London

Whether it’s to hear the chimes of Big Ben, scout out some bargains on Oxford Street or marvel at majestic Buckingham Palace, London draws visitors in their hordes every year. But not everyone can afford to live like the Queen, and visiting the capital can be pricey.

Luckily there are plenty of ways to see the best of Britain on a budget – most of London’s top galleries and museums are free, and with a travel card you can get around the city on the cheap.

London’s restaurants may be expensive, but good-value food can be found at the stalls around Camden market, the Italian Cafés in Soho and buffets in Chinatown. The abundance of parks and green open spaces means that picnicking is a cheap and fun way to refuel in the city.

There’s no shortage of budget accommodation either, with hundreds of London hostels in the city center. With rooms ranging from cosy dormitories in grand old townhouses to ultra-modern apartment blocks, the choice of hostels in London can be overwhelming, so here’s a guide to the very best:

Clink Hostel

This is a truly unique hostel and a piece of rock and roll history – housed in the former courthouse where punk band the Clash went on trial. Despite its imposing setting, this hostel has a fun atmosphere, with plenty of special events to keep you entertained in the hostel bar, and a free city tour to kick off sightseeing. Sleep in a former police cell and enjoy futuristic rooms, with high-tech pod beds equipped with reading lights and personal lockers. There’s also two former courtrooms packed with computers for checking emails, and a TV.

St Christopher’s Inn, Camden

The St Christopher’s Inn chains of hostels are renowned for their top-class service, comfortable rooms and excellent amenities, and the Camden branch is no different. In the heart of Camden, the home of quirky cool, you’re a short walk to the famous market and high street packed with pubs, where pink Mohawks and copious tattoos are the norm.

In a Tudor-style building, the hostel has a rock and roll edge, with a bandstand for gigs and chill-out room in the basement. There’s also the hostel’s own Belushi’s Bar, great for cheap meals and drinks, and guests at the hostel get a 10% discount.

YHA London St Pancras

This hostel has been rated as 4* by the English Tourist Board, and is known for its comfortable, clean rooms and friendly staff. Close to the international transport links at St Pancras Station, you are also a short bus ride away from Camden’s lively pubs and music venues, and the excellent restaurants and pretty boutiques in Islington. The dorms are more intimate than your average hostel, with a maximum of 6 beds, and there’s a cosy lounge complete with satellite TV.

Astor Kensington

Stay in the affluent and leafy borough of Kensington on a shoestring in this charming but modern hostel. In an elegant townhouse, this small hostel has bright and funky rooms and an extensive free breakfast, with everything from fresh fruit to a full English fry up. The location is excellent- you are on the same road as the V&A, Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall are just around the corner, and Harrods and the rest of South Kensington will delight shopaholics.

Palmer’s Lodge

One of the most scenic hostels around, you can stay in a restored Victorian Mansion at the Palmer’s Lodge. In a quiet area of Finchley, central London is a quick tube ride away, and there are plenty of cinemas, shops and cafés within a short walk of the hostel. The rooms range from private beds to a vast 28 bed dormitory, and the hostel has a real homely ambience, with a beautiful lounge, a cheap restaurant and a bar serving up pizzas and paninis for snacking.

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