If you’re after a truly unique hotel in the heart of London’s Shoreditch, Batty Langley’s is it. Nestled on the sleepy cobbled Folgate Street, it’s just a stone’s throw from some of the capital’s hottest bars, coolest tables to book and sky-scrapping architecture but step inside and you instantly feel transported back in time, with jaw-dropping interiors, charming honesty bars and a rich history you can feel seeping from the walls. We almost wanted to gatekeep this Georgian gem, but it’s just too good not to share… 

What sets it apart

If you live in London you’ll most likely have been to Shoreditch plenty of times. It’s where London’s different worlds unite, from the hipsters of nearby Hackney to the bankers of the City; where the city’s growing skyscrapers reside and countless hard-to-book restaurants and bars call home. It’s the epicentre of London’s metropolis, but hidden on a street just off Bishopsgate you’ll find Batty Langleys, a boutique hotel that makes you feel like you have stepped back in time.

This Georgian gem is the perfect antidote to the five-star mega hotels of Mayfair or the new-wave contemporary, art installation-filled newcomers on the London travel scene. Instead, this traditional Georgian terraced house-cum-hotel feels like it’s been plucked from a period drama – no doubt it’s probably featured in many – with its charming, individually designed rooms, countless portraiture that lines the walls, plump regent sofas in every nook, romantic low lighting and bookshelves filled with literature in just about every room. 

Hidden just off Bishopsgate you’ll find Batty Langley’s, a boutique hotel that makes you feel like you have stepped back in time.

You might be wondering about the kooky name… Batty’s is named after Bartholomew “Batty” Langley, who died in 1751 and was a successful architect and landscape gardener who published handbooks designed to help inexperienced clients plan their Georgian houses and gardens “in the most Grand Taste”. 

That taste has trickled into the feel and style of the hotel, which feels utterly unique and somewhat of a special secret in one of London’s busiest landmarks. 

The location

Batty Langley’s sits on Folgate Street, a traditional cobbled street just off Spitalfields. It’s where old and new London meet, a total contradiction of pretty street lamps and cobbles, sash windows with wooden shutters, huge  Farrow & Ball painted doors with elaborate door knockers, all in the shadow of the city’s every growing skyscraper-filled skyline. 

It’s where old and new London meet, a total contradiction of pretty street lamps and cobbles… all in the shadow of the city’s every growing skyscraper-filled skyline. 

This makes it an ideal base to see the city, whether you want to head further east for hipster restaurants and Hackney wine bars; take the Central Line less than 10 minutes to Soho, Oxford Street, etc; or head to the water to see some of London’s iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London or St Pauls – all can be spotted by taking a short bus ride or a 20-minute walk over London Bridge. 

Equally, there is so much right on the doorstep of Batty Langley’s that you could easily fill a weekend within a mile radius. 

The group does have some sister hotels – the Rookery in Clerkenwell and Hazlitt’s in Soho – both equally quirky and cool. Having bedded down for a night in Batty’s, we want to try them out too. 

The rooms

The rooms are really where this place comes into its own. Twenty-nine of them are all individually decorated in period-style drama, swaths of fabric, portraiture, plenty of books and countless hidden touches. We had the privilege of spending the night in the Kitty Fisher Suite. thought to be one of the most romantic rooms in London.

The grande four-poster bed takes centre stage with its dark, dark wood and inky blue fabric, a little hidden seating area allows the room to be called a suite even though it’s modest in size it does feel very grande and special. And as much as the room was filled with period pieces, antique lighting and books published before we were even born, there are mod-cons too, just well hidden, like a TV behind a framed ‘mirror’ at the end of the bed. 

The bathroom is probably one of the most extra bathroom situations we’ve experienced in the capital, with a huge copper tub taking centerstage, framed perfectly by the light coming in through the original stained glass windows on either side. There are also touches like gold swan taps in the sink and a little gold hand that’s actually the flush for the loo. Everything here is quirky and over the top but somehow still manages to be tasteful. 

Food & drink

There’s no restaurant at Batty Langley’s, but it feels like more of a blessing than an inconvenience, to be honest, as it forces you to get out and discover all the incredible eateries the area has to offer. Whether that’s Michelin-starred dining at Lyle’s, cheap but brilliant bowls of pasta at Padella, tongue-nippingly hot Thai food at Grazing Goat, or on-the-go bagels from Brick Lane’s iconic bakery. 

Speaking of, the one meal the hotel can provide is breakfast, and it’s seriously good. Sourcing produce from as many local businesses as possible, they delivered the most beautiful tray of said Brick Lane bagels, locally smoked salmon and perfectly quenelled cream cheese to top it with.

Breakfast on the room’s private balcony, overlooking the street lamps and cobbles below and looking up at the towering high rises, really did feel like one of those London moments. 

As well as pretty china pots of tea and fresh flowers, which are a nice touch. It was served to us on a wooden breakfast tray on our room’s private balcony, overlooking the street lamps and cobbles below and looking up at the towering high rises. It really did feel like one of those London moments. 

The hotel also has two honesty bars you can slump down in for a nightcap or two. One is a dedicated gin bar with a helpful cocktail book to assist you, and the other is a beautiful library room lined with books and filled with the hotel’s signature muted tones and high-octane furniture. It also looks out onto a charming sunfilled courtyard, the perfect place to sip tea, take a work call or order a glass of wine on a balmy day. 

Things to do nearby

There are countless things to do in this area, from visiting the stalls and street food of Spitafiled’s market to sinking pints in some of London’s oldest and most famous drinking dens – check out the nearby Ten Bells, a real old London boozer that supposedly is where Jack the Ripper took his first victim.

There are countless things to do in this area, from visiting the stalls and street food of Spitafiled’s market to sinking pints in some of London’s oldest and most famous drinking dens

There’s also Brick Lane and its brilliant weekend market of vintage clobber and boxes of records to look through, as well as street art tours where you can see a genuine Banksy or new art experiences like the interactive Van Gogh immersive installation up the road on Commercial Street. If you want to travel a bit further, the area is super well connected with mutable tube lines and the mainline station, Liverpool Street, is less than five minutes away.

The verdict

A Georgian gem you’ll want to come back to time and time again. Batty Langley’s couldn’t be positioned in a better spot in London if you want to immerse yourself in the city’s chaos but somehow manages to stay somewhat lowkey, under the radar and a place that genuinely feels like a home from home  – albeit, a rather nice one. 

How to get there & booking

Batty Langley’s is a five-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station, where you will also find the Central, Hammersmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan and Overground Lines. There are direct trains to London Stansted Airport every 15 minutes, less than 10 minutes by tube to central London. As for booking your spot, doubles start from £226 per night and can be secured online at www.battylangleys.com.


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