Cheap hotels in Covent Garden

The Holborn offshoot of the indie Shoreditch original might look like it'd be too swanky to be included in a round-up of cheap hotels, but there are affordable options at this central London spot. The hotel’s 174 rooms come in four different sizes and the smallest, ‘Shoebox’ (around 14 sqm), can be bagged for the cheapest rate per night. Book directly and get 20 percent off, too. For your money, expect clever design, free wifi, a morning snack and fresh milk in your fridge, plus the two restaurant/bars Rondo and La Cave.

The mood: Trendy east London goes central.
Location perks? It sits conveniently slap bang between the British Museum and Covent Garden.
Budget range? From £200/n.

If you don't need to be in the middle of the action, then the stylish Z City on Fleet Street offers plenty of bang for your buck. A 15-minute walk from the heart of Covent Garden, its cramped but clever double rooms offer guests clean design on a budget. Small but perfectly formed rooms with a cool grey palette have quality beds and smart bathrooms with toiletries included. Breakfast is extra but there’s the bonus of free cheese and wine between 5pm and 8pm. Plus, book directly with Z Hotel and receive ten percent off your night's stay.

The mood: Neat and neutral.
Location perks? The impressive, imposing St Paul's Cathedral is just a ten-minute walk away.
Budget range? From £105/n.

Monmouth Street is one of the seven narrow streets that splinter off of the appropriately named Seven Dials. Lined with boutiques and bougie eats, it's also home to Seven Dials Hotel. The well-located budget accommodation offers simple but comfy doubles, with a full English buffet breakfast included. En suite rooms are basic, but wifi is free and there are tea- and coffee-making facilities. There is also a 24-hour reception.

The mood: Basic, but unbeatable on location.
Location perks? The perfect base for theatre fans on a budget.
Budget range? From £90/n.

While it's not easy to get a room for close to £100 for a night in central London, it's not impossible, as proved by the Mercure Bloomsbury. The four-star hotel offers standard doubles, which are a touch dated, but are clean and comfy. Each room comes with desk space, free wifi, tea- and coffee-making facilities, rainfall showers, heated towel rails and illuminated mirrors.

The mood: Boutique-esque.
Location perks? A stone's throw from Russell Square and within walking distance of Covent Garden and the British Museum.
Budget range? From £120/n.

Although it’s more than 100 years old, the Strand Palace is a truly modern experience. The hotel offers comfortable accommodation at a very affordable rate if you get in early (or last minute). Perks include access to a gym, room service till 11pm, two onsite bars and a restaurant serving British fare.

The mood: A lot of swank for your money.
Location perks? It’s just a two-minutes walk from Covent Garden Piazza and within easy strolling distance of Charing Cross.
Budget range? From £150/n.

When visiting a city like London, your hotel room is purely a base for you to dump your belongings, freshen up and sleep. St Giles's uncomplicated and unflashy rooms do just that. You'll also get free wifi and you'll be close to Tottenham Court Road underground station, Oxford Street and a seven-minute walk to Covent Garden.

The mood: Sleekly chic.
Location perks? Guests receive access to the YMCA fitness centre located below the hotel.
Budget range? From £100/n.

Looking for the communal spaces of a hostel with the privacy of your own bedroom? Premier Inn's Hub serves up just that, and there's not a shared shower cubicle in sight. The rooms are tiny, but every inch of space has been used smartly – the lighting and heating, for instance, can be changed from the comfort of your bed via touchscreens in the headboards. Breakfast is extra, but is only a fiver (trust us, that's a steal).

The mood: Bright and cheerful.
Location perks? It's practically spitting distance from Trafalgar Square.
Budget range? From £109/n.

Marble en-suite bathrooms, contemporary rooms and a four-star rating might not sound like the description of an affordable hotel, but this Bloomsbury establishment is just that. If you're flexible with dates, then you can bag a room for around £150, including a continental breakfast. Guests can also use the health club and spa facilities at the nearby Grange Holborn for a nominal fee.

The mood: Calming, Georgian plushness.
Location perks? It's a short walk from the British Museum (on the eastern side, overlooking Montague Street Gardens) and less than half a mile from Covent Garden.
Budget range? From £150/n.

If you can forgo daylight, you can save some pennies. Z Hotel is a chain known for its affordability and this Piccadilly branch is no different. You can bag a windowless room amongst the bright lights of London – and just moments from Covent Garden – for something around the £100 mark. For your money you get a TV with Sky Sports and movie channels, wifi, an en suite and toiletries.

The mood: Down to earth.
Location perks? It's flanked by theatres and galleries.
Budget range? From £90/n.

Before you turn your nose up at the thought of a Travelodge, it’s tough to find a cheaper room this close to all the action. Located on Drury Lane, a flower-seller’s yell from Covent Garden Market, the contemporary tower hotel houses a series of modern cookie-cutter rooms. Breakfast and wifi are not included, but super comfy king-size beds are, and children under 15 stay for free.

The mood: Basic, but comfortable.
Location perks? The Shaftesbury Theatre is just around the corner, literally.
Budget range? From £80/n.