199 - 206 High Holborn, London, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Hip boutique hotel that's sceney but laid back
Mostly central location two blocks from the tube and six minutes from the British Museum
Charming rooms have modern furnishings and retro details
Flat-screen TVs; electric kettles; and mini-fridges with free milk and water
Free brown bag breakfast delivered to guests' doors
Buzzy lobby includes a restaurant, bar, cafe, and workstations
Basement chicken joint with a speakeasy vibe
Six apartments with pantries and stylish kitchenettes for meetings
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Small rooms; largest unit is 250 square feet
Tube ride required for most of London's tourist attractions
No minibars or iPod docks; hanging racks instead of wardrobes
No gym, spa, or parking
For a reasonably priced four-pearl hotel with panache, you'll be hard pressed to find accommodations that beat The Hoxton, Holborn. The 174-room property is stylish from top to bottom, and brims with ladies and gents smartly dressed for work and play. Rooms are a tight squeeze but are cleverly arranged to minimize feeling cramped, and come with flat-screen TVs, retro radios and nicknacks, and bespoke bath products, although they lack minibars. There's a happening lobby restaurant, bar, and cafe but the hotel doesn't have a gym or spa. The location is two blocks from the tube and a six-minute walk from the British Museum. For the same rate, travelers with kids in-tow may be more comfortable at The Montague on the Gardens a few blocks away.
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Scene
Packed with an attractive crowd here to mingle or work in a trendy atmosphere
You won't need to set foot inside the Hoxton to find its buzziest spot. It's on view through floor-to-ceiling front windows, showcasing a fashionable bunch gathered in the lobby that looks like a 1970s den undergoing construction. Unfinished concrete walls surround areas defined by shag rugs, with slouchy sofas and low armchairs in velvet and nubby tweed fabric. Over at the restaurant, there are mustard yellow diner booths, communal tables, and designer-inspired Mid-century modern details. Bet on high volume for the noise level -- and sometimes a DJ spinning -- especially on Fridays after work. Those in the know bypass the masses and head down steps through a series of sharp turns and unmarked doors to a rotisserie chicken joint for eats in an upscale camp canteen setting. The Hoxton's guests tend to be 40-and-under leisure and business travelers, seeking a stay that draws those who like to have fun but are past the hard partying years.
Location
Within walking distance of other neighborhoods of interest, but not most tourist attractions
The Hoxton, Holborn has a fantastic location for exploring posh West End and hip East End locales. The hotel isn't within walking distance of most London attractions or known for hot restaurants and bars. This is a neighborhood with an upmarket lunch spots, locals' pubs, and small shops. Plan to take the tube often; the Holborn station is two blocks away. - Three-minute walk to Holborn tube station
Rooms
Trendy and compact with freebies and bespoke bath products; no iPod docks or minibars
Rooms appear streamlined thanks to a smart use of space, but with names like "Shoebox," "Snug," and "Cosy," sizable they're not, starting at 150 square feet. Upgrading to "Roomy" units buys nooks for armchairs and side tables, and are still barely 250 square feet. Room design is fetching right down to the notepads and pencils. Updated vintage prints accent walls, and there are rustic wood floors, distressed leather headboards, and antique-inspired lighting. Shelves of weathered paperbacks, tins from 1950s kitchens, and old 35-millimeter cameras add interest and nostalgia. Media consoles double as pantries; hinged panels can be folded out and used as workspaces. When closed, drink-making supplies and desk items are neatly stowed. Expect flat-screen TVs, retro radios, electric kettles, mini-fridges, and free milk, water, coffee, and tea. Tiny ceramic bowls for used sachets say "dirty old bag" at the bottom. But you won't find minibars or iPod docks in the rooms, and expect small hanging racks as stand-ins for wardrobes. The same attention to detail applies to bathrooms, which include bespoke products packaged in charming bottles. Black and white subway tiles have beveled edges for a high-end look, and there are walk-in rainfall showers with removable showerheads.
Features
Two restaurants, free Wi-Fi, and breakfast delivered to your door
The Hoxton, Holborn has two eateries. Hubbard & Bell is the lobby restaurant, cafe, and bar, which has continuous service and stays open well past midnight every evening except Sunday. Hidden in the basement, Chicken Shop serves -- you guessed it -- rotisserie chicken and a smattering of comfort food sides. Free breakfast with juice, granola, yogurt, and fruit, is delivered to rooms in brown bags; guests check options and hang them on doorknobs before bed. A gourmet minimart at reception sells items such as juice, chips, chocolate, and alcohol, and there's also room service. No gym or spa is the biggest drawback, but there's an outpost of Cheeky, one of London's poshest nail salons, connected to the lobby. The Hoxton has rotating events ranging from music to fashion, with calendar listings on the hotel's website. There's free Wi-Fi throughout and no charge to use computers at the lobby's workstations. For meetings, there are Apartments with six rooms; all have pantries with high-end Smeg appliances, flat-screen TVs, and free printing, coffee, drinks, and sweets. The hotel doesn't have on-site parking.
