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You don’t expect much soul around the Old Bailey – but Hyde London City has changed the game. Sitting neatly between St Paul’s and Farringdon, this slick opening from 2025 brings a shot of fun to the City’s otherwise buttoned-up hotel scene.
From the outside, it’s all grand Victorian architecture; inside, it’s a confident blend of contemporary design and playful character: think plush velvet, bold wallpaper, and truckloads of brass.
The lobby feels less like arriving at a corporate stay and more like walking into a well-connected friend’s townhouse. Staff are relaxed and genuinely welcoming, the atmosphere hums with low-key energy, and there’s a sense of comfort that’s immediate but understated. It’s stylish, but not showy.
Why stay at Hyde London City?
Hyde takes the best bits of a boutique bolthole – good looks, good food and nicely laid back vibes – and drops them right into the City.
Better still, the building is dripping in history: once the only hotel in the capital with working electricity. It was built in 1874 as the Spiers & Pond Hotel, and although it had been turned into offices in the 1980s, retained many of its Victorian features such as vaulted ceilings and a grand facade. It’s well suited for business, a weekend staycation, or simply a post-work drink at the bar.
What are the rooms like at Hyde London City?
Although the size of rooms at Hyde vary, with the majority pretty compact, each one is impeccably styled and designed with both comfort and style in mind. Much of the furniture has been custom-made to fit in characterful crevices, like dressing tables in window bays or corner sofas to collapse into and kick your shoes off. They certainly haven’t been shy with the wallpaper, floor to ceiling cerulean palms in ours, which could feel overwhelming if it wasn’t for the clearly considered styling.
Whether it’s to your taste or not, you can’t argue with the value for money in terms of comfort. It’s big comfy. Velvet curtains blocked out any intrusive light, we didn’t hear a peep from the neighbours and the bed was divine. I hoped to buy the pillows for myself at home, but found they were most definitely out of my price range. I particularly liked the little details, including customisable lighting and Bang+Olufsen speakers.
Bathrooms are modern with terrazzo surfaces, matt black shower doors and more brass fixtures than you can shake a Pinterest board at. The star of the show is the rainforest shower (with fantastic water pressure), decked out with Malin + Goetz toiletries and branded sliders – a much nicer choice than the one-wear towelling variety you end up mopping most of the floor with. Our room, the Headliner Suite, had fabulous views of the Old Bailey as well as its own marble bar.
What is the food like at Hyde London City?
In a word, fantastic, from start to finish. We started with taramasalata, luxuriously smooth and velvety, and spicy smoked atom – along with soft, doughy bread and excellent lahmaçun.
The Leydi team seemed particularly enthusiastic about the börek, though we felt it missed the mark slightly. While the leek and honey combination was a nice idea, the borek itself was too thick and excessive in style; it needed to be smaller and crispier to let that signature borek crunch shine through.
We also enjoyed köfte, lamb chops, tomato salad, and beef fat chips: all of which were perfect. The distinct beef tallow flavour in the chips was especially nostalgic for me (and I loved it), but my top dish was the lamb chops, deeply smoky and fall-off-the-bone tender.
Leydi has also introduced a new weekday daytime menu, ‘Leydi In The Window’ available from 7am-3pm, where you can grab a quick börek and dips with proper coffee to takeaway or have in (pretty good if you’re WFH – Working From Hotel).
You’ll find a selection of good wines and spirits on the list in the restaurant, but if you’re getting serious about nightcaps, don’t miss Black Lacquer, the hotel’s basement cocktail bar. It’s the only vinyl bar in the area and has a pretty impressive soundsystem; I’d recommend checking it out when it’s open to guests and the public, Tuesdays to Thursdays until 10pm.
What is the service like at Hyde London City?
The entrance to Hyde is exactly opposite reception, but daunting it ain’t, as you’ll be greeted with a warm smile from the hotel manager and greetings from bar staff zooming past with drinks. It feels trite to say it’s laid back, but that’s exactly what it is.
Everyone we encountered went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, especially at dinner, where we were guided through the food and drink menus with knowledge and honesty. It’s good to know if you’re over-ordering, especially if you don’t want to fall asleep before your evening cocktails.
This is a hotel that could easily take itself too seriously but much like its Hoxton Hotel brothers and sisters, it has an air of familiarity about it that makes it feel like an old pal.
What is the gym like at Hyde London City?
Sadly, I don’t think this can be called a gym. It’s a cupboard – and more of a box tick than one of the hotel’s key features. That said, it’s free to use and has brand-new equipment including weights, benches and TechnoGym bikes. If it doesn’t quite meet your needs, longer stay guests can arrange a local gym pass by enquiring at reception.
What’s the area like around Hyde London City?
You’re in London’s financial district, so it’s not exactly a trendy neighbourhood. But you are conveniently placed between St Paul’s underground and Farringdon train station, and you’re a short stroll from the likes of St John, Ibai and Quality Wines.
It’s also pretty well placed for some London sightseeing, with Southbank and the Barbican accessible on foot. Families with buggies or dogs and wheelchair users could easily use the hotel as a base to explore some of the city’s attractions at leisure, avoiding stairs or stations.
Why should you book a stay at Hyde London City?
It would be hard not to like Hyde, even if you’re a trad city worker with a points-loaded Intercontinental card. The rooms are impeccable, though most are on the smaller side. The service? Warm and friendly. The food is far better than anything you could hope for in a hotel and is very nearly enough to make a full pilgrimage to Farringdon for, if you’re prepared to pay more than you would at Mangal 1.
Think of it as EC1’s answer to the ACE Hotel (RIP), with the added bonus of historical surroundings and a far less pretentious crowd. And if you are here on business, this is by far your coolest bet.
DETAILS
Address: Hyde Hotel, 15 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EF, London, United Kingdom
Price: £269
Closest transport: St Paul’s underground station, Farringdon train station and London City Airport