SD › London › Hotels › Batty Langley’s Review
Updated: May 23, 2022
By Santorini Dave
Essentials
• Location: Folgate Street, opposite Broadgate Tower.
• Hotel website: battylangleys.com
• Hotel phone: +44 (0)20 7377 4390
• Check prices for Batty Langley’s
Batty Langley’s seems like a luxury hotel from the past with its period decor and furnishings, but features modern amenities, luxurious rooms, a 24-hour kitchen, and an honesty bar.
Batty Langley’s – A secretive, sumptuous, and ‘most unusual’ retreat from London’s hustle and bustle.
You won’t find another place like Batty Langley’s in London (well, except for its sister properties, Hazlitt’s and The Rookery). It is a hotel that puts history and comfort above all else: keeping guests at ease with warm service and providing exquisite historic rooms updated only by luxurious bedding, the odd concealed television, and the finest bathing facilities. Old-fashioned, maybe, but Batty Langley’s is so secure in its aesthetics that it avoids stuffiness. This is the place to come to if you dream of curling up by a cozy fireplace or window seat, taking breakfast in bed, bookcases hiding secret rooms, or simply having unrivaled seclusion in one of the busiest areas of London.
See Also
- Best Hotels in London
- Best Family Hotels in London
- Best Boutique Hotels in London
- Where to Stay in London
Batty Langley’s – Location
- Address: 12 Folgate Street.
- Nearest Metro/Subway: Liverpool Street (Tube and overland trains out of London, 0.3 mile) and Shoreditch High Street (London Overground, 0.3 mile) are both equidistant from the hotel.
- Area: Trendy location between Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane, with their great restaurants, markets, shopping, and nightlife, and London’s financial district, the “City of London”, full of luxury shops, money changers, and Roman ruins. A major train and tube station, Liverpool Street, is just 4 blocks away.
- How to Get There: From Gatwick Airport, the high-speed Gatwick Express and slower trains run to London Victoria train station, where you can connect to the London Underground. Other trains connect Gatwick to St Pancras train station, across the street from King’s Cross station, a major London Underground hub. From Heathrow Airport, the Heathrow Express runs to Paddington train station, with onwards London Underground connections. Heathrow is also served directly by the Piccadilly underground line. Consult the Transport for London website and Citymapper app for the best way to reach the hotel.
- Private Transfer: We use and recommend Welcome Pickups car service. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more than a taxi – about £65 from Heathrow and £115 from Gatwick – but can be worth it to avoid the long taxi queue and for the convenience of paying ahead.
- Handy to: Spitalfields, Brick Lane, Shoreditch.
Batty Langley’s – The Basics
- Ages: No typical guest – everyone from rock stars to royalty and older couples to millennials. Families welcome, although there are no specific facilities for children.
- View: The Earl of Bolingbroke Suite has views across London to the Olympic Park.
- Kitchen: Provides 24-hour room service.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools or jacuzzis.
- Laundry: In-room, high-end laundry service.
- Parking: No private car park, but there are several public car parks nearby.
- Extras: Turn-down service, TVs with Apple TV and media hub technology, privacy via buzzer entry to hotel (not open to public).
- When to Book: Runs close to full capacity year-round, so book a couple of months in advance. Quietest nights are Sunday and Monday when you might even snag a last-minute room.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +44 (0)20 7377 4390
- Email: reservations@battylangleys.co.uk
- Website: battylangleys.com
Batty Langley’s – Amenities
- Pool: No pool.
- Spa: No spa.
- Fitness Center: No fitness center.
- For Disabled Guests: Fully accessible common areas and elevator to all rooms. However, some rooms are better than others for disabled access.
- For Families: No family rooms per se, but all suites come with sofa beds. Cots and pull-out beds can also be provided.
- Other Facilities: Three comfy common rooms that visitors are encouraged to make their own, each with a fireplace as well as a small but elegant patio.
Batty Langley’s – Food and Drink
- Restaurant: No restaurant, but the kitchen provides 24-hour service, with breakfast, lunch, and main courses available at any time of day. The menu, which includes hearty British food, changes seasonally.
- Lounge/Bar: The honesty bar means drinks are accessible as and when guests want them – simply write down what you’ve taken and it will be added to the final bill. Guests are encouraged to treat common areas like they’re at home – feet on seats is fine.
- Breakfast: Available 24 hours, served in bed. Not complimentary; costs £10.99.
- Room Service: Available 24 hours.
Batty Langley’s – Rooms
- Room Types: Comfort Single Room • Club Double • Superior Double • Deluxe Double • Deluxe Double with terrace • Junior Suite • Suite with sitting room and balcony • Duplex suite • List of all Rooms
- Smoking Rooms: Batty Langley’s is 100% smoke-free.
- Best Room: The duplex Earl of Bolingbroke Suite sprawls across 2 floors, with its own luggage elevator, large private terrace with views to the Olympic Park, freestanding Italian marble bath, separate shower room, toilet, and extra (hidden) WC.
- For Families: All of the suites have at least 2 rooms, each with a sofa bed as well as the master bed.
Batty Langley’s – Local Transport
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The Transport for London website, Citymapper app, and Google Maps will give you the most comprehensive ways to get around London, including walking, taxis, rideshares, and public bicycle information.
- Walking: London is a mainly flat city, which makes walking around easy. From Batty Langley’s, within 30 minutes you can walk to St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Museum of London, the Tower of London, Borough Market, or Columbia Road flower market. Within 1 hour you can be in the West End.
- Subway and Bus: Liverpool Street Station (0.3 mile) is the best station for going anywhere in central London. The Central Line (red) goes to Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Circus, or Marble Arch, which are good for the British Museum, Regent Street, and Hyde Park (respectively). Alternatively, the Circle Line (yellow) will take you to Tower Hill for the Tower of London; Embankment for Trafalgar Square (from which is an easy walk up the Mall to Buckingham Palace), Covent Garden, and the Southbank Centre (across Hungerford Bridge); and Westminster for the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye (across Westminster Bridge). There are buses from Liverpool Street to almost any part of town: check bus stop maps/online for more.
- Taxis, Uber: London’s famous Black Cabs can be hailed from the street or ordered via the Gett app. Uber is also ubiquitous throughout the city – you’ll rarely have more than a 5-minute wait for a cab, although costs can rack up in traffic – you may wish you’d walked.
Batty Langley’s – What’s Nearby?
Recommended Nearby Tours
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Most tours in the area start at Aldgate East Station (0.6 mile), Whitechapel Gallery (0.6 mile), or Shoreditch High Street Station (0.3 mile).
- Secret Food Tours – This company offers 2 unique tours of the area to take in some of the gastronomic delights: the Shoreditch Food Tour, which includes Jewish, Ghanaian, British, and Indian food, or the Indian Food Tour, which hones in on the cuisine Brick Lane is most famous for.
- Alternative London – Also offers food tours of the area but is perhaps best known for their street art tours, in which you can try your hand at some graffiti.
- Jack the Ripper Tour – Using ‘Ripper-Vision’, the ‘Ripperologist’ guide will project images from the time onto buildings to give more of a flavor of how it would have been in Jack’s time, plunging you into the world of one of the most famous unsolved mysteries of all time.
Best Nearby Restaurants
- Galvin La Chapelle – Michelin-starred haute French cuisine with a modern twist (150m). Can’t get a table? Pop round the corner to Galvin HOP Bistrot & Bar (150m).
- Hawksmoor – Known for its outstanding steak and roasts, this branch – the original – also features a great bar. (0.1 mile).
- Wright Brothers – Some of the best seafood away from the coast. (0.1 mile).
- Poppie’s Fish and Chips – Britain’s national dish served to go, or in the retro-styled restaurant. There’s also an outlet in the Old Spitalfields Market. (0.2 mile).
- St John Bread and Wine – Daily changing menus focused on outstanding ingredients and wine. (0.2 mile).
- Yuzu – Excellent modern Japanese served around a central bar. (0.2 mile).
- Ottolenghi – Incredible Mediterranean salads and desserts. (0.3 mile).
- Enoteca Super Tuscan – Authentic, elegant Italian with a focus on good wine. (0.3 mile).
- Gunpowder – Tapas-style Indian small plates that focus on big flavors. (0.3 mile).
- Andina – Gourmet Peruvian any time of day with exquisite cocktails. (0.3 mile).
- Chez Elles Bistroquet – Romantic bistro serving excellent French food from brunch onwards. (0.4 mile).
- Beigel Bake / Beigel Shop – The best bagels in the whole country come from either one of these bakeries, almost next door to each other (both shops are open 24/7). Debate rages as to which shop is better; go for the one with the shorter queue, or try both. The hot salt beef is a must. (0.5 mile).
Best Nearby Bars and Breweries
- Kings Stores – Downstairs a boozer with live sports on the TV, upstairs gastro-pub roasts in a gorgeous dining room. (0.2 mile).
- The Ten Bells – In love with its own history, this candle-lit pub is a real Spitalfields institution. (0.2 mile).
- Bottles – Oenophiles welcome at this cozy wine bar on the edge of Old Spitalfields Market. (0.2 mile).
- Big Chill Bar – Good for food, drink, and dancing with live DJs Thursday-Saturday. (0.3 mile).
- The Culpeper – Elegant but pared-back multistorey inn with a pub, restaurant, roof garden. (0.4 mile).
- All Star Lanes – Whether you come for the bowling, food, drink, or dancing, you’re guaranteed a good time. (0.4 mile).
- Discount Suit Company – Cozy cocktail bar hidden in the old storeroom of a menswear shop. Look for the unmarked door on Petticoat lane. (0.4 mile).
- Well & Bucket – Exposed brick, leather, and copper decor suits this stripped-back pub with a basement cocktail bar. Menu focuses on oysters and craft beer. (0.5 mile).
Best Nearby Cafes
- Nude Espresso – Ethical coffee, roasted opposite the Hanbury Street cafe. 3 outlets within a 0.2 mile radius, 3-5 minutes’ walk.
- Dark Sugars: The Cocoa House – Slabs of chocolate greet you as you walk into this foodie paradise. (0.3 mile).
Nearby Shopping & Cool Shops
- Old Spitalfields Market – From produce to artisans and antique stalls to chic shopping district, Spitalfields has undergone quite a transformation. Visit the ‘old’ part of the market for a taste of its history. (0.2 mile).
- Inspitalfields – Tasteful gift shop with a small but classy London section. (0.2 mile).
- Rough Trade East – Legendary record label/record store/gig space/cafe. (0.3 mile).
- Boxpark Shoreditch – Independent traders and big brands rub shoulders in their tiny refurbished shipping containers in this “pop-up mall”. (0.3 mile).
- Libreria – A bookshop whose layout is designed to stimulate creativity and help visitors find new ideas in an organic way. (0.3 mile).
- Old Truman Brewery – The old brewery buildings host permanent and pop-up shops, conferences, galleries, markets, bars, and restaurants. (0.4 mile).
- House of Vintage – The whole Brick Lane area, especially Cheshire Street, is filled with vintage clothes stores. This is the classiest. (0.5 mile).
- Labour and Wait – Design and vintage approach to hardware and homeware on achingly hip Redchurch Street. (0.5 mile).
Nearby Attractions
- Dennis Severs’ House – Next door to the hotel lies this real London oddity; a house designed to immerse you in Spitalfields’ history. (15m).
- Christ Church Spitalfields – Marvel at the evolution of architecture when comparing this 1729 church, designed by Christopher Wren’s student Nicholas Hawksmoor, to Wren’s many churches in the City of London. (0.2 mile).
- Whitechapel Gallery – A gallery known for its future-facing contemporary art exhibitions. (0.6 mile).
- Bank of England – Seat of the UK economy with a free museum. (0.8 mile).
- The Barbican – Multipurpose sprawling inner-city project with galleries, concert halls, cinemas, and museums, including the Museum of London and the Guildhall, which houses the remains of a Roman amphitheater. Barbican Centre (0.8 mile).
- Columbia Road Flower Market – This quaint East End street lined with independent businesses turns into a jungle every Sunday when the flower traders pop up. (0.9 mile).
- St Paul’s Cathedral – One of the most famous churches in the world. (1.2 miles).
- Borough Market A must for any visitor to London: the freshest most varied produce market in the city with a wide selection of food stalls, coffee shops, and restaurants. (1.5 miles).
Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores
- Tesco Metro – Good selection of general food/basic pharmacy items. Open 24 hours except for Sunday. (0.3 mile).
- Sainsbury’s Local – Smaller than the Tesco, but also a mini offshoot of a supermarket chain. (0.3 mile).
Batty Langley’s – The Hotel
The hotel, aptly named after a Georgian interior designer, is buzzer-entry only – there is no restaurant or bar, so Batty Langley’s is not open to the public, something that brings guests blissful privacy and anonymity.
One of the communal areas – where better to curl up with a book, or simply people-watch, than those window seats?
Every common space sports a roaring fire and period-appropriate features without forsaking the needs of modern travelers.
Another communal area with French doors that open out to a patio – the perfect spot for afternoon tea, or making yourself a drink from the honesty bar.
The petite patio with a trickling fountain provides respite from the busy city outside.
Each room is different, as fittings are often antiques, custom-made, or one-of-a-kind. This is one of the Junior Suites; each comes with a bedroom, living room (with extremely comfy sofa bed), and magnificent bathrooms.
The living rooms in the Junior Suites also have little libraries and TVs, though they are often hidden away so you can switch off completely should you choose.
Each of Batty Langley’s rooms has a special feature, often in the bathroom. This Junior Suite has an Italian marble bath, while one of the others has a wooden throne toilet.
This Club Double sports a 17th-century carved oak bed, brought up to date with comfy bedding; a taste of old England with none of the discomfort. The facing wall of this particular room boasts an extensive book collection.
The Box Room, the hotel’s only single room, may be tiny, but it is practically perfect in its facilities, with a stunning sink in the room and separate toilet and shower cubicles.
Facing the bed in the Box Room is a ‘Georgianized’ television and all the little luxuries that staying in any of the other rooms affords.
The hotel’s crowning glory is the Earl of Bolingbroke Suite, with a wall of books (pressing one in particular will reveal a surprise), a grand writing desk, and 2 hidden TVs.
Upstairs in the Earl of Bolingbroke Suite (to which there’s a baggage elevator), skylights and French doors flood the huge bedroom with plenty of natural light.
The Earl of Bolingbroke Suite’s private terrace has views over East London chimneys to the Olympic Park one way, and the modern skyscrapers of the financial district the other.
Also in the Earl of Bolingbroke Suite: a freestanding marble bath and TV, cleverly disguised as a gilt-framed mirror, are opposite the bed, and a walk-in shower is off to one side.
With 2 stations within a 6-minute walk from the hotel, Batty Langley’s is very well serviced for public transport. Liverpool Street station is a major hub for overland trains to eastern parts of the country, such as Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. There are also many London transport lines – underground and overground – as well as many buses from right outside.
From Shoreditch High Street station, you can get the London Overground to many of the trendiest neighborhoods in London like Dalston, Clapham, Islington, and Peckham.
Between those 2 stations lies Old Spitalfields Market (left), whose north-westernmost corner is a minute’s walk from the hotel. Originally a Victorian produce market, its derelict shell housed independent artisans in the late 20th century before gentrification brought in sleek chains and designer stores. It is overlooked by the magnificent Christ Church Spitalfields, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor (pupil of Christopher Wren).
These days, Old Spitalfields Market has international designer boutiques and chain stores sitting alongside stalls selling handmade goods and street food in an attempt to keep some of the flavor of the old market in spite of the influx of wealth. It gets packed on weekends.
At the northwestern corner of the market is the Galvin brothers’ HOP bistro. Perfect if you forgot to make a reservation at their Michelin-starred La Chapelle (just around the corner).
Nestled inside the north side of Old Spitalfields Market, Wright Brothers focuses on seafood paired with great drinks – make sure to go for the decadent happy hours involving oysters.
Just east of Wright Bros is Inspitalfields, a delightful independent boutique and gift shop.
Cozy wine bar, Bottles, is set within the walls of the market on the south side.
Almost next door to Bottles, adjacent to Christ Church Spitalfields on Commercial Road, is the infamous Ten Bells pub, which has a connection to one of the Jack the Ripper murders.
A few doors down from the Ten Bells, St. John Bread & Wine is based on founder Fergus Henderson’s philosophy of ‘nose to tail’ cooking and warm casual fine dining.
Just inside the market doors closest to St. John is an outlet stall for Poppie’s Fish & Chips. You can also get takeaway from Poppie’s main restaurant.
You’ll find Poppie’s Fish & Chips, the restaurant, with its charming retro decor, if you head east out of the market; it’s just past the Golden Hart pub at the start of Hanbury Street.
On the same side of Hanbury street as Poppie’s, Nude Espresso has paved the way for ethical beans for over a decade. You can take a peek into its micro roastery, opposite.
This whole area of Brick Lane is dominated by the Old Truman Brewery, which was once one of the largest breweries in the world. It now houses all kinds of markets, conventions, shops, bars, cafes, and events, both permanent and popup. During the week, Londoners get on with everyday life, but the whole area is bustling on weekends with stalls and tourists.
Legendary indie record label and record store Rough Trade East has represented many of the world’s most critically acclaimed acts, including Arcade Fire and The Strokes.
Walk around the Old Truman Brewery Complex both during the day and night to experience the buildings coming to life in different ways. The Big Chill Bar offers a reliably good night out.
If you prefer your coffee sweet, keep going down Hanbury St until you hit Brick Lane, where you’ll find Dark Sugars’ Cocoa House: a place for serious chocolate aficionados.
Just off Brick Lane is Cheshire Street, a mecca for vintage clothes lovers.
No visit to Brick Lane would be complete without a bagel – or beigel – from either the yellow or white 24-hour delis near the junction with Bethnal Green Road.
Redchurch Street is one of the most achingly hip streets in London, packed with independent boutiques, coffee shops, and designer stores. Labour and Wait is a stylish homeware shop for those who prefer their cleaning supplies to be aesthetically pleasing.
Andina stands proudly where Redchurch Street meets Shoreditch HIgh Street (an extension of Bishopsgate). Expect inventive ceviches and pisco sours at this high-end Peruvian restaurant.
Boxpark Shoreditch container mall offers a changing selection of miniature shopping experiences, where Bethnal Green Road meets Shoreditch High Street.
Gunpowder is a pared back modern Indian restaurant whose plates are made to share. Get here early (or else risk a queue).
The cozy lighting from candles and fairylights at Chez Elles creates the perfect setting for romance, or just enjoying the authentic French cuisine. Check rates and availability: Batty Langley’s.
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About Santorini Dave