Hotel recommendation in London

Raymond Lin · 25 Aug 2023 at 10:29

Looking for a hotel in London in the middle of September on the weekend, struggling to find something better than the Dorsetts in Shedpard's Bush.

That weekend going to see a friend but also out for a day on Saturday, and Sunday planning to go into the center for some tourist stuff myself before heading home on the train from Paddington. So the ideal place would be west side, Kensington, Earl's Court, district line, or on the Route 237 bus, somewhere between Paddington to Brentford.

1 - Near a Tube station
2 - Under £200? (or up to £250 with breakfast...saves me money in the morning)
3 - Free cancellation or pay later
4 - Double bed with a window in the room

Does anyone have any hidden gems on that side of town?

edit - I am willing to widen this to anything in the center on the Circle/District line, all the way over to Monument.

Russinating · 26 Aug 2023 at 13:29

London is just impossible now. We stayed in a Premier Inn Hub last time and even that was over your budget. Doubt you'll get anything better for under £200 unfortunately, as much as I'd prefer to go independent my experience of doing that in London is a dank basement room with a bed shoved up against the wall.

A2Z · 26 Aug 2023 at 17:48

In that area I stayed at the NH London Kensington a few years ago, looks like they have closed and the hotel rebranded to 'Ember Locke'. Looks like the same place from the pics, would recommend.

Raymond Lin · 26 Aug 2023 at 17:57

Russinating said:
London is just impossible now. We stayed in a Premier Inn Hub last time and even that was over your budget. Doubt you'll get anything better for under £200 unfortunately, as much as I'd prefer to go independent my experience of doing that in London is a dank basement room with a bed shoved up against the wall.

I tried and tried for a few hours looking. There are some rooms which are like £54 now are £300+ on the days I want to go there, i am not sure what is happening on the 16th Sept but the prices are crazy that day. Booking.com has a line saying "98% of the rooms are now sold out on our site on your date!"

It seems my £212 in Shepards Bush is the best i can get, which actually already came with a 28% discount and originally like £300...

BUDFORCE · 26 Aug 2023 at 18:03

Travelodge in Whetstone in about 5 mins walk from Totteridge & Whetstone tube station on the northern line.

Just park your car on a residential street there the area is fine.

£54 a night.

Raymond Lin · 26 Aug 2023 at 19:26

A2Z said:
In that area I stayed at the NH London Kensington a few years ago, looks like they have closed and the hotel rebranded to 'Ember Locke'. Looks like the same place from the pics, would recommend.

£329 for the day i wanted...even Premier Inn are like £200+

BUDFORCE said:
Travelodge in Whetstone in about 5 mins walk from Totteridge & Whetstone tube station on the northern line.

Just park your car on a residential street there the area is fine.

£54 a night.

£190.99 Saver rate, £209.99 Flex rate for 16th Sept.

BUDFORCE · 26 Aug 2023 at 20:00

Raymond Lin said:
£329 for the day i wanted...even Premier Inn are like £200+

£190.99 Saver rate, £209.99 Flex rate for 16th Sept.

Jeeeez, there must be some big event on or something that day. That's crazy money.

Raymond Lin · 26 Aug 2023 at 20:15

BUDFORCE said:
Jeeeez, there must be some big event on or something that day. That's crazy money.

Yeah, right now i've booked at the Dorsett for £212 with breakfast and free cancellation, I did that just thought it gives me a back up plan and then look for something better or cheaper.

So far, I cannot even get close. I can't see what is going on that day that can drive up the entire city's accommodation cost that much all over. There is London fashion week starting on the 17th but even so....it's not like it's the Olympics.

Russinating · 26 Aug 2023 at 20:31

Problem is there's always something going on, and the 90 day Airbnb rule has really decreased supply generally vs previously (for the right reasons, but it means all hotel algorithms are ++).

Basically, that's just the cost now.

Raymond Lin · 26 Aug 2023 at 20:36

Russinating said:
Problem is there's always something going on, and the 90 day Airbnb rule has really decreased supply generally vs previously (for the right reasons, but it means all hotel algorithms are ++).

Basically, that's just the cost now.

Not always, some rooms I found are like £54....but when i changed it to the date i wanted, it shoots up to £300+

Russinating · 26 Aug 2023 at 20:38

Raymond Lin said:
Not always, some rooms I found are like £54....but when i changed it to the date i wanted, it shoots up to £300+

Hmm, weird then! Though I'd also say £54 is very cheap. That's a motorway hotel up north price.

sanaxe1 · 27 Aug 2023 at 09:10

Raymond Lin said:
Yeah, right now i've booked at the Dorsett for £212 with breakfast and free cancellation, I did that just thought it gives me a back up plan and then look for something better or cheaper.

So far, I cannot even get close. I can't see what is going on that day that can drive up the entire city's accommodation cost that much all over. There is London fashion week starting on the 17th but even so....it's not like it's the Olympics.

Is £212 for 1 or 2 nights?

Raymond Lin · 27 Aug 2023 at 09:42

sanaxe1 said:
Is £212 for 1 or 2 nights?

1

R.O.S.S.I · 28 Aug 2023 at 13:43

The area in between Hyde Park and Paddington has tons of fairly reasonable accomodation. Just manage your expectations and don't expect the Ritz and you'll be fine.
We paid £190 for 2 nights and there were plenty around that price

daz · 30 Aug 2023 at 10:39

The Exhibitionist in South Ken was decent for the price, stayed there after a meal at A. Wong. Great location.

sHo0sH · 30 Aug 2023 at 11:37

@Raymond Lin - Would the Zetter in Farringdon be too out of the way? https://thezetter.com/zetter-hotel/

- edit - looks like that weekend in particular is an expensive one in London for hotels. it's normaly 185 but that night its 285 - similar across a number I looked at

Raymond Lin · 30 Aug 2023 at 12:08

sHo0sH said:
@Raymond Lin - Would the Zetter in Farringdon be too out of the way? https://thezetter.com/zetter-hotel/

- edit - looks like that weekend in particular is an expensive one in London for hotels. it's normaly 185 but that night its 285 - similar across a number I looked at

Location isn't really the biggest factor, more how easy it is getting to and from both Paddington and Brentford (near the stadium, where my friend lives).

So after a night out i need to get back to my hotel at night. The further it is, if it is after the tube closes, then the more expensive it is on uber or more difficult it is, if i take the bus. Kew Bridge is the nearest railway station but I can always just uber to a tube station to take the tube back.

And yeah, every hotel recommended so far and i've checked around, are like £300+ on most nicer ones, ones that are normally half that price on other dates. Not sure what is going on mid September in London.

Slam · 30 Aug 2023 at 16:51

what about Hub Premier Inn in Camden? £179 for Sat 16 Sept if you don't want cancellation protection

hub by Premier Inn | London Camden

Looking for Camden hotels? Look no further than our hub by Premier Inn London Camden hotel near The Regent’s Park! Enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout London breaks.

www.premierinn.com

Raymond Lin · 30 Aug 2023 at 21:19

Slam said:
what about Hub Premier Inn in Camden? £179 for Sat 16 Sept if you don't want cancellation protection

hub by Premier Inn | London Camden

Looking for Camden hotels? Look no further than our hub by Premier Inn London Camden hotel near The Regent’s Park! Enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout London breaks.

www.premierinn.com

I did think about that, but right now I have £212 with breakfast with free cancellation. So only £33 more. Remove a cup of coffee (£3), a full English (£15), the difference is small.

Just checked, there is an overground train to camden, takes 47mins. Or 49mins on District line/Northern Line. It's doable but seems a long way to save £10.

I think I got the best option really. Shepard's Bush isn't end of the world!

BUDFORCE · 3 Sep 2023 at 09:10

Raymond Lin said:
I did think about that, but right now I have £212 with breakfast with free cancellation. So only £33 more. Remove a cup of coffee (£3), a full English (£15), the difference is small.

Just checked, there is an overground train to camden, takes 47mins. Or 49mins on District line/Northern Line. It's doable but seems a long way to save £10.

I think I got the best option really. Shepard's Bush isn't end of the world!

Big shopping centre behind Shepards Bush if you are into that, not me personally but I went there somewhat recently and couldn't believe how big the place was.

Also there is Wetherspoons over the road from the station if you want some cheap drinks, but if I'm honest as Wetherspoons go it's not the best, you get your drinks served in plastic glasses!

I think you should stick with what you've booked, you can always check again a day or two before and see if something comes up last minute.

There has to be some reason why the hotels are that expensive that day, that one in Whetstone going from £50 a night to £200+ is absolutely insane.