Recommended London hotels and hostels that offer good value

• Are well located
• Are very good value in their category
• Receive among the best reviews in their category

We’ve spent many hours going through all the factors to choose the places we’d try to book on our own next trip.

St. Christopher’s Inn – Camden

–Very cheap beds in a party atmosphere–

Having stayed at many St. Christopher’s Inns around Europe, I can say that if you are a fan of one you are a fan of them all. The Camden location is one of the cheapest in spite of its position in the popular neighborhood just north of so many central London attractions. The rooms here are small, but clean and well maintained, so they are very good value for the backpacking set.

As with other St. Christopher’s Inns, the lobby is dominated by Belushi’s Bar, which draws in locals in addition to guests. It’s a loose and fun atmosphere, helped along by frequent drink specials and an energetic bar staff. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout as well. If you are looking for peace and quiet you’re probably better off elsewhere.

Beds starting at £21.85
Check rates at St. Christopher’s Inn – Camden

Clink78 Hostel

–Cheap beds in a historic former courthouse–

Clink78 is a large and popular hostel that partly trades on the novelty of being in a 200-year-old courthouse building where The Clash once stood trial. Compared to other London hostels anywhere near this price range, the Clink78 has a good, central location. Those not afraid to walk 15 to 30 minutes will find that Covent Garden, the West End theatres, and Oxford Street are within grasp. Better still, the trendy Clerkenwell nightlife district is much closer.

The Clink78 has a reputation as a fun hostel and its Clashbar is a popular hangout each evening, even featuring live DJs. The one negative (and unusual) thing about this hostel is that they charge extra for access to the Wi-Fi network. Hopefully they’ll soon join the overwhelming majority who offer it up for free.

Beds starting at £18.46
Check rates at Clink78, London

Note: Hotel “starting at” prices listed below were the cheapest I could find for each hotel, usually for a single room. It’s likely your dates will show higher prices, especially for a double room, but this doesn’t mean it’s not a great deal. Please compare prices you are quoted to prices of similar hotels and you’ll usually find that these are bargains.

Charlotte Guest House

–Inexpensive rooms and great reviews in a central Camden location–

The Charlotte Guest House is a gem in the lower price ranges. It has a convenient location close to public transportation in West Hamstead in northern London. The reviews here are consistently much better than at any other bed and breakfast in the price range, mostly down to the friendly service. If you can spend more on a hotel then you might want to be a bit more central than this, but if you are really trying to keep expenses low, this one is a winner.

Singles starting at £47.68, including breakfast
Click to find best rates for Charlotte Guest House

Clink261 – 3*

–Cheap private rooms in a well-located and high-rated hostel —

Clink261 is mostly a hostel and also part of a well-respected chain, but it makes this list for its affordable private rooms and excellent location. You’ll find this place only a very short walk from the King’s Cross/St. Pancras train stations, and only a bit farther on foot to the British Museum in Russell Square. Perhaps even better, this is a convenient location within walking distance of the West End, Soho, Covent Garden, and several of the newer nightlife areas where mostly locals go.

Rooms starting at £62
Click to find best rates for the Clink261

Stylotel – 3*

–Sleek, modern rooms with a very central location–

Looking like a normal Victorian on the outside, the Stylotel is as modern as can be on the inside, with a new concept in lodging. First, the location is excellent, just north of Hyde Park so it’s close to Oxford Street and Marble Arch. Inside, each guest gets a bit of luxury at a very appealing price. Each room has satellite TV, a work area, and a modern en-suite. Compared to other hotels in its neighborhood or price range, this is a big stand out.

Rooms starting at £90, including full English breakfast
Click to find best rates for the Stylotel

Lidos Hotel

–High-rated property with great rates and plenty nearby–

The Lidos Hotel is so central that you can walk out its door and go in almost any direction to find a tourist attraction. Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and the Tate Modern are all easy walks from here, yet the room rates are surprisingly reasonable. This one tends to book up before most others on this list, so lock it in early if this is your thing.

Double rooms starting at £87, including continental breakfast
Click to find best rates for the Lidos Hotel

The Cleveland – 4*

–4-star boutique hotel in a posh area in Bayswater–

Even fancy hotel rooms in London tend to be tiny, which makes the Cleveland with its generous-sized suites a great find. Each 4-star suite has a kitchenette, free wifi, a compact desktop work area, and a flat-screen TV. The location is also excellent being in a posh residential part of Bayswater, so it’s just north of Hyde Park and walking distance from Oxford Street and Portobello Road. If you want something a little nicer than a standard London hotel room but still at a great price, this is one to consider.

Suites starting at £131
Click to find best rates for The Cleveland

If you are visiting London for the first time and will be there for 2 to 5 days you might have a look at our London Travel Pass review as a way to save some time and money.

View Recommended London hotels and hostels in a larger map