London on a Shoestring
 

We are visiting London this summer and need a cheap place to stay. We (couple + baby) are travelling on a shoestring. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Please advise how cheap is cheap - are we talking 200GBP a day or less?

Good point, cheap is relative. We are poor. 50GBP max.

How old is the baby?

And do you need a separate bed for the baby?

The baby is two - but we can all share a double bed.

You may want to stay at Oxbridge Apartments. A studio is around 50 pounds per night. They are very basic but offer facilities a family with a baby can really use. They have a small kitchen with a refrigerator and stove. A huge Sainsburys grocery store is less than two blocks away. An inexpensive self-service laundrymat is about three blocks away.

The location is great - about ten minutes from the Glouchester Road underground station (served by Picadilly, Circle, and District lines) with direct access to Heathrow Airport, Victoria Station and trains to Gatwick, the theatre district, and many tourist sights.

The apartments are in a very safe part of London. The website is www.oxrg.demon.co.uk/

There have been many psotings about Oxbridge on Fodors; you may want to do a search and view other comments.

We have stayed here almost every year for the past ten years. They are not for the type of traveller who expects room service, fresh towels every day, and luxury. They are a great place to stay if you are on a budget and want or need cooking facilities and a refrigerator.

If for any reason you don't want a flat, look into the Arosfa hotel, you can do a search on it here (my comments are included) and at www.tripadvisor.com (ditto).
A double is about 50 GBP I believe.
I saw it, it's small (the bathroom is tiny) but the place is very clean and well-located. Breakfast provided every morning. No elevator or a/c.

I meant to type, that I think a double is about 55 pounds.

M_K

Do you really think that GBP200 or less is on a shoestring.

Considering a basic room at the Westbury starts at about this price I fail to see how you can call this travelling on a shoestring.

Please try and be helpful and constructive rather than bang on about the fancy hotels you stay in, the small amounts of cash that you change (which are more than a month's wages for many people on this board), the fancy wines and champagnes that you drink and the pretentious and naf clubs that you hang out in.

One of the Ibis hotels might work - although I think the closer-in ones would probably be over your limit. But you can check http://www.ibishotel.com . You might want to phone to confirm bedding arrangements.

You would want to confirm their charges, but try the CELTIC HOTEL, 61 GUILFORD STREET, RUSSELL SQUARE, WCIN 1DD. It is old, somewhat quaint, clean, excellent staff, excellent food, next door to a pub, less than a block from the Tube station, and very reasonably priced.

the last phone number I have for them
was (from U.S.)

011-44-207-837-6737

Better check on that as it seems to me that some codes changed in London recently. Good luck.

Whichever option you choose, I would check on the bedding. European double beds are often much smaller than American, and it could really be a tight squeeze for 3. I would consider getting a triple, even if the toddler seems small enough to fit. At any rate, you have to mention your child when you make the booking, because of room occupancy and rate issues.

I live in London so have little idea about hotels but you may want to try an organisation called Servas (www.servasbritain.u-net.com) - they put you in touch with families who are happy to put you up free of charge, provided you're willing to reciprocate (ie have people stay with you - you can pick and choose). Now that's LOW cost!

I have reservations at the Cherry Court Hotel in London for April for 48 pounds a night for a double(bathroom included in room). I found it through the Rick Steve's guidebooks. It is centrally located (near Victoria Station), clean, small and family run. It gets great recommendations on the Rick Steves' board. The only caveat is that you don't get the famous English breakfast. A basket with juice, cereal bars and fruit is left outside your room each morning.

You can't predict this in advance, but I saw when perusing the www.ibishotel.com web site that they were just now offering last-minute specials for Ibis London Wembley (not the most convenient location, but possibly endurable) for 29.95 pounds, and I believe these rooms would accommodate 2 parents and 1 child.

However, the regular rates are 39.95 GBP and 49.95 GBP for the summer, so this might work anyway. Check out just how inconvenient it would be beforehand, though.

This is NOT the best board for "cheap". I suggest reading the info on www.ricksteves.com and Lonely Planet. (Oh, and just ignore M_K... she is a figment of her own imagination!)

About to make our fourth visit to London since 2001, and the Oxbridge Apts is the only place we've ever stayed. It's"home" now when we're there. Can't beat the location. I do wish sometimes that the kitchen had a microwave oven, but that's a very small quibble.

Have you thought about bidding for a room on Priceline? You can get some very good deals. Before bidding, do a lot of research on www.biddingfortravel.com.

I'd go to www.smoothhound.com and look for B&Bs about 20 minutes away by tube for the cheaper price and peace and quiet. I like being away from the noise of Central London. However, I realize lots like being where the action is. But you will save, especially with a tube travel card.

Then again I like Dorothy's suggestion!

Those pret a manger sandwich shops are plentiful and provide cheap food that is nutrious.
Also, there are some flat rentals a bit out of the way that are cheap. Do searchs on goggle.