the priciest in the world, with luxury hotels popping up across the skyline at a dizzying pace. The endless stream of glossy new openings makes finding a stylish yet affordable place to stay feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But hidden gems do exist, if you know where to look: think snug townhouses tucked away on leafy streets, cosy rooms perched above characterful pubs, and hidden hideaways in quieter neighbourhoods. London Hotels author and born-and-bred local Gina Jackson has scoured the city to uncover the most wallet-friendly, design-forward spots to bed down: each one coming in at less than £200 per night. Whether you’re after a riverside sleepover with skyline views or a slick stay just steps from the city’s sights, these picks prove that style and comfort don’t have to come with a sky-high price tag. These are the cheapest nicest hotels in London
How do I find a cheap stay in London?
There are a few ways to score an affordable hotel in London. First, you can look outside the central areas, where hotel room prices will be higher, and stay in one of the neighbourhoods or boroughs a little further out. Hotels here are bound to be cheaper, and London is so well-connected that you’ll be in the city's centre in no time. You can also choose to travel outside of peak times – midwinter months such as January and February tend to be cheaper, as do mid-week stays compared to weekend breaks.
For more inspiration on where to stay in London, visit:
The best hotels in London
The best boutique hotels in London
The best family-friendly hotels in London
The best Airbnbs in London
The Hoxton, Shepherd's Bush
The Hoxton’s fourth outpost in London – and its furthest west – is a glossy new-build perched along the edge of bustling Shepherd’s Bush Green. This part of town historically hasn’t had much of a pull for tourists, but thanks to The Hoxton’s arrival, it’s certainly on the rise. The hotel’s 237 bedrooms are shiny box-fresh pads, with wiggly mirrors and wavy headboards injecting signature Hoxton flair to otherwise neutral palettes. For drinks and dinner, slip downstairs to the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant Chet’s and pile into one of the diner-style booths, where you’ll tuck into Thai-American dishes devised by acclaimed chef Kris Yenbamroong: think tingly curries mopped up with flakey roti and pineapple fried rice ideal for sharing. Make sure to top it off with a slice of crusty apple pie, which has earned its reputation as the tastiest you’ll find in London. As with all Hoxton hotels, the open-plan lobby is a hub for locals and creatives to gather – and it makes the ideal people-watching spot while you chow down fluffy pancake stacks the next morning. From here, you’ll be in close proximity to Holland Park and leafy South Kensington, as well as being a short tube ride away from central London.
Price: from about £169 per night
Mama Shelter London, Bethnal Green
This black behemoth of a building straddling Hackney Road is the ideal stopover if you’re keen to place yourself in the heart of gritty east London. Designers Dion & Arles have masterfully blended loud prints, clashing colours, and kitsch ornaments in the hotel’s communal spaces, which are in stark contrast to the pared-back interiors upstairs. Rooms are more functional than fashionable, with playful face masks adding a dash of personality to otherwise stripped-back spaces. King-size beds and flat-screen TVs may be guaranteed, but don’t expect any additional frills such as bathrobes or minibar: think of this as a comfortable crash pad rather than a luxe stay. You’ll find yourself an easy wander away from east London hotspots Broadway Market, London Fields, and Columbia Road, with many of the city’s trendiest restaurants and bars fanning out from the hotel’s doorstep; we recommend exploring the neighbourhood and heading out for dinner before bringing the party back to Mama Shelter. Sink cocktails at the courtyard bar, where you’ll rub shoulders with an eclectic and creative crowd of east London locals. Continue the evening in one of the Japanese-style karaoke rooms downstairs, where you can belt out tunes into the early hours of the morning.
Price: from about £175 per night
Helen CathcartBingham Riverhouse
Occupying two beautifully restored townhouses placed along a peaceful curve of the River Thames, Bingham Riverhouse offers a serene sleepover deep within leafy Richmond: a verdant patch of west London that feels a world away from the city’s bustle. The former stomping ground of poets and laureates, there’s plenty of story within the walls of this boutique hotel and members’ club: wander its charming halls and you’ll be treading the same boards as literary luminaries W.B. Yeats and John Ruskin. Lived-in interiors have been imbued with plenty of colour and flair by design guru Nicola Harding: rattan furnishings, bookshelves lined with vintage Penguin novels, and patterned fabrics breathe life into each of the pastel-hued spaces. Upstairs, the hotel’s 15 hideaways feature shaggy throws, glossy wooden surfaces and – if you’re lucky – a deep copper bathtub for long, luxurious soaks. The most coveted of rooms offer far-reaching vistas over the winding river below: make sure to request one of these when booking. There are books to flick through, yoga classes in the riverside garden to join in with, and an ever-changing calendar of member events, from literary talks to wine tastings and DJ nights. Downstairs, the in-house restaurant offers elegantly plated dishes that champion the best of British produce, and is known to serve up one of Richmond’s most popular Sunday roasts.
Price: from about £195 per night
Jake EasthamThe Lime Tree Hotel
Wedged between Belgravia’s swishest boutiques, The Lime Tree Hotel occupies two charming townhouses a stone’s throw from Victoria Station. Its prime location places you a short stroll away from some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, making it our go-to recommendation if sightseeing is top of your agenda: from the hotel’s doorstep, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Tate Britain all unfold in various directions. Room types cater to all kinds of travellers, whether you’re going solo or arriving in groups of up to three: all are thoughtfully decorated with touchy-feely fabrics (think soft cashmere throws and velvet headboards in soothing shades of blue and pink) along with funky, floral wallpapers – while ensuite bathrooms feature smartly tiled showers and Bramley body lotions. Fuel up for a day of playing tourist at the in-house brunch café, The Buttery, where guests and locals rub shoulders over breakfast in a relaxed, sunlit setting. Hearty full Englishes are served up with fresh, seasonal produce from the hotel’s own allotment, and beans roasted by The Gentlemen Baristas make for expertly poured flat whites. During the warmer months, the café’s doors open onto a secluded, foliage-framed garden, which might just be one of London’s best kept secrets.
Price: from about £195 per night
Artist Residence London
Tucked away on an unassuming street in Pimlico, Artist Residence London is the kind of place that feels like a well-kept secret: an elegant townhouse retreat with just ten bedrooms, each one oozing plenty of undone charm. This is far from your cookie-cutter city hotel: in signature Artist Residence style, every room here is individually outfitted with upcycled furnishings, vintage treasures sourced from far-flung flea markets, and bold, splashy artworks that come together in a riot of colour and texture. Downstairs, the ground-floor kitchen hums from morning till late, serving up pillowy buttermilk pancakes and eggs on toast to a mix of in-the-know locals and hotel guests. If you’re in the mood to splash out, the signature suite is a real showstopper, with its grand, iron-wrought four-poster and copper bathtub large enough to swim laps in. After a day spent exploring Belgravia’s swanky boutiques and mooching around nearby Tate Britain, hunker down in your bedroom with a nightcap and raid the minibar (stocked with locally made, artisan treats). This is the ideal sleepover for creatives, couples, and anyone looking to experience the city through a slightly more colourful lens - and in a quieter part of town that’s still close to central London.
Price: from about £175 per night
Bermonds Locke
Hotel brand Locke Hotels have made chic, apartment-style living their signature offering, with various locations sprouting up across London (and countless other European cities) to wild success. Each outpost relies on the same formula: contemporary, stylish apartments ranging from compact studios to spacious suites, all kitted out with fully-equipped kitchens, modular sofas, and thoughtful design touches that make longer stays a breeze. Their south London outpost, Bermonds Locke, follows suit but adds its own twist: placed a stone’s throw from Tower Bridge, this smartly-dressed stay channels Californian cool in the heart of Bermondsey. Interiors draw inspiration from the Mojave Desert, with mirrored ceilings, cacti-filled planters, and a warm palette of sunset hues and pastel blues softened by linen-draped beds. The lobby doubles as a co-working space, where freelancers tap away on laptops while slurping flat whites from the in-house specialty coffee shop. When evening rolls around, guests can head to Hacha, the hotel’s taco and tequila bar, or explore the smorgasbord of restaurants at nearby Borough Market. With a gym and yoga studio also onsite, Bermonds Locke is as much a lifestyle hub as a place to stay: perfect for anyone wanting to stay put for longer or experience London like a local.
Price: from about £180 per night
David CotsworthThe Princess Royal Notting Hill
Hidden away on a quiet residential street abutting Westbourne Grove, The Princess Royal is a reimagined Victorian pub that’s far more chic than your average boozer. There are just four rooms to bed down here, all named after English Princesses, and each designed with homely, elegant interiors: think candy-cane striped headboards and botanically-inspired wallpapers that mirror the various spaces downstairs. Bedrooms may be on the compact side, but still manage emperor-sized beds: for the ultimate sleepover, bag the Diana Room, which features a curvaceous tub plonked at the foot of the bed. The Mediterranean-inspired pub-come-restaurant draws a lively, well-heeled crowd every evening – many accompanied by their pooches, and all clamouring after the expertly poured wines. Nab a seat at the restaurant’s swooping, central raw bar, where you can slurp down just-caught oysters and silky crudo with a side of people-watching. However, the best seat in the house is arguably a table in the restaurant’s lush, plant-framed terrace, a sunkissed oasis for feasting on the seasonally-led veg dishes and meaty cuts championed across the menu. Thanks to the pub’s prime perch just off Westbourne Grove, you’ll wake up just minutes away from the bustle of Notting Hill’s Portobello Road: its buzzy market stalls, vintage shops, and colourful houses are ideal for wandering around and working up an appetite before retracing your steps back to The Princess Royal.
Price: from about £150 per night
Laurie FletcherThe Pilgrm, Paddington
Four Victorian townhouses make up the bones of the Pilgrm, Paddington’s first properly cool hotel. Not that it looks like one at all from the outside, with a neighbourhood coffee joint replacing a traditional reception. This corner of town isn’t traditionally the most hip or interesting, but new openings over the past few years have marked it as one to watch when the stars of Peckham and Dalston finally fade, including canal brunch spot Darcie and May Green, set on a barge. Interiors have been kept fairly minimal, with lots of vintage touches that bring out the building’s original features. Reclaimed, 200-year-old parquet flooring and cast-iron radiators rescued from old schools and hospitals are authentic touches; even the sweeping staircase was restored, its layers of paint stripped away. Up-to-the-minute accents have been added: brass lights and white-tiled bathrooms make it both bang on trend and timeless.
Price: from about £156 per night
Veerle EvensThe Culpeper, Spitalfields
Stairs from the street-level pub – consistently packed with shirts and Shoreditchers – lead up to a more mellow space where chef Sandy Jarvis whips up the sort of food you could introduce your parents to. Above the restaurant are the apartment-style bedrooms that look over Commercial Street and Petticoat Lane and smell like freshly baked cookies (sniff them out above the fireplace). The cherry on top – or perhaps that should be gherkin – is the Piculpeper rooftop bar, complete with a large green pickle glowing in the corner and great views of the city.
On the menu, some of the city’s most interesting cocktails, using home-grown ingredients from the box garden on the roof, including pickles, mint and basil. The restaurant’s seasonal menu changes frequently depending on what the chef’s suppliers have in abundance: in spring, we had artichoke hearts with candied cashews and garlic aioli followed by pudding with peanut butter and pears from Kent.
Price: from about £93 per night
High Road House, Chiswick
One of the lesser-known Soho Houses, this Georgian townhouse on Chiswick high street is a hub for young creatives as well as a relaxing getaway in leafy West London. And yet, it’s only just over half an hour away from the centre. With 14 bedrooms to choose from you’re sure to find one that suits your stay. Tiny rooms pride themselves on being cosy and small ones are perfect for a busy visit. However, we recommend the playroom, simply because there’s a rather large freestanding bath in the bedroom. The walls are lined with wooden panels painted a pale forest green, while bathrooms have black-and-white mosaic floors and a walk-in rainforest shower complete with a full set of Cowshed products.
Classic British dishes are served in both the main restaurant and the brasserie downstairs. If you're looking for a quieter experience, we recommend the member’s restaurant, furnished with mid-century retro seating, mix-and-match Peruvian rugs and a metallic, gold-topped bar serving cocktails until the early hours. Downstairs in the brasserie, tables are full of locals and friends gossiping over a glass or two of wine. House favourites include the 284g ribeye steak sourced from the neighbourhood butcher and lamb rack with peas and new potatoes, which can be shared between two.
Price: from about £180 per night