All 2 Stars Hotels
Chester Hotel London
Rates start at
$83
Only a hop, a skip, and a jump from Victoria Station in central London is the Chester Hotel, an affordable hotel for the budget traveler that offers very modestly-priced lodgings without sacrificing comfort. Its affordability is a good way to tailor a budget to allow for more relaxed sight-seeing, shopping, and dining in the many attractions, shops, and eateries that pepper the urban landscape surrounding it.
The hotel offers options to help with the expense, such as the choice between ensuite rooms and basic rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Some even feature a mini-fridge. All rooms include a writing desk, available hair dryers, coffee and tea-making services, television with digital cable, and wireless internet for a small fee. Much of the furniture is IKEA; the modern rooms will provide a cozy and bright place to curl up at the end of a day of vigorous culture-absorbing…or working, on a business trip, if that’s your slant. Read more »
Caswell Hotel London
Rates start at
$81
A stay in London of any duration can be a quick drain on your finances. For those on a budget who want to make the most of a stay here, and to allot funds better spent on attractions and shopping done during the day, I would recommend a low-budget hotel for throwing your things down. The bells and whistles of fine hotels can be very nice indeed, but when on a shoestring it comes easy to remember that a good hotel is really just a place to sleep, preferably in a convenient and safe location.
Located in the heart of Westminster, the Caswell Hotel is a good budget hotel, though it functions a bit more like a bed and breakfast, considering that it is fairly small (only 18 rooms) and some of the rooms require the use of shared lavatory facilities. The rooms are small but cozy, but all potential grievances aside, the pleasant and courteous staff does all possible to make the stay comfortable. Rooms include wireless internet access, tea and coffee services, and the breakfast room provides a simple but plentiful breakfast in the morning.
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Airways Hotel London
Rates start at
$83
Situated in a 19th century townhouse, the Airways Hotel is a family-operated property offering budget bed and breakfast accommodation in the heart of London. Located within a three-minute walk of Victoria tube, rail and coach station, the property is an ideal base for exploring the city’s most famous attractions. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Hyde Park, and the Tate Gallery can all be found within one mile. Tube connections are also available to Heathrow Airport, and Gatwick can be reached from Waterloo Station. Amenities here are basic: there is no gym, no offer of room service, or even a lift. But on the plus side, rooms are great value for budget-conscious guests and the location couldn’t be more central.
Guests can carry out tourist research or keep in touch with family back home at the 24-hour Internet point in the lounge. The reception desk is also open around the clock, and staff there can assist with travel arrangements and tourist bookings. Read more »
Camelot House Hotel London
Rates start at
$86
While Camelot, the legendary castle where King Arthur held court, has yet to be precisely located in Britain, the Camelot House Hotel is conveniently located in central London. This hotel has been run by the same family for over thirty years. The clean, bed and breakfast type of hotel is demurely situated on a quiet street with lots of hanging plants and flower beds. It is within walking distance to Paddington Station, which has direct trains to both the airport and to Waterloo Station, which is where the Eurostar is based in London.
Hot English breakfast is served Monday through Saturday in the yellow and green painted, brightly lit dining room, while a continental breakfast is provided on Sundays. The staff is polite and the desk is manned twenty-four hours a day. The 38 rooms are all en suite, with warm lighting and cozy carpeting. Singles, doubles, triples, and quadruples/family rooms are all available, and each room comes with a modem connection. Read more »
Camden Lock Hotel London
Rates start at
$101
Located in Northcentral London you will find the trendy and eclectic Camden Town district, known for its wide variety of activities and places to while away the time and find something new, inspiring, and intellectually stimulating. Look one way and you’ll see a collection of intriguing shops in which you’re certain to find a curio or treat that cannot be found elsewhere. Turn the other way and you might step into the famous Camden Lock Market, or any of the many satellite markets that have sprung up around it. And if you’re planning on attending a concert at the Electric Ballroom or the Roundhouse, you might want to stop–or start, depending on how you look at it (the wordplay for this one can be tiresome)–at the two-hundred-and-thirty-year-old pub The World’s End for a pint or a cocktail.
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Alexandra Hotel London
Rates start at
$114
Clean, simple, efficient, and value-minded are the words that spring to mind with the Alexandra Hotel in the Paddington district of London. Spanning two different buildings directly across the street from each other (one under the name, Alexandra Court Hotel), the accommodations consist of a total of 100 rooms with an average room rate of $114 per night.
Space is limited in the city so, as a budget-conscious traveler, you will have to leave what you are used to in terms of room size at home in America. The rooms here are slightly larger than some of the other value-based lodging I have tried in London, but these are still considerably smaller than many people might be used to. The point is that these rooms and adjoining bathrooms are not for lounging around in because there is too much to see and do in London.
The rooms do have the basics: shower, toilet, wash basin, single or double bed, an electric kettle with tea or coffee supply, and a television. Breakfast is served with many of the bookings and is standard fare but with an all-you-can-eat option that is located in an intimate (code word for small) breakfast nook. Read more »
109 Warwick House (Studio Apartments) London
Rates start at
$52
Budget accommodation in central London can be difficult to find, so 109 Warwick House Studio Apartments offers a convenient location for those visitors for whom luxury is not a priority. Situated within a five-minute walk of a 24-hour supermarket, these 20 self-contained studios are more suited to independent backpackers than those seeking a romantic getaway.
Located in a Victorian terraced property on a busy residential street, 109 Warwick House Studio Apartments have light decor with windows opening onto neighborhood views. Rooms are simply furnished with one, two, or three beds and have kitchenettes with refrigerators and microwave ovens. Electric kettles, dishes, and cutlery are supplied. Additional amenities include satellite television, Internet access, and hair dryers. In short, all the basics are provided.
The bustling neighborhood of Earl’s Court once attracted a transient community of Antipodean travellers with short-term work visas. Today, immigrants from around the globe find their way to this part of the city and a plethora of ethnic shops and eateries can be found here. Read more »
Edward Hotel London
Rates start at
$125
The Edward Hotel sits in the Paddington area of London, a place which shares its name with Paddington Bear. If you remember the story of that bear, you’ll recall that he was practical, nothing special to look at, but very kind indeed. All of these things can be said about the Edward Hotel. A pleasant two-star hotel, the stone building sits on a corner, near Hyde Park. There are 42 en-suite rooms, ranging from singles (which, be mindful, are very small) to executive doubles, all priced competitively.
The staff is always impressively accommodating and over the top with their kindness. Location is the most important feature of this hotel, being minutes from Paddington Station (which is a fifteen minute tube ride from Heathrow) and Oxford Street. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi throughout, and a fully cooked breakfast is included. Cleanliness is paramount here, and noise is not a problem in the slightest, even on rooms facing the busy street below. Read more »
Westbury Hotel Kensington London
Rates start at
$125
Placed amongst many similar-looking white flats, it is easy to pass by the Westbury Hotel Kensington if it weren’t for the small Westbury sign above the portico entrance. But don’t let the discreet appearance fool you. The hotel’s location on Cromwell Road is key to exploring and enjoying the city of London.
The 50 guest rooms in the Westbury are petite but affordable and accommodating at the same time. And with a recent refurbishment, the décor and cleanliness have definitely gone up a few notches. They now have majestic, royal blue carpeting and matching drapes and spreads. The lavoratories are newly tiled and despite being mildly cramped, look great! The room itself comes furnished with telephone, wireless internet, and tea and coffee maker.
I would definitely recommend The Westbury to anyone looking to spend little time in his or her hotel room simply because of the size. But when visiting London there is truly no reason not to enjoy the grand dame in all her regality. Just a five-minute walk from Earls Court Underground station, you can quickly get to any downtown location. Not to mention the Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Kensington Gardens and Palace, Hyde Park and great shopping are all within walking distance! Read more »
Shakespeare Hotel London
Rates start at
$81
After staying at Shakespeare Hotel London, I’m not exactly sure what influence Shakespeare had on the naming of the property unless he was a minimalist who sought out an inexpensive room before his plays became financially rewarding. Alas, poor Yorick, he did not know this hotel well. In fact, there is nothing literary or dramatic about it.
Instead of waxing poetic on the amenities, I will say that it offers a barebones budget deal for travelers who would rather spend their money on a pint or West End musical rather than a down comforter or spa treatment bath products. And with everything there is to do in London (including dancing until the wee hours of the morning at a neighborhood discoteque) you really only need a room to shower and lay your head. Who can beat the price of $122 per night? Which includes a continental breakfast, might I add. Read more »
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