If you’re anything like me, your love for London is rooted in its history. And if you’re looking for somewhere historic to stay, London is packed full of excellent options.
But most guides focus only on London’s grandest historic hotels – places like the Savoy or Claridge’s. And yes, we’d all like to stay there – but most of them will set you back upwards of £500 per night. For a standard room. Ouch.
The good news is that a historic stay in London doesn’t need to mean you have to remortgage your house. From Georgian townhouses to Victorian pubs with rooms, converted town halls to Edwardian railway hotels, there are dozens of characterful places to stay that combine genuine heritage with prices that won’t make you wince – many starting from around £100-150 per night.
Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend or a base for exploring the capital, here’s my pick of the best affordable historic hotels in London. I’ve arranged them roughly by price, from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy, and included options across zones 1-6.
Best affordable historic hotels in London
Georgian House Hotel, Pimlico
If you’re looking for somewhere to historic to stay in London, you can’t do much better than the Georgian House Hotel. It does what it says on the tin: it’s a Georgian-era house, run as a hotel.
Built in 1851 during the final years of the Georgian era, this Grade II listed townhouse has been run as a boutique hotel by the same family for more than a century.
The location is superb: a 10-minute walk from Victoria, under a mile to Buckingham Palace, and you’re surrounded by the handsome stuccoed terraces of Pimlico.
I should mention, though, it also has Harry Potter themed rooms called the ‘Wizard Chambers’. This might make this the place you have to stay at, or it might put you off – I won’t judge either way.
Expect to pay: From around £120 per night for a double, sometimes less midweek or off-season. Book here.
The Richmond Hill Hotel, Richmond
One of the loveliest historic hotels in Richmond upon Thames – itself one of the loveliest, historic parts of London.
It’s a bit further out of the centre, which means that although it’s a desirable area, you can get better value than in historic hotels in the centre. If you don’t mind the longer journey into town, it’s a no brainer. You can read a bit more about the pros and cons of staying in Richmond in my guide to the best non-touristy places to stay in London.
The Richmond Hill Hotel dates back to 1726, and has some of the best views you’ll find in any hotel in London. It was remodelled in 2019 but retains its period bones.
Expect to pay: £100-150 a night, excellent value compared to similar hotels more central. Book here.
Brama, Bromley Old Town Hall
A little bit further out – but because of this, it’s excellent value, and from Bromley South train station you can get to central London in just 15 minutes.
Brama is housed in one of Bromley’s most historic buildings, the Old Town Hall. The building itself dates from the early 20th century, a handsome Grade II-listed town hall, which served as the centre of local government for many decades. It was built at a time when Bromley was booming as a South-London hub, as a statement of civic pride, in the elegant Baroque style with lavish interiors, many of which remain.
During this time it had a colourful history – David Bowie got married in the registry office (this part of the building isn’t the hotel, sadly) and a nuclear bunker was even added in the mid-century.
It had a second lease of life as Bromley College before going derelict. The building was restored as part of a £20m renovation project in 2023, when Brama Hotel opened. It’s a lovely boutique hotel – the interior and rooms have been exquisitely done, with art-deco inspired vibes alongside more contemporary flourishes.
The building is now shared with a co-working space and a restaurant in the former courtrooms. It’s not central, but Bromley South station gets you into London in 16 minutes, and you’re getting genuine value compared to central London prices.
Expect to pay: From around £100-120 per night. Book here.
Hotel du Vin Cannizaro House, Wimbledon
This one is surely one of London’s most beautiful hotels, and in one of the most breathtaking locations.
Cannizaro House was part of a grand estate built on the edge of Wimbledon Common in the early 18th century. Many of the high and mighty of British society from this time visited visited.
In the late 18th century it was the home of Henry Dundas, then Home Secretary, and was a social hub frequented by everyone from George III to Pitt the Younger to William Wilberforce.
A devastating fire destroyed much of the home in the early 20th century, so much of what we see today was built in 1920, restored to its original style.
The former grounds of the estate now make up Cannizaro Park, a beautifully landscaped public park. And the historic house is now a 50-room, stunning historic hotel.
The whole hotel has a real sense of luxury and historic elegance, but one of the real highlights is the Orangery, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the park.
Again, this hotel is a little further out. And it’s a fair walk from the closest tube station, which means longer journeys into town, but also exceptional value for the quality of the hotel. In itself, though, the location is superb – a stones throw from Wimbledon Common (one of London’s nicest public parks) and a walk from the high-end Wimbledon Village.
Of course, the prices hike up massively during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
Expect to pay: Usually around £150 a night – but can be as low as £100 (or as high as £450-500 during the tennis!). Book here.
Fox & Anchor, Smithfield
Flanked on one side by the ancient Charterhouse Monastery, and London’s historic Smithfield Meat Market on the other, the Fox and Anchor is one of London’s loveliest Victorian pubs.
An 1898 Art Nouveau, Grade II Listed building, with a stunning tiled façade. The interior is even more stunning, all wood panelling, etched glasswork and intimate booths, virtually unchanged since it first opened.
In the Victorian era, it had a special license allowing it to open at 7am, serving early-morning pints to meat-traders at the Smithfield.
It has six rooms above the pub, exquisitely decorated and each one unique. The Market Suite has its own terrace.
One word of warning, though: this part of London gets *very* busy on weeknights, when City workers descend on pubs just like this one.
Expect to pay: From around £180-250 per night. Book here.
The Pilot, Greenwich Peninsula
Another of London’s magnificent historic public houses, the Pilot goes back more than 200 years. It was built in the early 19th century, to serve nearby coal workers.
It sits in a funny part of London – surrounded by modern buildings, and just a short walk to the O2 (it’s definitely one of the best places to stay if you’re going to a gig…). Greenwich, one of the best places to stay in London, is also in walking distance.
The pub is attached to a row of gorgeous Georgian cottages, and lays claim to being the oldest building on the Greenwich Peninsula.
The pub and attached cottages have some pretty strong cultural pedigree, too: Damien Hirst lived in one of the neighbouring cottages during his early career, and the whole row (including the Pilot) featured in Blur’s Parklife video.
Room wise, the Pilot boasts ten boutique rooms with quirky, individual designs, and the pub downstairs serves excellent modern British food.
Expect to pay: Start from around £160 a night, £220-300 for larger rooms. Book now.
Coach & Horses, Kew
The Coach and Horses is a Georgian-era coaching inn, one of the four original ‘Youngs’ pubs, which has been popular among travellers for around two hundred years.
It’s in a beautiful location – directly opposite Kew Gardens, one of the best things to do in London. The whole area feels very villagey, but you’re also close to the Kew Gardens tube station for easy access into central London.
The rooms are fittingly botanically themed, and it’s also in a good location for Richmond town centre and Twickenham Stadium. A final bonus: the pub does excellent Sunday roasts.
Expect to pay: From around £140-180 per night. Look out for stay packages including dinner.
The Windmill, Clapham Common
There’s been a pub on this site for around 500 years – though the current building comes from Georgian times. Part of the selling point for the Windmill, though, is its location.
It’s literally *on* Clapham Common – meaning the hotel is surrounded by 200 acres of historic greenspace, but also a short walk from lively Clapham High Street, and a quick journey into town.
Again, the Windmill is a Youngs Pub – which means a traditional pub vibe, and excellent food. They also have dog-friendly rooms available, which is rare for a London pub.
Expect to pay: From around £150-200 per night. Book here.
Town Hall Hotel, Bethnal Green
One of my favourites on this list: Bethnal Green’s awesome town hall building, built in 1910 and extended with Art Deco additions in the 1930s, reopened as a hotel in 2010 after a visionary restoration.
The restoration has been done sensitively – beautifully saving and repurposing many of the historic elements, like the marble flooring, stately staircases and wood panelling.
It’s part of the Design Hotels collection, so expect serious attention to interiors. Most rooms are spacious studios or apartments with kitchens, which makes them excellent value for families or longer stays. And there’s a lovely indoor pool!
Location wise, it’s in a trendy part of East London, with quick reach into town.
Expect to pay: Rooms start from about £240 a night. Book here.
Hazlitt’s, Soho
One of the most charming historical hotels in London – though you probably wouldn’t even notice it from the street front, tucked away inside a subtle Georgian townhouse.
The building dates all the way back to 1718, but the hotel takes its name from William Hazlitt, an essayist who lived here in the 19th century. The rooms are named after his famous writer friends – such as Jonathan Swift.
The whole place is decked out in a vintage, antique style, with historical features throughout: think Victorian bath tubs, fancy chandeliers and carved wooden beads.
There’s no restaurant – the staff deliver breakfast to your room! But it’s also in the heart of Soho, meaning you have many of London’s best restaurants on your doorstep.
The same people also run another hotel, the Rookery in Clerkenwell, in a row of Georgian townhouses from the 18th century and another of the best historic hotels in London.
Expect to pay: Rooms are usually around £290-350 per night. Probably the most expensive hotel on this list, but a special hotel. Book now.
The Splurge Options: If You Can Stretch
St Pancras Renaissance, King’s Cross
I’d be remiss not to mention it. But the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel one of my favourite buildings in London, and it’s worth stealing a glance of the inside for the grand staircase alone. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, it’s a Gothic Revival masterpiece which was originally built in the 19th century specifically to outshine King’s Cross’s Great Northern Hotel.
It’s one of London’s most spectacular historic buildings. And though it isn’t cheap (rooms start from around £300+), you can’t do much better.
It’s not cheap (from £300+), but if you’re celebrating something, this is the one. Book here.
L’Oscar, Holborn
If you’re a fan of architecture, this one is seriously cool: a former church turned into an extravagant hotel, named after and inspired by Oscar Wilde.
Built at the start of the 20th century as the London headquarters of the Baptist Church, in a grand ‘Free Baroque’ style.
It was built during the height of the Arts and Crafts movement, and was heavily influenced by it: much of the exterior and interior was created and designed by some of the best artisans, artists and craftsmen of the time. During WWII the building survived a bomb that damaged its fourth floor.
By the 1960s, the church’s congregation was dwindling. It closed, and was used as offices until 2012, when it was transformed into this extravagant hotel. Designed by French designer Jacques Garcia, many of the original features were painstakingly restored by artisans from all over the world.
Much of it, though, is brand new, and pure theatre: think leather and velvet draping the walls, peacock motifs throughout, and giant chandeliers.
The Baptist Bar is especially magnificent, in the former octagonal chapel. But even if you’re not planning on staying, it’s worth having a look through their photos to see the incredible job they’ve done on the place. It’s one of the coolest hotels on this list – a fusion of history and modern extravagent design that still feels tasteful.
It’s bang central and high-luxury, so prices can be high.
The Ned, City of London
Sir Edwin “Ned” Lutyens designed this masterpiece between 1924 and 1939 as headquarters for the Midland Bank, once one of the most powerful banks in the British Empire. The vast banking hall with its 92 green verdite columns dominated the City for decades.
After the bank merged with HSBC in 1992, the building sat empty for years before Soho House transformed it in 2017. It’s now a luxury hotel, all of which feels very 1920s.
The smallest “Cosy” rooms are compact but beautifully done – and you can sometimes get a good deal on them. The real draw is downstairs: restaurants and bars fill the spectacular banking hall beneath those towering columns, plus there’s a vault bar in the original bank vault (with its massive door intact) and a rooftop pool.
Expect to pay: From around £280-350 per night for a Cosy room. Book here.
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