Affordable luxury hotels in London that cost under £200 a night

Affordable luxury hotels in London are more abundant than you might think, you just need to know where in the city to look for them and the best time to book to get the best deals. 

From its rich history, to its free galleries and museums and bountiful selection of sites to see and restaurants to try, London is up there with the best European city breaks you can take and is a city that everyone should experience at least once.

Some of the best luxury hotels in the world are found in London, but staying in the UK's capital doesn't have to be expensive. You can actually get great deals on high-end hotels for an affordable luxury vacation in the city if you're savvy. 

In this guide, you'll find our edit of luxury hotels in the capital that don't come with an eye-watering price tag per night, plus we'll advise on how to get the best holiday deals and bag a discount, from searching for deals at quieter times to signing up for loyalty programs.

Affordable luxury hotels in London to book in 2022

Luxury hotels in London for less than £200 a night

The term 'you get what you pay for' isn't always true in the hotel world. Forget shelling out half your monthly salary a night for sublime luxury—there are fancy experiences to be had without an eye-watering price tag. Sure, you may not be able to afford the best spa hotels in London at the moment, but you can find champagne hotels with a lemonade budget. 

Introducing the best affordable luxury hotels in London, with not just comfortable rooms, but sweeping views of the city, enviable locations and trendy restaurants for under £200 and under £100 a night. 

1. Hotel Indigo

Price per night: From £185

Expert rating: 8/10

If you love to be right in the center of the action, Hotel Indigo (opens in new tab) is based in Leicester Square, near Covent Garden and one of the most famous shopping streets—Regent Street. The West End is literally right on your door here—in case you want to book in a musical while you're visiting. The location makes it an ideal option for those searching for the best UK weekend getaways to take this year.

Mirroring the glamour of its theatrical surroundings, the hotel's glass and marble interior create aesthetically pleasing rooms and dining areas. Each room has walls covered with framed scripts above the beds, and lights hanging from the rigging. The 4-star hotel also features a rooftop bar, where you can enjoy breakfast soaking up London’s iconic skyline, or clink champagne glasses for a special occasion.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: In their Queen rooms slip into crisp white cotton sheets for a great night's sleep, and when you wake, order breakfast in bed for an indulgent start to the day. The rooms also have spa bathrooms and plush velvet, stage-inspired curtains next to the beds. 

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2. The Standard

Price per night: From £175

Expert rating: 9/10

This five-star, unique-looking hotel, which is housed in a 1974 Brutalist building, has been beautifully restored and sets the perfect stage for The Standard’s first hotel outside the US. Just steps away from The Standard (opens in new tab) is the thriving area of Kings Cross Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard - where you have an array of bars, shops and restaurants to choose from.

The hotel has 266 rooms—ranging from their cosy core rooms to terraced suites with outdoor bathtubs overlooking the famous St Pancras station. While its Double Standard 70s inspired bar is also home to the restaurant, where you can enjoy their DJ's, bottomless brunches, or famous burgers.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Need an interrupted sleep? All of the hotel's rooms are soundproofed, while you can also enjoy their Bang & Olufsen Bluetooth speakers, slip into luxury bathrobes and premium bedding. In the morning wake yourself up under the rain showers in their art-deco bathrooms. 

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3. Park Plaza Westminster

Price per night: From £152

Expert rating: 7/10

The Park Plaza (opens in new tab), in Westminster, is an affordable luxury hotel in London—especially if you want views of Big Ben and Parliament from your room or while you're enjoying your breakfast. You could clock up as many miles as on one of the best UK walking holidays leisurely strolling between iconic landmarks. 

The 4-star hotel features a contemporary design, stylish rooms, and a selection of restaurants and bars. Their standout restaurant is ICHI Sushi & Sashimi Bar, said to be one of the best Japanese restaurants in London—with iconic views as you watch the chefs make different sushi dishes. Other five-star restaurants, including the OXO Tower restaurant, are also close by in nearby Waterloo or on the Southbank.

If your choice of hotel is purely based on its spa options —then The Park Plaza's Mandara Spa is the perfect option, with an Asian theme, an array of treatments and a 15-meter serene swimming pool, you'll feel relaxed in no time.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: A superior double room offers Egyptian cotton sheets and a memory foam bed, plus free WIFI. Some rooms also have magnificent views of London Landmarks, while breakfast is included.

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4. 100 Queen's Gate Hotel

Price per night: From £194

Expert review: 10/10

100 Queen’s Gate Hotel (opens in new tab) was the former home of Victorian aristocrat William Henry Alexander and has been stunningly transformed into a hotel that has retained much of its original 1870s architecture. Based in South Kensington—it shares a postcode with royalty and celebrities. The five-star hotel is also close to some of London's most famous attractions—take a walk through leafy Hyde Park, stroll through the famous museums, go shopping in Gloucester Arcade or visit The Royal Albert Hall.

The hotel features eleven suites—decorated and named after famous historic residents of Kensington including Alfred Hitchcock, Dame Agatha Christie, and Captain Robert Scott, each finished in a contemporary design. 100 Queen's Gate Hotel also offers three restaurants, including the hotel’s new ESQ bar and Botanica, a beautiful glasshouse where you can enjoy afternoon tea.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: The hotel's Mews Superior Queen room offers complimentary use of their Marshall speakers and Floris of London toiletries. You can also slip into a fluffy robe and relax on their comfy double beds, while you enjoy your free WIFI.

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5. Hoxton Holborn

Price per night: From £179

Expert rating: 9/10

The Hoxton hotels have gained a reputation for their trendy lobby, bar areas and gorgeous bedrooms. Hoxton Holborn (opens in new tab) is no different—housed in a Grade II listed building the hotel's vintage furniture and brick walls give it a New York vibe. While the modern lobby area is inviting and spacious. 

Their 4-star hotel in Holborn is close to popular London landmarks—including Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, and the British Museum. Enjoy lunch or dinner in the hotel's restaurant Hubbard & Bell—expect communal tables, lively music, and a chilled vibe.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Book a cozy double and you can sleep soundly in their premium bedding, enjoy the city view and then step into their rainfall showers with Hoxton's own, sold out, complimentary Blank toiletries. 

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6. The Mandeville Hotel

Price per night: From £121

Expert rating: 8/10

The Mandeville Hotel offers a fantastic selection of rooms for a 4 star hotel, with a range of single occupancy room options (starting at the quaint 'Tiny Single Rooms') available, making this one of the most affordable luxury hotels in London for solo travellers - because you don't have to pay for bed (or room) space you're not using. 

One of the biggest draws of The Mandeville hotel is its location. Situated a mere 4 minutes walk from Bond Street tube station, when staying here you have Oxford Street, London's shopping mecca, and department store destination Selfridges on your doorstep. This makes early morning or late night shopping, when the daily crowds have dissipated and browsing is all the more pleasant, a breeze.

The Mandeville is also located in Marylebone Village, which has quickly assumed the role of a feasting hotspot in the capital with names such as Ottolenghi, Delamina, Orrery, Taka, The Cavendish and Caldesi all within walking distance - so no public transport needed.

Despite being located in the middle of all of this hustle and bustle, The Mandeville is deceptively quiet inside, allowing for a good night's rest in one of their comfortable hotel beds so that you can recharge for another day of shopping, sightseeing and restaurant sampling.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Whether you book a single room, double deluxe or treat yourself to a suite, guests will all enjoy the same stylish decor and comfortable bedding - with the size of the rooms being the main defining factor of the price per night. You'll get breakfast included, which is a buffet-style feast downstairs in the hotel's Reform Social & Grill, and each room has luxurious and reliable toiletries included from brand C.O. Bigelow (stocked in luxury department stores like Liberty London (opens in new tab)).

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7. Royal Lancaster London

Price per night: From £282

Expert rating: 8/10

The Royal Lancaster London feels like a luxury hotel from the moment you arrive, with an impressive, imposing entrance, grand lobby and signs for elegant-sounding spaces like The Ballroom peppering marble columns. 

One of the biggest draws for this hotel is its location, right on the edge of Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens. The largest park in Central London, you have options to walk, cycle or even roller skate around the beautiful green space right on your doorstep and historical, royal sites such as Kensington Palace are also only a stroll away from the hotel. The hotel's location also affords it spectacular views, especially from rooms on the higher floors.

The hotel has five restaurants and bars to choose from (including the well-reviewed Nipa Thai), and it also has a spa of sorts, consisting of former guest rooms that have been transformed into treatment spaces. If you can look past the bones of the old hotel rooms, the treatments themselves are excellent, with the Nuad Thai’ or ‘Thai yoga’ massage a must if you don't mind paying extra. 

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Book a double room and enjoy views of London or over the park whilst relaxing in the comfy beds, then feast on the well-prepared buffet breakfast in the morning. All rooms come with toiletries by The White Company and crispy white hotel slippers free of charge. 

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Luxury hotels in London for less than £100 a night

The good news is that when it comes to affordable luxury hotels in London, you don't have to spend over £100 per night. Some of the best budget boltholes cost a lot less, which makes them affordable whether you're planning a European family vacation or popping to the capital for a UK staycation. But for a hotel to make our edit it still needs to come with a great location, comfortable bedrooms, and luxury features, like a cool rooftop bar, terrace restaurant or high-quality toiletries in the bathroom.

1. Dorsett City London

Price per night: From £98

Expert rating: 7/10

This delightful hotel, in the centre of the financial district, Aldgate, is the perfect choice for business and leisure travellers. The Dorsett City's (opens in new tab)decor is British charm meets Asian hospitality with marble bathrooms, stylish bedrooms and breathtaking views of some of London's most iconic landmarks.  

The four-star, 13-storey hotel has 267 rooms and a striking rooftop bar—the Jin Bo Law Sky bar, with gold decor and marble floors, sits on the 14th floor and has great views of the city. Guests also have access to their fitness centre, a concierge service and free newspapers in the lobby.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: A superior double room includes unique views of the city, a flat-screen TV and a luxury turndown service. 

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2. Moxy Stratford

Price per night: From £69

Expert rating: 7/10

With its great transport links, shopping and restaurants Stratford is becoming the go-to place for visitors on the edge of the city—and it's great if you want to bag a bargain on an affordable luxury hotel in London. Moxy Stratford (opens in new tab) joins its other two hotels in London at Heathrow and Excel—bringing a funky vibe to East London. Owned by Marriott, they're boutique hotels but at an affordable price.

Moxy Stratford is a trendy, funky hotel where the bar doubles as check-in and the rooms have 42-inch LCD TV's and comfy double beds. You'll also be welcomed with graffiti art on the walls and cool cocktails and craft beers. The hotels communal areas, including a library and living area, have unique trinkets and wall-to-ceiling artwork. 

WHAT'S INCLUDED: A Queen Moxy sleeper, which is also pet friendly, includes breakfast, MUK bath products and complimentary WIFI.

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3. Hyatt Place London City East

Price per night: From £94

Expert rating: 7/10

East London is famous for Brick Lane and Spitalfields market—plus the artistic streets and buzz of nearby Shoreditch. Hyatt Place London City East (opens in new tab), based in the heart of East London and the city, has stylish interiors, expertly-curated street art, and exceptional views across the capital, including of the Gherkin and Canary Wharf.

Thirteen of the 280 bedrooms, across the top two floors, come with their own private outdoor terraces or balconies, delivering picture-postcard views of the world-famous London skyline. Pocketsquare Skyline Bar and terrace is one of the highlights of this hotel—try one of their experimental cocktails while you take in the views.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Some floors are designated pet-friendly, and all the twin, double, and king rooms feature a smart TV, luxury bathroom products and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms also come with sofabeds. 

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4. Zedwell Piccadilly

Price per night: From £86

Expert rating: 6 /10

If you love the buzzy nightlife of the city, and you don't mind compact but beautifully designed rooms, then this affordable luxury hotel in London is perfect for you. The Zedwell (opens in new tab) is based in Piccadilly Circus—so ideal for bars, clubbing, and theatreland. 

The hotel's minimalist lobby, with high ceilings and wooden beams, is striking and spacious —with self-check-in kiosks. The bedrooms are designed to make you feel less anxious— they've taken away the complicated technology to allow you to have a good night's sleep in peace. The beds, which are housed in wooden cocoons, are similar to Japanese pod rooms. 

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Snuggle up in Egyptian cotton covers in their soundproofed Cocoon 2 room. The rooms are free from the clutter of technology, while the bathroom has a luxury rain shower and Malin & Goetz toiletries. 

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How to get the best deals on luxury hotels in London

1. Book for the cheapest months and days of the week

When booking affordable luxury hotels in London, timing really does matter to get the best deals. Emma Tagg, head of brand communications at Hotels.com (opens in new tab) reveals, "December and January are the cheapest travel months—with the first two weeks of January usually the quietest weeks and the perfect time to grab a bargain". (Read our guides to the best places to visit in January and the best places to visit  in February if that fact has got you thinking...) 

"You might think traveling around the holiday season would cost more, but corporate hotels have great availability and prices in the last two weeks in December (excluding New Year’s Eve)."

You could also consider booking a stay on Sunday and Monday nights - these are commonly the quietest nights of the week for hotels and so the room rates are lowest when demand is lowest. The most expensive nights of the week to book are Friday and Saturday.

2. Book last minute

Waiting to get a good deal, rather than booking in advance, especially in today's climate, is also a great way to get the best deals. "While booking last minute may seem risky, it can actually be a good way to score some killer deals. Gone are the days when you need to book your hotel stay months in advance, " admits Tagg, "In fact, booking right at the last minute can save you lots of money if you can keep your nerve and are not traveling somewhere that is likely to be unusually busy." 

3. Sign up to travel apps and loyalty programmes

Being savvy, by signing up to emails, and downloading your favorite travel apps will also work in your favor.

"It’s common to find app-only deals on the hotels.com app—as it is for other travel apps too", Tagg says. She advises, "Also to get access to the best and most up to date discount codes, sign up for emails, follow travel companies on social media and check out discount code websites."  

"You can also find discounts on hotels on certain occasions—for example, Black Friday or Cyber Monday hotel deals—or the period in advance of national holidays, or anniversaries."

If you are a recurring customer with a particular hotel chain, it's worth signing up for their loyalty programs too. "It really does pay to be loyal," admits Tagg, "Sign up for loyalty programs to enjoy access to the best rates, discount coupons, free nights and VIP services, and extras."

4. Stay in business districts on weekends

Staying in areas such as the City of London, Paddington or Canary Wharf during the weekend means you're more likely to get a great deal for a 5-star hotel, as hotels in these areas are quieter on Saturdays and Sundays without any business travellers. 

Emma also explains that executive clubs or club level deals at business hotels can also mean you get extra for your money:  "You can pay a small fee to upgrade and enjoy a whole host of amenities, services, and freebies, such as dedicated lounges with free drinks and snacks, laundry services, upgraded rooms, free WiFi and complimentary newspapers and magazines. Sometimes it’s worth spending a little to get a lot."

5. Look for corner rooms

Don't always go for the first room on offer! Emma reveals that a corner room is normally the best in the hotel.

"Due to the structural layout of a building, these rooms generally have the most square footage and windows, while also offering the lowest noise level. It will feel like you have a nicer room, without actually paying for one."