You know what caught me off guard about Room Home Stay? It’s tucked away on this narrow stretch of Widegate Street that honestly feels more like a secret alley than a proper London address. I mean, you’re literally a two-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station – which is brilliant for getting anywhere – but the street itself has this unexpectedly quiet, almost residential vibe that’s pretty rare in the City.
The place calls itself a “home stay” and they’re not just throwing that term around for marketing fluff. It actually feels more like crashing at a well-organized friend’s flat than staying at a typical hotel. The rooms have this lived-in comfort that’s hard to fake – proper curtains instead of those flimsy hotel ones, decent lighting for actually reading (not just mood lighting), and storage that makes sense if you’re staying more than a night or two. The 4-star rating feels about right, though I’d say it’s earned more through thoughtful touches than flashy amenities. Don’t expect a marble lobby or uniformed doormen – the charm here is in the details like having a proper kettle with decent tea, or windows that actually open (revolutionary concept in London hotels, apparently).
What really works is the location – and I don’t just mean it’s “conveniently located” like every hotel claims. You’re right in the thick of things without the tourist circus. Brick Lane’s curry houses are a five-minute walk south, Spitalfields Market is practically next door for weekend browsing, and if you need to get to Canary Wharf or anywhere in Zone 1, Liverpool Street has you covered. The 7.6 rating seems fair – it’s not going to blow your mind, but it delivers on what it promises. I noticed the building gets pretty quiet after 9 PM, which is either perfect if you want to sleep or slightly isolating if you’re expecting hotel lobby energy. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward, though the entrance is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention to the street numbers. Honestly, for the price point and the area, it’s one of those places that just works – especially if you value feeling like you’re staying somewhere with a bit of personality rather than another cookie-cutter business hotel.