Hotel recommendation in London

[Raymond Lin]

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.

 

[Raymond Lin]

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...

 

[Raymond Lin]

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+

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.

 

[Raymond Lin]

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.

 

[Raymond Lin]

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+

 

[Raymond Lin]

Is £212 for 1 or 2 nights?

1

 

[Raymond Lin]

@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.

 

[Raymond Lin]

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!

 

[Raymond Lin]

What about the Hilton at Syon Park? It’s basically Brentford.


Definitely would NOT recommend going to a Wetherspoons in Shepherds Bush!!

@raymond if you’re stuck in Shep Bush I know you’re a foodie, you could check out Chets at the Hoxton hotel, or Kricket up at the TVC.

Edit: If your mate is in Brentford make sure he/she takes you to the Brentford project. Great bbq popup (London wide acclaim), and Santa Maria pizzeria (one of the best Neapolitan in London). And Plonkers bar, 70s themed bar which looks fun. And all around a classic car garage.

So I am going to stick with what i've got because i seriously cannot find any alternative.

I was speaking with a local last night, friend of a friend who is visiting Hereford. He reckons it is because it is graduation season, hence the prices are nuts all over the city.