Honestly, when I first walked up to Maccelsfield House on Central Street, I wasn’t expecting much – the building looks pretty standard from the outside, you know? But this place actually surprised me in the best way. The location is absolutely spot-on if you’re doing anything around Angel or studying at City University (it’s literally a few minutes’ walk). What I really loved is that you’re close enough to everything but tucked away on a quieter residential street, so you’re not dealing with the constant buzz of Upper Street traffic.
The apartment itself feels like someone actually lives there, not some sterile hotel room with boring beige everything. I mean, it’s clearly been set up for short stays, but there’s personality to it – decent kitchen where you can actually cook (the hob works properly, thank god), and the living space doesn’t feel cramped like so many London rentals do. The bedroom was surprisingly quiet considering you’re in Zone 1, though you’ll hear the occasional siren – it’s London, after all. What really sold me was the little touches: proper shower pressure, blackout curtains that actually block light, and enough electrical outlets that you’re not playing musical chairs with your chargers.
Here’s what you need to know about the area – Angel tube station is maybe a seven-minute walk, and you’ve got the Northern line right there which makes getting anywhere pretty painless. If you’re more of a bus person, there’s loads of routes along Upper Street. The real gem though is being so close to Exmouth Market (seriously, go there for lunch) and having Chapel Market just around the corner for groceries that won’t bankrupt you. I actually ended up spending way more time just wandering around Islington than I planned because there’s this great mix of proper local pubs and trendy coffee shops without feeling too touristy. The only minor thing – and this is really nitpicking – is that check-in can be a bit fiddly with the key collection, but the host was pretty responsive when I had questions. For the price point and that 8.6 rating, it makes total sense. You’re getting proper London living without the insane hotel prices, and honestly, after staying in some overpriced chain hotels near King’s Cross, this felt like finding a hidden gem that locals might actually choose themselves.