Ibis Whitechapel London

The reason it is so much cheaper is that it isn't an Ibis. Traditional Ibis hotels have a red pillow sign. This is an Ibis Budget, which used to be called Étap, with a blue pillow sign. They are definitely at the budget end of the Accor empire.

I haven't stayed at this particular one but they tend to be fairly similar - small rooms with a small double bed over which at 90 degrees is a bunk bed, and they have a modular shower room containing a shower, sink and toilet. There is normally one medium to small window.

They will likely be clean and very simple. Have a look at their website: http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-8033-ibis-budget-london-whitechapel/room.shtml

The location is on a very busy road, but I expect that they have made an effort with soundproofing. There is a bus stop outside the door. The nearest tube station is Whitechapel which has the District Line towards The Tower, The City, and along the north bank of the Thames towards Westminster, passing the theatre district. It follows the route of the southern part of the Circle Line. The other line is the Hammersmith and City line around the top of the route of the Circle Line to Paddington, so between the two lines you can describe about three quarters of the Circle Line route.

Whitechapel is in Zone 2, the next station to the west, serving the same lines, is in Zone 1 - Aldgate East - which is a bit further away.

Whitechapel station also serves the East London overground line but it is unlikely to go anywhere a usual tourist would go.

The area around the hotel is where one of the original Jewish areas was, then the Huguenots arrived, and now it is where a large number of Bangladeshi and Pakistani families went; now they are being displaced by others trying to climb the ladder.

Whitechapel Bell Foundry is very nearby which has over the centuries cast the bells for many many churches; and they were the founders who cast The Liberty Bell which is in Philadelphia.

I would refer to the area as the East End.

Your closest tourist sight would be The Tower of London and Tower Bridge, both about 2 km away (about 1.24 miles).

Hi Nigel; we stayed in the Ibis Brussels and it wasn't bad and the reviews on TripAdvisor are relatively good??? Would you consider it a dangerous area to walk from the tube, bus at night?

If we did stay there, is it expensive to use public transit to get around? We're staying only 3 nights.
Thanks for all you information...
Jean

I stayed at this hotel 2 years ago and had no problem with it. I will say that there is no separate bathroom area. The shower opens directly into the room and the toilet door is a swinging door vs one that closes and latches. Unless you're a couple, or really good friends, you might chafe at the lack of privacy.

Also ask for a bath mat at the front desk.

We took the 205 bus quite a bit as my friend didn't like the tube. I had no problems walking around at night, but my friend is a bit sheltered and felt the area was sketchy.

I would agree with Miranda that the area close to the hotel is not dangerous but might be intimidating for people unused to diverse cities. There are some spots in the wider area that I would consider genuinely potentially dangerous for tourists so maintain awareness of your surroundings when exploring.

Do be clear, Jean, that this is one step down (quite a large step) from Ibis. The hotel, like all Accor properties, will have what most people need, but not what some people want.

It will be fine as long as you don't expect all the amenities of an Ibis. I agree with Philip about the wider area.

It would not be prudent to wander some of the high rise housing estates.

Regarding the transportation costs, the costs will be the same as if you were anywhere else in central London. Zones 1 and 2 are equivalent. Browse around this England Forum and look at some of the many questions about London transportation to become familiar with costs and options.

As you will see elsewhere, it will depend on where you are going, and how you prefer to travel, and what order; as well as where you are landing and flying from....

We recently spent a week in the East End, staying at an apartment just around the corner from the Whitechapel station (2 tube lines and an overground) and across the street from a large Sainbury's grocery store. The area is ethnically diverse with Caucasians nearly numbering the same as Middle Easterns. We LOVED the area. It felt totally safe no matter the time of day or night. Very family oriented and the Whitechapel station is quite versatile. Sorry that I can't comment on your motel choice but the area itself is awesome. Nigel gave a true review of the area.

I'm in agreement with the above poster. I also stayed in an apartment not far from this hotel and loved the area. Lots of grocery stores and coffee shops, close to Spitalfields market and the tube, and best of all, a short walk to Tayyabs!

Oh, definitely have the lambchops at Tayyab's. Avoid the breakfast at the hotel. There is a Tesco Metro and a Sainsburys both within walking distance of the hotel. Or you can walk to E Pelicci's in Bethnal Green.

I've just noticed that this weekend there is no Underground service to Whitechapel because of Crossrail construction work. And now that I think of it, I have seen that on weekends before.....

The Hammersmith and City is not running beyond Liverpool Street; the District Line not beyond Aldgate East.

That may or may not be the case for the weekend you are there, but it is something you may want to keep in mind.