So the logo looks like an alien life form has lost its lunch coming out of hyperspace. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid London for the Olympics.

It’s worth pointing your ‘plates of meat’ (that’s feet to you non Cockney’s) in the direction of that great metropolis, just to experience the transformation which is London’s East End. When the Germans bombed Buckingham Palace, the Queen famously remarked that she can now “look the East End in the face”. Well, if she looked now I’m not sure she would recognise her old friend. Gone are the dodgy pie shops, the suburbs of Indian eateries and the smoked filled ‘rub a dub dubs’ (erm, pubs). They have been replaced by shining glass and steel towers surrounded by pavement piazzas crammed with creative types swilling Mint Tea.

As for the sports facilities; Maximus himself would be pleased with the arenas. Grand new stadia of every kind are serviced by a public transport system of startlingly un-London like efficiency.

It all sounds great, huh? So where are we going to stay?

And that’s the big question.

Finding cheap hotels in London is still very much possible, but if you fall off the Heathrow Express expecting to fall into a nice clean and inexpensive hotel, hostel, bed and breakfast or backpacker - think again, friend. In this town - it pay to book ahead.

The first question has to be; what constitutes cheap?

Sub GBP 60 (that’s Great British Pounds - none of those funny Euro thingies here, what) is cheap. You can expect a clean room inside zone 2 of the metro system for that. In this space, I would recommend ‘Easyhotels’ - part of the Easy Group (Google and ye shall find). I stayed in one in Kensington recently and, whilst not for the claustrophobic, the room was clean, central and cheap.

If your budget will stretch up to GBP 100 your options expand significantly. Try one of the excellent independent operators in Kensington or Knightsbridge, both of which are close to Hyde Park and the city.

If you’re looking for the real London experience, branch out from the usual places like Paddington, Westminster and the City. Try some of the cool fringes like Ladbroke Grove in the West or Hackney in the East. They are sure to be stocked with many more accommodation bargains!

Born within earshot of London’s Bow Bells, M Corey is a Londoner through and through. He has had his ear (and over the course of time, many other parts of his tender anatomy) to the street of London Town for many a year. He is always on the look out for Cheap Hotels in London