Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw “4 bed flat with communal courtyard” in the listing, I was expecting something pretty basic. But this JOIVY place on City Road actually surprised me in the best way. The moment you walk in, it’s clear someone put real thought into making this feel like an actual home rather than just another corporate rental. The space is genuinely modern without being sterile, you know? Clean lines, decent furniture that doesn’t look like it came from a hotel catalog, and – this is key – proper blackout curtains in all the bedrooms. Trust me, that matters when you’re trying to sleep off jet lag.
What really sold me on this place is how it sits in Angel. I mean, you’re literally a five-minute walk from the tube station, but more importantly, you’re in the thick of one of London’s most livable neighborhoods. Chapel Market is right around the corner – and honestly, if you’re not grabbing coffee and pastries there in the morning, you’re missing out. The whole area has this perfect mix of proper Londoners going about their business and just enough interesting shops and pubs to keep you entertained. Plus, you can actually walk to King’s Cross in about fifteen minutes if you don’t mind a bit of a stroll, which beats dealing with the tube during rush hour.
The communal courtyard thing might sound gimmicky, but it’s actually pretty lovely – especially if you’re traveling in a group or just need some air without trekking to a park. I spent a good chunk of one evening out there with takeaway from the Turkish place down the street (Zara, I think it was called?), and it felt surprisingly peaceful despite being in the middle of the city. The whole building has this converted warehouse vibe that works really well, though fair warning – the stairs can be a bit much if you’re hauling heavy luggage. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward too, none of that awkward waiting around in a lobby situation. You get your codes, you get in, you settle in. The 8.7 rating makes complete sense once you’ve stayed there – it’s not trying to be the Ritz, but it delivers exactly what it promises and then some. For the location and the space you get, especially if you’re splitting it between friends or family, it’s honestly hard to beat in this part of London.