Just Batty about Langley’s
CHARLOTTE COX spends an evening steeped in history in one of London’s trendiest districts
LONDON is home to some of the world’s best hotels – but surely among the most fascinating is Batty Langley’s. Steeped in history, eccentricity and style, this converted Georgian townhouse in Shoreditch is so good it justifies a night in.
Which is why, when we stayed, our plan for a night out was quickly switched to an evening on the terrace outside our room – the ‘Earl of Bolingbroke Suite’.
Batty Langley’s had been promising from first sighting. On Folgate Street, it’s opposite the Water Poet pub and near to Dennis Severs’ House.
Stepping off Folgate Street, we were greeted by warm lighting, carpets, wood panels and a friendly receptionist - the staff here were personable, helpful, easy-going and very likeable.
Our tour of the ground floor revealed rooms filled with open fires, snug sofas and chairs. An honesty bar in the Tapestry Room, an incredible library and a courtyard garden.
But on to the suite. The first part is a lounge – complete with a bar and a bookcase full of some of the hotel’s 3,500 volumes.
Push one book and a secret room is revealed...it’s actually an extra loo, but a very grand ‘throne’ with extravagant plumbing.
And every detail in this hotel is a Georgian delight. Eighteenth-century craftsmanship means you’re standing in a cosy museum, minus the barriers and ‘don’t touch’ signs – with added luxury and a fully stocked bar.
The closest they get to a museumstyle restriction is a banner on the freestanding bathtub near the four poster bed upstairs. It reads: “This ancient bath has survived wars and witnessed indiscretions please ensure its continued longevity.”
To get here, we’d followed a winding staircase up from the living room. Beyond the bed, the grand bathroom features a walk-in power shower.
But surely the star of this show is the terrace. It’s huge! There are two tables, potted plants, a stunning bespoke sun dial – and a magnificent view over Spitalfields, east to the Olympic Park, and beyond to the towering high rises of London.
We had been due to meet friends out in London but in the end they came to us and the terracotta-tiled terrace was the setting for the evening.
If you’re looking for a quieter night there is a TV but it’s tucked away in a cabinet to preserve the history of the room. As is an Apple TV device for streaming music.
And this is where Batty Langley’s excels. It’s hit the nail on the head when it comes to combining history with what you’d expect from a five-star stay.
The bathroom is stocked with REN toiletries, there are fluffy bathrobes in the cupboard, and the incredible shower is a powerhouse experience.
Breakfast was a treat – two huge trays delivered to the terrace and laden with fresh pastries, fruit smoothies, bacon baguettes, porridge and granola.
We didn’t take advantage during our stay, but there’s also a room service menu for light dishes.
Venture out onto Folgate Street and and directly opposite is the Water Poet pub, a lively spot for a pint.
Next door is Dennis Severs’ House – well worth a visit. Its creator Mr Severs was an American artist who wanted to give visitors the experience of ‘stepping into a painting’.
The concept is that you interrupt a family of Huguenot silk weavers named Jervis who seem always to be just out of sight as you walk through 10 rooms.
Mr Severs’ intention was to allow visitors to become ‘as lost in another time as they appear to be in their own’.
He died in 1999 and the house was passed to the Spitalfields Trust, who have sustained the 10th century living portrait.
And nearby is Old Spitalfields Market, home to boutique shops, bars and restaurants. Liverpool Street railway station is just five minutes away.
But what about the name? The original Bartholomew Batty Langley was an 18th century architect.
For a glimpse of Mr Langley himself, look no further than the hotel entrance, where his photograph stands opposite that of his wife.
He published handbooks in the 18th century to help people plan their Georgian houses and gardens ‘in the most Grand Taste’.
And it looks like hotel bosses Douglas Blain and Peter McKay – who also own Hazlitt’s in Soho and The Rookery in Clerkenwell – have done exactly that.