citizenM London Shoreditch

Hotel Description

You know what actually surprised me about citizenM Shoreditch? The location is way better than I expected for this part of Hackney. I mean, when you first walk down Holywell Lane, it feels like you’re heading into some forgotten corner of East London, but then you realize you’re literally five minutes from Old Street station and somehow still tucked away from all the chaos.

The hotel itself is pure citizenM – you either love their whole tech-forward, slightly quirky vibe or you don’t. I’m honestly in the first camp because everything just works so damn well. Check-in happens at these sleek kiosks (though there are actual humans around if you get stuck), and the rooms are small but ridiculously well-designed. Like, someone really thought about how you actually use hotel room space instead of just making everything beige and boring. The bed takes up most of the room, sure, but it’s this massive, cloud-like thing, and the mood lighting system is actually fun to play with rather than confusing. The shower is one of those rainfall situations that makes you not want to leave, which is dangerous when you’re trying to explore London.

What really sold me on this place, though, is how it sits in Shoreditch without trying too hard to be “Shoreditch,” if that makes sense. You’re close enough to walk to Brick Lane for proper curry (go to Aladin – locals will know), but you’re not dealing with the weekend crowds stumbling past your window at 3am like you would closer to the main strip. The streets around here actually quiet down at night, which is gold for light sleepers. During the day, you’ve got this interesting mix of old East London character and new creative energy – there’s a proper working men’s café around the corner that serves breakfast until 11am, and then about three doors down there’s some gallery space that always seems to have something interesting happening. Liverpool Street is close enough that you can be in the City in minutes, but honestly, I found myself just wandering around the neighborhood more than I planned because there’s this constant sense of discovering something unexpected. The hotel’s common areas – the lobby bar gets pretty lively in the evenings with a mix of business travelers and locals who’ve figured out it’s a good spot for drinks without the usual Shoreditch pretension. Staff actually seems to enjoy working there, which you notice more than you’d think.

Rooms

• King Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child

Facilities