So I’ve stayed at this Exmouth Market Apartment a couple times now, and honestly? It’s become my go-to whenever I need to be in central London but don’t want the whole sterile hotel experience. The thing about Exmouth Market is that it’s this little pocket of Islington that feels like a proper neighborhood – you know, the kind where you’ll find yourself chatting with the barista at the coffee shop downstairs and actually remembering their name.
The apartment itself is what I’d call “thoughtfully done” rather than flashy. You walk in and everything just makes sense – the kitchen actually has decent knives (shocking, I know), the shower has proper water pressure, and there’s enough space to spread out your stuff without living out of a suitcase the entire time. I mean, it’s not massive, but it’s cleverly laid out in that way London places have to be. The bed’s comfortable enough that I didn’t wake up feeling like I’d been wrestling with it all night, and the windows are thick enough that you’re not hearing every delivery truck rumbling down Rosoman Street at 6 AM. Well, mostly anyway.
What really sold me on this place though is stepping outside – you’re literally in the middle of one of London’s best food scenes without even trying. Exmouth Market has this brilliant little stretch of restaurants and cafes that locals actually use, not just tourists following guidebooks. There’s Moro right there (seriously good Spanish food, but book ahead), and if you walk five minutes toward Farringdon you’ll hit Smithfield Market, which is fascinating if you’re up early enough to see it in action. The Tube connections are actually pretty sweet too – you can walk to Farringdon or catch the bus down to Russell Square, and suddenly you’re anywhere in London without that painful zone-hopping that eats your budget alive.
I’ll be honest, the check-in process can be a bit fiddly since it’s not a traditional hotel with a front desk – you’ll get codes and instructions via email, so make sure your phone’s charged when you arrive. And if you’re someone who needs room service and daily housekeeping, this probably isn’t your vibe. But if you want to feel like you’re actually living in London for a few days rather than just visiting it, this place nails that feeling. The whole area comes alive around lunchtime when the market stalls set up, and there’s something really satisfying about grabbing fresh produce and cooking in your own kitchen after a day of museum-hopping or business meetings. Plus, and this might sound weird, but the building has that solid, settled feeling that makes you sleep better – none of that hollow modern construction where you hear your neighbors’ entire lives through paper-thin walls.