Once upon a time finding a hotel in London that represented very good value for money involved making some uncomfortable compromises – inexpensive choices came down to choosing a bed and breakfast of doubtful provenance, one of the dormitory hotels around the main airports miles from town or, for those at least young at heart, hostel accommodation.
In recent months, however, new opportunities for budget accommodation have arrived alongside the London 2012 Olympic Games. Several of the hotel brands that you know and love have opened new hotels at Stratford in the East End, next to the Olympic Park.
With great connections to just about everywhere in London, Stratford is a great place to base yourself for a holiday – there are two tube lines (the Central and Jubilee), two Docklands Light Railway lines, the London Overground and mainline rail services from the station, one of which connects to the Eurostar for onward journeys into Europe. Westminster and the Houses of Parliament are 20 minutes away as is Oxford Circus right at the heart of the West End. A visit to Greenwich and all the attractions there takes just 24 minutes, taking in the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf along the way.
The immediate area has lots to recommend it too – for example you can combine your stay with a visit to the huge new Westfield Stratford City mall which offers hundreds of shops, restaurants and entertainment options. There is also an independent cinema and a fantastic Victorian theatre very nearby plus a few charming olde world pubs, one of which has been serving draft beer since the early 1800s and hosts folk music nights, open mic and more.
Hotel options in Stratford now include the Ibis and Holiday Inn Express (the latter has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment) and the more recent additions of a Travelodge and a Premier Inn, with the Premier Inn actually being located inside the Westfield Stratford City complex. For tourists who aren’t watching the pennies quite so much, you can also choose to stay at the brand new Holiday Inn or Staybridge Suites, again both of which are within the shopping centre.
A good site to use when you’re choosing a hotel for a stay in the capital is Hotel Direct, who have some great hotel offers. Their services allow you to find hotels using several criteria – by price range, the available facilities or even proximity to particular attractions, and they also offer great discounts. From their London Hotels page you can drill down for hotels in the immediate vicinity of Westfield Stratford City, for example. Hotel Direct is a great online destination if you’re struggling to decide where to stay in London.
This is a sponsored post.
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