London Hotels
Accommodations in London are as varied as they come, which makes it easy to find the right hotel for your budget and your needs. These hotels are rated by stars, with 5 stars being the most luxurious and 1 star being the least expensive. It is important to note that space in London is limited, which makes hotel rooms small, very small, even in four star hotels. If space is what you are looking for it is going to cost you, but it is usually worth it if luxury is what you are looking for as well. Also, there aren’t really any Bed & Breakfast’s within the city limits of London in the traditional sense. Most hotels within the city, however, do include a full breakfast.
5 Star: From the Ritz to the Sanderson, luxury hotels are easy to come by in London. From service to space the 5 star hotels are definitely worth their money. The concierge can assist you in any aspect of your stay and give you any tips you need to make your holiday perfect. It is easy to book any of these hotels online but it is important to book these hotels in advance as they do tend to book up quickly especially during high season in the summer months and around the Christmas holiday.
4 Star: It is easy to find 4 star hotels and check availability online while you are planning your trip. The main difference between 5 star hotels and 4 star hotels is space. 4 star hotels are still going to be extremely clean and nice but rooms will be a lot smaller than you might expect and bathrooms are small as well. Also, be prepared if your double bed is simply two twin mattresses pushed together. Because of this there tends to be a big price difference between 5 star hotels and 4 star hotels. Some of these smaller boutique hotels have been around for a long time and have great histories. A large majority of these boutique hotels can be found in South Kensington. The Brompton Hotel in South Kensington has a really quaint feel and is in a prime location. It is maybe a 30 second walk to the South Kensington tube stop and is next to loads of bars and pubs.
3 Star: You can find a three star hotel in virtually any village of London. The great thing is that these hotels tend to be very moderately priced. They may be even smaller than the 4 star hotels but they are still very clean and accommodating and offer great breakfast. If you are on more of a spontaneous trip 3 star hotels will often have same day openings. If you find yourself in London without a place to stay, try going to the tourist office and having them book you a place. The charge is 3 pounds to have the office book it for you but it can often be worth it if you are having trouble finding a place on your own. When booking 3 star and lower hotels remember that the price is per person as opposed to per room pricing. There is a load of 3 star hotels in Victoria (near Buckingham Palace). Hutton’s Hotel is a clean but very small hotel near the Victoria tube stop and if it is unavailable there are 10-20 other hotels just like it along Belgrave St.
2-1 Star and Hostels: Very small rooms and often, shared bathrooms but these are definitely the value prices. If you are on a tight budget these accommodations will be your best bet. Again, 1-2 star hotels can be found in virtually every village in London. Thus, just because you are spending less money you don’t have to sacrifice being in a convenient location. These hotels can be a bit less clean and are often noisier than the more expensive hotels. Hostels definitely speak to a certain demographic and are great for those traveling through Europe alone because they rent by the bed. In London, the Astor Kensington is in a great location, in Kensington, and is reasonably clean. If you are traveling with two people, however, that can share a bed often times hostels end up being more expensive than 2 or 3 star hotels.