Hostel for Family at Christmas

Typical Americans, (new family budget of "not much"), wanting to slip in to London with two excited teens, looking for a few nights in a hostal that offers a 4 person private, for a family. Over Christmas, or we could reverse it and start in Madrid ending in London for New Years.
I know, I know, London is scary expensive! But some ideas would really help us out.
then off to Spain

I myself am visiting london over christmas and then paris for NYE, talk about $$$$...I am coming with my girlfriend...we found a pretty good deal at a best western in mornington near hyde park. The rate wasn't that bad (about 80 pounds a night)...apparently from reading hundreds of reviews on trip advisor that the hotel has recently been renovated...rooms are eerily small but location is great...IMO london is NOT that expensive unless you are looking to buy oodles of clothing and merchandise...i mean museums and some tourist attractions are a little pricey (especially for family of 4) but I think if you take the tube, walk and see some sights from the outside and pick and choose the big ones to pay for and see a bunch of great free ones, it is manageable...

In terms of hostels, I can't really help you out...i have only stayed with friends when I have visited london personally, so this is my first experience staying at a paid location...I would suggest looking at lonely planet, D&K series, and the other guidebooks for suggestions...from what I have heard from people who know about london in christmas time is that it should be a ghost town for christmas and boxing day and should be very easy to get around...your biggest concern should be finding places to eat christmas day and day after (boxing day) for your family as most restaurants will be closed (from what I'm hearing)...when I was there last in 2009, I came on boxing day but again stayed with friends and their family.

There are respectable 2 star hotels and inns that charge per person...these are rates for a night:
The W14 hotel London- £11
Heathrow lodge(bread and breakfast)- £12.50
Bridge park hotel-£ 13
Peckham lodge-£14
Queens hotel London-£14.67
Channins hounslow hotel-£14.75
Euro hotel clapham-£16.33
Euro lodge clapham-£16.33
Athena palace hotel London-£17
Northumberland hotel London-£17
Hayesthrope hotel London-£17.25
Royal guest house-£17.50
Premier west hotel-£18.33
Palace court hotel London-£18.75
Hotel Balkan-£19
City view hotel London(bread and breakfast)- £19.28
..
hope this helps you on your trip!

Hi, there is no need to sleep in a hostel. Usually when I travel abroad I book my hotel in advance. There are numerous online hotel booking websites where you can get really good deals if you book in advance. Of course if you are looking for something cheaper, your hotel won't be at the hear of London but the metro will assure you perfect way of transportation.

Hi, I'm from London, I live near Hatfield.

I often like to take trips into Central London for the weekend to enjoy the theatres, museums and restaurants- but since everything is so expensive, my wife and I also stay in 2*/3* cheap hotels. Much better to stay in the than a hostel/inn, as it's only slightly more money but you'll feel alot more comfortable.

We always booked off tigerhotels.co.uk cos they often have offers for decent hotels, yet cheap, but worth the money also. So check out the list of hotels there, but the ones I recommend (which I've stayed in before) are:
[approx 35O a night]
- Chitern Hotel
- New Dawn Hotel (our fave )
- Prince William

You may be staying with friends or family in Spain but just wanted to mention that almost everything closes there Christmas and NYE. This is a family time and you can't even get a meal in a restaurant, we went to stay in Seville one year for NYE and it was dead.

I've found that Christmas is kind of dead, but there is always Burger King.

Maybe that too is closed on NYE