The Hoxton Hotel Holborn

I found myself having three hours before my train home, and spending them in a hotel lobby is what most people would probably think is the worst. In most cases I would agree, but The Hoxton Hotel in Holborn is not most.

More recently, I’ve been going to and from London quite a lot, getting the early train and then keeping one eye on my watch to head home in the evening. Rather than do this again, The Hoxton were at hand to kindly offer me a room for the night. They have three hotels: Shoreditch, Amsterdam, and Holborn, which is where I’d be staying. Personally I find most ‘nice’ hotels to be either very dated or very expensive. The Hoxton offers a hotel stay that is neither. Modern rooms that feel homely with a lobby and restaurant to match.

They’ve been labelled as the “no bullshit hotel” and I’d have to agree. They take away all the mundane and unnecessary things found in a hotel and just keep it 

simple. Check-in was a breeze (thank you for my super early check-in) and I would be staying in a ‘Cosy’ room, the second largest of four room types: Shoebox, Snug, Cosy and Roomy. And in my cosy room I’d find a retro camera, a cool looking Roberts radio and a mirror with led lighting around the edge. A nice touch. But what really won me over was the bed and shower. I’d say that this bed is the comfiest I’ve slept on and that is no exaggeration. You sunk into it and it was great. As for the shower, it was a walk-in rainfall shower meaning I was in for a soaking. The shower did start flooding over into the bathroom but I was reassured by the check-in staff that it didn’t escape any further, phew.

When it came round to breakfast time they have a pretty cool system going on called a ‘breakfast bag’. So none of this looking presentable in the early hours and getting up for breakfast, it’s a case of throwing your arm out your door and grabbing your breakfast from the hanger which includes: a granola pot, banana and orange juice. And a massive plus for me was the milk included in the fridge. None of this UHT shit.

Before I set off for another day in London, I took a trip next door to Holborn Grind for a quick coffee and to work for a very short time in the morning and they make a rather good flat white (it won’t let you down).

It’s quite a small place, but don’t let that put you off, they’ve made it into the London Coffee Guide and on merit.

I then headed out to meet some friends for lunch and was allowed to leave my bags at the hotel after checking out. If I didn’t already have plans, I was assured that the Hubbard & Bell and the Chicken Shop – both inside the Hoxton – would have offered up a treat.

So as I sat waiting for my train and had time to kill, I really wasn’t that bothered at all. I don’t think there are many places better to kill time productively than the Hoxton Hotel. Did someone ask me if I wanted an earl grey whilst I wait? Yes, yes I do.