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London consistently ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world, so even a solo trip to the UK’s capital can cost a pretty penny. Now imagine wanting to organize a family trip to London. You’ll probably take one look at the accommodation prices and give up before even considering other aspects.
But there are ways to find budget-friendly accommodation in London, provided you know how and where to look. This will allow you to have a comfortable space to unwind before and after exploring the many budget-friendly attractions in London.
Look Beyond the City Center
There’s no denying that staying in the dead center of London comes with its fair share of advantages. Being centrally located means being within walking distance of virtually every important location in the city, from major attractions like Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London to the main transportation hubs, like King’s Cross station.
Of course, such a prime location comes with a price (This time, we mean it literally!). To avoid paying exorbitant accommodation prices for your family trip, look past the city center.
But don’t worry, this won’t affect your trip much. With an excellent tube network, traveling to and from central London is quick and easy.
We suggest checking out accommodation in areas surrounding King’s Cross, Shoreditch, Paddington, and Bayswater. You should also consider the greater London area, as towns like Stratford and Croydon offer excellent hotel rooms at low rates. Best of all? You’ll be in the heart of London in less than 20 minutes.
Avoid Traveling in High Season
Let’s be honest – London is expensive year-round. But traveling during peak season can really set you back, making this period best to avoid, especially for a family trip.
In London, late spring and summer are considered the high season. During this time, hotel and flight prices rise dramatically. In other words, that’s the time to avoid if you want to save money on accommodation.
So, when’s the best time to visit London? The answer is simple – just outside the peak travel season. For London, that’s March, April, and September. During these months, you’re in for a win-win situation – the weather will still be pleasant, and your family-friendly accommodation won’t break the bank. Plus, some already budget-friendly hotels will further slash their prices due to less demand, so you can really save on accommodation.
As an added bonus, you won’t have to deal with overbearing crowds and impossibly long queues, as the city won’t be as jam-packed with tourists.
Book Accommodation in Advance
Sure, there’s a certain appeal to booking a last-minute trip to London. Embarking on an adventure without extensive planning and long anticipation is a thrilling experience. However, with a family (and the prices in London!), you probably don’t have the luxury of making impromptu decisions.
But this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Planning a trip ahead has numerous advantages, including the chance to score some incredible budget-friendly deals.
Start looking for London accommodation early enough, and you’ll have more choices in terms of accommodation types, price ranges, and time frames.
Also, depending on when your London trip is, you might not even be able to find decent accommodation, let alone an affordable option, if you don’t start your search early. You see, hotel rooms in London are often booked out months in advance on account of numerous events taking place in the city every week. Weekend nights are the most challenging to book, so if your heart is set on a London family trip, don’t waste time; start looking for accommodation.
Do the same for specific attractions, and your budget-friendly family trip to London will become a reality in no time.
Use Hotel Comparison Sites
It happens too often – an ad for some striking accommodation pops up while browsing the internet or social media, and your creative juices start flowing. You can already see your family having the best time there! But one click on the ad stops you in your tracks. After all, nothing can bring you back to reality quite like a few zeros after the first figure in the accommodation price.
But don’t give up just yet. Finding the perfect accommodation takes time, even when wanting to splurge. Instead of looking at the top few results and feeling discouraged, head to hotel comparison sites and start your research.
As their name suggests, these sites will compare accommodation prices across all the major booking sites and offer you the most affordable option. Check these sites regularly, and you’ll eventually hit the bull’s eye.
Look for Hotel Deals
The search for budget-friendly hotels in London goes both ways – you want to find the most affordable accommodation, and the wallet-friendly hotels want to entice you to choose them. For this reason, hotels like Travelodge and Premier Inn will often offer excellent deals for families, from affordable family rooms to child discounts.
Do some research and make a list of the hotels known to accommodate families in such a way. Then, it’s only a matter of regularly checking their websites and scoring a fantastic deal for you and your family.
Look Beyond Hotels
It’s understandable for you and your family to enjoy getting pampered in a hotel. But if you’re on a tight budget, you must be willing to make some compromises. Looking beyond hotels will open up a world of possibilities for affordable accommodation in London.
Websites like Booking.com, Airbnb, and Vrbo offer an excellent selection of apartments and houses that won’t break the bank. Sure, you won’t have anyone to take care of your family in these types of accommodation. But you’ll have more freedom and potential access to a kitchen, which can save you money on eating out in London.
Make Memories on a Budget
With the tips outlined in this guide, finding budget-friendly accommodation in London will be a breeze. With a bit of pre-planning, organization, and compromise, your family will have the time of their lives in London in no time.
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