If you are looking for a family-friendly hotel in London that won’t break the bank then Premier Inn hotels are a great option. These no frills, no fuss hotels are convenient, congenial and, most importantly, great value.
Sure, they might not have the kind of amenities and facilities that some of the more upmarket hotels have but if you’re planning to spend most of your time in London sightseeing then all you really want is a guaranteed comfortable stay in a choice of great locations and that’s where Premier Inn delivers.
They are over 800 Premier Inn hotels across the UK and some 70 odd in London, many of them just a short walk to some of the city’s best sights including the London Eye, the Southbank, the Tate Modern, and the Tower of London.
To help you narrow down your search, here is how to choose the best Premier Inn in London for you
What to expect from a Premier Inn
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Founded in 1987, Premier Inn is the UK’s largest hotel chain offering consistent, reliable and good value accommodation.
Every Premier Inn room features an en-suite bathroom, double or king-size beds, a remote control TV, tea and coffee making facilities, and a desk area. Irons, hairdryers and travel cots are available at no extra cost. Free Wi-Fi is also offered. Many of the Premier Inn hotels boast air conditioning.
Some Premier Inns are categorised as ‘Premier Plus’, meaning that they are just the little more upmarket.
Premier Plus rooms promise even cosier beds with a choice of pillows, a flat-screen TV with a comfy armchair, a vanity area with a stool and hairdryer, an improved work space and a rainfall shower. Additional perks include a mini-fridge and faster Wi-Fi. Note that the Premier Plus rooms are only available to couples – save them for when you leave the kids at home!
Premier Inn hotels also have Accessible Rooms that come with all the same features of a Premier Inn room with facilities designed to help travellers with disabilities or mobility issues. This includes more space next to the bed, wider bathroom doorways, a wet room or wider entry bathrooms, and lower storage space for easier access.
London is also home to a handful of Premier Inn hubs. These are aimed primarily at business travellers as they are located near the heart of London city and main transport links. The rooms are smaller that standard Premier Inn rooms and they do not have family rooms.
One thing that Premier Inn hotels do not have is swimming pools, if you are after a family-friendly hotel in London with a swimming pool then take a look at this list.
Premier Inn Family Rooms
If you are visiting London with kids then there are dedicated family rooms.
The Premier Inn spacious Family Rooms generally include a double or kingsize bed and two pull-out beds or sofa bed for the kids. If you have an infant under three then they can be accommodated in a cot.
If you are a family of five but the youngest is over 3 then you will need two rooms (the maximum number of guests is five but only if one of the guests is under three years old).
Some of the Premier Inn hotels have interconnecting rooms so you can stick the kids next door and cross your fingers that you might get a lie-in; you will need to call your hotel directly to check availability when booking – it is not possible to book interconnecting rooms online.
Premier Inn & Mico Scooters
Premier Inn have teamed up with Micro Scooters for the summer and have created scooter maps for exploring the nearby area. In London, their scoot routes include Brockwell Park in Brixton and Hyde Park and Regents Park in Central London so remember to pack your scooters!
Dining at Premier Inn hotels
For breakfast there is the a choice of a Continental breakfast, including a range of cereal, fruit and pastries from the breakfast buffet, or the cooked breakfast.
The benefit if one adult orders the Premier Inn cooked breakfast is that two under 16s can enjoy a free breakfast. Cooked breakfast options include scrambled eggs, hash browns and sausages – including vegan options. The cooked breakfast starts at £10.99 (prices vary at hotels and at some restaurants the Premier inn breakfast is £11.99 or £13.99).
There are lots of places to eat in London with kids but if you want to have dinner at the hotel then Premier Inn has a Meal Deal offer, allowing you to save up to 20%. See more information here.
Visiting London with kids
Choosing where to stay in London with kids can seem overwhelming. London is a big capital and many its sights are scattered across the city.
The good news is that getting around London on public transport is straightforward and provides easy access to all the big ticket attractions, so you don’t need to worry too much about finding a London hotel right in the centre of town.
In fact, in some instances it’s better not to stay in the heart of the city. For example, I have not included the Premier Inn in Leicester Square because even though the location is very handy, it is one of London’s busiest neighbourhoods and can be very noisy, particularly at the weekends.
The below map highlighting the best Premier Inns in London for families will help you orientate yourself while deciding where to stay.
Premier Inn London Locations Map
In terms of getting ready for your trip, we have a guide to exploring London with kids that has lots of tips on getting around, suggested itineraries, themed days and more that may be useful.
Otherwise, these are some of the sights that are worth booking in advance, particularly if you are visiting during the school holidays.
- London Eye
- Madame Tussauds
- Shrek’s Adventure
- London Dungeon
- SEA LIFE
- Tower of London (read our full Tower of London for families review)
- Buckingham Palace
- Harry Potter Studio Tour
- Science Museum
- Natural History Museum
If you are visiting at Christmas then take a look at our guide to visiting London at Christmas including the best shows, markets, ice skating rinks and more.
Don’t miss our post on the best family-friendly restaurants in London or where to enjoy the best afternoon tea in London for kids either.
The Best Premier Inn in London for families
The following Premier Inn recommendations come through personal experience and recommendations from families. Bear in mind that Premier Inn hotels slightly outside the city centre – in places such as Kew or Hammersmith – will be cheaper than Premier Inn hotels in central neighbourhoods such as Covent Garden.
If you plan to visit during popular times such as Christmas, the Easter holidays or half-term holidays then it is vital that you book well in advance.
Premier Inn County Hall (Premier Plus)
The London County Hall Premier Inn regularly tops the list for families looking for a great place to stay. Positioned in the Grade II listed County Hall building and within walking distance of the London Eye, its central location is hard to beat.
Their family rooms come with a double or kingsize bed plus a sofa bed and a pull-out bed. These rooms can sleep four people, or five if you have a third child under the age of three.
You really are in the centre of London here with the Southbank on your doorstep (where there is a great splash park during summer months) and some of the city’s best sights for kids.
Make sure to book your tickets to the nearby SEA LIFE Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure, London Dungeon and London Eye in advance if visiting during peak times. A fun playground is almost next door.
Address: Premier Inn County Hall, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 7PB
Nearest Tube: Waterloo
Premier Inn London Southwark Bankside (Premier Plus)
On the other side of the River Thames is the Premier Inn London Southwark, one of the best Premier Inn in London, boasting a prime location. Located a short walk from Southwark underground station and London Waterloo train and underground station, it’s easy to get out and about if you base yourself here.
One of the other plus points is that you are not far from Borough Market here, which is not only one of our favourite London markets but also one of our favourite places to eat in London with kids.
There are a handful of good restaurants in the neighbourhood too for easy dining options.
Address: 34 Bankside, Park St, London SE1 9EF
Nearest Tube: Southwark Station
Premier Inn London Bank (Tower) (Premier Plus)
Another popular Premier Inn for families is the Premier In London Bank (Tower) one positioned in an excellent location close to Monument underground station. Nearby attractions include the Tower of London, Monument (perfect for kids learning about the Great Fire of London), St Paul’s Cathedral, the Sky Garden and the starting point for the Terrible Thames cruise.
Address: 20 St Mary At Hill, City Of London, EC3R 8EE
Nearest Tube: Monument and Bank
Premier Inn London St Pancras (Premier Plus)
Perfectly positioned for catching trains in and out of London, as well as the Eurostar to Paris, the Premier Inn London St Pancras is a great option for families with modern rooms, air conditioning and within walking distance of the British Library.
Kings Cross is a fun and vibrant neighbourhood with lots of things to do and some great restaurant options. Don’t miss the Postal Museum while you are here, one of London’s best but lesser-known museums.
Address: 88 Euston Road, London, NW1 2RA
Nearest tube: Kings Cross
Premier Inn London Paddington (Paddington Basin)
The Premier Inn London Paddington is in the perfect location for travellers coming in and out of Heathrow Airport but that’s not the only reason this is a good option. Families enjoy its spacious rooms with air conditioning, its location near the canal and its many local restaurants.
There are lots of other things to do in Paddington too including a Paddington Pawprint Trail, the Paddington shop at Paddington station, the Puppet Theatre Barge, trips along the canal with GoBoat and much more.
Premier Inn Paddington is also well placed for families wanting to visit Legoland Windsor by train.
Address: Paddington Exchange, North Wharf Road, London, W2 1LF
Nearest tube: Paddington
Premier Inn London Kew Bridge
You get a bit more bang for your buck staying outside of Zones 1 and 2 so consider the Premier Inn at Kew Bridge next time you are planning a trip to London. It’s located a short walk from Kew Gardens, which is perfect at any time of year but particularly if you are hoping to enjoy the Christmas at Kew lights that take place over Christmas in London.
The only downside is that there isn’t an underground station on your doorstep, the nearest tube stop is at Northfields, roughly a 15 minute walk away.
Address: 52 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0BB
Nearest tube: Northfields
Premier Inn London Greenwich (Premier Plus)
Ideal for exploring Greenwich, home to the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and the meridian line, is the Premier Inn London Greenwich. Other nearby sights include the London O2 Arena, making it a good base if you’re heading to see a concert.
Address: 43-81 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 8JL
Nearest tube: Deptford Railway Station
Premier Inn London Kensington Earls Court (Premier Plus)
Next to Earls Court station and just a short walk away from the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and the Royal Albert Hall is the London Kensington (Earl’s Court) Premier Inn hotel. It’s one of the regular Premier Inns but it still enjoys good family rooms and an on-site restaurant. It’s also ideally located for the Chelsea Football Club.
Address: 11 Knaresborough Place, London, SW5 0TJ
Nearest tube: Earls Court
Premier Inn Hammersmith (Talgarth Road) (Premier Plus)
Th newly-opened Premier Inn Hammersmith (Talgarth Road) sits just a just a five-minute walk from the Eventim Apollo and Hammersmith. As well as being well connected by public transport for London’s major attractions, the neighbourhood itself is a great one for families with lots of shops nearby including a Tesco if you’re looking to buy your own breakfast or lunches.
Address: 181 Talgarth Road, Hammersmith, W6 8DN
Nearest tube: Hammersmith Station
Premier Inn Victoria (Premier Plus)
Families have reported that the hotel room size of the Family Rooms at the Premier Inn Victoria are on the smaller side but it’s a convenient central location, particularly if you are travelling from Gatwick (the Gatwick Express leaves from Victoria Station).
There is lots to do in the neighbourhood as well including a visit to see if the King is in at Buckingham Palace and the musical Wicked, one of the best shows in London for families.
Address: 82-83 Eccleston Square, Off 55 Gillingham Street, London Victoria
Nearest tube: Victoria
Premier Inn Watford North
If you are planning visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour then one option is to stay nearby. The Premier Inn Watford North is nearby and offers a reliable place to stay. In addition to family rooms, it offers accessible rooms with a lowered bath.
Address: 859 St Albans Road, Garston, Watford, WD25 0LH
Nearest station: Watford Junction
