The best hotels in Whitechapel

We love Qbic. There are over 170 modular rooms, with comfy beds, rain showers, and free wifi. Working with local charity Bikeworks and Food Cycle, the focus is on community. The DIY aspect – self-service check-in and the snack continental breakfast – keeps prices, from £67, low. A park view costs a few quid more. There’s a natty hangout lounge, and lobby staff on hand, if you need them. Parking costs £12 per day.

Close to the East London Mosque, this chain hotel has 146 ‘cocoons’, accommodating up to three people. Modular rooms with Sweet Beds are cosy, contemporary and colourful, with modern bathrooms, and free wifi. It’s perfectly placed for the famous Tayyab’s, a BYO restaurant serving fine Punjabi curries. The lobby area, with Foggs Bar and Restaurant, is a funky, friendly area to relax. Plus there’s a shop and laundry. Rooms start from £52.

Close to Aldgate station, this one is convenient for the city, as well as the historic Still & Star pub. Brick Lane and Spitalfields market are a ten-minute walk away. Like all Premier Inn accommodation, rooms – 250 of them – are spacious, comfortable and clean, if a tad bland, with tea- and coffee-making facilities and a desk. Well-equipped bathrooms include toiletries, and there’s a bar, restaurant, and free wifi. Prices start at around £160.

With a sister hotel in Hyde Park, the Arbor brings a bit of class to Whitechapel’s accommodation. Just off Brick Lane, it’s in the heart of the action but, thanks to good design and soundproofing, fairly quiet. Smart and spacious accommodation, with a muted palette, has tea- and coffee-making facilities and free wifi. Completing the picture, there’s a communal lounge area – think contemporary mid-century – plus cocktail bar, restaurant, screening area and patio garden. From around £290.