Cool London Hotels on a Budget

Fast-paced London has long been thought of as a trendsetter from fashion to design and music. It comes as no surprise then that it has a wide choice of trendy bases for its visitor. The city is not, however, renowned for being cheap and many of the London’s best hotels come with a hefty price tag to match. With this in mind, our hotel experts have scoured the city to bring you a collection of cool London hotels on a budget. Selected on their location, design, amenities, and service there is no need to scrimp on quality when you are being cautious on price. Our collection includes design-led properties, central London stays, hotels with rooms under £100 per night, and even a hotel with Michelin-starred dining. So why not browse through our collection to start planning your next break?

For the location

• The Resident Kensington is set in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s famously grand townhouses. Now converted into chic modern accommodation, interiors feature light rooms with high ceilings, bay windows and kitchenettes which are a good choice for longer stays.
• Z Shoreditch is well located just a short walk from Old Street station. Contemporary interiors offer unfussy and light accommodation with minimalist design. Added touches such as complimentary cheese and wine in the evenings make this a stand out choice for a central and affordable stay.
• Z Hotels at Gloucester Place is a collection of five townhouses located in London’s smart Marylebone area. Cleanly designed minimalist rooms feature large sash windows, parquet flooring, and crisp white linen. Well positioned and very well priced making this an attractive stay.
• The Sydney House Hotel has recently had a chic makeover, upgrading the comfort of the beds, the quality of the linen, the smartness of the decor and the technology. Book this stay for the excellent location in Sydney Street, between Kings Road and Fulham Road, the gorgeous views from the roof terrace and the prices.
• The Rockwell Hotel is a townhouse turned contemporary independent hotel in West London. It’s great value for its central location, landscaped garden and facilities. Modern, light rooms make the perfect base for exploring the city or visiting on business. Modern British dishes at the airy restaurant matched by a fine wine list complete the picture on this hip and refined stay.

For a hip stay

• London has three CitizenMs, these trendy, lux-for-less hipster pads are popping up to meet demand and it seems like there’s quite a demand for bijou rooms with all the mod. cons., trendy living, working, eating and drinking spaces. London’s three are CitizenM Shoreditch, CitizenM Tower of London and CitizenM Bankside. Bankside is a favourite, in a fantastic spot for the Tate Modern and picking up last-minute yard tickets to Shakespeare’s Globe or day seats at The National. The hotel itself has plenty of modern art, plus Vitra furniture and they serve food all day.
• Clerkenwell’s Zetter Hotel is youthful and bright; expect pop art and site-specific installations, plus fun details in the decor — all the 59 rooms are different, some more conservative than others. The cocktail bar is really something and there are lots of local companies involved with their supplies, from the toiletries to the pale ale.

For foodies

• The South Place Hotel is a cutting edge City hotel with a lively bar, a gym, a spa and super chic (and affordable) rooms and suites. However, it is the wide range of dining options on the roof terrace that make this an ever-popular spot. Whether you want refined British classics or Michelin-starred dining at Anglers Restaurant — this hip joint has you covered.

For business travellers

• The London Bridge Hotel is a stylish business hotel, which also offers great rates for leisure tourists. The decor is coolly monochrome and there are excellent facilities for business travellers — like three restaurants and a gym, but the location is also great for exploring London.

For a design hotels

• Town Hall is Bethnal Green’s stark Edwardian municipal town hall turned into a cool design hotel with a heart. Contemporary rooms are bright and airy and some have their own kitchens. Highlights include an acclaimed modern restaurant, a pool and a spa on the glass top floor. They’ve also kept the tea lady, however, now she delivers cocktails! Undeniably cool.

For East London

• The Hoxton Hotel is cool in the way that much of East London is cool. Vibrant, stylish, fashionable and minimalist, with lots of unique details, The Hoxton is just like Hoxton, Hackney and Shoreditch. Expect bold wall colours, medieval fireplaces against bare brick walls, herringbone parquet, piles of books and vinyl — and the bar is cool too. Obviously. And it’s really great value.

For under £100 per night

• The Church Street Hotel in Camberwell has a colourful Mexican theme. Bright, cheerful rooms are full of character and thoughtful touches. Make sure you sample the to-die-for tapas, as well as the knockout cocktails in the Havana Lounge. Rooms start at around £90 per night.

For a pub with rooms

• The Victoria Inn’s cache of cool comes primarily from its location in Peckham. It’s essentially a really popular local gastropub that offers 18 simple guestrooms. The location is great for cool cafes and bars and the atmosphere is very welcoming.
• The Tommyfield in Kennington is a chic pub with six bedrooms. The decor is simple, the pub is great, the location is good and there’s entertainment downstairs in the pub as well as food and drink.
• Wimbledon’s Dog and Fox is a stylish pub now offering accommodation in newly-and-quirkily renovated rooms. Friendly staff and luxurious beds give a relaxed atmosphere while the area is peaceful and residential. The restaurant offers a delicious food range and room rates are very reasonable.
• The Alma in Wandsworth is a Victorian pub turned boutique-y pub hotel. Clean and well-appointed rooms lend themselves to a comfortable stay. The bar and restaurant serve up traditional and hearty food and drinks, all for a reasonable price.
• Brook Green Hotel has a pub-like façade and interior, with boutique rooms upstairs, a cool cocktail bar downstairs and a handy west London location. Friendly service and excellent pub food complete the picture. A good value option with easy access to all London has to offer.

Still not sure where to book?

Written by Kat Parr Mackintosh

posted Wednesday, 1st February 2023