This article may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
You can find a clean, reliable hotel room in London for under $100—but only on weekday nights, with 4–6 weeks’ notice, and usually in Zones 2–3. The exceptions exist (Southwark, King’s Cross), and we’ll tell you exactly when they’re worth it. We’ve stayed in enough of these properties to know which ones deliver and which ones waste your money on a postcode you’ll regret.
Chain Hotels That Reliably Hit the Mark
Premier Inn and Travelodge are the workhorses of London’s budget scene. Both operate dozens of locations across the city, and both consistently stay under $100 on off-peak nights (Sunday through Thursday). The formula is predictable: clean rooms, decent beds, no surprises.
Premier Inn
Weekday rooms run $70–$95; Friday and Saturday jump to $120–$140. Most locations sit in Zones 2–3, which means a 20–40 minute tube ride to central attractions. The Southwark branch is the rare exception—Zone 1, walkable to the South Bank, and usually $95–$110. Rooms are compact at roughly 150 sq ft: a double or two singles, a small desk, a decent shower. Breakfast costs $10–$15 extra. Skip it. Free Wi-Fi and reliable air conditioning matter more, especially in summer.
Not for: travelers who want to walk to Covent Garden or Oxford Street without a tube journey.
Travelodge
Pricing is nearly identical to Premier Inn ($70–$95 weekdays), but Travelodge locations skew slightly more central—King’s Cross, Vauxhall, and Elephant & Castle all have branches. Rooms run marginally smaller than Premier Inn’s, and the beds can feel thin. The real advantage is their loyalty program: staying 3+ nights often unlocks an extra 10–15% discount, but only if you book direct on their website rather than through Booking.com or Expedia.
Not for: light sleepers. Thin walls are standard across the chain.
Independent Budget Hotels Worth Considering
The independent circuit in London is hit-or-miss. The ones worth your time tend to cluster in less-touristy areas—Stratford, Bethnal Green, Walthamstow—neighborhoods we actually wanted to explore.
The Standard London (Shoreditch)
The Standard sits between budget and boutique. Rooms start at $110–$130, which breaks our $100 ceiling, but they drop to $85–$95 on Sundays or during off-season (November, January, February). It’s in Shoreditch—walkable to markets and bars—and the rooftop bar means you’re not hunting for dinner. Rooms are small but thoughtfully designed. This works if you’re flexible on dates and willing to book last-minute or monitor prices.
Travelodge Stratford
Stratford is 20 minutes east of central London by tube, and the Travelodge here consistently prices at $65–$75. The area is underrated: Westfield shopping, the Olympic Park, and a growing food scene make it worth a night. We used it as a base for a day in Walthamstow, then headed into town for museums. You save $30–$40 per night over a Zone 1 equivalent, and the neighborhood doesn’t feel remote.
Location Trade-Offs: Zone 1 vs. Outer Zones
Zone 1 rooms under $100 exist, but only in specific pockets and on specific nights. South of the Thames—Southwark, Elephant & Castle, Vauxhall—tends to be cheaper than the West End or the City. North of the river, King’s Cross and Angel occasionally dip under $100, but availability is tight.
Zones 2–3 (Stratford, Clapham, Brixton, Walthamstow) reliably deliver $65–$85 rooms. The tube gets you anywhere in 25–35 minutes. On a 4–5 day trip where you’re out all day anyway, that commute is worth the savings. On a 2-day visit where walking time is the point, pay the extra $20–$30 for Zone 1.
The cheapest night in London is always a Sunday or Monday; the most expensive is Friday, sometimes double the weekday rate.
For neighborhood-by-neighborhood advice on food, nightlife, and museums, see our London Districts Guide.
Booking Strategy and Timing
The same room can be $75 on a Tuesday and $140 on a Friday. Here’s what we’ve learned:
- Book 4–6 weeks ahead for weekdays. Premier Inn and Travelodge release their best rates 30–45 days out. After that, prices climb.
- Stay Sunday through Thursday only. Weekends in London are expensive. If your trip is flexible, avoid Friday and Saturday nights entirely.
- Book direct, not through aggregators. Chains honor loyalty discounts and flash sales only on their own sites—typically 10–15% cheaper than Booking.com or Expedia.
- Target November, January, and February. Off-season drops Zone 1 rooms to $60–$70 on slow nights.
- Skip the hotel breakfast. London has cheap, excellent breakfast spots within a short walk—£5–£8 for a full fry-up versus $10–$15 at the hotel.
What You’re Actually Getting for Under $100
Expect 120–160 sq ft. The bed will be fine, the shower functional, and you’ll have Wi-Fi and a desk. What you won’t get: a bathtub, a mini-fridge (sometimes), or much natural light. Street noise and thin walls are common. Air conditioning is standard at Premier Inn and Travelodge in summer; less reliable at smaller independents year-round.
Every hotel we’ve recommended here is clean, has helpful staff, and doesn’t have anything obviously broken. That’s our floor. Properties priced below $65 in London almost always have a reason—check recent reviews for the specific branch, not just the chain.
Comparison Table: Quick Reference
| Hotel | Typical Weekday Price | Zone | Best For | Trade-Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Inn (various) | $70–$95 | 2–3 | Reliability, loyalty discounts | Outer London location |
| Premier Inn Southwark | $95–$110 | 1 | Central location, walkable to South Bank | Higher price, smaller rooms |
| Travelodge (various) | $70–$95 | 1–3 | Slightly more central than most Premier Inns | Thin walls, smaller rooms |
| Travelodge Stratford | $65–$75 | 2 | Lowest nightly cost, east London base | 20+ min to central attractions |
| The Standard London | $85–$130 (varies) | 1 | Shoreditch atmosphere, rooftop bar | Inconsistent pricing; requires date flexibility |
Our verdict
Book Sunday through Thursday, 4–6 weeks out, and Premier Inn or Travelodge in Zones 2–3 will land you a clean room for $70–$80. If you need Zone 1, Southwark or King’s Cross Travelodge hits $90–$100 on slower nights. The Standard works only if you’re chasing Shoreditch atmosphere and willing to hunt for last-minute drops. Friday and Saturday nights don’t fit the under-$100 equation in any central location—plan around that or adjust your expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you actually find a hotel in central London for under $100?
Yes, on Sundays through Thursdays with advance booking. Southwark, Elephant & Castle, and King’s Cross occasionally have rooms under $100 on those nights. Friday and Saturday are almost never under $100 in central zones. Off-season (November, January–February) makes it easier across the board.
Is a 25-minute tube commute worth saving $30 a night?
It depends on your trip length. On a 4–5 day visit where you’re out all day, the commute is just part of the routine—and $30 × 4 nights is $120 saved, versus roughly 3–4 hours of total transit time. On a 2-day trip where walking time is the priority, probably not. We’ve done both and found the outer-zone base works better than most people expect.
What’s the difference between Premier Inn and Travelodge?
Nearly identical in price and reliability. Premier Inn rooms are slightly larger; Travelodge locations are slightly more central. Premier Inn has better loyalty discounts for repeat visitors. Travelodge has thinner walls. Pick whichever has the location you need—the difference in sleep quality is marginal.
Should I book directly or through a third-party site?
Book directly on Premier Inn and Travelodge’s own websites. Flash sales and loyalty discounts (10–15% off) don’t appear on Booking.com or Expedia. You’ll usually find the same price or lower, and cancellation terms are clearer when you deal with the hotel directly.
What’s included in the room price?
Wi-Fi is always free. Breakfast is almost never included—expect $10–$15 extra at the hotel, or £5–£8 at a local café. Parking, where available, costs $15–$25 per day. Most locations don’t have a gym; a few Premier Inn city branches do.
Tomas is a former airline route planner who now writes about fares, airports and getting there without the drama.
