Lovely, lively London has everything a traveller could desire, whether you love to explore intriguing historic sites, shop ‘til you drop, see exciting shows and plays, savour the finest cuisine, or dance ‘til dawn. With such a wealth of things to do and see, the budget-minded explorer will be glad to know you can find plenty of cheap hotels in London.

Occupying a charming old home in cosmopolitan Queensway, the centrally-located two-star New Dawn Hotel is fantastically friendly and cheap. Take a brisk walk over to Notting Hill, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, or hop on the tube at the nearby Bayswater Station for a 15-minute trip to Soho, the West End or Covent Gardens. Chummy communal dining room, 28 snug guestrooms with private baths, and a lovely garden terrace are great places to kick back after intriguing urban explorations. 

Cheap and cheery, the family-friendly Norfolk House Hotel offers a quiet suburban stay only minutes from the East Croydon train station, where a short ride lands you in the middle of the buzzy bustle of central London. Cool, cosy lobby pub and hip little coffee shop/restaurant provide super opportunities to chill and chat with locals and fellow travellers before retiring to comfy, clean rooms with en-suite baths. Featuring Wi-Fi in the public areas, fantastically friendly staff, and complimentary continental breakfast, Norfolk House offers loads of comfort for little cash.

Housed in a lovely Victorian home in London’s lively Earl’s Court neighbourhood, the Paramount Hotel offers a super stay just a stone’s throw from the Olympia Exhibition Center, Knightsbridge, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrods, and loads of other premier attractions. Relish a comfy sleep in en-suite rooms with Wi-Fi and cable TV, then head down to the cosy dining nook for a complimentary breakfast. At the end of a happily hectic day, enjoy a break in the pretty private garden before heading out to the lively local night spots.

Fun and funky London budget hotel UMI delights with warm, modern furnishings, 24-hour concierge, digital plasma TVs, and its own coffee shop. A jolly multicultural atmosphere prevails in the surrounding Bayswater neighbourhood, brimming with independent cafes, restaurants and bars. From single rooms to dormitories, all 117 spacious guestrooms have en-suite bathrooms, Wi-Fi and dial telephones. UMI is a few minutes’ walk from the Science Museum, Harrods and Hyde Park, and close to tube stations offering direct connections to such major destinations as Piccadilly Circus and Buckingham Palace. Antique hunters love the proximity to the world-famous Portobello markets. 

With a jolly lobby pub offering Wi-Fi, cable TV, sandwiches and loads of cheery chances to chat with fellow travellers, the Meininger Hotel is one of the real charmers among South Kensington economy hotels. Only a few minutes’ walk from the lush Hyde Park and the Science Museum, it has 48 air-conditioned rooms with free linens, lockers and private baths.