The meticulous attention to detail at Batty Langley’s is a testament to the charm and intimacy that boutique hotels can offer compared with larger landmarks. A pitcher of homemade lemonade welcomes you in the lobby, and when you make your way to the Tapestry Room, you can help yourself to a slice of freshly made cake. 

 

Opening in 2015, the hotel was named after Batty Langley, an 18th-century garden designer and architect known for his work on Gothic and Classical designs. The hotel's design and decor are inspired by Langley's work, with an emphasis on recreating the Georgian grandeur of the original building.

 

The space has been faithfully refreshed to keep with the building's heritage, with many of the new fixtures indistinguishable from their 1700s counterparts. Palladianism, the dominant architectural influence in the early Georgian period, is evident throughout the building, reflected in the symmetry, classical proportions, and subtle refinement typical of the late pre-industrial age.

 

The walls are adorned with antique portraits and landscapes, while reproductions of engravings and architectural drawings from Georgian times add to the historical ambience. Mahogany tables, upholstered armchairs, ornate wooden chests, writing desks and vanity tables with intricate inlays exemplify the era’s appreciation of both functionality and beauty.

 

 

There are twenty rooms and eight suites at Batty Langley’s, all offering a glimpse into the Age of Elegance. I stayed in the Kitty Fisher suite, which provided every inch of the luxury I anticipated. Named after a famous courtesan of the Enlightenment era, each detail in the room makes you feel like a Georgian aristocrat while incorporating modern touches for comfort. The television is hidden behind a gilded mirror, lamps and dimmable switches mimic the soft glow of candlelight and modern plumbing elements in the bathroom are hidden by elaborate wooden fixtures. 

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A separate living area offers space to read, work or watch TV. Here, the screen is mounted on a bookshelf amongst vintage encyclopaedias and stone busts. On the timber-clad wall is an oil painting overlooking a marble coffee table and tufted leather couch. 

 

The centrepiece of the Kitty Fisher Suite is its grand, richly draped canopied four-poster bed. The soft furnishings on the bed coverings, upholstery and curtains add yet another layer to the room. Sumptuous fabrics like velvet, damask, and silk enhance the overall sense of opulence and comfort, while floor-length patterned curtains in rich gold and greens add to the cosy, intimate feel.

 

It’s not often that I point to the bathroom as the pièce de résistance, but the washroom in the Kitty Fisher suite is truly something else. A deep freestanding roll-top bathtub stands beside a medieval-style stained glass window, and a water closet with a beautifully decorated wooden cistern adds finesse to an otherwise overlooked bathroom feature. Bronze details include a swan-shaped basin tap, a hand-shaped flush button and claw-and-ball feet on the access step for the bath. These accents are heightened by cream Wainscoted walls, ceramic sink and polished granite surfaces. 

 

Between the stormy blue walls, the dark wood furniture, muted lighting, and the gold and deep jewel tones of the fabrics, the room is darker than many contemporary accommodations. However, skylights above the coffee table in the enclave and directly above the shower ensure ample natural light. The Kitty Fisher suite is compact in size compared to some upscale quarters, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in decadence. 

 

There isnt a restauarnt at Batty Langley's, but that's no hardship given the many eateries that Shoreditch has to offer; my personal favourites are Nobu, Brat, Dishoom, and Gloria. 

 

Breakfast at Batty Langley’s is unique — there’s no buffet or lobby cafe. Instead, you mark your preferences on a form and hang it on the door overnight, along with the time you’d like to receive your meal. There is the option to take your morning meal downstairs in one of the communal areas, but breakfast in bed is a rare indulgence, so I seized the opportunity. My spread included a coffee, porridge with nuts and honey, and a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel, all served in handmade Burleigh china and topped off with a Bloody Mary. If it’s warm enough, sipping your coffee outside on the balcony is a treat (despite 250 years of industrialisation marring the once-picturesque view that may have existed).

 

 

Located a 9-minute walk from Liverpool Street tube station, you’re in one of the best-connected areas of London at Batty Langley’s and can be in Central London within half an hour on public transport. Other sites like the Tower of London (1.2 miles away) and the Tate Modern Art Museum (1.7 miles) are less than 30 minutes by bus or train. 

 

However, there are plenty of gems right on your doorstep. Turn the corner, and you’ll find yourself at Spitalfields Market, one of London's oldest markets, offering a mix of fashion, art, antiques, and food stalls. Five minutes in the other direction is Brick Lane, famous for its street art, vintage shops, and curry houses. Some must-see local galleries and museums are the Museum of the Home, the Whitechapel Gallery, The Dennis Severs' House and the Barbican Centre. Browse Columbia Road Flower Market if you’re in town on a Sunday, and head a little further northwest to visit Broadway Market, known for its bars, pubs and restaurants.

 

 

For a hotel with all the bells and whistles of a lavish 18th-century townhouse, Batty Langley’s has a relatively no-frills demeanour. Service is friendly, but nobody is hovering over you, and an honesty bar gives you the freedom to feel at home in the communal areas. Guests can help themselves to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as snacks and simply record their selections and room number in an accompanying ledger. The Parlour and The Tapestry Room both have a range of liquor and recipes for classic cocktails, so you can easily create your concoction and note it on the inventory. 

 

The Library has a Victorian lantern roof that floods the entrance with natural daylight. At the opposite end is a fully fitted library featuring a period stone working fireplace, polished oak shelving, and an intricate partition. The Parlour is a sitting room available for guests when it’s not in use for small private gatherings. It features fully-panelled walls and an embellished corniced roof, solid oak flooring, an open fireplace, a built-in period china cupboard and sash windows with folding shutters that invite cascading sunshine. The Tapestry Room is hung with 17th-century tapestries, The Folly and The Fountain, and features a large antique bookcase that doubles as an honesty bar. On one end of the interior is glazed doors that open onto a private courtyard with a functioning period fountain, on the other is an open fireplace flanked by built-in shelves. 

 

You won’t find some of the amenities typical of larger hotels, like a gym, spa, 24-hour room service, pool and gift shops, but that's not the point of Batty Langley's and its old-world charm. Rest assured, you'll find Wi-Fi, laundry services, mini-bars, smart TVs and premium toiletries in every room, so it's no hardship staying here. 

 

 

Batty Langley’s combines the sophistication of Georgian-era design with modern comforts in the heart of Shoreditch. This boutique hotel is a haven for those who appreciate history, luxury, and a personalised touch. With its richly decorated chambers, thoughtful amenities, and prime location near some of London’s most vibrant spots, Batty Langley’s provides an intimate retreat from the bustle of the city. Check-in for an experience that Batty Langley himself would have approved of.