London in 2018 is a city shaped by two thousand years of history. It is a patchwork of world-famous historical landmarks, cutting edge contemporary culture, colorful nightlife and globally recognized fashion and shopping. It’s also got that blue door from the 1999 movie Notting Hill, which is fun!
Unfortunately, it’s not a cheap city – according to Statista, the average price of a hotel room in London in 2018 is 193 dollars a night. Luckily you can save a lot of money if you’re travelling on a budget by renting a room or home from a private citizen through Airbnb. Vacation rentals are the future, and the future is actually pretty reasonably priced.
To save you time, The Local Vibe has searched the city to bring you 17 of the Airbnbs in Central London under 150 dollars a night. Enjoy:
1. THE ST PANCRAS CLOCK TOWER MASTER SUITE
St Pancras International is not only a key spot in the city but a gateway to Europe via the Channel Tunnel. You can stay in this apartment in the clock tower above the station for a only $143 a night. You’re well within walking distance of some important London spots like the British Library and the British Museum. You’re also only a couple of stops on the tube away from the West End. The view from your ten metre high room across the city is the best thing about this place though.
2. A STUDIO APARTMENT IN THE CENTRE OF VICTORIA
Victoria is a small district in the City of Westminster in central London, named after Victoria Street and Victoria Station, which are both named after Queen Victoria. This great little studio apartment in Victoria is an easy stroll to the great shopping in the West End. It is also close to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Eye and the Saatchi Gallery. Sure, this place isn’t huge, but it’s only $91 dollars a night and recently renovated. It’s a great spot for a couple who want a base to explore the city from. You won’t even have to go far to sample the multicultural atmosphere of the city. There are nine different nationalities of cuisine closer than 300m from the front door.
3. A TALBOT SQUARE BARGAIN
This is a real bargain: a room in a Georgian town house in the exclusive Talbot Square in West London for only $88 dollars a night. While this is a room in a house, it is still very private and has its own kitchenette. That said, the lovely hosts live in a room on the ground floor of the property. They’re always reachable and extremely helpful. Talbot Square is just next to Hyde Park and Paddington station.
Learn about the best London neighborhoods HERE.
4. A BOROUGH MARKET FLAT
Located on the very hip Bermondsey Street and overlooking the foodie hotspot Borough Market, this stylish little flat is big enough to fit four guests for only $107 a night. Divided by traveling four friends, that ain’t bad at all. You’re close to South Bank, Tower Bridge and the Tate Modern and still in Zone 1, the absolute heart of the city.
5. A ROOM IN FITZROVIA
Fitzrovia is an older, more sedate part of town known for its history and fabulous restaurants. This quiet room in a flat in the area is a great solo traveller spot. For $103 dollars a night you get a place in an original Victorian building within walking distance of the West End and Central London.
6. A LOFT IN THE VERY COOL SHOREDITCH AREA
If you’re a fan of pop-up shops, underground music and wild fashion, staying in fashionable Shoreditch, London’s equivalent of Brooklyn, would be a good call. This loft right in the centre of Shoreditch would be a great place to use as a base while you explore the area. It’s only $43 dollars a night and dog lovers are in for a treat because the owners have a friendly poodle puppy!
7. A NOTTING HILL HOME WITH A TERRACE
Notting Hill is a smart district in West London, just north of the extremely fancy Kensington, it is upscale but famously a lot of fun. It is home to the bric-a-brac hunter’s paradise Portabello Road market and it plays host to the annual Notting Hill Carnival. A full home in Notting Hill all to yourself for $110 a night is not to be sniffed at. This cute flat has “romantic weekend away” written all over it, but that’s none of our business *sips tea*. The home is around 150 years old, split across 3 levels and a minute’s walk from Notting Hill Gate tube and Portabello Road. This is one of our favourite addresses on this list.
8. A ROOM IN A SOHO FLAT
Soho is London’s playground: wild bars, underground clubs, the best restaurants in the city and the coolest designer stores in the world. This room in a Soho home reflects the area in its bohemian decor and is also walking distance to the West End for $98 a night. The room has access to an outdoor balcony, and a view looking out onto the chimney tops of London. Remember Mary Poppins?!
An exact representation of modern London.
9. A ROOM IN A FORMER DOG BISCUIT FACTORY WITH A MASSAGE CHAIR
Canary Wharf is a commercial estate on a little outcrop of land called the Isle of Dogs. So sure, it isn’t the most central area of London, but for $52 a night you can stay in a huge room in a warehouse in the area that was the first ever dog biscuit factory in the world. It also has the above top-of-the-range massage chair. You can use whenever you like while you stay there, because who doesn’t love a massage chair?
10. A COOL CONDO IN DESIREABLE CHELSEA LOCATION
This is pretty fancy. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is the most expensive borough of London, so a whole condo in the heart of that area for $130 a night is a real steal, as they say. Very near the South Kensington tube station and within short walking distance of both the Kings Road and Old Brompton Road, this is therefore a great base from which to explore a pretty darn fancy part of the city.
11. AN EAST LONDON COACH HOUSE
For $114 a night you can stay in a converted Edwardian Coach House in fashionable east London locale Wanstead. Wanstead was recently voted the best village in London. Central London is easy 15 minute journey away on the bus from here. If you’re a music fan, you’ll be happy to know you’re only 10 mins from the O2 Arena. This is a great spot if you’re in town for a show!
12. A STUDIO FLAT IN BLOOMSBURY
Here’s one for the culture vultures among you. This great little studio flat is in Bloomsbury, a quiet, leafy area famous for being a home of numerous prestigious cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. This includes the British Museum, many book publishers and all the major London universities. It is only moments away from the bustle of the West End. A short walk to the well-connected Kings Cross station, and with it’s own balcony, this place is $85 a night, which is a great deal for somewhere so central.
13. A FLAT OVERLOOKING A GARDEN SQUARE
Islington is a mainly residential but still very central district in North London. This great little place overlooks the lovely Myddleton Square in Islington. While it’s not a huge space, the owners have set it up so as many as six people can stay here. Three floor mattresses, two beds and a pull out sofa make this a great place to stay if you’re travelling in a group of friends. $106 a night between six is very reasonable indeed.
14. A COSY ONE BEDROOM PLACE IN A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING
Camden Town is one of the most iconic areas of London. It is famous for its pop culture connections – singer Amy Winehouse made the area her home, and it is famous for its music venues and cool stores. This idyllic looking one bedroom apartment is right in the middle of Camden, and is on the first floor in a terrace of Victorian Almshouses with security gates. There is also off street parking and access to the chapel garden. It’s like you’re out in the countryside, but in the middle of the city! It’s only $130 a night, too.
15. COLORFUL GARDEN FLAT IN OVAL
The Oval area of South London is a fun part of town named after the nearby Oval cricket ground. This amazing looking one bedroom flat in Oval has been the set for numerous photo and film shoots due to its cool, quirky, colorful decor. It often plays host to touring musicians, artists and actors. The flat has a quiet garden but is on five minutes from Oval tube. It is only moments away from a petting zoo, a similarly quirky tea house and the famous Vauxhall Tavern. Most importantly, this is just $90 a night.
16. A PIED-À-TERRE BY COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET
Located in East London, Columbia Road flower market is a picturesque slice of old London that you’ll only be two streets away from if you stay at this pied-à-terre. It also happens to be only a five minute stroll from the centre of trendy Shoreditch. So this $130 a night spot is perfect if you’re a fan of culture, fashion and the arts.
17. A LARGE STUDIO NEXT TO ARSENAL STADIUM
If you’re a soccer fan, you could do a lot worse that this $105 a night flat right by Arsenal Stadium in Highbury, North London. It’s also got three bedrooms, which is also very rare in this price bracket. So soccer aside, this is a great call for small families or groups of friends looking to explore the city.
CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO LONDON’S NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT HERE.
Comments are closed.