Beauty and Melody Courthouse Spa

Staying overnight? Hotel guests have free access to the gym, alongside the pool, sauna and steam room, so you can squeeze in a workout before breakfast or work off a cocktail or two from the Jailhouse Bar. Kitted out with the latest equipment, it’s tucked away downstairs near the spa. 

Prefer to stretch your legs outdoors? Just a short walk west along City Road, Bunhill Fields is a peaceful green oasis where you’ll find the graves of William Blake, John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe. Head north instead and you’ll soon reach the Regent’s Canal, where the towpath winds past colourful narrowboats and waterside cafés, perfect for a brisk walk or a gentle jog.

Craving something more adventurous? Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a short hop east, where you can swim in the London Aquatics Centre’s Olympic pool or try track cycling at Lee Valley VeloPark. Climbers will love The Castle Climbing Centre in Stoke Newington, set inside a Victorian pumping station that looks just like a medieval castle. Or simply grab a Santander Cycle and explore the city on two wheels.

The Judge & Jury restaurant is set in the former courtroom itself, and it’s a real showstopper. Original wood panelling and leather-bound law books line the walls, while a glass roof floods the room with light, so it feels grand without being stuffy. It’s currently open for breakfast, so it’s the perfect place to start the day if you’re staying over – but pop your head round the door if you’re here for a spa day!

For lunch, dinner and drinks with a side of drama (make ours a prison-inspired cocktail!) head to the Jailhouse Bar. Here, five of the original holding cells (including the one that once held the Kray twins) have been turned into cosy drinking dens, complete with heavy jailhouse doors and leather banquettes. Look out for the playful artwork too: the Mona Lisa, Darth Vader and Lady Justice are all behind bars. 

Save room for one last drink up on the fifth floor at Upper 5th, the hotel’s rooftop bar. Sip a cocktail as you gaze out over the city, with sweeping views across the London skyline, from the gleaming towers of the City to the rooftops of East London. In the summer months, it really comes into its own with an alfresco barbecue, making it the perfect spot for a long, lazy evening.

There certainly is! Tucked away downstairs, the subterranean spa’s 10m heated pool is mood-lit and comes with a gushing swan-neck fountain and Jacuzzi-style bubbles around its edges. Flanked by chic purple loungers, there’s a sauna and steam room alongside it, so you’ve got everything you need for rest and relaxation in the heart of the city.

Tempted to get locked up for the night? There are 128 stylish rooms and suites spread across the old courthouse and police station buildings, and we promise they’re far comfier than the cells downstairs! Choose from the likes of a Magistrate King or a Hoxton Suite, or go all out with one of the Shoreditch Sky Terrace Suites, complete with a private bar and mini-cinema lounge. 

The spa is open daily from 10am to 7pm, and your arrival time will depend on your package, so keep an eye on your booking confirmation for your allotted slot. Staying the night? Your stay in custody starts from 3pm, and you’ll be released by 11am the next morning.

You’ll find it on Old Street, right opposite the old Shoreditch Town Hall. Look out for the imposing Edwardian Baroque facade, which still bears the original court signs. It’s a five-minute walk to Old Street station and just a short stroll to Hoxton Square, Shoreditch High Street and Brick Lane.

Like your spa days in buildings with a colourful past? You’ll be in your element here. Opened in 1903 as the Old Street Magistrates’ Court and police station, and the court stayed in session right up until 1996, with the police station only closing in 2008! 

In 1965, the Kray twins were held in its cells before their first court appearance. Playwright Joe Orton stood accused of stealing library books and George Orwell was briefly locked up here while posing as a tramp. After it closed, the building found fame as a TV filming location for shows including Spooks and Luther. It finally reopened as a five-star hotel in 2016, after a £40m transformation that kept many of its original features. Look down as you cross the foyer and you’ll spot one of the quirkiest: a crack running through the original mosaic floor. Thanks to the building’s Grade II listed status, it can’t be replaced, so it’s very much part of the furniture!

Hoping for some grown-up relaxation? You’re in luck! The spa is adults only. Families are welcome to stay at the hotel though, and there are family suites available. 

Yes. The entrance on Hoxton Street is wheelchair accessible, a lift serves every floor and there are six accessible bedrooms, plus a wheelchair-accessible concierge desk. In the spa, there are accessible changing rooms and treatment rooms. 

Cue the puppy-dog eyes! No pets are allowed at either the spa or hotel. 

It doesn’t, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had! The hotel has its own two-lane bowling alley, Down the Alley, which you can book by the hour. And Shoreditch and the City are home to several crazy golf bars, where you can putt your way around quirky courses with a cocktail in hand.