Best budget family hotels London: cheap places to stay in the capital

You can rely on Premier Inn for a clean, comfortable room wherever you happen to be staying. London is a big city and there are dozens of Premier Inns to choose from, so finding Mumsnetters’ favourite one was a challenge. Earl’s Court pipped other contenders to the post for its amazing location in one of the swankiest neighbourhoods in the city, its easy links to the rest of London and its fair room prices.

Just round the corner you’ll find the V&A, the Natural History Museum and the epic Diana Memorial Playground at Kensington Gardens. Family rooms sleep up to four, with cots available on request at no extra charge. There’s an on-site restaurant serving breakfast and dinner, and parking is available nearby for around £20 per day.

Nearest tube station: Earls Court (0.5 miles)

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While amazing bargains can be found at most of the hotels on our list, YHA London Central - and YHA hostels in general - come highly recommended by Mumsnetters for being reliably cheap. You can get a private room within shouting distance of Regent's Park to sleep four for around £100 per night (note that it can creep up to £200 on Saturdays). While the rooms are basic and you can expect to be in a bunk bed, family rooms have a private bathroom and access to a self-catering kitchen. We think YHA London Central makes the perfect cheap and cheerful base for exploring London's best bits.

Nearest tube station: Great Portland Street (0.4 miles)

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Like Premier Inn and YHA, Travelodge is a hotel chain you can trust to be pretty much the same wherever you go. Mumsnetters rate the Covent Garden Travelodge for its excellent location, close to some of the most popular attractions the city has to offer. Family rooms have a double or king bed and one or two singles, and you can get discounted parking at the nearby NCP.

Nearest tube station: Holborn (0.4 miles)

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If you want an east London base, the Ibis Budget is a great choice. Nearby you’ll find the Tower of London, Brick Lane and Tower Bridge, and there’s plenty of quirky and interesting shops and restaurants in the area. Rooms only sleep three, so the Ibis isn’t an option for larger families. If you’re in a group of three the hotel’s triple or triple nest rooms are comfortable, if a little small.

Nearest tube station: Whitechapel (0.3 miles)

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Like most capital cities, space is at a premium in London. Z Hotels’ innovative use of double bunk beds means four people can squeeze surprisingly comfortably into a small room, with a private bathroom and plenty of clever storage space. Located near the Thames and Somerset House, Z Hotel makes a comfy base to relax and sleep soundly after a long day’s sightseeing.

Nearest tube station: Temple (0.4 miles)

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If you prefer an independent hotel to a chain but don’t want to pay over the odds, the Mentone in Bloomsbury comes highly recommended by Mumsnetters. Just five minutes’ walk from King's Cross Station, the hotel is in a quiet, Grade II listed building with large en suite rooms throughout. Family rooms sleep up to five, with cots available for free on request - making this a perfect choice for larger families.

Nearest tube station: Russell Square (0.4 miles)

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The deceptively grand Millennium Gloucester has bargain family rooms available for under £200 a night if you’re savvy with your dates. The 4-star hotel is located in stylish Kensington, with the V&A, Science Museum and Natural History Museum a short walk away. Cots and extra beds are available on request, and family rooms are spacious and airy, with two double beds and en suite bathrooms.

Nearest tube station: Gloucester Road (50 metres)

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Novotels strike a great balance between luxury and affordability, with on-site gyms and restaurants without the hefty price tag. The Tower Bridge Novotel has an indoor play area, board games and you can even bring your dog. It’s well placed for the Tower of London and Sky Garden, and you can hop on the Circle and District line at Tower Hill tube, less than 100 metres from the hotel.

Standard rooms sleep four, on a queen-size bed and a double sofa bed, with free cots available on request. Some rooms do have a glass wall between the shower and the bedroom, which won’t suit everybody.

Nearest tube station: Tower Hill (100 metres)

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With views across the city, Leonardo Hotel near Tower Bridge offers a high quality stay for a very reasonable price. The hotel boasts a swimming pool, a gym and an on-site restaurant serving grill, a la carte and tapas dishes.

Family rooms have two comfy double beds, large windows and free cots available on request. The Tower Bridge area makes a great base for exploring London, with attractions such as Buckingham Palace, London Zoo and Big Ben a short tube ride away. London City Airport is just five miles from the hotel and Fenchurch Street station is within easy reach, connecting it to the South East of the UK.

Nearest train station: Tower Gateway (0.2 miles)

Near Covent Garden and the West End, this is a perfect base for a trip to the theatre. The hotel offers basic accommodation, with clean, comfortable rooms and an on-site restaurant.

A Standard Double Room sleeps four in a double bed and a fold-out sofa bed, with travel cots available on request. Just 500 metres from the hotel is the British Museum, where the kid-friendly explorer trails bring exhibits to life.

Nearest train station: Russell Square (0.1 miles)