Where to Stay in Clerkenwell: 5 Top Hotels to Book

Nestled in the heart of London, Clerkenwell is one of those areas that is easy to miss as you explore. It’s a mostly residential neighborhood where Victorian architecture meets cutting-edge design studios, offering a cultural blend that epitomizes the enduring allure of London – especially if you’ve ever dreamed of living in London.

If you find yourself wondering where to stay in Clerkenwell, rest assured, for you’re in for a real treat. This eclectic enclave offers accommodations that are as characterful and diverse as the area itself. In this melting pot of creativity and history, you’ll find elegant hotels that capture the essence of London’s storied past, paired with all the modern luxuries a discerning traveler could wish for.

Whether you’re looking to explore iconic landmarks, enjoy the vibrant culinary scene, or simply soak in the atmosphere of one of London’s most enchanting neighborhoods, Clerkenwell is a perfect base – and there are some delightful hotels in Clerkenwell. Welcome to your home away from home amidst the embrace of London.

Editor’s Note: I went to school in the Bloomsbury/Clerkenwell area, and my favorite local pub was in the same area during my time living in London. It’s a fantastic area to stay in London if you want to feel like you’re truly living locally… and it’s one of the places I regularly check for real estate when dreaming of life across the pond. – Valerie

Crowne Plaza London Kings Cross

Photos courtesy of Hotels.com

• Price from: $196 per night
• Book on: Booking.com or Hotels.com

Summer in London can be brutally hot, so if you’re looking for modern hotels in Clerkenwell in which all the rooms have air conditioning and with good transport links, Crowne Plaza London Kings Cross, which opened in 2010, is a good option. It has a bus stop right outside and is a 10-minute walk from 3 underground stations. Note that despite its name, Crowne Plaza is really in between Kings Cross and Farringdon, about 0.7 miles from St. Pancras Rail Station.

 Don’t expect American-sized rooms here but, to make up for the slightly smaller rooms, the staff is friendly and the breakfast is pretty good.

Note: the gym is open but the Pool, Sauna, Steam Room, Jacuzzi, and Spa were closed at the time of writing.

Malmaison London

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

• Price from: $164 per night
• Book on: Booking.com or Hotels.com

For those looking for boutique Clerkenwell hotels with a good bar on site, Malmaison London is worth considering. Its in-house bar, Malmaison Bar & Grill, serves a wide range of beers, champagne cocktails as well as seasonal food. (The quality of the breakfast is quite decent too.)

Despite being a 5-minute walk from both the Barbican and Farringdon tube stations, you don’t hear traffic noise in the rooms. (You may, unfortunately, hear alarms from the neighboring buildings if they go off.) However, this isn’t the right place for you if you’re a fitness fanatic as the gym is rather tiny!

The Rookery

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

• Price from: $295 per night
• Book on: Booking.com or Hotels.com

If you’re wondering where to stay in Clerkenwell to feel like you’re in the middle of a Bridgerton set, The Rookery is an excellent choice (as can be seen from its 4.7-star rating on Google, 9.2 on Booking.com, and 9.4 on Hotels.com!). 

It’s housed in a row of 18th-century houses and has kept many of the original features. Despite the period furniture – 4 poster beds in some rooms – The Rookery has all the modern necessities such as free wifi and AC. Plus, it’s only 100m from Farringdon Rail Station and 5 minutes from Barbican Underground!

One last thing to sell you on staying here: there’s a resident cat who usually sleeps in the conservatory.

The Zetter Clerkenwell

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

• Price from: $248 per night
• Book on: Booking.com or Hotels.com

If you’re a cycling fanatic trying to decide where to stay in Clerkenwell, try The Zetter. It is a Clerkenwell hotel located in a period property – this time a Georgian townhouse in a cobbled square (but with quirky interiors reminiscent of a private gentleman’s club and not an elegant period home)- that has free bike rentals.

A tiny boutique hotel, The Zetter has nice touches such as complimentary still and sparkling water and The White Company products in its 13 unique bedrooms. (Despite its small size, it still offers the mod-cons, such as 24-hour room service and AC.)

Unfortunately, nice touches come at a cost and The Rookery and The Zetter are both on the pricier side of this list of where to stay in Clerkenwell.

Yotel London City

• Price from: $144 per night
• Book on: Booking.com or Hotels.com

Looking for Clerkenwell hotels that are clean, have good soundproofing, are non-smoking, and are close to public transport? Well, Yotel London City is an option. (It’s cheaper than The Rookery and The Zetter too!)

However, in some of the (small) bedrooms, the sleeping area and toilet are too close for comfort. They are separated only by frosted glass- some panels do not go all the way- so the bedroom is lit up when someone goes to the toilet at night. Moreover, there is nothing to cover the sounds and smells of the toilet, so you would need to be very comfortable with whoever you’re sharing the room with!)

Actually, I stayed at the Yotel London City during my August 2023 trip, and wrote a whole review of my experience – read it here if you want all the details.

Have more questions about where to stay in Clerkenwell and these hotels I recommend? Let me know in the comments!