The largest hotel chain in the country, Premier offers rooms (maximum of two adults) with a king-size bed, bathtub and shower with all-purpose shower gel, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, phone, iron, air-conditioning (sometimes), at least three outlets, and a desk. Increasingly, it requires you to check in at a kiosk, eliminating human interaction, but that tells you about the tourist churn that this company is going for. Many locations include a mass-appeal bar/cafe, Thyme. Like airline tickets, prices rise as availability dwindles. Its prices start at £19 nearly a year ahead, but final prices can be poor value, so the key is early booking. Clip £10 off prices by booking ahead with a nonrefundable “Saver” reservation. Some locations are deep in distant suburbs, so consult a map before taking the bait of a low price. My favorite locations: Southwark (Bankside) and County Hall.