London Lodging 2023 - hyperventilating
 

We are arriving in London early July, 2023 and will be staying for 6 nights. My husband and I visited over 12 years ago and this time we will be bringing our 12 yr old daughter so there will be 3 of us total. I realize London is expensive and was hoping to spend $300/night or less per night, but after some basic searches for both hotels and flats, I'm hyperventilating! Is this budget unrealistic?

Open to the neighborhood where we stay, but it has to be safe and ideally relatively close to a Tube station. If it's a hotel, we don't need luxury. We usually stay at locally owned, smaller boutique hotels vs. chains. However, at this point, budget will drive our decision so also open to renting a flat, which we have never done. Any guidance and/or suggestions for a realistic budget and area to stay?

YOTEL London City, The Kilburn Arms, Astor Court Hotel.
All these are under US$300.

The exchange rate is in your favor but $300 is still 'only' £245 so not at all generous for London. Maybe look at Premier Inns. They are mostly modern and many are near tube stations. Rates vary quite a bit both by location and by date. The PI at County Hall next to the Eye is probably above your budget but most of the others should fit.

. . . just did a search for six nights July 3-9 and even County Hall works for your budget. A Family room pre paid - but refundable up to 28 days ahead - is £190, and £214 w/o advance payment.

Other PI's will be less.

Didn't see cdnyul's post - I realyl wouldn't recommend a Yotel for a family. The rooms are really small and the triples are actually bunk beds.

. . . and the Astor Court triples (according to the website only one still available) runs nearly £400 (£391) per night for the same 6 nights I used above

While I'm at it checked the The Kilburn Arms and nothing is available in July. Plus its a pub so might not be what you want for your 12yo with the noise etc.

If you don’t want anything fancy, you could try the St Giles Hotel near Tottenham Court Road tube station:

https://www.stgileshotels.com/st-giles-london

The St Giles is definitely cheap --- but it has no triple availability in July except for a couple of nights. They'd have to book two doubles/twins which puts them well over budget

Really, how interesting.

I can see availability of two classic standard triple rooms from 9th July for 6 nights @ £129 per night plus other dates too. Would you like the screenshot?

" . . . triple rooms from 9th July"

the OP will be in London in 'early July' for 6 nights which is why I specifically used dates in the first week. Yes, it will help if kinberlyb comes back and provides their actual dates which might make a huge difference- but I wouldn't think July 9 - July 15 falls in early July.

(when I plugged in my 'spec' dates I got messages that no triples are available in July several date including July 8 )

Must be something on AirBnB in the burbs. Where the poor child does not have share a room with a snoring father:lol:

PI are great deals and if you sleep badly you don't have to pay

I really like Premier Inns - a modern, cookie cutter type of hotel near a tube station is exactly what I'm looking for in a hotel. I usually stay at the Premier Inn County Hall or the one at Waterloo, both of which are very close to Waterloo station which I like because it has access to several tube lines.

I stayed in Premier Inns my last trip to the UK, for the first time (I needed elevators). I was impressed. In London at stayed at the St. Pancras location, which was also convenient for transport.

I checked the B&Bs I have used on Gower Street and early July is a problem for availability, especially the weekend of the 8th and 9th - the Ridgemount is completely sold out that weekend.

Thank you both.
Janisj - you are correct. We arrive July 2nd and depart July 8th.

Out of curiosity, would renting a flat be better in early July (2-8) in terms of price? We are open to location - again just a safe area and ideally closer to a tube station.

I will definitely look into PI hotels as well. Thank you all who have shared.

I always prefer a flat when staying more than a few days -- but both of my go-to sources for budget flats have closed up, one converting to corporate accommodation and the other retired from the business.

Most flats -- like with London Perfect, or an apart hotel like Citadines will cost considerably more than mid level hotels and definitely more than a Premier Inn. I did a quick search on booking and found about a dozen (out of hundreds) that fit in your budget. Most of those have dreadful reviews.

BUT one stood out and if it interests you I'd jump on it ASAP since it is currently available for your dates. A one bedroom + sofabed -with only 4 reviews but very good ones. The site does say "you're in luck. This apartment is not usually available' so I assume it is actually someone's home and is only available when they are away. I can't make the link work but it is listed as

"Veeve - Panoramic in Pimlico"

Search with exactly that name on booking.com and you can see it. It is on the river close to the Pimlico tube station and Tate Britain.

We have used Plum Guide - I plugged in your dates and found a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom flat called West Ken Penthouse for $2,001 total (just above your budget at $334/night) but you have a kitchen so could potentially save some money on meals out.

Just look at The Hoxton Hotel and Hotel Citizen M - budget variants and good location

Welcome to Fodors Natali. Unfortunately the Hoxton is well above the OP's budget - their cheapest room for 3 during the first week of July is £460 / $570 B&B per night (£415 w/o breakfast). And the rooms that are actually large enough for 3 to be comfortable are even higher - £480/night

And the Citizen M Tower does not have family or triple rooms so is not an option . . .