Tips on Selecting Accommodation in London

The cost of accommodation in London and Edinburgh is the highest of any destinations in the United Kingdom, partly because they are the most two popular destinations for visitors. In London in particular, the choice of accommodation is vast, so before you book it pays to know the types of accommodation available, where the cheapest and dearest accommodation is located and which areas afford the best access to the places you intend to visit while you are there.

London offers every type of accommodation imaginable, from hotels, guest houses and Bed and Breakfasts to houses, apartments, cabins and cottages. If you are in London for a short amount of time and are primarily there to sight-see, the closer to the city centre you are, the less time and money you will need to spend travelling to and fro. This is offset by the rise in prices as you get closer to the city centre, and the limited options in terms of types of accommodation that are available in the inner areas.

For the majority of travellers, the choice ends up being between a hotel or an apartment unit. There's not a lot of difference in the cost, but there is a saving on food, as apartments have kitchens, allowing you to have meals "at home" that you have prepared, which is far cheaper than have to have all your meals in cafes and restaurants. Every area of London has at least one mini supermarket, so fresh food that you prepare yourself is readily available.

As a general rule, the further out from the city centre you stay, the cheaper your accommoation will be, irrespective of what type of accommodation you prefer. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Let me give you an example. The Ibis hotel group offers a range of accommodation types, and we have tried them all. On occations we have stayed at their budget hotels, which offer a comfortable bed, a TV, a shower and bathroom but little else in the room. It is basic, but affordable, and if you treat your hotel room as a place to sleep at night and nothing more, then they are perfect. They have such a budget hotel at Houslow, an outer suburb of London just a few stations down the line from Heathrow Airport. In June 2023, a room there was listed at $150 per night. The same room in an identical Ibis hotel at an inner city location was double that rate. A standard room in your average inner city hotel will cost you at least three times more.


Ibis Budget hotel room

The disadvantage with the Hounslow hotel is, if you are using it as a base from which to explore London, it takes an hour to walk to the station and catch a train into the city, and a hour again at the end of the day to get back to the hotel for the night. The cost of train travel to and from the city, plus the two hours lost each day getting there and back must therefore be taken into consideration when planning where you will stay, but if you'd rather save money than time, it is definitely an attractive option.

If you'd rather cut your travelling time down to a minimum whilst in London, inner city accommodation deserves consideration. In terms of hotels, there are all the big name Hotel chains represented, plus a lot of lesser known ones scattered throughout the area. Another type worthy of consideration is your traditional London pub. These places are usually steeped in history and offer a unique holiday experience. We have stayed at is the Wellington Hotel Waterloo, which is right across the road from Waterloo Station. It is the perfect hotel for exploring central London and provides first-class food, drink, live sports and accommodation. Built in 1937, the Hotel Waterloo was celebrated as one of the finest hotels in the city at the height of its popularity in the 1940s and 1950s. It takes its name after Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), the first Duke of Wellington and Prime Minister from 1828-30 and 1834. Victor of the battle of Waterloo in 1815, Waterloo Train Station, Waterloo Bridge, Waterloo Road, and St John’s Waterloo Church are all named in honour of this great victory.


Wellington Hotel Waterloo

On a number of trips, my wife and I have travelled with another couple, and we have found that renting a 2 bedroom apartment through AirBNB has been the way to go. The cost of a 2 bedroom apartment worked out cheaper than two separate hotel rooms, it gave us all the comforts of home (lounge/sofa to sit on, dining table and cooking facilities) and the privacy of our own rooms, and often our own bathrooms. We get on well, and we plan our activities for the day on the previous evening. It also allows those with special dietry needs to have whatever they want, rather than be limited to the few suitable items found on a cafe or restaurant menu.


A typical AirBNB property

Though the four of us are not adverse to walking, we like to be close to the places around London that interest us the most, which are mainly located in the inner city area. We have found the area around Waterloo Station and South Bank to be a very convenient place to stay. The London Eye, Burough Markets, Westiminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden - even the Tower of London - are all within walking distance. When we make a day trip to a location outside of London, we start at Waterloo station and take either an above ground or Underground train to the appropiate departure station. There are plenty of shops, eating places, take-aways, entertainment venues etc. on the doorstep, not to mention Waterloo station (above ground and Underground rail services) and other nearby stations, and AirBNB always has plenty of apartments at different locations and prices to choose from.

On one occasion we stayed in Westminster at an apartment not far from Pimlico underground station. Buckingham Palace was just 10 minutes walk away. The East End, where Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are located, was some distance away, but was easy to access via The Underground. Victoria Station was our closest above-ground station, just 10 minutes walk away. There are plenty of other inner city locations that are just as convenient, it all comes down to personal choice.