by It often feels like London is a playground exclusively for the unfavorably loaded. Steaks cost £900, a meal for two can set you back £1,000 and some new five-star, billion-pound hotels are charging £1,400 a night for an entry-level room. So what are most of us to do who aren’t celebrities, oil magnates or freeloading influencers?
Look beyond the headlines, breathless PR and Instagram posts, and capital is actually ruining affordable luxury for us. Chic boutiques with a gallon of charm and all under £200. They are there! Here they are…
Town Hall, Sweet Green
Rooms from £175
With a two Michelin star restaurant and a beautiful basement pool, who needs to remortgage the house for a luxurious night away in London? There are a few double rooms but most are a mix of rooms, studios and apartments with handy kitchens – useful for keeping the cost down with in-room cocktails, pre-match and cheap food to fuel you up for everyone staying in east London. Go wine tasting at Renegade Urban Winery, which has a dangerously generous pour, or head down to the Columbia Road Flower Market, 15 minutes away. I’ve stayed here after a party, when I couldn’t face going home myself, and I can vouch for how convenient it is.
townhallhotel.com
The Culpeper, Shoreditch
Rooms from £175
There are few things in life better than a pub with rooms. Cozy neck pints before you roll, crawl, stumble (as you wish) upstairs – it’s a great position to find yourself. The Culpeper also has one of the sweetest roof terraces in London with rickety chairs and a kitchen garden offering views of the Gherkin and Heron Tower. The rooms are rustic-chic with wicker lamp shades, reclaimed wood headboards and the kind of exposed plaster walls that look incredible in hotels but terrible if you try it at home.
theculpeper.com
The Rockwell, Kensington
Rooms from £110
The Rockwell has much to offer; especially its location – 10 minutes from the biggest museums in the city. The rooms are elegant with White Company bathroom pieces, there is a lovely garden restaurant and the staff are delightful. With rooms for just over a hundred quid in this area, it’s a bargain.
therockwell.com
Shelter Mama London Shoreditch
Rooms from £110
More of a party crash pad, than a restorative wellness haven. It’s all about fun and there are on-site karaoke rooms, table football, giant Twister boards and a photo booth to help you let loose – as well as a restaurant, bar and gym. There’s a communal vibe here, don’t assume it. A good one for approachable solo travelers.
mamahelter.com
Richmond Harbor Hotel
Rooms from £153
The Harbor Hotels chain is doing something right. Affordable and full of character, the brand has nailed the sweet spots. It doesn’t get much sweeter than the hotel in Richmond, in an 18th century Georgian mansion, just a short walk from the park and river. Hunter’s wellies are available to explore, which we highly recommend you do, despite the world-class spa, 65-foot pool and stunning courtyard and even more beautiful cocktails tempting you to stay exactly where you are. For locals, the spa alone is worth a visit.
hotels.co.uk
Hart Shoreditch
Rooms from £180
Standing proudly on Great East Street, the lobby is full of hands-on volunteers using USB points and nursing Americans. This place is lively and in the center of the east London universe, which goes hard with local antiques, coffee table books about the area and beautiful touches from nearby artisans, like the custom carpets in the lifts. Rooms are calm and comfortable with extremely luxurious bathrooms. The bar has a DJ at the weekend, so don’t expect an early night.
hartshoreditch.com
High Road House, Chiswick
Rooms from £160
The Chiswick location is a blend of the aesthetic of the fast-growing Soho House members club. More muted and sensible to the west London crowd, it’s a great place to lay your head. The 14 guest rooms feature the usual Cowshed toiletries, Roberts radios and minibars stocked with pre-mixed cocktails. There are two brasseries and the cozy nest is for adults-only in the evening. A greeting. (Non-members can stay by adding a 12-month Soho Friends membership to the booking for £100. This unlocks access to book Soho House bedrooms globally for a year)
highroadhouse.co.uk
Miter Hampton Court
Rooms from £150
For the energy of a country house on the edge of London, mosey on down to KT8 for stylish Boathouse bar The Mitre, riverside brasserie 1665 and private boat trips down the Thames. The beautiful rooms were designed by Nicola Harding and will arrange tickets to Hampton Court Palace, which is just across the road. It was the first hotel to open the new brand The Signet Collection and their second outlet, The Retreat in West Berkshire, is well worth a trip out of London. Both feel much more expensive than they are.
mitrehamptoncourt.com
Inhabit, Southwick Street
Rooms from £167
A mindfulness hotel in the most frenetic part of London offering a program of free wellness sessions, including morning meditation sessions, guided nature walks, pilates and more forms of Yoga than you knew existed. Sleep is a priority in this corner of historic Paddington and special kits are provided with highly effective magnesium spray, cashmere bed socks and silk eye mask – you can choose your own bespoke aromatherapy scent for your stay. Breakfast by Yeotown is mostly plant-based and absolutely delicious.
southwick.inhabithotels.com
The Pilgrim
Rooms from £109
Nice shop opposite Paddington station (but, seriously, don’t let that put you off). The balcony is the best spot for a cocktail and people watching. The Pilgrim takes art seriously with an evolving collection and seasonal mini-exhibitions. A really cool place that will leave a lot of money for what you came to London to do: have the time of your life.
thepilgrm.com
The Luxury Inn
Rooms from £100
This shop has just four rooms in the De Beauvoir conservation area of east London’s film series. Beautifully and serenely decorated with a shared loft style lounge area, kitchen (with help yourself breakfast) and courtyard. In this part of town, it’s a steal.
theluxuryinn.com
Zedwell Greenwich
Rooms from £88
The tagline here is: the hotel you check in to tune out. Rooms are designed with sleep in mind – so forget the TVs and think about soothing natural oak, purified air, noise-reducing technology and Egyptian cotton sheets. Leaving no stone unturned in their mission to delight their guests, Zedwell offers a 15-minute check-in/check-out massage.
zedwellhotels.com
Ruby Hotels
Rooms from £141
With outposts in Southwark, Clerkenwell and Notting Hill there’s a Ruby for everyone, but we’d choose Ruby Lucy near Waterloo if we had to. Rooms come in four categories: Nest (for single travelers, but still with a double bed), Cosy, Lovely and Wow (the biggest). A stylish stay for couples and close friends – the ensuite could be more private, but care about things like dignity.
ruby-hotels.com
The Buxton
Rooms from £150
A sister property to The Culpeper, the 15 rooms above the pub are simple and sleek and include a large breakfast. The staff are lovely but the Spitalfields location has to be the best.
thebuxton.co.uk
