Finding a hotel in London that works for both parents and children isn't always easy. You want somewhere that feels stylish and grown-up, but where the little ones are genuinely welcomed rather than simply accommodated. The Hoxton introduced Hox Kids in July, a family offering that manages to make a family break feel just that little bit easier, more relaxed and, importantly, more fun for everyone.
The rooms are equipped with books and toys to entertain the kids (less packing for parents, massive tick), kids can Dial For Treats, allowing them to call reception and request a special treat straight to their room and a colouring kit for a rainy afternoon. Kids aged 12 and under will have breakfast included for free throughout their stay, either in the hotel restaurant or via a breakfast bag delivered to the room, perfect for early starts. On arrival the parents get a complimentary drink from the Hox Shop, which is always the best welcome when arriving at hotel.
Our experience of Hox Kids and our room
We arrived at The Hoxton in Shoreditch to try out the Hox Kids offering, after checking in, I headed upstairs to unpack while my partner was offered his complimentary drink at reception. He settled onto one of the comfy sofas with our son while I got everything organised upstairs. One of the things I liked about Hox Kids is that it doesn't try too hard. There are no overly themed rooms or anything that makes the hotel feel like a children's resort. Instead, it's the small details that make the difference.
Inside the room, I was happy to see baskets of toys waiting for us, an arts and crafts pack, and playful instructions on the kid-friendly room service, arguably one our son’s highlights, he could call reception and ask for treats! He absolutely loved it, and, as parents, we loved seeing him get so excited about something that felt like such a special part of the stay. You can call reception, once per day for a treat, which is good, so they can’t accidentally go overboard with too much sugar…
We stayed in a Roomy room, one of the larger room categories at The Hoxton Shoreditch, and it gave the three of us plenty of space. There was a huge, incredibly comfortable king-size bed, a Roberts radio, tea and coffee-making facilities and a stylish bathroom, all wrapped up in The Hoxton’s signature cool, contemporary design. Importantly, it still felt like a proper hotel room for adults, just one that happened to work brilliantly for a family.
Food at The Hoxton
We had eaten dinner outside of the restaurant when we were out exploring Shoreditch, I’d highly recommend The Museum of Home (10mins walk) a great place to take the kids or The Young V&A - a great kids museum, we have been so many times, and the fact is is free, is a bonus! When we came back we couldn’t resist but get a drink and a light bite to experience what The Hoxton had on offer.
We head upstairs to Llama Inn, The Hoxton Shoreditch’s rooftop restaurant and bar, for a drink and a light bite. The setting is absolutely gorgeous, but with a toddler in tow, we quickly realised it wasn’t quite the relaxed evening we were looking for.
So we headed downstairs to Il Bambini Club, the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant. Much better for a toddler. It was quieter and more relaxed, so we settled in with a bottle of wine and ordered the bruschetta, The bruschetta was delicious, pillowy-soft bread topped with generous amounts of stracciatella, Parma ham and sundried tomatoes. You get three pieces and, in our opinion, it’s an absolute must-order.
We were slightly disappointed we didn’t wait to have dinner at the hotel, we were pretty sure we would have been blown away, just based on that incredible starter! Thankfully we only live 40 minutes away, so have already spoken about coming back.
Breakfast is often one of the trickier parts of travelling with children, my son always wakes up very hungry, so having to wait for us all to get ready and then head to the breakfast bar can be challenging, This is again where This is another perk of Hox Kids. You can request a kids’ breakfast bag to be delivered outside your room in the morning. Our son was thrilled to open the door, grab his little breakfast bag and discover his apple, croissant and bottle of orange juice. He happily sat on the bed eating while I got ready peacefully.
Once we were all ready, we headed downstairs to have breakfast ourselves. There’s no standard, overpriced buffet here; breakfast is à la carte, they offer up an enticing breakfast menu. I ordered the Eggs Royale, a Chia Breakfast Bowl and a Carrot Juice, it was the perfect start to the day. Good ingredients, beautifully cooked and exactly what I wanted after a night away.
Final thoughts
Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give Hox Kids is that it doesn't compromise what makes The Hoxton appealing in the first place. The hotel still feels stylish, relaxed and unmistakably Hoxton. Parents can enjoy the atmosphere, design and social spaces, while children have their own little surprises waiting for them. One which we all enjoyed as a family was the photo booth in reception, creating beautiful memories and having fun at the same time.
If you’re planning a family city break in London and want somewhere cool, comfortable and genuinely welcoming to little travellers, The Hoxton’s Hox Kids offering is definitely worth considering. One thing to note: The Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush is currently the only Hoxton hotel offering bunk beds, so if West London works better for your trip, it’s worth considering. And let’s be honest, what child doesn’t get ridiculously excited by a bunk bed?
Hox Kids special offer in August
To celebrate the introduction of Hox Kids, families travelling with toddlers and older children and booking stays in August 2026 can unlock 10% off room rates using the code HOXTREATS when booking direct.
Booking direct also comes with additional perks, including Flexy Time, allowing you to personalise your check-in and check-out times, ideal when you’re working around nap schedules, plus free cancellation up to 2pm the day before arrival.
Address: 81 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HU
For more information and to book, click here.
Words and photography by Nyla Sammons
