Buckle Street Studios by Locke, Aldgate

Buckle Street Studios by Locke, Aldgate Overview

First Impressions

Walking up to Buckle Street Studios by Locke, Aldgate for the first time, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this four-star property tucked away on a quiet street in Tower Hamlets. But you know what? Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you’re not looking for them. The building has this sleek, modern facade that feels refreshingly different from London’s typical Victorian hotel conversions — it’s contemporary without trying too hard to make a statement.

Location & Neighborhood

Here’s the thing about this spot in London — it’s actually brilliant for couples who want to be close to everything without dealing with the chaos of central tourist areas. I mean, you’re literally a few minutes’ walk from Aldgate East tube station, which puts you one stop from Liverpool Street and about ten minutes from the City. The neighborhood has this interesting mix of old East London character and new development, and honestly, it feels like you’re staying somewhere locals might actually choose. Tower Bridge is close enough for an evening stroll, and you’ve got Borough Market within easy reach if you’re into that sort of thing.

The Studio Experience

What sets this place apart is the studio concept — each room feels more like a mini apartment than a traditional hotel setup. The kitchenette isn’t just for show either; it’s actually functional with a proper fridge, microwave, and everything you need for simple meals. I found myself using it more than I expected, especially for morning coffee before heading out. The design is clean and minimalist, but not in that cold, sterile way some modern hotels can feel. There’s enough space to actually live in the room rather than just sleep in it.

Practical Comforts

The beds are genuinely comfortable — not just hotel-brochure comfortable, but the kind where you actually sleep well. Storage space is thoughtfully planned out, which matters when you’re staying more than a night or two. The bathrooms are compact but well-designed, with decent water pressure and toiletries that don’t smell like generic hotel soap. WiFi works properly throughout the building, and the air conditioning actually keeps the temperature where you set it. These might sound like basic things, but you’d be surprised how many places get them wrong.

Why Guests Love It

What really makes this place work is how it balances independence with hotel services. You get the freedom of having your own space and kitchen facilities, but there’s still a front desk when you need help and daily housekeeping if you want it. The location score speaks for itself — couples consistently rate it highly because you can walk to dinner in Shoreditch, catch a show in the West End without much fuss, or just explore the increasingly interesting East London food scene. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you’re experiencing London rather than just visiting it, if that makes sense.

Buckle Street Studios by Locke, Aldgate Accommodations

Reviews of Buckle Street Studios by Locke, Aldgate

• Erika from France (9/10)

  The studio was beautiful. Thoughtful design, quiet, nice amenities, friendly staff.

• Paula from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Good location
  Friendly staff
  Clean room

• Dave from United Kingdom (9/10)

  The studios are within 5 minutes walk of Aldgate East tube station, which makes them really handy for just about any stay in London as it connects to both District (green on the tube map) and Hammersmith & City (pink) lines. The reception staff were very friendly and I was able to leave my bag with them earlier than check in time, and go about my day.

• Ryszard from Poland (9/10)

  Pretty cool place next to the metro station. Nice and safe walkies to surrounding areas. The corner room was spacious and clean. Everyone smiley and helpful. Hot Pot place next to the hotel was really cool, so we changed our plans and went there, too.

• Bruna from Italy (9/10)

  It was really new and in a Great location. The staff is very friendly and young, always ready to help. The room was fully equipped and welcoming.

• Joana from Portugal (9/10)

  Lovely staff, welcoming and trying to accomodate one's needs.
  Confortable bed
  Wonderfull location

• Zuzana from Slovakia (9/10)

  First of all, all the receptionists were amazing, very nice and helpful, very good hiring policy 🙂 The studio was small but cosy and there was everything we needed for our stay. It was all very new, modern and very good quality. The best of all was the location, 15 minutes from Tower Bridge, very close to city center and also to subway. We enjoyed our stay very much!

• Donatas from Lithuania (8/10)

  Location was easy to find and close to metro. Reception was very welcoming. The apartment is stylish and cosy, you have everything what you could need during a stay (hairdryer, iron, tv with youtube, kettle and pan, etc).

• Michael from United Kingdom (7/10)

  Lovely if small bathroom, very near to tube station, proper sized kettle.

• Laura from United States (7/10)

  The location is great, close to a tube stop , walking distance from tower. But the studio 6 tier rooms are very very small. Our room had no place to put luggage , and oddly the space was over full with furniture so there was no place to put feet down. It was tricky with 2 adults and 2 carry on sized bags. And we couldn’t check in till after 4, yes that part is told, it just seems odd that there was no wiggle room

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