Let’s be honest: while London is undeniably incredible, it can also be a bit heavy on the wallet, so knowing where to cut back on a few pennies here and there is essential if you’re on a budget. London accommodation is usually one of the more expensive things you’ll spend on during a trip to London, but there are several ways you can cut back and make sure you’re getting the most out of your money. Whether you’re planning on staying at a high-end hotel or a budget hostel, here are our top suggestions on how to save on your London accommodation.
Stay outside of the city centre
While the allure of being within a stone’s throw of the buzzy city centre and London landmarks is tempting, staying a little outside the city centre is one of the best ways to save on your London accommodation. If you stay in the main areas of London, you’ll end up paying for it, not just with the place you decide to stay, but with everything surrounding it – food, shopping, bars, all of it. So avoid places like Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street, and opt for a little further afield like Camden, Aldgate, Peckham or Greenwich (plus so many more). All of these offer a taste of local life without the eye-watering price tags (relatively speaking). Plus, many of these places are still fairly close to the city centre and its sights, you just have to hop on public transport to reach them.
Visit during off-peak months
As with most places, visiting during off-peak times will be cheaper than visiting during peak times. Generally, off-peak tends to be around January, February and March while the summer and festive months are peak. If you can arrange your trip to take place during the less popular months, you’ll undoubtedly cut back on accommodation costs.
Image Courtesy of Citadines
Stay somewhere with a kitchen
As incredible as the food and drink scene in London is, this is definitely one of the things that will end up burning a hole in your pocket. For that reason, we recommend choosing to stay in a place that comes with its own kitchen. Doing so lets you choose which days you want to dine out and balance it out by cooking at home. Even just stocking up on some groceries for snacks and drinks will help cut costs down. Apart-hotels and hostels usually have kitchens – take a look at our article, 19 Apart-Hotels In London That Are Better Than An Airbnb, if you’re looking to book one. However, we are by no means suggesting you shouldn’t explore London’s incredible food scene. We’ve got everything from world-class restaurants and bars to traditional London pubs and street food markets, so don’t miss out; just choose wisely.
Image Courtesy of Hostel One
Stay in a hostel
Booking a glitzy London hotel may be tempting since we boast our fair share of them, but opting for something a little more budget-friendly will help save on your London accommodation. We have a bunch of great hostels that are way cheaper than hotels in some of the best spots in the city; many of them have dorm rooms, which you book per bed (the most affordable option), as well as private rooms for those who are past their room-sharing days. Most hostels have a kitchen, so you can save some money there, and they’re an excellent opportunity to meet other like-minded travellers. Also, if you’re travelling with a group, then you might even be able to book an entire dorm room, meaning you’ll have the whole room for yourselves. Just be sure to check if this includes your own bathroom or a shared one. We have an article recommending some of our favourite hostels in London to help when you’re considering how to save on your London accommodation.
Image Courtesy of Locke
Extend your stay
You might be heading to London for a flying visit, but we may be able to convince you to stay longer when we tell you it could be more cost-effective. This may sound contradictory, but many places offer a cheaper rate for those who stay longer, so shop around and play around with your dates to see if that applies to the places you’re looking at. Apart-hotels, private apartments, and even some hotels tend to offer this option, so keep an eye out for this when you’re booking your London accommodation. Our article, Best Apart-Hotels In London For Long Stays, recommends some of our favourite apart-hotels for longer stays.
Opt for an apart-hotel if you’re travelling in a group
If you’re travelling with a group of others and a hostel isn’t quite doing it for you, why not consider booking out an entire apart-hotel for you and your group? It will not only probably work out cheaper, but you’ll also have the luxury of privacy, and depending on how many of you there are, you might have a big enough budget to stay somewhere super nice and in a great location. Several of the places listed in this article about apart-hotels in London can accommodate at least four to five adults and kids. Our favourites are the Cheval and Citadines brands.
Consider a house swap or pet-sitting
How many of us have watched The Holiday and thought, ‘I want to do that one day’? Well, channel your inner Kate Winslett or Jude Law and check out some house swap websites. You’ll be surprised at how many local Londoners will be up for escaping the city and swapping their place with yours. You’ve got homeexchange, which allows you to swap with someone else at the same time or at a different time, as well as experience what it’s like to live in London as a local. If you like animals, there’s also TrustedHousesitters, where you can look after someone’s furry friends in their home while you’re away. It’s a win-win if you’re an animal lover looking to save money on London accommodation. Plus, it won’t cost you anything at all and accommodation will be completely free – a rarity in London.
Sign up to hotel newsletters for discounts
If you have your eye on a particular hotel chain or hotel, you should sign up for its newsletter or email list. This way, you’ll be the first to know about any special offers and discounts they might be offering. Upon signing up, you might even get an initial discount code or special offer.
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