Cheap hotels in London are probably on many people's minds. It's that time of the year again. Many people are already off, or are arranging to go off on their summer holidays. Despite the recession, a break in the summer is still pretty much a necessity. And London is a still a desired destination for a short break.

Price of hotel accommodation is high in London, at any time! If you can fork out $2,000 or thereabouts a night, you can probably find some decent accommodation. But many would find that somewhat too exorbitant to pay.

Queensway/Bayswater Area

A popular hub for inexpensive tourist accommodation in London is in the area around Queensway/Bayswater. It is served by two underground stations - Queensway and Bayswater, and there are plenty of buses along the main Bayswater Road.

That is an area full of small hotels and bed-sits, within easy walking distance from Hyde Park, and close to downtown London. Well, actually it is a part of Central London. A short bus ride takes you to Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner. That's one end of the famous Oxford Street, the main shopping street in London.

In its own right, the Queensway area has its own attractions. The main street is full of middle-eastern restaurants and eateries, as well as some well-patronised Chinese restaurants, coffee-shops, pubs and fast-food shops too. If you have a lazy hour or so, it's not a bad idea on a warmish day to sip your coffee, or other beverage, at an outside pavement table and watch the world walk by. There are always some interesting specimens passing by from time to time.

The photo shows the entrance to the Queensway Underground Station. Hyde Park is visible in the left background, just across the road from the station. Next to it is a Chinese restaurant, which has been there since time immemorial!

If you book rooms on the internet, always remember that the photos they show you make the rooms much larger than they actually are! They always give glowing descriptions to entice you. I wish they would give more accurate descriptions instead. At least then you know what your are in for.

Just keep your expectations low, or you'd be hugely disappointed.

Think of the fact that you're saving money to spend on the also not cheap transport, and on visiting sites, and attractions around the city. But as far as location is concerned, they are in the right place.