| Hotel
Districts |
|
| Bayswater: |
Mainly
a budget hotel district with outstanding value 3 star hotels too.
Good position next to Hyde Park and close to Oxford Street and Paddington
Station.
Has a large local community so very good for everyday needs and
restaurants.
|
| Bloomsbury: |
On
the edge of the West End with Covent Garden and Leicester Square
within walking distance. British Museum is in heart of district.
Mostly large 4 star hotels sometimes with good deals at weekends
with some budget options. Underground Heathrow.
|
| City
Of London: |
London's
main business area dominated by financial institutions. Not normally
favoured by leisure travellers because of expense. Exception to the
rule is down by the river, where hotels close to Tower Bridge are
a great place to stay. Direct links to Stansted/Gatwick.
|
| Euston: |
Dominated
by Euston Station with trains to the north-west/midlands of England
and North Wales & Scotland. Good range of accommodation around
the station area.
Kings Cross, less than 1km away has the budget accommodation in the
area.
|
| Kensington: |
Just
to the south-west of the very centre with lots of room capacity. Price
and number of stars decrease as you go west. From exclusive Knightsbridge
(Harrods), through South Kensington and Gloucester Rd to cheap B&B
at Earls Court. Good for Heathrow.
|
| Kings
Cross: |
One
of the best value budget areas to stay in Central London. A whole
district of B&B hotels directly opposite the station with low
prices and generally above average standards. Trains to Luton &
Gatwick. Underground Heathrow.
|
| St
Pancras: |
The
London terminus of the Eurostar trains to France and Belgium is also
a major national and local London transport hub. Very good budget
accommodation in immediate area of train station. Trains to Luton
& Gatwick. Underground Heathrow.
|
| Paddington: |
Terminus
of the Heathrow Express and trains to West Country & Wales. One
of the cheapest hotel districts on the edge of Hyde Park and less
than 1km from Oxford Street and West End. Mostly B&B and 2/3 star
accommodation offering great value.
|
| Regents
Park: |
Relatively
large area encompassing Marylebone, Bakers Street, Camden Town and
Swiss Cottage. Cheaper the further north you go. Handy for visitors
using Luton and Stansted Airports with direct coach links. Mid-range
in terms of price with lots of variety.
|
| Southwark
& Waterloo: |
On
the south bank of the Thames an area much improved in the last decade
and now a great place for the visitor. Hotels beginning to take hold
but no great variety, mostly 3 & 4 stars and some hostels around
London Bridge.
|
| Victoria: |
One
of the best places to stay, very close to most attractions and direct
public transport to all of London's airports. Some cheap B&B behind
the station but otherwise mostly above average priced hotels.
|
| West
End: |
The
very centre of the entertainment and shopping districts. Dominated
by large expensive 4 & 5 star chain hotels but there are exceptions
to the rule. The Regents Palace, a cult for cheap central accommodation
+ Citadines apartments are popular. |
| Room
Types |
|
| Hostels: |
The
cheapest mostly dormitory style accommodation aimed at the young and
young at heart. A wide range of hostels are available. Most have kitchen
for use by residents, bars, luggage storage etc. Many have travel
agencies, entertainment and more.
|
| Bed
& Breakfast: |
The
cheapest accommodation with your own room. The most competition and
thus the lowest prices are around Kings Cross, Paddington/Bloomsbury,
Victoria and Earls Court in Kensington. Wide variety in costs and
room facilities.
|
| 2/3
Star: |
The
backbone of accommodation for the leisure visitor found throughout
London. Best value usually found in Bayswater & Paddington areas.
There is usually a promotion on somewhere. Confusingly some are cheaper
at weekends, some more expensive.
|
| 4
Star: |
Dominated
by the large international chains which are all represented in London.
Rates can vary enormously from season to day of week. As a rough indicator
days/times businessmen are around or attending conferences the less
the discounts.
|
| Luxury: |
Some
world famous hotels are available, most in the Mayfair, Kensington
and West End districts. Range varies from small boutique hotels to
large icons like the Ritz close to Piccadilly and Mayfair.
|
| Apartments: |
A
good range of studio, one and two bedroom apartments are available
for short-term letting of a day or more. The highest concentration
is found in the Kensington area. All are fully furnished, most with
luxuries as standard.
|
| Aparthotels: |
A
mix of apartments with hotel style services in addition. This sector
is dominated by the Citadines chain, which has a handfull of very
well located aparthotel blocks in Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden,
Barbican and South Kensington.
|
| Travel
Lodges: |
In
most of the United Kingdom, Travel Lodge chains set a benchmark for
value for the leisure traveller. In London most chains are represented,
but prices are much more expensive and less competitive.
|
| Family
Rooms: |
If
you are a family or a small group it is possible to get larger rooms
in most sectors. Choice is largest in the bed and breakfasts and two
star hotels. Novotel, Holiday Inn and Marriott also have rooms which
will accommodate a family 4, more upmarket.
|
| Single
Rooms: |
Single
travellers sometimes have no choice but to pay the same price as a
double/twin room. We have a separate page highlighting some establishments
across all hotel grades that give a good discount to the single traveller.
|
| Airport
Hotels |
|
| Heathrow: |
There
are well over 30 hotels in the immediate vicinity of Heathrow competing
for your custom. Most are large multinational chains but there are
a few smaller independents, even bed and breakfasts. Rates are usually
much cheaper at weekends.
|
| Gatwick: |
A
good range of hotels for all budgets from most of the multinational
chains to smaller independents. Some of the hotels are in open country
a world away from the hustle of the airport. Rates are usually much
cheaper at weekends.
|
| Stansted: |
The
explosive growth of Stansted has meant that provision of hotel rooms
has historically lagged behind demand. The shortage is just about
over now with a great many new hotels of all types recently opened,
driving downs costs everywhere.
|
| Luton: |
Just
two true on airport hotels, the Express by Holiday Inn and Ibis. More
luxurious hotels are available in Luton Town a short transfer away
and for domestic travellers with their own cars very good value hotel
and long term car parking package are available. |
| |
|
