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With London already being expensive and considering the sometimes bad exchange rate that Americans face, staying there can be a drain on your finances. In order to help alleviate this, some people choose London hotels that are far out of the center, in hopes of trying to save some cash. However, this doesn’t always work the way that you might think it will.

For one thing, it is important to remember that London is an old city. It was built before the subway system, current roads, and new neighborhoods were even thought of. Therefore, most of the attractions that you will want to visit are all actually fairly close together.

The majority of the attractions, shopping, museums, and galleries are all located in zones 1 and 2. By staying in one of these zones, you will have easy access not only to the attractions that you want to see, but to the rest of the city as well.

You might think that staying in such a central location is going to be expensive and not affordable. It doesn’t have to be, though. In fact, there are a variety of reasonably priced London hotels available in the central area. Of course, you can spend hundreds of dollars per night at one of the 4 or 5 star hotels, but you can also find basic hotels, too, that are moderately priced. If you don’t require any amenities other than a room in a safe neighborhood, you can get by on paying around $110 per night in some cases.

If you do choose to stay outside of the central part of London, then be prepared to pay some expenses in transportation costs.

A subway pass doesn’t cost too much and can definitely save you money over buying individual tickets, but if you’re going to be in London for a week or more, you’re still going to have to shell out a little bit of cash for it.

If you find a hotel in one of the suburbs for $75 per night, but you have to pay $15 per day in transportation costs, then finding one in the center for $110 really isn’t spending that much more in the long run.

If you are out in central London and you miss the last train or bus then you might have to take a cab. These can be very expensive and depending on where you are staying, could cost you as much as $45. (Remember, the exchange rate doesn’t always work in your favor.)

Don’t forget to take your transportation time into account, either. Although the mass transit system in London is good, it can still take 30-45 minutes or longer to get from your closest subway station to the center if you are staying very far out of town. If you need to go back to the hotel in the evening for a rest or to change clothes, then you’re spending even more time traveling.

Keep in mind that centrally located London hotels might not be as expensive as you think they’re going to be. Before you discount staying in one, check out areas like Mayfair, Paddington, and Kensington compare their rates to hotels that are located further afield. You might be pleasantly surprised.