Smart Design, Historic Detail: Inside YOTEL London City’s Stylish Refurbishment

Back in May, as the commercial interiors community geared up for Clerkenwell Design Week, YOTEL was putting the finishing touches on a stylish transformation of its London City hotel — just in time to welcome design-conscious guests. The global hospitality brand, with 23 hotels in sought-after locations around the world, debuted fully refurbished public spaces at its central Clerkenwell property, blending contemporary interiors with thoughtful nods to the area’s horological history.

The renovation, led by YOTEL’s in-house design team and Director of Interior Design Katie Edgar, delivers improved flow and functionality of the public spaces, while honouring Clerkenwell’s horological heritage.

Edgar comments:

“From the moment guests arrive at Mission Control — our innovative take on the traditional hotel reception — to their first visit to Revolve, the multifunctional bar, lounge, and coworking space, every element has been designed to create a more seamless and comfortable experience. The new design speaks to modern travellers who value smart, intuitive spaces where they can eat, work, and play with ease.”

Here’s a closer look at the newly renovated spaces:

Mission Control – now offers a highly intuitive check-in experience, with an additional self-service kiosk allowing more guests to check in or out in under a minute. Additionally, the reconfigured layout also enables Mission Control crew to better interact with guests, ensuring a seamless check-in/out experience

Revolve – the hotel’s bar and lounge has been transformed into a dynamic, multi-functional space. With new bespoke furniture and a flexible layout, Revolve now caters to a variety of guest needs, from coworking and casual meetings to after-work drinks. Semi-private nooks and spaces are also available for small events or group bookings, appealing to both hotel guests and the local community.

Hubs (meeting rooms) – the two meeting rooms have been completely refurbished to increase flexibility and versatility of the rooms, now suitable for holding all types of meeting or small event. New multi-functional furniture  enables more configurations including theatre style for a cosy screening room, classroom or cabaret.

Honouring the area’s horological influence, timber furnishings nod to traditional watch workshops, rounded mirrors and booths echo timepieces, and suspended ‘Vapour’ lighting highlight the theme of horology. Meanwhile, a warm, cohesive palette draws inspiration from Clerkenwell’s material legacy, while oversized smoked mirrors and greenery introduce comfort and depth.

Sustainable practices were also central to the renovation; original architectural elements were retained where possible, while new upholstery and carpets were selected for both durability and environmental compliance. Over 70 items of existing furniture were donated to charity, extending the life of materials and supporting local causes.

This update to YOTEL London City reinforces the brand’s commitment to continue creating smart spaces that meet the evolving needs of business and leisure travellers in prime city centre locations around the world.