London Great Values

Set on the south side of the Thames, not far from historic Borough Market and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Bermondsey is one of London’s emerging hipster neighborhoods – a new refuge for recording studios, quirky pubs, and indie boutiques. At its center sits recently-revitalized Bermondsey Square, site of an art-house movie theater, eco-friendly residences, and, as of April 2009, the 79-room Bermondsey Square Hotel. Colorful, modern, and proudly affordable by London standards, the Bespoke brand property attracts an eclectic mix of business travelers (the financial district is just across the bridge), vacationers looking for an off-the-beaten-path hub, and locals who’ve joined the penthouse-level Members Club lounge. The sixty Deluxe Rooms vary in size and shape, but all include a clean, streamlined design, Apple TVs with laptop and iPod integration capabilities, free Internet, Hans Grohe drench showers, and natural bath products; 15 Club Rooms feature all that plus a little more space, while the four Loft suites – each named for an iconic 60s pop-song female – boast terraces, skyline views, and, in Suite Lucy, an eight-person Swedish hot tub. A three-room beauty nook offers quickie spa and nail services, while downstairs, Alfie’s Kitchen serves reinvented English classics using produce culled from local markets. An extensive terrace overlooks the square where there’s an antiques market every Sunday.

Four homey full-floor rooms in a stucco Victorian by Portobello Road are all the more delightful for their desirable Notting Hill location. The interiors of Caroline Main’s inn are charming, with white walls and antiques straight from Portobello market. Rooms are equipped with TV and VCR, phone with voicemail, wi-fi, and private bathroom; the newspaper and coffee are delivered to your room each morning and organic continental breakfast or full English breakfast is also available for an extra cost. The Main House is equidistant from Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill Gate tubes, both a 10-minute walk away.

A hip contemporary hotel on a leafy square in the heart of recently gentrified and gussied-up Clerkenwell, this enclave of cool occupies a beautifully restored Victorian building that once served as Bartholomew Hospital nurses’ quarters. Now part of a small boutique chain with a handful of hotels around the British Isles, the Malmaison London features the signature ‘Mal’ style – cutting-edge design, glam ambience, first-rate facilities, and a slew of in-room perks. The rooms at the Mal are stunning – the interior design is a successful combo of classic and contemporary, with a palette of soothing earth tones, moody lighting and smart furniture. All 97 rooms (and two suites with impressive views over the square) serve up superior trappings – extra-large and ultra-comfortable beds, power showers and fancy toiletries in each en-suite bathroom, fast Internet access, CD players with CD library, mini-bars stocked with fine drinks, and 24-hour room service at your disposal.

You can tell trendy architects own this sexy little townhouse hotel right away: The lobby/lounge of the Rockwell has Victorian tile floors, open fire, mod couches, and trendy wallpaper. The 40 rooms have contemporary interiors and thoughtful layouts (necessary in the smaller ones, but upgrades cost only £10-£30), air conditioning, free internet, Egyptian cotton sheets, satellite flatscreen TVs, oak closets, and sleek bathrooms with robes. A chic bistro, bar, and courtyard - plus 24-hour room service - are nice bonuses. The hotel is located in central London's Kensington area and just a short hop to the Earls Court tube.

Surrounded by majestic Victorian mansions on one of Knightsbridge’s premier blocks, this delightful B&B has charm to spare. Not only do you get superb country-style accommodations, but you’ll also be treated to a deliciously wholesome breakfast in the plant-filled conservatory, enthusiastic service, and a little slice of nature smack in the city center – a lush garden in the back with a bunch of resident ducks. The interiors of this stucco-fronted townhouse do contain their share of kitsch as well, with gold chandeliers and faux pink marble in the lobby, but if you’re not a style slave, the overall lodging experience in this non-smoking establishment is first-rate. The well-maintained rooms and suites at this repeat winner of the Bed & Breakfast of the Year award vary in size and style, but floral motifs, rich fabrics, plush carpets, and swank marble-floored bathrooms prevail in all 19 of them.

For longer stays in London, the No.5 Maddox St. will accommodate your every need with their twelve amazingly roomy apartments. Each 1- to 3-bedroom apartment is decorated austerely with muted grays and natural materials like bamboo floors. Some apartments feature a 2-story loft layout, while others are a series of spacious rooms with fireplaces, private gardens, and large terraces. Every apartment is equipped with a modern kitchen, Wi-Fi, entertainment centers, and office spaces with fax machines and other amenities for business travelers. Bars are superbly stocked with liqueurs, wine, beer, and loads of ready-to-eat snacks. Personal grocery shopping is available upon request, as is concierge service, restaurant delivery, and in-house catered dinner parties. The apartments feel like home and are perfectly located five minutes from London's Soho and Mayfair districts. Note: The hotel is five floors and does not have an elevator so be prepared to tackle the stairs if you book an apartment on a higher floor.

Quintessentially English and over-the-top traditional, this singular property around the corner from Oxford Street and the Wallace Collection amply delivers vintage nostalgia. Rich wood-paneled public rooms, formally dressed doormen, dark-red carpeting, and nineteenth-century Victorian prints and engravings create a rich historic ambience at this Georgian terraced hotel that first opened in 1790 and has been run by the Miller family since 1921. The hotel's 92 smallish rooms are done up in a traditional English-country style, with plush floral-patterned fabrics and dark-wood furnishings.

Hipsters flock to this trendy East End hotel for the luxe beds with Frette linens, lively lobby bar/restaurant, and deeply discounted online specials.

One of the best-value secrets in London, this first-class charmer has a prime location on a quiet side street in Notting Hill, just a hop and a skip from many attractions. Housed in a five-storey 1830 townhouse fronted by a flower-filled patio, it pays homage to the Victorian era in its luxuriously appointed interiors with gilt-frame windows, floral tapestries, and mahogany furniture. Complimentary continental breakfast is served in the delightful conservatory – the most attractive feature of this enchanting hotel. Each of the 22 rooms and suites has a unique interior design and a cozy private atmosphere.

Perfectly located for combining a little luxury shopping on Kensington's famous High Street and a smidgeon of culture at the Natural History Museum and Royal Albert Hall (all are within walking distance), the Copthorne Tara is a great budget find. There's a large hall for events and a wedding planner on call so even nuptials can be arranged here. The hotel has 833 rooms, a restaurant serving tasty Asian cuisine, a brasserie, business center, and club lounge. Rooms (both smoking and non) are fairly standard, with satellite TV and pay-per-use Internet access. Chill out with their relaxation treatments, go jogging in nearby Kensington Gardens, swim (at the Kenisington Close Hotel next door; £10), visit the gym, or take advantage of the child-minding services.