England, LondonMarch 5, 2020, by Maartje

Check in and don't leave again (or okay, just around the corner): Hotel The Hoxton, Southwark

Accommodation
England, London, March 5, 2020, by Maartje

Check in and don't leave again (or okay, just around the corner): Hotel The Hoxton, Southwark

Hello Hox-ers and Hox-tonnettes! No no, that is probably not correct Dutch or English. Doesn't matter because you know exactly what I mean: hello fellow hotel lovers. There is news from The Hox front: Hotel The Hoxton, Southwark is here! Southwark? Yes, that's a (huge) area of ​​London south of the Thames. Perhaps a neighborhood you have never heard of before, but wasn't that also the case with Shoreditch? In east London? Because that was where The Hoxton opened their first hotel, and for years you couldn't not go to Shoreditch during a city trip to London. And so it will be the case with Southwark, mark our words. 

The Hoxton, Southwark, London

The Hoxton, Southwark, London

The district Southwark So, still affordable and soon (or actually: already) the hippest neighborhood in London. Of course, the Hoxton hotel was a pioneer (just a reminder: The Hox is also in Shoreditch and Holborn in London. And in Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, New York Williamsburg, Downtown LA, Chicago and the always fun (but real) Portland), on the south side from Blackfriars Bridge, one of the bridges over the Thames. The neighborhood used to be a trading center and the former factories now house galleries, cafés, restaurants, museums, theaters and food markets (I'll come back to that in a moment). In short: the perfect base for exploring the area of the moment to be.

We went to London in the most comfortable way you can imagine: with the direct Eurostar train from Amsterdam. Relaxed, you can take as much as you can carry, no hassle with queues and you 'land' in the heart of London. And let's not forget that it is a sustainable way of traveling. Win-win-win-win (and a few more wins). Do the same, hail a taxi (because those things, and then you immediately have a nice route through the city) and fifteen minutes later you are standing in front of the doors of the wonderful The Hoxton, Southwark.

The hotel exudes the atmosphere of the neighborhood (you don't know that yet, but you will find out after a few days), and has the well-known Hoxton style that you have come to expect: concrete ceilings and bare brick walls, colorful, luxurious furnishings and handmade glassware, all inspired by Southwark's eclectic, industrial past. That's a cool place, and the same goes for the friendly staff who come to your rescue when you stumble into the hotel with suitcases and kids. Thank you very much. Checking in is super fast (never long-winded procedures at the Hoxton, one of the reasons why they are such a fan), your room is exactly as shown in the photos (read: MOOOOOI!) and before you know it you are having your first snack in the relaxed lobby restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel.

The ground floor is divided into two parts: restaurant Albie on the left and the cozy bar (note, in the evenings a nightcap is a gift here) on the right. The reception is behind that plant column with the typical Hoxton chairs in the middle. It is the place where you both end and start the day: don't leave the house before breakfast! Every day we enjoyed eggs with salmon and the best avocado toast (which is great at every Hox, will you write with us?).

The lunch on the ground floor is also great, although we are completely over the moon about the fish restaurant on the top floor of the hotel: Seabird. For many reasons: the view (amazing), the terrace (ditto), the live music (so so so so nice), the staff (correct and funny), the menu (fresh fish, excellent oysters, beautiful wines such as a favorite sancerre by the glass, name), the design (it doesn't matter where you sit, every corner is cozy) and - well - the fact that the baby monitor makes it to your room just fine. Date night at home has rarely been better, we can tell you. The design of Seabird is somewhere between Miami in its heyday (although that could also be due to the tight pants of the waiters...) and an unknown Greek island. White whiter whitest, without us being able to detect any Gordon-esque scenes (we usually get those jitters at a all white local).

If you still want to go outside - that is of course allowed - then know that you are in the right place: cross the nearest bridge and you end up at Somerset House, and just before that you pass the London Eye. But secretly it is much more fun to stay in Southwark. We work as we speak to a list of the tastiest in the neighborhood, but know that when in Southwark, you can look for Bar Douro, Casa do Frango, Padella and last but certainly not least the Borough Market. Gonna like it! But first, book a room at The Hoxton, Southwark.

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