The Town Hall Hotel and Apartments is located in London's artsy East End. Striking design mixes Edwardian influences with 1930s art deco style and contemporary touches. This hotel first opened as a town hall in 1910 and many of the rooms, studios, and apartments have original period details. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and iPod docks. Bathrooms are especially luxurious, most with soaking tubs and separate walk-in showers. Vintage furniture and modern kitchens make these loft-style rooms both functional and inviting. Hotel amenities include a nice indoor pool, a fitness room, and a stylish Michelin-rated restaurant. While some guests might feel that the location is isolated from London's top attractions, the Town Hall Hotel offers great value for money in a hip neighborhood.

The Parkcity hotel is a small corporation-run hotel with a sleek, contemporary lobby and cocktail bar. It’s relatively affordable, well located for direct trips from the airport, and a short walk to the nearest tube station (for access to area attractions). But minimal room amenities and basic facilities (there’s no Wi-Fi in rooms, no restaurant, and room service only until midnight) may leave some guests wanting more.

The Thistle Hyde Park is an elegant hotel dating back to the Victorian era. Decor is traditional with chandeliers, hanging portraits, and dramatic curtains. All 54 rooms are comfortable and clean with flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and big bathrooms. Some rooms also have excellent views over Hyde Park. With high ceilings and plenty of character, this hotel is a good match for guests seeking relaxation over contemporary style. Hotel highlights include a restaurant, lounge, and bar along with a cozy writing room. While some rooms are on the small side, the location is convenient for walking to nearby Notting Hill Gate and the rooms are good value.

This 63-room hotel has retained its original beautiful Victorian architecture and ornate period furnishings in the common areas -- but the rooms are generically furnished, worn, and have a corporate feel. Nevertheless, its unparalleled central location and exclusive status as the only mid-range (read: affordable) hotel in the vicinity mean a relatively reasonable option in the very teeth of London's tourism beast. There's no pool, though, so young travelers may be disappointed.

For those traveling on a budget, the 63-room Base2stay is an ultra-affordable option in a decent area of Kensington. A non-pretentious attitude toward saving money, proactive eco policies, and smartly designed rooms are some definite perks -- and may very well make the relatively small size of the rooms and the occasionally spotty Wi-Fi reception bearable downsides.