The best hotels in Hackney

Just under a mile from Hackney Empire and very close to Bethnal Green tube station, this converted former Edwardian Town Hall offers modern design with Art Deco style. Spacious rooms from around £130 a night are individually designed with one-off vintage pieces, sheepskin rugs and luxury toiletries. There are loft-style options in the eaves, an on-site cocktail bar, and the excellent Typing Room restaurant, plus a spa and pool. Free mineral water and daily shuttle services to Liverpool Street and Bank stations complete its appeal.

A mile from trendy Shoreditch, at the less gentrified end of Hackney Road, the RE has 178 modern, if unremarkable rooms, with en suite bathrooms, free wifi and mini fridges. A nearby greasy spoon might be a better option than the £13.50 buffet breakfast, but additional facilities include an exercise room, with running, cycle and multi-gym machines (complimentary towels, water and fruit), a bar/lounge area, and a restaurant. A big plus is the on-site parking, and prices from £80.

Above an old nineteenth-century pub in the heart of Hackney, the Ship offers plenty of atmosphere, including narrow staircase and creaky floors, and ten funky boutique rooms with tea- and coffee-making facilities and free wifi. For an additional £8, a fine full English breakfast is served in the pub. Beyond a pint and above-average pub grub, head out to explore Hackney’s burgeoning restaurant scene (Wilton Road, Morning Lane and Hackney Wick are good bets), or an arts scene that takes in the Moth Club, the gorgeous old-school Hackney Empire Theatre or oh-so-cool Oslo.

A stone’s throw from Hackney Central station, Kip is perfectly located for Hackney’s nightlife (ear-plugs provided), and trips into town or Stratford’s Westfield. Cabin-sized rooms are clean and modern, with shared or en suite bathrooms, and the penthouse studio has the benefit of a kitchen. With rooms (though some may be windowless) from around £50, the price is unbeatable. Family rooms are available and there’s free wifi throughout.

In an unprepossessing new block on Amhurst Road, Travelodge Hackney is a quietish option but, being a minute’s walk from Oslo and Hackney Central station, still close to the action. Smart, contemporary accommodation, from £54, has king-sized beds and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Family rooms have baths wifi costs (£3 for 24 hours), so does the breakfast box (£4.95), so we recommend heading for E5 Bakehouse or one of excellent Mare Street cafés for both.