ENGLAND HOSTELS
Hyde Park Hostel, 2-6 Inverness Terr. ( 7229 5101; www.astorhostels.com). Tube: Queensway or Bayswater. Crowded backpacker hostel with flimsy mattresses, but tons of fun. Big dorms are more spacious. Kitchen, bar, and lounge available. Continental breakfast and sheets included. Laundry facilities. Internet access. Ages 16-35 only. Reserve at least 2 weeks ahead. Dorms £11-17.50; doubles £42-45. MCV.
Quest Hostel, 45 Queensborough Terr. (7229 7782; www.astorhostels.com). Tube: Queensway or Bayswater. Offers good beds and more personal space, but dorms without bath could be 2 floors from a shower. Kitchen available. Continental breakfast and sheets included. Laundry facilities. Dorms £14-16; doubles £40. MCV.
Leinster Inn, 7-12 Leinster Sq. (a7729 9641; www.astorhostels.com). Tube: Bayswater. A basic hostel with everything you need, including a kitchen, bar, and pool room. Breakfast and sheets included. Laundry facilities. Internet access. 4- to 8-bed dorms £14, with shower £18; singles £2529; doubles £3540; triples £5760. MCV.
B&BS AND HOTELS
Admiral Hotel, 143 Sussex Gdns. (7723 7309; www.admiral-hotel.com). Tube: Paddington. Beautifully kept B&B. 19 summery, non-smoking rooms with bath and tea kettle. Singles £45; doubles £65; triples £90; quads £100; quints £120. MCV.
Balmoral House Hotel, 156-157 Sussex Gdns. (-zr 7723 4925; www.balmoralhouseho-tel.co.uk). Tube: Paddington. Classy establishment with low prices. All rooms with bath, kettle, and hair dryer. English breakfast included. Singles £40; doubles £65; triples £80; quads £100; quints £120. MCV (5% surcharge).
Cardiff Hotel, 5-9 Norfolk Sq. (7723 9068; www.cardiff-hotel.com). Tube: Paddington. All rooms have kettle and phone. Enthusiastic staff and elegant, reasonably sized rooms. Singles are small. English breakfast included. 48hr. cancellation policy. Singles with shower £49, with bath £55-69; doubles with bath £79; triples with bath £90; quads with bath £110. MCV.
Garden Court Hotel, 30-31 Kensington Gdns. Sq. (7229 2553; www.gardencourtho-tel.co.uk). Tube: Bayswater. Rooms vary widely in size (the quad is tiny), but all are tastefully decorated. English breakfast included. Singles £39, with bath £58; doubles £5888; triples £7299; quad £82120. MCV.
Vancouver Studios, 30 Prince’s Sq. (7243 1270; www.vienna-group.co.ukvancou-ver). Tube: Bayswater. Fully-serviced studios. The light, airy rooms are large, with kitchenette, hair dryer, phone, TV, and daily maid service; all have private bath and laundry access. Studio for singles £75; doubles £97 (small), £112 (large); triples £137. Single studio Su and F-Sa £60. AmExMCV.
BLOOMSBURY AND MARYLEBONE
Bloomsbury’s proximity to Soho makes it well suited for those who want to stay near nightlife. The neighborhood is also close to the British Museum and plenty of cheap restaurants. Many B&Bs are on busy roads, so be wary of noise levels. The area becomes seedier closer to King’s Cross.
