Accommodation bookings in London have surged as people from elsewhere in the UK and around the world plan to travel to the capital for the Queen’s funeral, with some hotels apparently raising their prices by more than 300%.
Hotels ranging from budget to high-end have reported an increase in custom, with one travel expert saying demand for places to stay is at its highest since the 2012 Olympics.
Amid the demand for accommodation, whether from individual mourners keen to pay their respects or foreign delegations trying to secure a group booking, some operators appear to have raised their prices significantly.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to travel to the capital from Wednesday to pay their respects to the late monarch as she lies in state for four days in London before her funeral on Monday.
When the Guardian looked at Booking.com on Monday, luxury hotel ME London on the Strand was charging a total of £5,028 for two nights – Sunday 18 and Monday 19 September – in a “Mode” room for two people. A Mode room booked for a week later – Sunday 25 and Monday 26 September – would cost £1,148.
There were also some big price differences at the budget chain Travelodge. For example, the same two nights at the London Central Elephant and Castle hotel were priced “from £439.98” when the Guardian looked on Monday. The quoted price for 25.-26. September was “from £159.98”.
Meanwhile, an analysis by the PA news agency found that hotel rates were up to four times higher on the Sunday night before the funeral compared to a week later.
It said the cheapest room at Park Plaza County Hall London – one of the closest hotels to Westminster Abbey – on Sunday night would cost £1,299, compared with £269 seven days later.
The chief executive of industry body UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls, said: “We are hearing from hotel operators in London that they have seen an increase in bookings since last Thursday’s announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and they are aware that those closer to the capital have also busier than usual.
“Demand is certain to remain high right up to next Monday’s state funeral and it is important to note that the need to accommodate extra police and other staff before, during and immediately after the event will have contributed to that through block bookings of accommodation. “
Travel experts said many luxury hotels in London had capped their “inventory” – the number of rooms available to sell across different channels – and were handling inquiries on demand, allowing them to charge more.
Paul Charles, managing director of travel consultancy PC Agency, said: “Many central London hotels have already closed their available rooms online, preferring to deal with inquiries ad hoc so they can ‘manage’ higher prices.
“Demand to stay in London over the next fortnight, particularly from overseas delegations, is at its highest level since the 2012 Olympics.”
Travelodge, which has 78 hotels across the capital, said its central London and Windsor hotels were “literally sold out”. It added: “Demand is growing strongly for our hotels located close to a train or Tube station across Greater London. We are confident that we offer consumers the best prices for a branded hotel chain in the area.”
Lastminute.com said bookings made over the weekend for stays at London hotels on September 18 and 19 were up 85% compared to the same period in 2021 and up 65% on 2019.
Gary Redmond, the general manager of Adria, a boutique hotel in South Kensington, a stone’s throw from Kensington Palace, said it had received a large number of inquiries, including from embassies and media organisations, but had had to turn some people away. “More guests checking out before the weekend have extended to attend the weekend and bank holiday funeral. Overall, an increase in demand of approximately 70% for this weekend period,” Redmond said.
