There are a huge number and variety of hotels in London’s West End. The choice can be quite daunting to narrow down. And frankly for some people it can be quite off putting. Some of the cheaper places to stay in can be quite hilarious, as they have evolved out of a number adjacent buildings. So the path to your room can seem like a journey through the halls of Hogwarts. Clearly J.K.Rowling has spent time in cheap accommodation in London.
Why choose the West End?
For me, it’s the theater. After visiting London many times, we have seen the usual historic sites several times over. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy a trip to the Tower of London, but I’ve done it 3 or 4 times now. After the best part of a day flying to Europe from Perth, I normally plan to land in London and spend 2 or 3 days decompressing. We take in a couple of shows.
As of October 2021 there are 110 shows currently running, so you have choice. If you’d like to check out what’s on click here.
I like heading to the Piccadilly Circus area, and there are a few reasons for this. Firstly you are within walking distance of the West End shows. This means that after a good night out you aren’t trying to remember which train line or direction you need to go. If this is your first time in London you can check the companion article which is Hotels in London’s Earls Court.
Secondly a really decent chunk of London itself is within walking distance. And then there’s the tube.
Public Transport
The Piccadilly line I personally find to be the most useful. It starts at Heathrow airport, so after a long haul flight you don’t need to change trains. This is important if you’re jet-lagged and carrying a decent chunk of luggage.
Towards the other end of this line is Kings Cross station which is attached to St Pancras Station. This is the jump off point for the Eurostar train to mainland Europe, and many of the trains that head through to the rest of England and Scotland. So it pays to think ahead with regards to your onward destination.
The other important train station is Victoria. This is important to us as most of the tour companies have their offices here, and the tours start from the Victoria bus terminal. To get from Piccadilly Circus To Victoria, you go one stop to Green Park, change trains and one stop to Victoria. If you’re just going for the day trips then you shouldn’t be carrying a whole lot of luggage.
Click here to download a copy of the underground map. And remember that the map is drawn in a stylized form, so it don’t try to use it for walking. If you are staying in London for more that a couple of days then it pays to get an Oyster card. Just load it up when you start and keep track of the balance during your stay. Click here to get started with an Oyster card.
London Attractions
Where do I begin. For the first time visitor I would recommend starting at the Tower of London. The reason for this is that, this will give you an understanding of London’s history. Once you have this then everything else will fall into place. Without it you’re just visiting some nice places.
London’s attractions fall into 3 broad categories.
Royalty, which includes, castles, palaces, churches and ceremony. Military, which includes all of the war memorabilia, and other, which has things like Madame Tussards, London zoo, Ripleys Believe It Or Not.
Here is a list of a few of the main attractions and each one is a link to give you more information.
The Hotels In London’s West End
So lets have a look at some of the hotels. I have put together a list of 5 hotels that I would stay at and they cover a range of styles and budgets. We stayed at one hotel in London where the room was exactly as wide as the bed. It was comical trying to get ready in the morning, and certainly stuck in our memories.
If you’ve read my blog before you will know that I have 3 main criteria. I like to have breakfast included. It might seem really simple but this can save a couple hours in your morning. Not having to search for somewhere to eat, order and wait for the food is a real bonus. If I can’t get breakfast included then at least facilities to make my own.
Laundry facilities. I like to travel light whenever possible so I do laundry every few days. Sitting next to a washing machine gives me a chance to write in my journal either first thing in the morning or late at night. I find it a restful but of downtime.
Normally I also like to have dedicated parking, but not this time. London’s public transport is so good, I don’t worry about getting a car till it’s time to leave.
So here’s my pick of hotels. Hopefully there’s something here for you. Click on the hotel name to open up a link to Booking.com and see the hotel for yourself.
Cheers and happy travels
Thistle Piccadilly
39 Coventry Street, Westminster Borough, London, W1D 6BZ, United Kingdom
Thistle Piccadilly is located in the heart of London, at the doorstep of the city’s iconic Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown and Leicester Square. Trafalgar Square and Oxford Street are less than 10 minutes away on foot and Westminster Abbey is a 20-minute walk away.
Guests at this hotel have access to a range of tourist sites, restaurants, theaters and boutique shops, all within just a few minutes stroll from this Victorian property.
Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square Tube Stations are 100 m away and Charing Cross Train Station is an 8-minute walk away. Guests arriving at Heathrow Airport can take a direct tube from the Heathrow terminals to Piccadilly Circus Tube Station.
Each room at this hotel has air conditioning and heating, free high-speed WiFi, a private bathroom and a Smart flat-screen TV.
Golden Square
9 Golden Square, Westminster Borough, London, W1F 9HZ, United Kingdom
Featuring free WiFi throughout the property, Golden Square is set in London, 200 m from Piccadilly Circus. Piccadilly Theater is 200 m away.
The accommodations is fitted with a flat-screen TV. There is also a kitchenette, equipped with a toaster and fridge. A stovetop is also offered, as well as a kettle. Each unit features a private bathroom with free toiletries and a hairdryer.
Carnaby Street is 200 m from Golden Square, while Queen’s Theater is 300 m from the property. The nearest airport is London City Airport, 8.1 mi from Golden Square.
Stay Inn Apartments Oxford Street
36a Marshall Street, Westminster Borough, London, W1F 7EY, United Kingdom
Set in the center of London, Stay Inn Apartments Oxford Street is close to sights such as Carnaby Street, Piccadilly Theater and Queen’s Theater.
Each unit has a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with shower and a hairdryer. A microwave, a fridge and oven are also offered, as well as a kettle.
Popular points of interest near the aparthotel include Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Prince Edward Theater. The nearest airport is London City Airport, 8.1 mi from Stay Inn Apartments Oxford Street.
Piccadilly Inn Apartments
53 Rupert Street, Westminster Borough, London, W1D 7PG, United Kingdom
Offering city views, Piccadilly Inn Apartments is set in the Westminster Borough district of London, 71 m from Queen’s Theater and 200 m from Piccadilly Theater.
Each unit has a fully equipped kitchen with a microwave, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with shower and a hairdryer. A fridge, an oven and stovetop are also offered, as well as a kettle.
Popular points of interest near the apartment include Piccadilly Circus, Prince of Wales Theater and Prince Edward Theater. The nearest airport is London City Airport, 8.1 mi from Piccadilly Inn Apartments.
Trafalgar Square Apartments
43 Chandos Place, Westminster Borough, London, WC2N 4HS, United Kingdom
Trafalgar Square Apartments is located in the center of London, close to The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square and Arts Theater.
Each unit has a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with bath or shower and a hairdryer. A microwave, a fridge and oven are also offered, as well as a kettle.
Popular points of interest near the aparthotel include Savoy Theater, Covent Garden and Prince of Wales Theater. The nearest airport is London City Airport, 7.5 mi from Trafalgar Square Apartments.