London is full of things to see and do, but if you’re on a tight budget it can be an expensive place to visit. When you book at our great-value London budget hotels, you can enjoy a great break for less. There are plenty of brilliant things to do in London if you want to spend less – when you book at our budget hotels there’s no need to compromise on your break.
The first step is figuring out the best place to stay. If you’re on a budget, focus on saving money on accomodation – try to avoid the more expensive areas in Central London and places surrounded by major attractions. It’s really easy to get around London, and you’ll one of our hotels basically everywhere across the capital. With a booking at our Premier Inn London Greenford hotel for example, you’re just a 15-minute journey on the Tube from Westfield Shopping Centre and only 25 minutes from Oxford Circus, perfect for a budget break in London.
It can be more economical to book a stay closer to Central London and save money on travel with everything you want to see in walking distance or close by on the Tube. We’d recommend our Premier Inn King’s Cross hotel as the best destination for that on the border of North London, with so many fantastic attractions nearby and a central location next to the station, which means pretty much every London attraction is only a short journey away. Generally Central and West London hotels tend to be more expensive than hotels in North, South and East London, but it really depends on what’s close by.
Budget hotels in London
London Beckton
London City (Tower Hill)
London County Hall
London Docklands (Excel)
London Victoria
London Edgware
London Elstree / Borehamwood
London Euston
London Greenford
London Hammersmith (Ravenscourt Park)
London Hampstead
London Kensington (Earl's Court)
London Kensington (Olympia)
London Harrow
London Kew Bridge
London Kings Cross
London Putney Bridge
London Southwark (Bankside)
London Tower Bridge
London Wembley Park
Cheap things to do in London
Let’s not beat around the (Shepherd’s) Bush. From the London Eye to a trip to the zoo, do everything on London’s must-see list and it could end up costing you a pretty penny. That’s where our London guide comes in. It’s full of affordable things to do that will give you a real flavour of this great city.
From fabulous free attractions such as the Natural History Museum and the Tate Modern, to unique events such as the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace, we’ll show you things to do in London that will cost you exactly nought pence.
And to get your budget-friendly London trip off to the best possible start, why not book into one of our clean, comfortable and, above all, cheap London hotels? Perfect if you’re on the thrifty side, there are several over the city, all ready and waiting to give you a right royal welcome, without costing you a king’s ransom.
Our London guide includes:
Attractions
Admire the natural wonder of Hyde Park, soak up the Gothic splendour of Westminster Abbey or take a walk over Tower Bridge. And all for free! There are plenty of budget-friendly attractions, and our London attractions guide can help you get to them.
Shopping
Packed with malls and department stores, London’s such a shopaholic’s paradise, you could blow your entire city break budget in one spree. Luckily, if you’re watching the pennies, there are plenty of budget shopping options on offer too, thanks to the city’s street markets.
Activities
It’s time to indulge in some excitement and experience the more adventurous things to do in London. But if indoor climbing, 3D cinemas and horse-riding aren’t for you, there are cycle trails you can tackle for free.
Places to eat
Thought eating out was going to be pricey? Not with our London food guide. We’ve found the cheapest ways to get a Michelin-starred lunch, a cute little Italian that’s perfect for a pre-show dinner and the places to go for the best street food in the city.
Nightlife
Even if you’re on a budget, staying in is not an option when you’re on a city break to swinging London. Luckily, it’s not hard to find the best nightlife in London – every corner of the capital is crammed with pubs full of character and you don’t need to be dressed to the nines to get into them, either.
Culture
From the Tate Modern to the Science Museum, London’s many galleries and museums are not only the best in their field, they’re free to enter, too. Whether you’re into contemporary art, the natural world or physics, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Entertainment
Thought the hottest tickets in town always came with an eye-watering price tag? Not in London. Top-name events like Winter Wonderland and the Notting Hill Carnival don’t need to cost you a penny, so you’ll have more money to spend on mulled wine and rum cocktails.
Getting around
No matter which one of our budget London hotels you end up in, you won’t be far from a Tube station or bus stop. Just remember though that you can't pay bus fares with cash - you’ll need to use contactless payment, in the form of a contactless credit or Oyster card. Our London transport guide explains it all.
What’s the cheapest part of London to stay in?
Generally the outskirts of London are lot cheaper to stay in than Central London itself. It goes without saying, but at Premier Inn you get a brilliant stay at great-value prices and our Premier Inn hotels on the outskirts of London make a break in the big city much more affordable. There’s plenty to choose from, but we recommend our Premier Inn London Beckton, London Greenford and London Harrow hotels as a starting point for getting the most out of London, and it’s still really easy (and pretty cheap) to travel into Central London to see everything on your sightseeing list.
Where should I stay in London on a budget?
Try to plan your trip before you arrive. If you’re coming to London to see a gig at the O2 for example, book at our Premier Inn London Greenwich hotel to save yourself extra money travelling and enjoy Greenwich Park, the free Maritime Museum and much more in the area. If you’re coming to see all the top sights in Central London like Big Ben, the London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral, try booking at one of our hotels on the outskirts of London like our Premier Inn London Greenford hotel and taking a 25-minute journey on the Tube rather than paying higher prices to stay in Central London. Everyone’s budget is different, and no matter where you’re thinking of going, you’ll find a Premier Inn hotel nearby to meet your needs.
What is free to do in London?
Most of London’s biggest museums are completely free. The British Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum have world-class exhibits and are all free to enter. London’s parks are all free too and cover miles and miles of grassland, forests and hills. Hyde Park and Regent’s Park near Buckingham Palace are both massive and perfect for a family day out in the sun.
Are there hotels in London with free parking?
There’s free on-site parking at our Premier Inn London Greenford hotel on the outskirts of London. Our Premier Inn London Harrow and Edgware hotels both have on-site parking for £5 and £8 per 24 hours. Our Premier Inn London Southwark hotel has a very limited number of chargeable on-site parking spots. Unfortunately, there’s no free parking at any of our Central London hotels, but there is chargeable off-site parking at NCP London Bridge.