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Finding a cheap hotel in London is no easy feat—London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to book a hotel. Finding a nice hotel for an affordable price tag is even more challenging. So where do you stay for less when you don’t want to compromise on style, location, and food? We’ve curated this list of the nicest cheap hotels in London. These are all hotels that Condé Nast Traveler UK editors have stayed at and loved. They all have beautiful bedrooms, a cool atmosphere, great places to eat and drink, and exciting settings. Most importantly, they’re all $250 or less per night. Of course, the term “affordable” is relative—but rather than a list of the cheapest stays in London, this is our editor-approved edit of the smart stays you can book for less.
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 neighborhoods 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 center 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 trips.
The best affordable hotels in London:
Kingsland Locke, Dalston
Best for: An eco stay in East London
What’s the story?
With a number of locales in London and throughout Europe, these design-led aparthotels are designed to be a hybrid hub where locals and travelers come to eat, drink, work, relax, and sleep, all while remaining true to the surrounding area. At this East London outpost, interiors nod to the miscellany of stalls at nearby Ridley Road—behind the leafy reception area, shelves are filled with an assortment of paraphernalia including lego collectables, stormtrooper helmets with Ziggy Stardust designs, and stacks of books.
The bedrooms
Aiming to blend home comforts and hotel treats, Locke is a place that guests can use as they please. Each room is fully equipped for self-catered stays, but also serves those looking for a less self-sufficient break, with a restaurant, bar, café, and a blue-toned co-working space. Bedrooms are less of a motley mixture than the Ridley Road-inspired reception area and corridors draped in varying shades of pink, instead looking to Hackney’s subtler side with soothing muted colors and raw textures. Our room looked onto the Rio, and the shower had an incredible view of London’s skyline piercing the horizon at the end of Kingsland High Street.
On the menu
Feast on traditional kebabs cooked on a wood- and charcoal-filled robata by local legends Le Bab in the lower-ground restaurant. The hotel has also collaborated with Dalton brewery Kraft and Jim and Tonic, an eco-friendly urban gin distillery. From the menu, the Ruby was our favorite, made with Roobee Rhubarb Gin and served with elderflower tonic, raspberry, and basil.
What we love
The location—Kingsland Locke is slap-bang in the middle of East London’s best bits.
What we don’t like
The bedroom was cleverly designed to maximize the incredible skyline view—while it was worth it in many senses, it left the room feeling slightly cramped. —Olivia Morelli
Address: Kingsland Locke, 130 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2LQ
Cheapest nicest price: Doubles from $136