Cheaper & Cheerful
Fun fact: when I needed to hide away in London, parts of this book were written from one of the cosy single attic rooms of this Bloomsbury hotel. Ideal for solo trips with well thought-out and tastefully decorated rooms at reasonable prices, it is, in my opinion, more than good enough. Centrally located but situated on a peaceful residential square, you can easily walk to several museums found in this book just a few minutes away, as well as find useful bus routes to connect you to the rest of the city. One possible snag: there’s no elevator and quite a few stairs to the top of your townhouse, but the friendly staff will be more than happy to assist.
Located in brilliant Bermondsey, this one is highly recommended for slightly longer stays. An edgy and design-conscious apartment-style hotel with bright and spacious rooms that come with a kitchenette, washing machine, dishwasher and other equipment, but perhaps best of all, a co-working space with a charming outdoor patio and in-house bakery – oh, and a workout studio if that’s of interest. The longer you stay, the better the rate.
This charming pub and inn south of the river understands families (and dogs are well accommodated for too). Luxurious bedding, plenty of space, clawfoot bathtubs and nice bathroom products, you can’t really ask more out of a room. Staff are all smiles and the lovely Clapham Common park is on your doorstep. The local pub is a favourite with dog walkers; not really the place you need to worry about noise levels. Clapham itself is an idyllic and very family-friendly residential area of London. The eclectic small shops of nearby Abbeville road are a delight to browse and if you have to tear yourself away, you’ve got two Tube stations on either end of the road that will get you to Oxford Circus in 15 minutes
For all the amenities of a creative and contemporary four star hotel with unbeatable prices, this successful European hotel chain has you covered. Quirky and comfortable, with a vast lobby for lounging on couches by the fireplace where food is served all day, you’ve got the choice of stylish single, double and motel-style duo double rooms. Hanging out in between Shoreditch and Hackney, a stone’s throw from the charming shops of Columbia Road, you’ll be ideally situated to make East London your playground, and with the Young V&A just down the road, as well as Hackney City Farm, keeping the kids entertained takes little effort. Jump on a double decker bus right outside the hotel and you’ll whizz right over to the West End and Soho in half an hour.
Dwarfed by surrounding skyscrapers but steps from the southern banks of the Thames for breezy river walks, this beautiful saloon-style pub and 30-room hotel was once a gentleman’s hat factory. The Tate is a 3 minutes walk and you can be feasting at Borough Market in less than 15 minutes on foot. Rooms might be a tad dated but a good size, immaculate, and super comfy. The staff are so welcoming and breakfast is made with love; eat your heart out with those dippy eggs and soldiers, with or without the marmite.
Down a quiet street in the beating heart of old Victorian working London, this historic pub is known for its phenomenal Sunday roasts, but it also has six gorgeous and classically decorated bedrooms upstairs. The stairs are narrow and steep and you may not be able to rely on bar staff to immediately carry your bags up, so if you’re a fit, easy-going and mostly independent explorer, this could be the one for you. Enjoy a soak in the roll-top copper tub after an early morning plunge into Smithfield Market, the historic meat market around the corner; a unique behind the scenes look at London. The Barbican’s cultural offerings are also nearby, as well as the City of London’s ancient sites.
The cute, tidy and very well-priced rooms here are surprisingly quiet given the lively pub downstairs and you’ll have private access to the hotel side without needing to walk through the bar. This hidden Hackney gem of an alehouse is ideal if you plan on really getting to know East London and immersing yourself in the constantly evolving hipster heart of the city.
Upgrade within reason
Imagine the sort of place Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet might stay on a trip up to London; a discreet boutique bolthole, masterfully restored to its Georgian glory. Prepare to be a little agasp when checking into one of the three historic properties of the Hazlitt Hotel group. For a romantic portal into the past, choose between the Hazlitt nestled in Soho, The Rookery tucked away down a narrow lane near St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Batty Langley’s on a cinematic cobblestone road in Shoreditch. Furnished with the finest antiques, blessed with fireside reading nooks and honesty bars, these are hotels that are designed to feel like a home, where knowledgeable staff are kindred spirits of the ‘Don’t be a Tourist’ ethos.
If you don’t have any time to visit an art gallery while in London, you won’t leave feeling like you’ve skipped out on culture staying at this lovely boutique townhouse tucked away in quiet Pimlico. Each bedroom is uniquely and tastefully decorated like a Warholian London pied-à-terre, filled with art and objects to inspire a creative guest. The short walk to Chelsea’s Sloane Square is a treat, but if you’re planning on staying in, the hotel serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in house and drinks all day.
In addition to being one of our romantic picks for al fresco rooftop date, this edgy Shoreditch sanctuary around the corner from bustling Brick Lane has bright and spacious bedrooms, each individually inspired by a 20th century icon of the arts. If you’re willing to splurge, there’s even a suite personally designed by Sir David Tang. Try the memorable Spiced cauliflower schnitzel at the all-day brasserie and don’t miss dinner and drinks on the roof overlooking East London with the olive trees.
Airbnb Alternatives
Hiding in the shadows of the mainstream travel industry since 1965, The Landmark Trust has been saving historic properties that would otherwise be lost or spoiled, carefully restoring them and renting them out as self-catering holiday homes. The majority of the charity’s properties are located in rural England – browsing through the site to discover all the spectacular historic buildings where you can actually spend the night is entertainment in itself – but there are a handful of unique properties in London to consider. Stay at 43 Cloth Fair, the only remaining house in the City of London built before the Great Fire of London of 1666. Or make yourself at home on Princelet Street in an 18th century museum quality townhouse that once belonged to wealthy Huguenot merchants; as a party of six, the rental will cost the equivalent of £60 a night per person. To get first dibs on exclusive early-booking opportunities for new restorations, discover how to become a patron.
Purveyors of the most beautiful pads in West London, trust this family-run rental company to host you in a cosy Georgian townhouse apartment with a garden on the loveliest street lined with cherry blossom trees, or a Notting Hill nest with a dreamy roof terrace. An ideal option for families, all the amenities have been thought of – you won’t want for anything.
If you are looking Airbnb – I’d probably just narrow my search to the boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea or City of Westminster to make sure you’re super central. Or personally, I like to stay up in leafy Hampstead. It’s a little out of the centre but makes me feel like I’m staying in a village in the city.
Splurge-Smart Sanctuaries
If you’d like to play neighbours with the royal family living at St. James’s Palace, this stately five star hotel surrounds a historic stable which has been turned into a beautiful courtyard for guests to enjoy al fresco cocktails from the American bar. There’s a mini museum of wine in the basement that once served as a WWII shelter and now offers wine tastings and candlelit dinner parties in the 17th century cellars. Expect rooms with four poster beds, sumptuous fabrics and marble bathrooms.
In 1968, The Rolling Stones hosted their album launch party at the hotel bar, but it’s more traditional English luxury than rock & roll digs at this Kensington mansion behind the Royal Albert Hall. Think antique carved beds, Tudor architectural accents in immaculate and high-ceiling rooms, one of which Judy Garland stayed in. The restaurant has an award-winning master chef in the kitchen and a decadent afternoon tea is offered on velvet chesterfield sofas by the fire. Comfort cuts no corners here.