Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch review – London with teens

I love a hotel with its own story, somewhere with a bit more character or history than your average chain – so as I prepared for my Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch review stay with my 14-year-old, I guessed this would tick plenty of boxes for a visit to London with teens.

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Set in the former Old Street Magistrates Court and police station, you’ll find plenty of nods to its previous occupation, including jail cells converted to private dining in the bar, along with lots of modern touches that make it a perfect fit for Shoreditch.

And with family films showing in the hotel’s cinema over the summer, a rooftop terrace, a great location for exploring Shoreditch and east London, plus super comfy beds, it’s ideal for families looking for somewhere that mixes practicality with teen-friendly touches as my Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch review goes to show.

Courthouse Shoreditch hotel: Vital statistics

The hotel opened in 2016 after a £40 million renovation, set inside the former Old Street Magistrates Court and Police Station.

The original Edwardian building opened in 1903 and operated as a court until 1996, while the police station closed in 2008.

There are 86 guest rooms and 42 suites, including Hoxton Family Suites which we stayed in, and also contains a cinema, two-lane 10-pin bowling alley, swimming pool and spa, a rooftop terrace bar and the Jailhouse Bar and Restaurant.

Rooms currently cost from £219 per night for a king-size room (you can also add a single rollaway bed for a fee) and from £389 for a Hoxton Family Suite sleeping four.

Click here to book the Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch direct or check for rates on booking.com

Courthouse Shoreditch hotel review

There aren’t many hotels where you’re walking in the footsteps of author George Orwell and notorious gangsters the Kray twins – none of whom enjoyed the same kind of luxury you get today.

But back when the hotel buildings were still used to hold and try those accused of crimes, these were three of the people who passed through the doors, and in the Kray twins’ case, stayed in the cells.

Sitting down to breakfast in the old courtroom two, I got to choose between a full English, pastries, toast or items from the a la carte menu like waffles with biscoff spread, or smashed avocado on sourdough toast with poached eggs.

Orwell, meanwhile, stood here in front of the magistrate charged with being drunk and disorderly and was fined six shillings under his real name Eric Arthur Blair. All research for his novel Down and Out in Paris and London apparently, and he never paid the fine.

Head across the corridor to the Jailhouse Bar and restaurant, and you can peek inside a handful of cells, most of which have been converted into private dining booths decorated with artwork linked to some of the former inhabitants or other notorious names (and Banksy), but one of which has kept the hard wooden bed and basic toilet of the original prison.

Happily there’s nothing basic about this experience either, from the prison-themed cocktails – Final Verdict has Hoxton gin, lemon juice and simple syrup, while Prison Escape is a mix of tequila, orange juice and grenadine – to the food menu.

Along with plenty of classics like fish and chips, you can also treat yourself to king prawns with lobster bearnaise, or enjoy the family-friendly options such as pizza and burgers (including a great vegan burger).

There’s a great build-your-own pasta option too, where you pick the pasta, the sauce and then anything from chicken breast to prawns, if you have kids who like to choose precisely what’s in their meal.

And while you wait for it to arrive, check out all the quirky touches like the Mona Lisa in handcuffs or Darth Vader’s police mugshot, as well as some of the original stained glass showing the king’s cipher, plus subtle chains dangling from the lamps.

Save some time to admire the grand staircase with its stained glass dome as you explore too – you can get a mini tour from Vlad the concierge, who’ll share some of the history of the building as he shows you around.

My own tour finished on the rooftop balcony, where you get a good look at Shoreditch town hall, the modern skyscrapers behind, and the spire of St Leonard’s church – the church itself dates back to at least the 12th century, although the current building was rebuilt in 1740 after the tower collapsed.

As a bit of bonus trivia, this is one of the churches mentioned in nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons – ‘When I grow rich’, say the bells of Shoreditch.

But back to the hotel, where we haven’t even made it inside the room yet. And before we do, there are a few other treats in store for guests.

Top of the list is the private cinema, where you can wander in to watch a film at 3pm on Sundays – Inception and Gravity were two on the list this summer, along with Jurassic Park, which was showing when we visited.

Huge fun to see that on a big screen again – although the realisation that the film came out 33 years ago was almost as scary as the velociraptors…

If the cinema doesn’t tempt you, there’s also the bowling alley which you can book by the hour – this one does have an added fee – and the 10m swimming pool, which is free to guests (along with the gym, sauna and steam room).

Then, finally, the rooms. There’s a choice of three rooms with king beds, including Xscape rooms on the top floors with some great views, as well as several types of suite.

The Hoxton Family Suite has two double beds and a separate little living area with TV, a small window seat and huge bathroom – ours had a bath as well as a pleasingly powerful rainhead shower, plus toiletries provided and plenty of room for your own.

The beds themselves were hugely comfy, with squashy pillows which I sank into for a great night’s sleep.

Rested and refuelled, it’s in a great location to explore too. Liverpool Street is around 10 minutes away by bus, while Old Street station is less than a 10-minute walk away for the Northern Line. You’re also less than 10 minutes’ walk from Shoreditch High Street and Hoxton stations for the Windrush line.

Quirky history, cool decor, a great location to explore east London, lots of space to relax and a rooftop bar? The Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch managed to tick all the boxes for both me and my teen.

Things to do in Shoreditch with teens

Shoreditch’s own attractions are on the doorstep, while you’ll find plenty more nearby to keep everyone happy if you’re visiting London with teens.

Street art

Shoreditch is one of the best places in London to enjoy street art – you can simply head out and wander around, or if you want to make sure you don’t miss the highlights, including Banksy, you’ll find tours too.

This two-hour Shoreditch street art tour shares hidden gems and big names, as well as some of the area’s history and street art techniques. Or this east London street art tour includes Shoreditch, while this three-hour street art tour visits a string of big names.

Visit Brick Lane

Just 10 minutes’ walk from the hotel, Brick Lane is a great illustration of London’s melting pot of cultures – the bricks and tiles used to construct the city after the Great Fire were made here, before it became home to French Huguenot refugees in the 17th century, Jews escaping persecution in the 19th century, and Bangladeshi immigrants in the 20th century.

Today, it’s known as somewhere to get one of London’s best bagels or curries, a legacy of the cultures which have shaped it. It’s a great place to wander along (and somewhere you can pick up one of London’s best hot chocolates) or you can find tours of Brick Lane mixing history, street art, food and even links to Jack the Ripper.

For a tour focusing on the Ripper’s victims, check out Jack the Ripper and the Five Women of Whitechapel which looks at the realities of the lives as well as their deaths

Museum of the Home

A short walk away by Hoxton Station, the Museum of the Home is one of London’s less well-known museums, but packed full of some fascinating displays about life over the ages.

Great for teens interested in social history, there are family-friendly trails and activities too – plus it’s completely free to stop in.

Check out my review of the Museum of the Home

Spitalfields Market

There’s been a market at Spitalfields, near Liverpool Street station, since the 13th century – and today it’s a great place to wander around to pick up street food, browse clothes and accessories, art and interiors.

Open every day, you’ll also often find events and pop-ups, including live music and events showing on the screens by the market, so there’s always something to discover.

Box Park

For another great place to find street food, Box Park Shoreditch on Bethnal Green Road is packed with a string of stalls selling everything from acai bowls and churros to sushi pops and Vietnamese dishes.

There are regular events taking place here too, as well as more big screens showing major events.

Disclosure: My stay was free for the purposes of this Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch review, but all opinions remain my own (and my daughter’s). This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Cinema/pool/bowling alley courtesy of Courthouse Hotels/Jarek Klocinski, Brick Lane courtesy of Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels

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