Premier Inn hotels

You probably want Premier Inn London County Hall. It is near Westminster Bridge, the London Eye and on the River Thames. I have stayed at this one and liked it very much. The price is reasonable and the rooms are o.k.; not posh. It is close to tube stations and it is walking distance to tourist sights. You are two blocks from Waterloo Station. This area is also served by many buses routes that take you just about anywhere you want to go. Parliament and Westminster Abbey are a short walk across the bridge. From this hotel, you can walk along the south bank of the River Thames to Tate Modern Museum, walk across Millennium Bridge there to St. Paul's Cathedral. Walk back across the bridge, continue walking on the south bank to Shakespeare's Globe theatre; continue walking and you will come to Tower Bridge. Walk over that and you are at the Tower of London. You did not say whether you are going on business or vacation, so I assumed vacation.

Thanks Rebecca, :)
Yes I am going on vacation (a much needed one..lol). Won't be driving so the one you mentioned would be ideal for getting around to all the sights. Is it hard to get to from Heathrow???

I'm afraid I can't speak about London as I'm an English Northerner and others will be able to give you better advice about location. I just wanted to say that I use the Premier Inns a lot whilst travelling in the UK for pleasure. I was recently in Edinburgh for a short stay, and next month am going to Lincolnshire, Somerset and the Cotswolds. They are a budget chain and, when booked well in advance and pre-paid, are very reasonable for the budget traveller (eg £39 a night for double rooms). I've found them very clean and they offer a consistent standard with everything I need. Hope that helps.

Thanks Janet, that does help, although the word 'budget' doesn't seem to apply when booking from the US, because all the web sites I am looking at seem to have the rates at between $150-$200 USD per night, which is around 95-150 pounds per night. Wonder if it would be cheaper booking with the actual hotel???

"Wonder if it would be cheaper to book with the actual hotel?" Have you contacted the hotel to find out? I use various sources to scope out places to stay in my yearly trips to Europe but almost always book thru the actual place where I have decided to stay. I always offer to pay cash if a discount is available and it quite often is. Quite a few of the B&B places I stay in require cash payments. Numerous places to stay that are recommended in RS Guide Books state that you can receive a discount by mentioning that you found the place in a RS guide book and then showing that guide book when you show up to check in. Happy Travels

I've always booked and paid through Premier Inns own website rather than through a booking website - but this was from England of course.

Premier Inn is no longer the budget option it once was, especially in London. I see from their own website that at County Hall in November that they want £160+ on some weekdays. You could quite possibly priceline a genuine 5* hotel for that.

Thank you to Charlie and Janet. I think I will contact the hotel and mention both the RS guide AND the cash and see what they say. :)

Linzi, It is not hard to get to from Heathrow. From Heathrow take the Heathrow Connect or Heathrow Express (more expensive and not worth it) to Paddington Station, then the tube (Bakerloo Line/brown colored line on the tube map) to Waterloo Station. Walk out and you are two blocks from Premier Inn.

Thanks Marco, I did notice that myself...they also don't let you enquire on the web site as to a stay longer than 9 days, so it will involve an email I think. :) Thanks Rebecca, that does sound easy enough, especially after flying for so long I didn't want to get lost on my first day...lol :)

With the prices you and Marco are finding, I would also research some other hotels and B&B's if I were you. Start by looking at the hotels and B&B's in Rick Steves' London book. There are some good prices to be had at some of the small family run places he mentions.

For such a long stay in one place wouldn't a flat be better than a hotel? For such a small amount of train travel will a BritRail pass pay for itself? Wouldn't Advance train tickets, or even Cheap Day Returns be cheaper overall?

Hi Nigel, I did think of that option also, but have no idea where to even start. I didn't know if they would have a 'lease' requirement, how much security deposit etc etc. To get a flat here you have to sign a lease for 6 months to a year, although I don't know if there is a 'short term' option. What would be the requirements, do you know??

Here is a list of flat letting agencies etc compiled by a Tripadvisor poster. There are lots of short term holiday lets in London, just follow the advice in the post to make sure you get a good deal. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1edOOojRjl583uwOv0mf4SOXwdYGzPHq6-QB2eXxTORo/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1

Thanks Linda :) I'm also checking out a site called www.housetrip.com so we will see how things go. :) I definitely need to make sure it's all legal and above board, because my biggest fear would be having someone take my money and then I get there to find the flat occupied by the OWNER with no idea what is going on..lol

you can also get the Piccadilly line ( tube) from Heathrow to Green park and then change to the Jubilee line to Waterloo. This is probably the cheapest way to get to London On transportation and sights check out londonpass.com and visitlondon.com

Thanks for all your suggestions Linda. :) I checked out one of the sites you mentioned www.home-away.co.uk and found the most FABULOUS apartment at Hampton Court. :) It's cheaper than a hotel at just over 500 pounds per week and it comes with everything. Am so excited..lol

There may be an issue with staying at Hampton Court which you have not anticipated. In order to get into the city for sightseeing, you will need to take a 30+ minute train trip into Waterloo. Even with a 7 day season ticket, this may be an expensive proposition. Many years ago I stayed in Crystal Palace and took the train into town, but prices have risen so much since I did it that I am somewhat apprehensive that your savings on the flat may be eaten up with transport costs. Hopefully one of our Londoners will post a response for you with more detailed and up to date information on getting from your flat into the central city.

Hi Roe....I had anticipated the travel issue, and travelling by bus or train isn't a problem. I had looked into the costs involved and bought myself an Oyster Card...which after doing further research confirmed that there is a daily cap limit no matter how much you get on and off the bus or train on a daily basis...which is about the equivalent of a one day all day trip on the Travelcard (about 4 pounds 20p) But even taking that into consideration I'm looking at a flat at Canary Wharf also. It's more expensive (around the same price as a 4 star hotel), but definitely more comfortable than some I've seen and close to everything, with an added view which is awesome..lol. I have time to make up my mind definitely on where I want to stay as I haven't confirmed or booked anything definitely yet. :) But thanks for your advice, it's always appreciated :)

Just FYI - and you may already know this, Canary Wharf is in Zone 2. Off peak Oyster Card daily cap is £7.00; Peak time cap £8.40. Seven Day Travelcard zones 1-2 £29.20. Hampton Court is in Zone 6. Off peak zones 1-6 Oyster Card daily cap £8.50, peak £15.80; Seven Day Travelcard £53.40. Off-peak daily price capping is the most you will be charged for all the journeys you make in a day when you use Oyster to pay as you go on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and National Rail on: Monday-Friday between 09:30-04:30 (the following day)
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays between 04:30-04:30 (the following day) Peak or off-peak fares and daily price caps are based on when you touch in, not when your service leaves. The Peak charge is if you use any services between 04:40 and 09:30 Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Where did you find a daily cap of £4.20?

Hi Nigel, I learned more from your post than I did searching the internet...lol :) I got the cap limit from an 'Oyster Card' PDF file that was on the web site where I ordered the Oyster Card, but I probably read it wrong judging by your post, and knowing me, I did. Looking back at the paperwork it says: Zone 1-6 $GBP 4.80 Peak and $GBP 2.90 Off-peak.
One day travel card $GBP 7.50 I must admit I am used to the Australian bus system where you 'tag' on and 'tag off' and if you are within a 2 hour window you don't get charged again, so you can travel anywhere within that 2 hour window for one fee. So if $GBP 7.50 is the most I would pay in a day for multiple trips and around $GBP 2.00 for a Zone 1 trip during peak time, I guess in a way the Oyster Card is going to pay for itself right?? With any luck the flat I eventually choose will be within walking distance of some of the sights I want to see, because I love walking. :) I got the Oyster Card primarily for those days where I can't walk to sights. :) Hoping I am not missing anything..lol :)

I'm just writing a quick reply so I haven't read the other posts here and apologize if someone has already made the suggestion that maybe you could stay in an apartment for less. VRBO and Airbnb have lots in London.

Linzi, Check out the London School of Economics website. They rent rooms and apartments to tourists; even when school is in session and the dorms are filled, they still have rooms or a studio apartment for rent. Some of the buildings, because they are mainly dorms, have a great, cheap cafeteria on the 1st floor. Their website is: http://www.lsetopfloor.co.uk/ http://www.lsetopfloor.co.uk/maps.htm Click on the column on the left on the map page for more details and photos of each building. All apartments have ensuite, include kitchens and you have access to student facilities like laundry rooms.

Thanks to Rebecca and Maggie :) I've checked out renting an apartment and it has worked out cheaper. I did look at the London School of Economics and even though they look gorgeous, the rents are more than I've been offered. The locations are great, but being nearly 50 years old I'm concerned about the noise of other tenants, nearby pubs etc etc. Am getting old I guess...lmao :) But I've been offered a great apartment with gorgeous views on Canary Wharf for $GBP 100 per night and everything is included, from all the pots and pans, sheets, towels to a big screen tv, stereo, DVD, washer and dryer and a gorgeous balcony that I can sit out on at night and watch the boats go by. :) The Thames Clipper stops about a 5 minute walk up the road from the apartment and from there I can get right up to where I need to go..anywhere else and it's just a simple bus trip away. I'm nothing if not adventerous and like to walk...lol :) But thanks to all for your suggestions and advice. :) It's been very much appreciated :)

Linz the Premier inn Kennsington Earls Court is in a great area, walk to two great museums,( Victoria and Albert and Natural History) two good tube stations ( Earls Court and Gloucester) and two grocers,,I stayed on same street ( at Base2stay) and loved the area.. and I was solo too. The rates I am seeing for your dates seemed to average out to about 700 GBPS for 7 nights.

Try Base2stay Kensington, I LOVED it!Great area , and bonus, rooms have mini kitchenette( no stove) ,down duvets, and clean modern washrooms. Rooms are small, but I thought it was well laid out,, and staff were very nice. For your dates they are quoting 96 GBP special deal ( non refundable!! ) or 106GBP for normal deal.

Hi Linzi! My husband and I stayed at Premier Inn at Earl's Court. British Air was offering 2 free nights with flight ticket purchase. I thought that the Inn was cozy and was convenient with its close proximity to the Earl's Court Tube station. The rooms are clean, the staff friendly, and the "buffet" breakfast worth it. I hope this helps.

We stayed at the Premier Inn next to the King's Cross metro station. It was very nice and clean and very close to what we needed for a portion of our visit to London. We paid 114 British Pounds per night. This hotel is one block from St. Pancras should be going to Paris on the Eurostar. It's two blocks from the British Library which we thoroughly enjoyed. However, it is out of the way for most other tourist areas of London.

Thanks to everyone for all the additional replies, but I decided to rent an apartment for £700 per week. I'm close enough to what I want to visit by either bus, rail or ferry, plus I have the luxury of staying in a fully furnished apartment right on the Thames, and I don't have to worry about leaving anything in the room.
The web site was recommended to me by someone here and I must admit it was the best decision I have ever made :)

Glad you worked it out! Just for others interested in Premier Inns, we have booked three different Premier Inn hotels for our upcoming September trip, mainly because the website is so user-friendly and the prices are really low. I signed up for their email list many months ago and am so glad I did. I get an email once every few weeks about special deals they're having. I have been able to make a booking and then cancel it when a better price came along. After doing that several times, I'm at a point where I've booked non-flexible rates, so I hope we're able to stick to our itinerary, but I've gotten some amazing deals on rooms.

For those of you still interested in PI's, take a look at the Southwark PI.