Welcome to one of my favorite hotels EVER, the Hoxton Holborn in London! We absolutely adored staying here on the second half of our trip, and would recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable boutique hotel in the city.
The Hoxton’s central location made it extremely accessible (it’s a block from a tube stop), and since its nestled in the hip Holborn neighborhood, it came without the tourist crowds! And if its location wasn’t good enough.. how amazing is its interior?! The hotel has a very urban 70s vibe going on, which I loved (similar to the Ace if you’re familiar with that brand). Since the Hoxton is in a large concrete building, the lobby has exposed concrete walls and white-washed brick, which are complemented by vintage light fixtures and mid-century furniture. The spacious lobby has several lounge areas that are perfect for taking a break from the city, too. This is where you can also find one of the hotel’s two restaurants, Hubbard and Bell. We grabbed a drink at the bar on our last night there (they truly put the craft in their cocktails), and even ordered dinner to our room for a cozy night in. Their other restaurant, Chicken Shop, is actually located beneath the hotel, and serves up amazing homestyle food (their chicken avo sandwich and apple pie are a must). On the first floor you can also find the cutest nail salon, Cheeky, as well as an AMAZING coffee shop, Holborn Grind — go for their avocado toast if you’re obsessed like me.
As for The Hoxton Holborn’s rooms, I was so pleased at their size. We opted to stay in one of the smaller rooms they offer, and found it to be SO much bigger than our Paris hotel room. When we walked in, they had a “London Chill” music station playing on the radio, which I thought was a perfect touch. Since it was our wedding anniversary, they had also left us a bottle of champagne and a silver “Let the Good Times Roll” silver balloon on the bed — side note: all hotels should leave balloons when you check-in, it makes you feel really special! The room was beautifully curated, from the pink hashtag pillow on the bed to the wallpaper covered in Charles Dickens’ villains (the author lived in Holborn, and just so happens to be one of my favs). The room was incredibly functional as well, with an armoire that had a pull-out coffee and tea station and the cutest diner-style hotel mugs (traveler tip: buying coffee mugs or something you use on a daily basis from a hotel you love is a great way to keep the spirit of the trip alive at home). They also provided a Holborn neighborhood guide filled with all of the best local spots to eat, drink and shop, which we definitely put to use. One of the best perks of the hotel, however, was their daily breakfast bags. Each day, room service left two paper bags on our front door filled with yogurt, granola, fruit, and fresh orange juice. It was the perfect way to start the day since we could snack while we figured out the rest of the day’s plans!
Above all, The Hoxton Holborn is not only incredibly designed and executed, but it is a wonderful value as well. I don’t think you could find a better option if you’re looking to stay in central London without the crowds. We will definitely be making a return visit next time we’re in the city. If you’re looking to stay in Shoreditch (East London), Amsterdam, or Paris, The Hoxton also has sister hotels there as well! And good news for those of us on this side of the pond… The Hoxton is opening up a location in the hip neighborhood of Williamsburg in New York this year!
