"The vibe: Vintage East End Location: East London Top amenities: The calm courtyard Best for: City of London meetings and East London's nightlife The area of East London around Spitalfields Market is one of the coolest parts of the capital—but Batty Langley’s eschews hipster chic to whisk you back across the cobbled street to the 18 th century, when this whopping brick building (at first glance it looks like a cross between a townhouse, a warehouse, and a trendy office block) was constructed. The 18 th century is also when the hotel’s namesake, Batty Langley, was working as an eccentric landscape gardener and architect. Perhaps to honor his legacy, all 29 rooms (named after different East End characters throughout the centuries) are individually designed and a little…different. While they’re technically period style—think four-poster beds, lavish dark palettes, and what appear to be traditional portraits on the walls—they’re done up in a knowing, modern way. Unexpected features include a toilet hidden behind a bookshelf and a jolly period-style portrait grinning at the building’s current occupants: you. The lounge with its honesty bar leads onto a little courtyard, while in-room TVs are hidden—instead, you’re encouraged to browse one of the thousands of books in the library." - Julia Buckley
