London Hotels

Hilton is having a sale through Monday. I just booked a couple of nights over Columbus Day weekend, and they had a few options (some in really good locations) for between $190 and $210 per night. I didn't evaluate September prices though - probably a little bit higher than early October.

Try the Premier Inn chain. About as cheap as you get for a reasonable basic hotel: https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/home.html

Both Paddington and St Pancras areas are good. Close to the centre with tube stations and buses nearby.
Privtae bathroom is a given, unless you are staying in a hostel.
Prices will be in £, not $.

There is a Premier Inn at St. Pancras. That is a fine location.

https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-st-pancras.html

There is not one at Paddington, but there are lots more all around London.

The London Elizabeth Hotel is a 7 minute walk to Paddington Station and a two minute walk from Lancaster Gate Tube Station, and cross the street from Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens.
Rhodes Hotel is a five minute walk to Paddington Station.

I'll also suggest the Premier Inn St. Pancras. Directly across from the British Library. Good location. Clean. Private Bath. Free wifi, cable tv, tea/coffee maker, comfy bed, virtually soundproof.

Almost any of the Premier Inns in London will work well. They are budget oriented but run well. However, don't expect "English charm." They are more modern.

I would like to recommend Luna Simone Hotel. A en-suite double goes for £140 per night. It’s about a 15 minute walk from Victoria Station. Also the #24 bus line is right outside their door. Also about a 5-7 minute walk to the Pimlico tube station.

If you can find a sale-the Hilton on Edgeware Rd, Paddington, Trafalgar, are great locations and Euston Rd isn't bad either-it's walking distance to the British Museum.

I really liked Vancouver Studios, just north of Kensington Gardens and a 5 min. walk to the Bayswater and Queensway tube stops. Each studio has a mini kitchen and a private bathroom. If you're staying for a week or so, I would email the hotel and ask if they can offer you a special rate. When I spent 10 days there, they offered me a lower rate than what I saw on their website.

There is no elevator though, if that's a concern.

Another vote for Premier Inn St Pancras. I'm a bit of a hotel snob but I found the hotel to be perfectly adequate for my needs at the time. Very quiet, a very comfortable bed and pleasant staff. Skip the breakfast though, there are far better options elsewhere.

We also liked the Luna and Simone two years ago and will return next month. Good value for the money, convenient location. Breakfast was included. No elevator, and some rooms had many steps.

Point A hotel in Paddington offers en-suite rooms and is a an 8-10 minute walk from Paddington Station and 5 minutes from Edgeware Road Station (Bakerloo, District, Hammersmith & City, & Circle lines).

Does anyone else have anything to say (good or bad) about the Point A Hotel Chain? I'm wondering about the Westminster, Paddington and Kings Cross locations.

Point A is a newish budget chain. Some rooms don’t have windows.

I’ve stayed at the Kings Cross one twice and thought it was a really good budget choice. One room was small, clean, characterless with a window overlooking an alleyway. Another room was even smaller with quirky modular furniture and disco lights, again with a window overlooking not much. The public areas were pleasant and very clean and modern. It’s on a road that is safe & busy although a bit gritty.

A colleague stayed in the Paddington one & didn’t like it at all.

I noticed there’s a Point A near Liverpool Street station in a good location on a lovely road of old Georgian houses near Spitalfields market, which I’ve earmarked for another trip.

As long as you realise they’re designed as a clean no-frills budget option, one step up from hostels, they’re absolutely fine.

Here’s the Liverpool Street one - I think it’s a fab location, a bit hipstery and not quite central but excellent for transport: https://www.pointahotels.com/our-hotels/liverpool-street/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-OHkBRBkEiwAoOZql3stMjP_0jGJQacq-1HdhIvvTmIO2XAUECIpi6VXIzQtCn1IPVXWrRoCRKUQAvD_BwE

kiltsnwhisky and Person Who Writes Stuff,
Thank you for posting about Point A hotels. Hadn't heard of them, but I'm a fan of hub hotels and Point A seems along the same model so it's nice to know about them.

When researching the Point A hotels, you want a room with a window. These rooms will cost a few dollars/pounds/euros more than the windowless rooms; the windowless rooms are noisy due to the Underground trains.

Perhaps I am best off giving a list of the places we will be going and see whereabouts it would be best for us to stay. Coming into Paddington Station, London Eye, Big Bus Tour, Tower of London, British Museum, using the Victoria Station to go to Windsor and heading to Paris via St Pancras. Any ideas? Thanks!

You have already been given stellar ideas. No need to ignore them. Research those mentioned to see if they meet your criteria.

If you get an Oyster cards you will EASILY be able to see ALL THE SITES. Public transport in London is great.

Lastly, so it IS September when you are going?!

Claudia,
After going back and forth between September and October I've settled on September. I did research the hotels mentioned but it seems the ones I like best are near Paddington Station (although I'm giving serious thought to the Premier Chain as well). I've seen some mention on other feeds that the Paddington Station isn't a great place to be. So, I though about getting something more centrally located to where I plan to visit...

Which would you suggest?

jkubesheski. the Paddington area is great, nothing to worry about. My friend and I stayed in the the time we were in London (without our husbands), we walked to the hotel from Paddington Station at night we wasn’t concerned at all.

The area around Paddington isn't bad. It's where I often stay.

I simply jumped on the Premiere Inn bandwagon near St Pancras because this January I discovered the newly opened Coal Bins Drop near Granary Square which is behind the St Pancras train station. May or maynot be of interest to you. I was fascinated by the whole redevelopment of the area, especially the Gas Towers conversion.

St Pancras area a bit more busy than the Paddington area.

As far as the Paddington area you'll find one of my favorite restaurants Tudkin which is about a 3 block walk from Paddington Station. Also a favorite pub but like where I stay I'll keep that secret.

Both areas have easy transport via the Underground. In the Paddington area I prefer using the Central line from Lancaster Gate.

If you like to walk along the Regents Canal it's by St Pancras. If you'd prefer to walk in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens then opt for Paddington.

As far as September or October I'd still opt for October but that's a personal preference. I'm normally in London in Nov, Dec or Jan because of my work schedule and because I prefer the shorter days and colder temps.

If you want to be more central than stay nearer St. Pancras station. Or look at other Premier Inns around the center of the city. Just be aware it will cost more than staying slightly further out.

Staying at Paddington will add about 10-15 minutes to the average sight you mentioned. Also take a look at some hotels around Victoria Station.