London is the coolest city on earth, according to a big crowd of fans of the city, and there is quite some truth in that. The city on the Thames has an amazing lot of things to do. One can spend several weeks in the city alone, doing something different every day.

Cheap London hotels do not have to be dive hotels in seedy areas. All too often travelers think that if they are seeking cheap London hotels that they will need to sacrifice quality and safety for price. The reality is, however, that if you have the right travel professionals assisting you, you will find cheap London hotels that are clean, safe and enjoyable.

You can either stay at cheap London hotels that will turn a great day into a nightmare in a hurry, or you can stay at moderate London hotels at cheap London hotels rates in order to keep your day on the same great tone. The choice is fairly obvious.

London has great sites to see for the entire family, as well as many things to enjoy. Shopping is legendary in London so staying at cheap London hotels can help you save some pounds for a shopping spree before you leave. You will also find that there are great restaurants with many different cuisines ranging from Indian food, Italian food and British food. By staying in cheap London hotels you are able to do more, see more and enjoy more.

Most of the hotel accommodation in this bracket is termed 'bed and breakfast' hotels. This can be misleading to the unaware. No it's not a cozy family owned guest house with personal attentive hosts, traditional English breakfasts and home-made offerings, commonly available outside London. The vast majority are small hotels with 20-50 rooms, staffed by immigrants on very low salaries with very simple rooms, seldom lifts and 'continental breakfasts'. That is not to say that these establishments should be avoided, but there are an awful lot of poor quality ones.

The main cheap hotel districts in London are Bayswater, Victoria and Kings Cross. Here you will see lots of these bed and breakfast hotels together in clusters. An ensuite double or twin room with breakfast in these areas is around 70-100$US.

Kings Cross has a poor reputation, it used to be notorious for drugs, crime and prostitution. That is all largely behind it now and it's a district on the up, the whole area is being rejuvenated and Eurostar Trains will terminate at Kings Cross station in 2007. The bed and breakfast hotels are all around a garden square immediately opposite Kings Cross Station.

Kings Cross is no more than a mile from the West End, the central entertainment area of London, and there is lots of public transport on your doorstep. Bayswater is on the northern border of Hyde Park, London's biggest, and within a mile are Oxford Street, Kensington Palace and Paddington Station, (terminus for the Heathrow Express airport link. Bayswater is a traditional budget area and a great place to stay for the cost conscious traveler.

Victoria is very central, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye are all within walking distance. The cheap hotels are south of the railway station, stretching from the coach stations to Pimlico Underground. The area is pleasant and safe.

Some of the better bed and breakfasts include the Montana Excel and Howard Winchester Hotels in Kings Cross, the Central Hotel in Victoria and the Blakemore and Annur Hotels in Bayswater. Some of these may be advertised as three star hotels - beware in small print you may notice the words 'self rated'.