The best accommodations London

Budget & Tips

Night in a youth hostel from £40. Double room in a standard hotel from £95. In the business districts of the City and Canary Wharf, prices drop at weekends when business travelers return home. Most hotels can be booked online, which often means discounts, especially if you book in advance. If you're staying for at least three days, Zone 2 is the best choice, as it has excellent transport links and is still close to the center and attractions. Prices there are lower than in the ultra-center.

Alternatively, you can opt for YHA (Youth Hostels Association, www.yha.org.uk), an organization that groups together some 150 youth hostels across Great Britain, including several in London. Open to all, inexpensive and with good standards of cleanliness and comfort, they're the economical way to stay in the capital. Membership costs between £20 and £25 per adult per year. The card also entitles you to discounts depending on current offers. From £25 per person for a night in a dormitory. In addition to the YHA, there are other chains of privately-owned and managed youth hostels. They are often equivalent in terms of quality and price.

To be booked

London is a very attractive city all the time, and there are always plenty of tourists. If possible, book during the week rather than at weekends. Book particularly early for stays at Christmas, during the summer vacations or on bank holidays.

If you prefer to use the Air BnB platform, a word of advice: book at least a month in advance to ensure you get a quality service. Don't expect to find charming last-minute accommodation, unless you're willing to pay as much as you would for a room in a luxury hotel!

What's very local

In London, as in the rest of the UK, you'll find plenty of B&Bs. They offer a decent standard of accommodation, with the added advantage of breakfast, which is often generous.

London is an expensive city, and hostel accommodation can be a good way of spending as little money as possible. However, you need to choose your hostel carefully to avoid disappointment. Most hostels have no age limit. Some, however, are restricted to 18-35 year-olds.

Before you leave, don't hesitate to take a look at the Internet, as there are several sites that list, rate and allow you to reserve places in youth hostels. These sites are excellent ways of comparing prices and services, and checking availability for the dates of your choice.

Check the number of beds per room, because while the average is 6 or 8, some hostels have dormitories with 18 or even 28 beds! It's sometimes possible to get double beds, which can be more romantic than bunk beds!

Ask about cleanliness. For your information, if it says ensuite bathroom or ensuite, it means the bathroom is inside the room; if it says shared bathroom, it means it's outside and shared by all occupants.

Lockers. Most youth hostels have lockers where you can leave valuables and personal belongings; some lockers are lockable (extra charge), others simply have padlocks. Remember to take one with you, as the rental or purchase of such items can be expensive, up to £5. A cash deposit (approx. £10) is usually required for the key; this will be returned to you on the day of departure.

On the last day, you must leave the room by 10 a.m. to avoid being charged for an extra night.

Finally, breakfast is very often included, and bed linen is provided; but towels are almost never. Hairdryers are also very rare. So don't forget to ask around and bring your own belongings, so you're not left destitute when you arrive.

For food lovers

Most hotels in London serve a traditional English breakfast in the morning: sausages, bacon, beans on toast, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast... The salty side is there for a real feast. A real meal in its own right.

Smokers

The legislation concerning cigarettes is the same as in France. Smoking is not allowed in public places and therefore, in this case, smoking is not allowed in hotels.