Sure, the capital has big names in hospitality, but there’s also loads of great cheap hotels in London that you needn’t trek out to the sticks to find. Stay somewhere better located and more fun than many of the city’s grand five-star hotels, all for less than you’d pay for a slap-up meal at one of London’s best restaurants. Whether it’s a dorm bed in the heart of Soho, a traditional family-run guesthouse on a period square, or a tech-smart room near St Pancras, London’s got it covered. Have a peek at our list of the best cheap hotels in London and save your pennies for exploring.

Generator

With half a Routemaster parked in the lobby and repurposed furniture and street art all over the place, Generator is one of the most fun budget hostels in town, complete with regular gigs and DJ sets in the lounge (pack your earplugs). And at these prices (dorms from £21; private rooms from £78, including towels), it’s busy too. The location in a quiet Bloomsbury mews is central enough for walking around the city, but leafy enough to be away from the mayhem of central London.

 

Clink78

The people behind Clink knew that an old courthouse might make a perfect if incongruous hostel for young folk looking to party, so they had fun with it. Some bedrooms are cells that once held the accused, the courtroom is a TV salon, and there’s comfy, contemporary furniture throughout. Breakfast is included, there’s a licensed bar, and the location is great for pretty much all of central London – and Paris: the Eurostar is 10 minutes’ walk away. Dormitory beds start at £13.

 

YHA London Central

Forget the school camping-trip clichés, YHA is now tech-savvy and design-conscious, but still retains its cheap as chips appeal. The 104 beds at its Oxford St incarnation, one of six in London, is a relaxed spot with beds that start at £23. Rooms are arranged over five floors above a large pizza café and bar (open to non-guests). It’s neat, clean and sensibly throughout, with all the dorms and private en suites only accessible by     keycard. Free wifi in public areas.

 

QBic

The concept of this Dutch import is simple: assemble 171 modular ‘cubi’ rooms in a cheap former office space in a central but slightly dowdy part of the East End and the guests pocket the savings (rooms start at £67). Qbic forgoes staff for self-service at check-in and for the free snack breakfast, though there are people on hand in the snappy-looking lobby should you need anything.

 

The Z Hotel Soho

The rooms are small, and if you’re over six foot the beds are a squeeze, and there are no phones or proper wardrobes, but… really, at this price, for this location, you can’t complain. The attractive en suite rooms start at £69 and come with organic wool mattresses and duvets from Devon, and there’s free wine and cheese in the evenings. There are five other branches in town.

 

Pavilion

Pavilion made a name for itself as one of the capital’s go-to shoot locations for magazines, as well as a somewhat unlikely celeb overnight pitstop – unlikely, that is, given the wallet-friendly pricing (from £69) and lack of fanfare. Forget trendy, clean, pared-down decor, this is a self-styled ‘fashion rock ’n’ roll’ hotel with a riot of OTT interiors and themed boudoirs like the 70s-esque Honky Tonk Afro and Flower Power (heavy on the floral motifs) and Chinese-slanted Enter The Dragon.

 

The Dictionary Hostel

Club kids, you’ve found your home: right at the axis of Kingsland Road and Old Street and so walking – or crawling – distance from Hoxton’s best dance spots. There’s a bar downstairs, Translate, and also a laundrette, a café, a small interior courtyard and an even smaller roof terrace. There are dorm beds and private rooms (with TVs, kettle and coffee) – though don’t come expecting a quiet night in. Breakfast is free and includes the highly prized beigels from nearby Brick Lane. Beds start at £17.

 

The Dictionary Hostel Tune

Tune now has five branches in London, and while it’s not as stylish as the Qbic, Z or Hub – we’re not sure about the alarming lipstick red everywhere – the locations are convenient (this one is brilliantly handy for Liverpool Street), and the vibe is non-fuss. To keep costs low, pretty much everything aside from the bed is an optional add-on, including wifi and towels. Rooms begin at £34.

 

Luxury Inn, De Beauvoir

This family-run bed and breakfast is set in a converted factory in the conservation area of De Beauvoir in Islington and has four en suite rooms that surround a stylish loft space. A self-service breakfast in a shared dining room-lounge area, free run of the kitchen, and a courtyard garden make it feel homely, though if you want to explore, you have a whole of Dalston’s cafés and restaurants around the corner.

 

Garden Court Hotel

For a chance to explore west London without paying west London prices (rooms start at £58), try this independent, family-run hotel on a pretty Victorian street, a stroll from Notting Hill and Hyde Park. Rooms in this grand terraced house have a bright, modern feel and (other than the small ones) plenty of space. The lounge, with its wood floor and leather furniture, is a great place to kick back after a trek through the park after a West End matinee or shopping spree.

 

Stylotel

 The futuristic decor might seem a little incongruous on a street of terraced properties: once inside it’s all royal blue curtains, aluminium panelling and illuminated glassware that looks like something out of the Starship Enterprise. All rooms are clean and well-appointed, and have en suite pod bathrooms, but for a little more space and privacy, try Stylosuites, which are just around the corner above a pub. Rooms start at £99.

 

SoHostel

Decked out in bright primary colours, beanbags, funky London murals and its own roof terrace, this hostel is a strong contender among London’s budget accommodation. SoHostel certainly has a lot going for it with its light, spacious, nicely priced dorm rooms, twins and doubles (starting at £55). After a long day of strolling around the sights, you can enjoy a tipple at the guest-only bar and soak up the views from the roof garden. There’s also free wifi and breakfast is only a fiver. But it’s the location that can’t be beaten. You could spend a week exploring central London from your base here on Dean Street and never have to set foot on – or have to pay for – public transport.