You know what caught me off guard about Widegate Residential? Walking down this narrow cobblestone street in Spitalfields, you’d almost miss it if you weren’t looking – it’s tucked away in one of those classic London corners where the old city just sort of folds in on itself. I mean, you’re literally steps from Liverpool Street station (which is honestly a godsend when you’re dragging luggage), but the moment you turn onto Widegate Street, all that urban chaos just… disappears. The building itself has this understated elegance – not flashy, but you can tell someone put thought into the details. The entrance feels more like stepping into a well-designed apartment building than a typical hotel, which actually works in its favor.
Inside, it’s got that residential vibe the name promises, but in the best possible way. The rooms are genuinely spacious by London standards – I was expecting the usual shoebox situation, but there’s actually room to spread out your stuff without playing Tetris with your suitcase. What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets at night, especially considering you’re basically in the heart of everything. The soundproofing is solid, and honestly, that’s not something you can take for granted around here. The staff seems to know their stuff too – they’re not overly chatty, but when I asked about getting to Brick Lane (literally a five-minute walk, by the way), they gave me the kind of directions that showed they actually know the neighborhood. Speaking of Brick Lane, having that whole food scene right there is pretty sweet – you’ve got everything from proper curry houses to trendy coffee spots, plus the Sunday markets if that’s your thing.
The area itself is what really sells this place for me. Spitalfields has this perfect balance where you’re close enough to the City that you can walk to work if you need to, but far enough from the financial district madness that it doesn’t feel corporate. You’ve got the old Spitalfields Market just around the corner – great for browsing on weekends, though it can get packed – and if you’re into the whole East London arts scene, you’re perfectly positioned for Shoreditch without having to deal with the late-night noise. The 7.9 rating feels about right, honestly – it’s not going to blow your mind, but it delivers on what it promises. The four-star designation makes sense too; it’s comfortable and well-run without being pretentious about it. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels more like staying in a nice London flat than a tourist hotel, and you want to actually experience this part of the city rather than just sleep through it, Widegate Residential hits that sweet spot pretty well.