Each of these has that special combination of nightly rates at a good value, great locations, high customer ratings and enough essential amenities to ensure that you have a restful night’s sleep. Throw in a free English breakfast and we’re sold!

Our London Guide

• Read all hotel reviews

• Read ways to save in London

8 best budget hotels in London

Need to catch an early train? Alhambra offers a convenient location in King’s Cross. Photo: Booking.com

Alhambra Hotel

17-19 Argyle Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £87

The King’s Cross is filled with guesthouses, but you’ll find a budget-friendly and charming option in the Alhambra Hotel. It’s an especially helpful pick if you are getting into London or leaving super early or late. Breakfast is included in the nightly rate, and amenities abound: there’s free Wi-Fi, safes, coffee and tea facilities, flat-screen TVs, and more. (Read review)

Simple and sweet is the name of the game at St Athans Hotel.

St Athans Hotel

20-24 Tavistock Place
Average nightly rate for a double: £90

Situated in historic Bloomsbury, the family-run St Athans Hotel offers simple one-star rooms (with shared or private bathrooms) at rock-bottom rates. Most of the hotel’s 45 guestrooms share facilities and feature a sink and no other in-room amenities. A few rooms are equipped with private facilities, as well as a TV. (Read review)

Enjoy lush park views from your room at MacDonald Hotel. Photo: Booking.com

MacDonald

45 – 46 Argyle Square
Average nightly rate for a double: £93

Just a short walk from the British Library, the MacDonald is well-located in King’s Cross. Rooms may not charm you with their design, but they are clean and quiet and include TVs, fans, and coffee/tea makers. We recommend the front-facing rooms, which overlook a park. (Read review)

LSE Bankside House is only available in the summer, but rates are a steal.

LSE Bankside House (Summer Only)

24 Sumner Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £102

The LSE Bankside House is a London School of Economics dormitory, one of several open to the general public during summer months. All are well-priced for London, and Bankside has an enviable location next to the Tate Modern. Its 560 rooms are available in single, double, triple, and quad configurations. (Read review)

For a traditional English B&B experience, book a room at Hotel Meridiana.

Hotel Meridiana

43-44 Argyle Square
Average nightly rate for a double: £116

Situated in a smart, old-fashioned townhouse, this family-run two-star hotel has the charm of a traditional English B&B. The 25-room property is located on Argyle Square, a quiet street near King’s Cross Station and the British Library. Rooms are simple, but the location is convenient and the low rates include a full English breakfast. (Read review)

Cherry Court is an excellent cheapo find around the corner from Victoria Station with friendly owners that really appreciate their customers. Photo: EuroCheapo

Cherry Court Hotel

23 Hugh Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £134

With just 12 rooms near Victoria Station, the Cherry Court Hotel is a sweet and simple pick. Guests can enjoy the back patio kitchenette for prepping simple meals, plus a fresh breakfast basket delivered to your room each morning. Rooms and bathrooms can be a bit small, but they are spotless and well-equipped. (Read review)

The Celtic Hotel in Bloomsbury is one of our favorite budget hotels in Europe.

Celtic Hotel

61-63 Guilford Street
Average nightly rate for a double: £140

The Celtic Hotel is one of our favorite budget hotels in all of Europe. It boasts lovely proprietors, great rates, clean rooms, and a central location next to Russell Square in the heart of Bloomsbury. In short, it’s hard to find anything to complain about (aside from the difficulty of booking a room!). (Read review)

Enjoy some quiet time in the courtyard at 72QT.

72QT

72 Queensborough Terrace
Average nightly rate for a double: £194

The Latvian Guest House, also known as 72QT, is a surprising and somewhat hidden budget hotel near Hyde Park in Bayswater, offering 16 simple but well-maintained guestrooms. Free cooked breakfast, Latvian touches, and cheap rooms all add up to an excellent London cheapo stay. (Read review)

More hotel recommendations

Want to read more of our hotel picks for London? Check out all of our listings here, or click to see hotels in South Kensington, Bloomsbury, near Victoria Station, Paddington Station, and near Hyde Park.

The post Best budget hotels in London for 2026 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

While finding a welcoming (and clean!)  hostel can be a time-consuming challenge, you can rest easy, because we’ve gathered some of the top hostels in London in the center of the city. All of our picks are clean and have excellent communal areas for making new friends, cooking dinner and hanging out after a day of sightseeing.

Not interested in the hostel scene? No worries! Check out our full list of budget hotels in London to find an inexpensive hotel that fits your needs.

Related:
• Affordable hotels near London’s most popular attractions
• 5 Central London hotels for under £100 per night
• 10 Ways to save on dining in London

Best London Hostels: Cheap sleeps in Central London

YHA London St Pancras

79-81 Euston Road
Neighborhood: King’s Cross
Single bed starting at $19

Simplicity keeps the prices low at YHA London St. Pancras, but the communal areas more than make up for the basic, but clean, rooms. The lounge space and bar both boast floor-to-ceiling windows and comfy red sofas, and you can count on chill music drifting through these spaces. Make friends over breakfast or drinks, or buddy up with your temporary roommates. Read the full review here.

YHA Oxford Street

14 Noel Street
Neighborhood: Soho
Single bed starting at $21

Vibrant public areas, including the hot pink guest kitchen, make the shared spaces fun and inviting for guests at YHA Oxford Street. Crash on the yellow bean bag chairs to watch TV with other guests, or participate in hostel-directed activities like pub crawls and walking city tours.

You can enjoy the friendly atmosphere by staying in a dorm, or you can take advantage of the inviting communal areas while retreating in the available private rooms. Read more about YHA Oxford Street here.

A private room at YMCA Indian Hostel. Photo: EuroCheapo

YMCA Indian Student Hostel

41 Fitzroy Square
Neighborhood: Bloomsbury
Single bed starting at $36

Relive your college days at this hostel, where both dorm beds and private rooms are available, and cafeteria-style breakfasts and dinners are included in the rate. While rooms may be basic and uninspiring, you can be sure of your chances to meet friends in the dining hall, TV lounge, study rooms, library or the recreational room. Start up a game of table tennis or chess with a fellow guest.

Read the full review of the hostel here.

The lobby and check-in desk at Generator Hostel London. Photo: Booking.com

Generator Hostel London

37 Tavistock Place
Neighborhood: Bloomsbury
Single bed starting at $19

While both private and dorm-style rooms are small, the Generator is a great crash pad for those who live for the night. During the day, a bright café and dining area offer food and drink as well as a space to mingle.

At night, the hostel becomes the center of social activity when its nightclub opens and the cheap drinks start flowing. The club is complete with neon lights and a DJ booth. The club has a fun-filled calendar, featuring quiz nights, blind dates, karaoke and themed parties.

If you’re a night owl and a Cheapo, book a bed (or private room) at the Generator.

The communal kitchen at Clink 261. Photo: Booking.com

Clink 261

261-265 Grays Inn Road
Neighborhood: King’s Cross
Single bed starting at $19

Red curtains brighten up the shared rooms, which are otherwise pale blue with metal bunk beds. Although basic, rooms are clean and include free bed linens. What really brings appeal to Clink 261, though, is the public spaces, including a stainless steel guest kitchen, a unique basement lounge and an inviting upstairs lounge.

Make friends playing video or board games downstairs in the basement, or admire the murals with other guests upstairs. Read the full review of Clink 261 here.

More ways to save in London

Looking to explore London on a budget? After booking your hostel or budget hotel, read all of our budget tips for visiting London.

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If you want to make the most of your trip to London, you’ll want to choose a home base that doesn’t break the bank. To make this task easier, we’ve added more budget hotels to our guide in popular neighborhoods across the city.

Here are four budget hotels in London that we’ve recently added to our guide.

More London tips:
• Follow these 25 tips for a much better trip to London
• 10 ways to save on dining out in London
• 20 free museums in London

The welcoming Melbourne House Hotel.

Melbourne House Hotel

Neighborhood: Victoria Station
Doubles from $134

The three-star Melbourne House Hotel offers affordable accommodations near the Victoria Railway Station and a 20-minute walk from Westminster Abbey.

The en suite rooms feature basic hotel decor and are spotless. There are plenty of amenities, including flat-screen televisions, coffee/tea makers and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is also included in the already low nightly rate.

Book a budget stay at the Melbourne House Hotel.

Rooms at the Central Hotel feature unique decor.

Central Hotel

Neighborhood: King’s Cross
Doubles from $159

The two-star Central Hotel benefits from a great location just a 15-minute walk from The British Museum and a few minutes from the King’s Cross and St Pancras stations.

The guestrooms feature red bedding and simple framed artwork, although some rooms feature vibrant wall murals. Each room comes with an impressive list of amenities, such as flat-screen televisions, free Wi-Fi and kettles. There are both shared and private bathrooms available. Some rooms have balconies for just a bit more money, and breakfast is included in the rate.

Find an affordable room at the Central Hotel.

The Sidney Hotel London-Victoria features modern rooms packed with amenities.

Sidney Hotel London-Victoria

Neighborhood: Victoria Station
Doubles from $158

The three-star Sidney Hotel London-Victoria is located in a charming building with a location near the London Victoria station and just a 15-minute walk from Buckingham Palace and the Royal Court Theater.

The rooms are a bit smaller here, but each one is adorned in stylish, contemporary decor. There are all the creature comforts of home, too: private bathrooms, flat-screen televisions, air conditioning, kettles and more. A basic breakfast is included in the room rate.

Enjoy a stylish stay at the Sidney Hotel London-Victoria.

Situated near the train station, Angus Hotel offers spotless rooms in a convenient location.

Angus Hotel

Neighborhood: King’s Cross
Doubles from $150

The two-star Angus Hotel is conveniently located just a short stroll from the King’s Cross and St Pancras train stations.

The rooms, which are decked out in blue from top to bottom, include standard amenities such as private bathrooms, kettles, flat-screen televisions and kettles. Breakfast isn’t available here, but there are many charming cafes in the neighborhood.

Rest your head at the convenient Angus Hotel.

The post London: New additions to our hotel guide appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We’ve picked five super cheap hotels in central London from our list. All of them have high ratings, great locations, and most importantly, very low prices.

Interested in seeing more budget hotels in London? Check out our entire list of hotels and hostels in the city.

Related posts:
• 10 Tips for riding the Tube like a local
• 21 Ways to save on your trip to London
• When should you book a hotel to get the best rates

Top cheap hotels in central London

A triple room at Princess Hotel provides an excellent value for groups or families.

Princess Hotel

35-39 Argyle Street
Neighborhood: King’s Cross
Doubles starting at $104

Simple, pretty rooms are the standard at the Princess Hotel, a charming hotel part of the St. Pancras Hotel Group. The Princess Hotel has been providing comfortable rooms for budget travelers since 1976, and guests continue to come for the friendly service and budget-friendly rooms. Those hoping to save even more money can book a room with a shared bathroom.

Read more about the Princess Hotel here.

Hotel Meridiana is situated in an old-fashioned townhouse overlooking a park.

Hotel Meridiana

43-44 Argyle Square
Neighborhood: King’s Cross
Doubles starting at $78

Hotel Meridiana is a simple yet charming family-run hotel on a peaceful street near King’s Cross. Rooms are simple but sparkling clean, with coffee and tea facilities and a TV. Like many other budget hotels in London, you can save extra money by opting for a room with a shared bathroom. A full English breakfast is included in the room rate. Don’t forget to take in the park views while you’re here.

Read more about the Hotel Meridiana here.

An outdoor patio at Rushmore Hotel.

Rushmore Hotel

11 Trebovir Road
Neighborhood: Earls Court
Doubles starting at $107

With free breakfast, clean private bathrooms and a kind staff, the Rushmore Hotel offers a comfortable base for budget travelers. Each room in the hotel is unique, with different color and décor schemes (think sunshine or the sea). Repeat visitors are sure to be surprised, in a good way, with each stay at the Rushmore. Book at least two months in advance for the best rates.

Read our full review of this hotel here.

Rooms are basic but very comfortable at Alhambra Hotel.

Alhambra Hotel

17-19 Argyle Street
Neighborhood: King’s Cross
Doubles Starting at $108

A convenient location near King’s Cross and spotless rooms make the Alhambra Hotel a bit higher in price than the previously mentioned hotels, but it still remains a steal compared to other accommodations in the area. For Cheapos who really want to spare some extra pounds, guests can book a room with a shared bathroom. Even better? Free breakfast.

Read more about the hotel here.

The lobby at St Athans Hotel is a great place to check your email or read through your guidebook.

St Athans Hotel

20-24 Tavistock Place
Neighborhood: Bloomsbury
Doubles Starting at $96

If the price is more important than the perks, the one-star St Athans Hotel is a great choice for Cheapos. The same family has run the place since 1964, so the service is reliable and friendly. Rooms are very simple but also very clean with shared and private facilities available. Located about 10 minutes from the British Museum, the Russell Square tube stop is also just two blocks away.

Read more about St Athans Hotel here.

More budget hotels in London

Looking for more cheap hotel options in London? Check out our full list of hotels in our London budget hotel guide.

For more budget travel advice, check out our London blog for tips on everything from the best free museums to how to experience high culture on no budget.

The post London: The 5 best cheap hotels in central London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are five London stays that offer valuable extras, along with the cleanliness and value for money that makes them recommended Eurocheapo stays.

More London hotel tips:
• The 5 best cheap hotels in London
• Best budget hotels in London
• London hotels in Central London: 5 Cheap stays

1. An elevator in a historic building

Now, in an American hotel you’d probably take an elevator as a given rather than a perk, but they’re something of a rarity amongst London’s budget hotels. That’s because most of the hotel are housed in historic buildings: charming, yes, but not always the most practical.

A good budget exception is the Meininger Hotel. It’s located in Baden Powell House and shares a building with the Scouting association, so you still get a bit of character as well as an elevator. And it’s brilliantly located for the attractions of South Kensington, such as the Natural History Museum and the V&A.

Related: Cheapo guide to South Kensington’s hotels, restaurants and bars

Arosfa Hotel has a lovely garden to relax in before or after a long day on the town. Photo: EuroCheapo

2. A charming garden

London can be a frantic city and you’ll want somewhere to stay that’s suited to some proper rest and relaxation. Sitting out in a garden, enjoying a gentle spring morning or English summer’s day, or even a sunny fall evening is one of the simple pleasures of British life. Space is at such a premium it’s comparatively rare to find hotels with gardens in the city centre.

The Arosfa Hotel offers a garden, complete with a canary, while being right in the heart of London. The Ridgemount Hotel is another favorite with outdoor space.

Sitting down to a free dinner at YMCA Indian Hostel. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

3. An authentic (and free!) Indian dinner

Breakfast comes as standard in many London hotels, but dinner too?

You get both in your room rate (starting at around $82 for a double) at the YMCA Indian Student Hostel. The food is served cafeteria-style and its traditional Indian cuisine consistently wins praise from guests, while the communal tables are a great way to meet fellow travelers. Its location, near Tottenham Court Road, leaves it well placed should you want to wander out for a post-dinner drink.

Aled Rees and his family have run the Ridgemount Hotel in Bloomsbury since the ’60s. Photo: Frances Ambler

4. Friendly and helpful hosts

This is a very important perk for us at Eurocheapo, and our reviews always flag up where you get hosts who will go over and beyond to make your stay run smoothly. Our London favorites include The Celtic Hotel (you can read our Q&A with proprietor Rosanna Marazzi here) and Ridgemount Hotel (we spoke to them too).

Do get in touch if you stay somewhere especially welcoming that we haven’t written about yet: we’re always keen to make new friends!

Enjoy unique touches right down to the decor at the Latvian Guest House. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

5. Something completely different…

One of the best things about London is how international it is: surveys estimate that over 100 different languages are spoken in the city aside from English. This blend of cultures is every bit as London as the red buses.

So with this in mind, we’d recommend a stay at the Latvian Guest House: Latvian pinewood furnishings, Latvian beers served in the club bar and even a Latvian-style supper available on Friday and Saturday: who knew you could enjoy a taste of Latvia while staying in the heart of London?

The post London Hotels: 5 budget stays with special perks appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Over the years the building has been home to many different things, most recently an indoor “theme park” complete with adrenaline pumping rides, arcades and some truly tacky shops. It may not have been the classiest address in town, but it certainly offered shelter to many an adolescent teenager on their first date in London.

Now the French hotel operator, Accor, has announced ownership of the building and is soon to begin work on transforming it into the largest budget hotel in London’s West End. Sitting under the Ibis brand, the hotel will be named the Ibis Styles Piccadilly Circus and will house a whopping 583 rooms.

Related: Affordable hotels near Piccadilly Circus

Although not due to open its doors until 2017, the hotel will offer Cheapos a much more affordable place to stay for such a coveted part of London, with rooms costing between £100-£150 per night including breakfast. Guests will be able to walk to London’s most famous theaters, shops, restaurants and bars within minutes and really soak up the atmosphere of being in the thick of city life.

The announcement fits in with the hotel’s aggressive plans for UK, with a goal to increase its current 208 UK properties to 300 by 2018.

For more news and tips on budget travel in London check out our blog.

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While hotels near to some of the city’s biggest landmarks are often more expensive, if you’re short on time, it’s worth weighing up the cost of traveling when you stay further out of town. You may find it’s just as well to stay nearby the places that are top of your to-do list. Here are five hotels that combine comfort with wallet-friendly prices—all within walking distance of London’s most popular sights.

Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace

Guests enjoy cute rooms, a great location and a full English Breakfast included at Luna & Simone. Photo: EuroCheapo

Hotel: Luna & Simone Hotel
Doubles from £100 per room per night

Accommodation right next to these most iconic of London landmarks does not generally fall into a Cheapo’s budget, but if you’ve got your heart set on living near the Queen for just a few days, check in at the Luna & Simone Hotel in nearby Pimlico and you’ll be just a 15-minute stroll away. The hotel is basic and, while not the world’s cheapest, it’s definitely good value for this part of town. The rooms boast simple décor, en suite bathrooms and flat screen TVs and are all immaculately clean.

Kensington’s Museums

The rooms are simple at easyHotel, but the prices make up for any lack of perks. Photo: givingnot@rocketmail.com

Hotel:  easyHotel South Kensington
Doubles from £30 per room per night

If you’re willing to totally scrimp on luxuries (and a window), grab a room at the easyHotel in South Kensington and you can explore one of London’s most well-heeled areas without splurging. As with the low-cost airline from the same family, easyHotel will charge you extra for just about anything, but its unrivaled location means that savvy travelers can spend their days exploring the city’s best museums (The V&A, Science Museum and Natural History Museum are just around the corner), while Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall are also just a short walk away.

Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge

This location near Borough Market and Tate Modern is hard to beat for the price. Photo: EuroCheapo

Hotel: Premier Inn London Southwark
Doubles from £100 per room per night

If dipping into beautiful Borough Market for breakfast, lunch and dinner is your idea of London heaven, book in at the brilliantly located Premier Inn London Southwark. Being an affordable hotel chain means that, while you miss out on the quirks of an independent B&B, you will get comfort, cleanliness and a great price in a fabulously iconic location. So drop those bags and get exploring—you’ll have everything from Southwark Cathedral and a lovely stretch of the River Thames, to bustling Borough Market and London’s newest skyscraper, The Shard, all on your doorstep.

Related: A Cheapo’s Guide to Southwark’s restaurants, hotels and bars

British Museum

A hostel for ages 18-35, Astor Museum Inn is just around the corner from the British Museum. Photo: EuroCheapo

Hotel: Astor Museum Inn
Doubles from £70 per room per night

If getting a firsthand glimpse of the varied artifacts on show at the British Museum is a must, you can’t get much closer to the door than the Astor Museum Inn. This laid back hostel does have a guest age limit; 18-35, but if you pass that initial test you’ll find you can get a really good value bed for the night. Private twin rooms are available, or spend even less and opt for a dorm room bed. The communal kitchen means you can save on food costs too (check out our guide to London supermarkets for inspiration), but do be prepared for noise resonating from the popular TV lounge.

West End

Stay close to all of the theater action at this cozy and friendly hotel. Photo: EuroCheapo

Hotel: Seven Dials
Doubles from £105 per room per night

If you’ve come to London to explore the West End and plan to catch some shows while you’re there, the Seven Dials Hotel is the perfect place to stay. The hotel squeezes a fair few beds and rooms into its vertical town house layout (there are lots of stairs!), but when you step outside onto lovely Monmouth Street, you’ll soon realize you couldn’t get a much better or more buzzy location in the capital for this price. The shops and restaurants of Covent Garden are all around and you can take your pick of London’s best theaters, all just a few minutes’ walk away.

Related: How to find free and cheap theater tickets in London

For more ideas on where to stay in London, check out our London hotel guide.

The post London: Affordable hotels close to the city’s top attractions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But don’t fret! There are still some great hidden gems in the city center where it’s possible to bag a bed (and a window) in a private room for £100 or less per night. Even better, many of these spots offer the personal experience of a unique B&B that the big chains can’t provide. Peak times like school summer holidays, Easter and Christmas may see prices fluctuate above this, but in general, rates at these great little guest houses will come in under budget.

Stay in a smashing location for only £55 at the Latvian Guest House. Photo: Courtesy of hotel

Latvian Guest House (aka. 72 QT)

Doubles from £85 per night
Read the full review

This cute Bayswater guest house is well located for exploring London’s museums and Hyde Park. It’s housed in a traditional Georgian building, and the spotless rooms are decorated simply with hardwood floors and neutral décor. 15 rooms have shared bathrooms, and there is one ensuite family room, but when you’re staying in a location like this from £55 per night for a single room and £85 for a double, sharing a shower is honestly a small price to pay in London terms. The hotel is very calm and quiet—perfect if  you’re really looking to relax after a day exploring the city. Added extras include free Wi-Fi and a tasty cooked breakfast, all of which make this a top budget choice.

The back gardens at Crestfield Hotel are a fantastic perk for a low price. Photo: EuroCheaop

The Crestfield Hotel

Doubles from £50 per night
Read the full review

London’s Kings Cross is awash with fancy hotels, small B&B’s and youth hostels, all of which offer travelers a convenient location from which to explore central London and also further afield, by using the extensive rail connections at both Kings Cross and Euston stations. The Crestfield Hotel is ideally located just over the road from the station, which has changed enormously in the last few years as part of a big project to redevelop the area with bars, restaurants, offices and luxury flats. The hotel boasts 52 rooms and shared bathroom singles start from £50 per night, while ensuite doubles start from £65. All guests have access to Wi-Fi, a continental breakfast, the hotel’s pretty back garden and bar. Rooms have had a bit of lift in décor in recent years and now feature warm yellow walls, blue duvets and homely floral curtains.

With a welcoming staff, comfy rooms, free Wi-Fi and breakfast, the Princess Hotel’s value is hard to beat Photo: EuroCheapo

Princess Hotel

Doubles from £55 per per night
Read the full review

Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Crestfield, you’ll find the Sicilian-run Princess Hotel. It’s a friendly, comfortable place to stay and, with rates from £55 for a shared-bathroom double and £75 for an ensuite double, you can’t really go wrong. Rooms are fairly simple, with peach and cream colored walls and floral bedding, but guests can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi and a choice of cooked or continental breakfast in the morning.

Enjoy an upscale location for a tiny price at Notting Hill Gate Hotel. Photo: Courtesy of hotel

Notting Hill Gate Hotel

Doubles from £69 per night
Read the full review

If you dream of reenacting your favorite scenes from Notting Hill, then this basic B&B is the very best value you’ll find in such a luxurious corner of the capital. All the rooms in the hotel have ensuite bathrooms, which gains it a big tick from travelers in search of a bit more privacy without breaking the bank. Rooms are clean and quite modern and neutral in décor, with wooden floors and the occasional pop of color on the wall or in the bedding. A big bonus is that Wi-Fi and continental breakfast are included in the room rate for all guests.

Bloomsbury beckons just outside your door at St Athans Hotel with super cheap rooms. Photo: Courtesy of hotel

St Athans Hotel

Doubles from £61 per night
Read the full review

It’s not the most beautiful hotel in the world, but St Athans is slap bang in the middle of Bloomsbury—London’s literary district—and offers some of the lowest prices we’ve seen. The British Museum is on the doorstep and the shops of Oxford Street and buzzy bars and restaurants of Charlotte Street are also nearby. The hotel is family run, personal and friendly and, while room décor is pretty basic, you can be guaranteed it will be clean. Double rooms with shared bathrooms start from £61, and if you’re after an ensuite, this will set you back £76 per night. The rates don’t include breakfast, but Wi-Fi is included.

More London Hotels

Find more affordable hotel options throughout London on our website and check out our General FAQ for more information on London hotels.

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The London Generator was the first in a chain that now includes hostels  Venice, Barcelona, and coming soon in Paris and Rome, each with the same emphasis on contemporary design and style and, sixteen years after its original opening, the London branch was felt to be looking a little tired compared to its newer counterparts.

London themes are everywhere, including this DJ booth in the bar area. Photo: courtesy of the hotel

Stylish and fun upgrades with a London theme

In terms of looks, the makeover is pretty impressive. There’s a London theme throughout, from the Mind The Gap signs to the huge red double decker bus in the bar used by DJs on club nights. In the café area, the comfy seating and the wingback chairs make it a more attractive place to hang out and check your emails than many other London cafes.

What’s even more appealing is that the design has been done with a sense of fun. Each floor is devoted to a different famous fictional Brit, ranging from the sublime, in the examples of Alice in Wonderland or Mary Poppins, to the more ridiculous Ali G and Austin Powers.

The rooms have a modern and bright feel with a few colorful touches to liven them up. Photo: Frances Ambler

Affordable and bright (but still small) rooms

However, when it comes to the rooms the revamp has, unfortunately, had to be a little more limited. As the hostel is housed in a listed historic building that once provided accommodation for the local police it means they haven’t been able to make any structural changes to address the complaints about small rooms that frequently crop up in online reviews. The only rooms with ensuite facilities remain the twin rooms. Furthermore, each room has been given a colorful paint job to make it feel a bit brighter and clever under-bed lockable storage helps maximize the space.

Tasty food & cocktails but no kitchen

Another possibly divisive factor is that the hostel contains no self-catering facilities for its 870 guests. There’s a full café and bar menu, with appetizing sounding dishes such as bacon, leek and Stilton tart with a watercress salad or a toasted flatbread with hummus and roasted red peppers, goats cheese and rocket at competitive but not bargain basement prices. Perhaps more indicatively there’s also an extensive reasonably priced menu of cocktails and shooters.

The bar is pretty to look at, but the youthful scene might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

The lively scene may not be for everyone

To its credit, London’s Generator is trying to keep the sociable aspect of hostel staying alive, with nightly DJs, film screenings and events such as quizzes. There’s music playing throughout the reception area too, making for a lively feel—perhaps too lively for some. In fact, comments about the noise remain the most common complaint in online reviews.

The care and attention to detail that have been put into the revamp definitely make it worth checking out, that is if the idea of staying in a large, buzzy and irrepressibly lively hostel appeals. For a more sedate time, you might be better looking at a smaller hotel, even if the chairs aren’t quite so handsome.

Read our full review of the hostel here, along with dozens of other affordable London hotel options.

The post A new look for London’s Generator Hostel appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

What is Qbic?

Qbic is a design hotel concept that aims to offer modern accommodation to the cost-conscious traveler. The company promises a spotless, soundless room, a comfortable bed, powerful shower and free Wi-Fi as standard, but also adds aesthetically pleasing surroundings, stylish rooms and funky communal areas.

Related: Read our review of the Qbic London City.

With double rooms starting from just €38 per night in Amsterdam and £69 per night in London, we were intrigued to know just how they planned to offer all this at such a competitive rate.

The rooms at Qbic are sleek and compact thanks to the Cubi, a patented design element that packs many features into a modular cube. Courtesy of Qbic.

Introducing The Cubi

Both hotels have “the Cubi” at the heart of their rooms. This is a patented, modular cube-shaped living space that comprises pretty much everything you need in a hotel room (bed, bathroom, lights, TV) in one slick piece of furniture. These Cubis can be erected in just a few hours, meaning that large numbers of funky, modern hotel room “pods” could be built very quickly and cheaply.

Small, chic bathrooms have everything you need. Courtesy of Qbic.

While rooms vary in price depending on whether you opt for windows, special views or a larger sized room, the Cubi has exactly the same proportions in all the rooms.

What’s the catch?

Another, less touted, cost-cutting measure is that the number of staff is limited. Guests check themselves in at digital check-in desks and use keycards to pay for any food or drink during their stay. Guests are expected to be relatively independent but, while you won’t find swarms of staff on hand, there are staffers available to assist with any problems or answer travel questions.

There is also the option to buy a continental breakfast from the rather lavish buffet, which is served in the lounge each morning. You can order it advance when you book your room if you wish.

Location, location, location

The original Amsterdam property is housed in the World Trade Center while the London property has given new life to a previously disused office block in the city’s East End. Both properties are near to financial and business districts, making them especially appealing for business travelers, while still being close enough to cultural attractions, restaurants and bars.

Qbic offers a modern kitchen that guests can use during their stay. Courtesy of Qbic.

There’s an admirable socially-conscious streak at the hotels, as well. Both have worked with local businesses and organizations, whether it’s local designers to showcase their work, hiring staff from the neighborhood, selling locally produced food, or working with charities. For example, in the London property, you may find a pop up food station courtesy of FoodCycle or join a quirky city bike tour in collaboration with BikeWorks during your stay.

Additionally, regular promotions (including 100 rooms per month in London City sold at £1) see their proceeds given to a local charity selected by the guest.

The lobbies are great (and great looking) spaces to mix and mingle or just check your email with free Wi-Fi. Courtesy of Qbic.

So, what’s the verdict?

While we don’t make a habit of singing the praises of chain hotels, we certainly recognize that Qbic strikes a unique balance between (usually) affordable and chic. We say “usually,” because room rates quickly go up into not-so-cheapo territory, when supply falls. On several recent searches, we were able to find doubles from £100-139, which is still reasonable for London. However, it’s hardly rock-bottom, either.

Still, we reckon that the Qbic is on to a winning combination. Which just begs the question—where next?

For more details, check out our full review of Qbic London City.

The post Qbic London City: Does the new hotel manage to be both chic and cheap? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.