What hotel in the UK have you been pleasantly surprised by and would say is worth the money?
Posted by Ok_Chef_3723@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 114 comments
For me, it’s been premier inn hub hotels - always clean, efficient customer service, cheap and good for a short one night stopover. Definitely worth the money.
Recently I’ve also been looking around for bargains at more upmarket hotels. However, if YouTube reviews are anything to go by, it seems like most ‘luxury’ hotels are a rip off and I’d be overpaying.
scottrobsonx@reddit
Premier inn hubs are great - I just miss the addition of the kettle. Only negative thing I have to say!
james_s_docherty@reddit
Holiday Inn Express in Stockport. Modern, easy to get on the M60, next to the station so straight into Manchester Piccadilly, free buffet breakfast, plenty of takeaways in walking distance. Possibly the only downside now is NCP had taken away their preferential rate for the multi-story the last time I stayed.
samcialist@reddit
Z Hotels in London - would only stay there on my own as the rooms are compact and bathrooms aren't that private- but if I'm staying for work they're great. Sky & TNT on the TV and if you sign up to the free membership you get free cheese and wine each night of your stay!
AXX_100@reddit
Novotel
Salamanderonthefarm@reddit
Is… this an ad for Premier Inn?
kilgore_trout1@reddit
This whole thread seems a bit astroturf-y doesn’t it?
It’s made want to go and calm down with a nice cool refreshing Carslberg. Possibly the best beer in the world.
DefStillAlive@reddit
Spoiler alert: >!It's not!<
kilgore_trout1@reddit
lol very true!
Salamanderonthefarm@reddit
Your comment made me choke on the Milk Tray that had just been delivered by a stranger in a black turtleneck.
CWray1998@reddit
Only one post from this account, suspicious.............
CareerSad8903@reddit
Aside from the deleted comments from askHR etc.
Ok_Chef_3723@reddit (OP)
lol classic Reddit…can’t say anything nice about a brand or you’ll get accused of being an ad. Wish it was though
justanothergin@reddit
Hilton Bankside in London, one the best hotels I've ever stayed in and one of the few five star Hilton branded properties in Europe. At the time I was a silver Honors member and had booked a deluxe king room for around £185 for the night. Just before check in they upgraded me to a one bedroom suite with a view of the shard and put loads of goodies in the room (including a cake and a bottle of sparkling wine)
Plus because I got a suite it gave me to the executive lounge and included breakfast (the buffet was incredible). It actually cemented my loyalty and now that I'm a gold member I basically get upgraded at ever single Hilton I stay at.
TheDawiWhisperer@reddit
I go to Cardiff semi frequently for work and always stay at the Park Gate hotel...highly recommend it, like being in a pimp Hilton at half the price
theycallmekimpembe@reddit
Formby Hall Golf and Spa resort. I don’t know if it’s called that, but the Uber trip says so 😂 it was cheap. Around 80 quid if I remember right, very large room, nice facilities and it’s very silent.
darkotics@reddit
The last time I stayed in a Premier Inn Hub with my partner it was really nice, except the bathroom had frosted glass that only went up so high. My partner is quite tall so if he stood up in the room could easily see right over the frosted bit, to get a full view of me on the shitter. Lovely.
I really like a Radisson hotel, stayed in the one at Stansted semi recently as we had a late flight home and it was excellent, and not much more expensive than the more budget brands at the airport.
littlerike@reddit
Some people would pay extra for the shitter veiw
Possiblyreef@reddit
Should try the Village hotels.
I had one in Glasgow where the bathroom was in a glass box in the corner, luckily there was a switch on the inside that somehow frosted the glass when you were in there.
Then for some bizarre reason they had the same button on the outside.
I was there by myself for work but my immediate reaction was how odd it would be with a partner
Any_Listen_7306@reddit
Yes I agree the Radisson hotels are pretty nice and not too expensive. The one in Glasgow City Centre had a pool. Really spacious rooms too.
221B_OO7@reddit
Melia in Liverpool is surprisingly fantastic and is my go-to choice when I travel to the Northwest. The other Melias in the country are still great but this is perhaps their best one, even from a value for money perspective.
smushs88@reddit
Village hotel.
Got one up near Manchester a month or so ago, great size rooms and shower was immense, paid for the club so got use of the gym, pool, sauna and steam rooms.
Came in just under £100 for a Friday night stay.
bopeepsheep@reddit
The Swindon one hosts the Fforde Ffiesta, and honestly it makes Swindon fun to visit.
rober74@reddit
The one in Blackpool is really good as well
hhfugrr3@reddit
I stayed in a Hotel Vin a while back. Turned up and they announced that they weren't very busy so they were upgrading me. Room was amazing!
halfdressednow@reddit
Big fan of CitizenM Tower Bridge - views and bed are ridiculous
ThePubLandlady81@reddit
How much did they pay you for this!!?
yearsofpractice@reddit
Just came here to agree with Premier Inn Hubs and Premier Inn in general. They get everything of importance spot on - their mattresses, cleanliness and breakfasts are outstanding value for money.
They’re skimping a bit in reception staff of late - during last stay, had to wait a while to get checked in when the self-check-in failed.
But yeah - all in all, they’re absolutely the best value for money of any UK hotels.
TheMonkeyInCharge@reddit
If you’re into ‘pod’ hotels don’t overlook the Z Hotels in London. Great prices, modern, and an all night bar that’ll make you a pizza when you really need it.
Ok_Chef_3723@reddit (OP)
I am indeed a fan of pod hotels, especially for solo travel! Will check out that chain!
Iwantedalbino@reddit
The apex city in Edinburgh is everything I want in a hotel.
Ok_Chef_3723@reddit (OP)
Looks nice!
joe_the_cow@reddit
Apex hotels are great
The one in Dundee was also very good. Restaurant was fantastic for both dinner and a cooked / continental breakfast
Iwantedalbino@reddit
My mate stays there a lot he loves it
Virtual-Mention-1513@reddit
The big one on the Grassmarket?
Iwantedalbino@reddit
Yes.
I don’t really want service from a hotel I want no fuss check in/out big comfy beds and quiet so it’s spot on for me.
I did however stay there for our first weekend away as a couple so my wife and I now collect rubber ducks
IOnlyUpvoteBadPuns@reddit
Days Inn.
Had pretty low expectations for a motorway service station hotel, but it was the only one near the event i was going to with 24h check-in. Rocked up absolutely hammered at 2am (in an uber, for the avoidance of doubt) and the staff were absolutely lovely about checking us in and making sure we got to our room safely. Beds were comfy, room was quiet and best of all, it wasn't hot and stuffy like most hotels. 10/10 would recommend!
ayeitsmeee@reddit
Travel lodge
Ok_End_992@reddit
Doncaster Hilton Garden inn at the race course.
Katharinemaddison@reddit
Premier inn. My partner was having surgery, I kept having to book another room, same room different place, always fine, every bed comfortable, every bathroom clean, every table had a bottle opener built in, rarely had to interact with a staff member. It was exactly what was needed.
FenderForever62@reddit
Best Western premier Doncaster mount pleasant
They have spa suites which are on the pricier side but gosh they are amazing. Best night's sleep I've ever had.
Voodoopulse@reddit
Can't remember the name but once stayed in a hotel outside Chester as a wowcher deal, my wife was about 8 months pregnant as part of the deal you got a meal and 2 bottles of wine and when they realised that my wife couldn't drink they exchanged it for a spa afternoon for her.
Glittering-Sink9930@reddit
I would have been fuming. I could have had 2 bottles of wine.
Voodoopulse@reddit
I don't drink wine
Inside_Frosty@reddit
Rowton Hall?
Voodoopulse@reddit
Is it by the canal?
ChrisChros87@reddit
down by the river
Voodoopulse@reddit
Yeah that could well be it
Inside_Frosty@reddit
Fairly near, although you’d have to cross the A41 to get to it.
thinkaboutthegame@reddit
I've stayed at this one on a Wowcher deal. We didn't like our original room so they upgraded us to a massive suite. Nice food too.
Pleasant-Eye6022@reddit
The Grosvenor Pulford?
AshtonBlack@reddit
The Lensbury in Teddington. It's where the England Rugby team sometimes stays because it has pitches, tennis courts, big ol' pool and a crackin' gym and a "classy English pub".
Quite often it's "Out of Policy" for my work to let me stay when I'm in London, but occasionally, when the wind is just right and the runes read I can get a room for the same prices as one of the main chains.
Well worth it, but obviously your mileage may vary; their prices do like to fluctuate, for obvious reasons.
ThatNiceDrShipman@reddit
I stayed one night at the Glasgow Grand Central Hotel (the big hotel in / next to Glasgow Central train station).
Expensive, nothing too special about the rooms, but the buffet breakfast was to die for. My kids still talk about it, two years later. Set a massively high bar for hotel breakfasts, and spawned a love of smoked salmon in my 10-year old.
Bergst0r@reddit
I'll never forget my Dad taking me there as a kid after a long drive up from south Wales. The shock of opening the curtains to be greeted with a view inside the train station blew my mind.
Took my wife there after we got married (some 15 years later) so she could experience it for herself.
P.s. we also thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast!
BabaGanoushHabibi@reddit
I went glasgow for an overnight trip as a 16 year old, in my naivety I thought I could hang out in the train station in the wee hours for my early train. No lol.
Guy in that hotel must have seen me looking quite worried outside and said just come in and chill in the lobby :)
deevee7@reddit
Do you mean the Voco? We stayed there last weekend and skipped the breakfast :(
Ok_Chef_3723@reddit (OP)
The breakfast buffet is probably the most important thing for me if it’s a holiday! I’ll have to check it out!
KingTheKK@reddit
Park Plaza in Leeds was surprisingly good. Good sized rooms, give a drink voucher in replacement for a room service the next day morning, and the Margarita pizza was amazing!
PlaceCautious9132@reddit
Hub by premier inn marylebone! Fantastic staff and lounge
JasperMan06@reddit
The Ibis. You might not always be able to sleep, though.
SWatersmith@reddit
On this note, avoid Ibis in France. I swear their rooms are based on designs originally intended to drive people insane at black sites.
wardyms@reddit
Sounds like a ‘budget Ibis’ I stayed in Sheffield. I thought ibis was already budget, then they have an even lower brand?
Miserable-March-1398@reddit
Premier inns black out curtains and mattress and top notch.
Aethion@reddit
I always enjoy the village facilities are cracking.
snugzz@reddit
Pendlay Manor - booked it for my GFS birthday, and my god was it so much better than I expected. The service from the second we turned up to when we left was impeccable.
Recoil101uk@reddit
I *always* book Premier Inns if I can and they have parking... other than that the Gisborough Hall Hotel in North Yorkshire was fantastic, the service was amazing. Stayed there with work a couple of times and took the family back a couple of times too... the restaurant was very very good as well. Loved that place.
Craneomagico@reddit
The elephant hotel in pangbourne.12/10
LeeDuffy@reddit
Melia
Mayoday_Im_in_love@reddit
Greene King BnB in Thaxted, Essex. Their pubs are a bit like their "Greene King IPA", but for a BnB it ticked all the boxes, was where you want it and the breakfast wouldn't have been out of place somewhere more upmarket.
Personal-Goose1976@reddit
Boringdon hall in plympton. Got a night stay there on offer and was completely blown away by the place. Would happily pay full price for a stay, staff were amazing, rooms incredible, food outstanding.
Unlucky-Carpet-5746@reddit
Holiday inn in mk it was the best
stankiho@reddit
Pontins Southport.
OK, hear me out...
I went there as a child after being drawn in by the TV adverts and begging my parents to go. We hated it, couldn't wait to leave and spent most of our time in Southport and not at the holiday park.
Fast forward about 20 years I'd totally forgotten about the trauma of that holiday and booked tickets to go to the Bangface Weekender. Got to the holiday park and had a weird sense of de ja vu the whole time but was hit with a totally different festival experience I'd ever had. It was a similar lineup to most other raves I'd attended but instead of going back to a tent we were going back to a chalet with a cooker and hot shower. The arenas were all indoors so the sound was incredibly loud and the production levels were incredible.
10/10 hotel on one specific weekend of the year, 1/10 any other time.
Jimlaheydrunktank@reddit
Always had a good stay in premier in. Always clean and comfy beds.
ComprehensiveSale777@reddit
Premier Inn Hubs are great, smart and clean and always in a class location. I used to really rate all Premier Inns but some look so knackered now.
IMO - Premier Inn Plus - Premier Inn Hub - Premier Inn normal
platebandit@reddit
The hubs are very cozy for two mates especially with the shower design but they’re great solo
Glum-Seesaw725@reddit
I love a Premier Inn Hub too. I’m curious - what’s so nice about Premier Inn Plus?
revpidgeon@reddit
Plus is what they should be upgrading all the old rooms to but they took cheap to do em all and charge a premium for em. They basically same with a tiny fridge a coffee machine.
Kientha@reddit
Coffee pod machine and a fridge can make a big difference if you're there for more than sleeping for a single night
ComprehensiveSale777@reddit
In a new Premier Inn the Plus Rooms are super nice, great showers etc and bigger. I travel a lot for work and if I'm staying alone a Hub is probably fine but if there's two of us a Plus is much better in terms of getting ready, or if I need to do some work in the room.
Western-Edge-965@reddit
Spoons hotel! The one in Barrow is good if you are unlucky enought to go there.
essjay2009@reddit
The weirdest that pleasantly surprised me was in Leatherhead. There for work and got put up in what I think was a police training centre thing but was actually a hotel open to the public. It had a decent restaurant in it and everything. I think it was called the police federation. Really really cheap for what it was.
Speedbird223@reddit
Well, there’s a reason why luxury hotels don’t take up a large portion of the market, it’s because to many they can’t justify it.
Also quality hospitality and service isn’t something the UK (and much of Europe) is particularly good at.
Once you’re out of the true echelon of top tier luxury hotels…Four Seasons, The Peninsula, Mandarin Orientals, where service is universally exceptional things take a big drop off in the UK/Europe, IMO.
If you define, say Hilton as luxury then it’s a very different story. It’s a fraction of the cost of true luxury but in the UK/Europe the service is nearer that of a Premier Inn etc.
Travel to a true luxury hotel in a place with a good service culture and you’ll be staggered at how good it can be. I’ve stayed at hotels where the base room is a few grand a night in Bali and felt it was very good value. I’ve stayed at mid tier luxury hotels in London where it was almost £1000/night and felt it was bad value.
The_Deadly_Tikka@reddit
I've never had a hotel room I didn't like to be honest 🤣 all I need is a bed and somewhere to put my bags.
However, any place with a bath available gets double points. Nothing better than a hot bath after a long day
Alutus@reddit
Stayed in a Travel Lodge in birmingham once that had what im assuming was rusty water damage on the wall above the headboard. Massive dried blood looking stain nearly half the size of the bed.
It looked like someone blew their brains out sat on the bed. They wouldn't swap my room due to bookings or give me any recompense.
The next week a different travel lodge charged me £13 for a chicago town frozen pizza.
I stopped staying at travel lodges.
The_Deadly_Tikka@reddit
Hahaha I've actually really liked every travel lodge I've used. Never once eaten their food though, always either eat out or bring my own food
Alutus@reddit
To be fair to travel lodges, I'd stayed at plenty with no problem at all. Just the fact that I had two awful ones in a row (the one with the expensive pizza had no opening windows and the AC didnt work in summer), I decided premier inn's werent that much more expensive, so just started staying in those.
The_Deadly_Tikka@reddit
I have always found premier in a step up from travel lodge TBF and usually only a couple quid extra a night.
IAM_THE_LIZARD_QUEEN@reddit
You've never had the misfortune of your company booking you at a Britannia hotel!
The_Deadly_Tikka@reddit
Never even heard of them. They look less like a hotel and more like someone's actual bedroom 🤣 I did spot a bath though so that's a plus!
Jimmy-Dogg@reddit
The bell hotel. Heard they were giving free accommodation 👍
throwthrowthrow529@reddit
I stay in the Clayton Hotel in Chiswick for business quite often. It’s like £110/120 for the night including breakfast.
Always a good stay, clean, nice rooms and lobby. Staff are good.
Easy to get into central London.
They’re a chain, not stayed in any of the others but that one in Chiswick is good.
Ambitious_Jelly3473@reddit
The Titanic Hotel, Belfast. Absolutely beautiful and an excellent breakfast.
Got it through work for about £95 a night, was a bit shocked to see that the normal rate was about 2-3 times that, however I wouldn't have begrudged it for a special occasion.
Snr_Wilson@reddit
Linton Travel Tavern.
myamiwikethis@reddit
Can’t remember the name but it was fantastic and I’d recommend it
ZekkPacus@reddit
There's not many in the UK but I stayed in a Motel One in Rotterdam a few years back and was very impressed. The rooms were well laid out, the bathroom was gorgeous, and the bar was lovely. Stayed in the one in Manchester last year and it was just the same.
sgsfxp@reddit
Motel one is brilliant. I stayed at the Glasgow one. The rooms, view and location were absolutely brilliant for the price!
ginzamdm@reddit
Was just about to say this, stayed in Manc Motel One last night, incredible value and classy.
Xar1052@reddit
Leonardo Royal Glasgow
Scarred_fish@reddit
Travelodge and Holiday Inn Express are both ahead of Premier Inn for me. Both clean, effecient, and about half the price of other nearby hotels. It doesn depend why I'm staying. If it's just a layover or for work, I like this environment.
If it's a personal break, I like to seek out an old privately run place, just love the atmosphere, with bonus points if there is a bit of chaos or laughably awful food.
We stayed at one place where the poor reception staff had obviously been told to completely deny there was a gas leak, depite the smell being obvious, the Gas Company vans outside, and everyone being told drinks were free in the beer garden :)
(They did get it sorted and offered a 50% reduction for the disturbance - we tipped the reception staff and thanked them for the entertainment)
Discopants180@reddit
Spoons Hotel in Barrow.
Sounds like a hellish combination but was a really nice room.
Firstpoet@reddit
St David's Cardiff was ultra cool a few years ago.
Losehill House Hope Valley. Pricey but very nice.
Flaky-Carpenter-2810@reddit
Gledoch golf resort. Until they redid their spa, removed access to the pool for hotel guests, unless you pay £25 per person per two hours. the prices of the rooms also are higher than before the renovations but not much changed. Long gone are the days of using the pool and spa facilities after the pool, or a quick dip in the pool after dinner for the kids.
DustInTheMachine@reddit
We have family in Hampshire and the hotels in the town are virtually non-existent. We have a Premier Inn, Travel Lodge and a few B&Bs or hotels attached to town centre pubs.
The last time we stayed at the Premier Inn (maybe 3 years ago) it was so scruffy, wasn't as clean as I expected and beyond noisy because of the 24 hr McDonald's next door and associated traffic.
Now we stay at the neighbouring Travel Lodge which is pristine, recently updated and the loveliest staff. We don't often have breakfast there but it's been decent when we have and kids eat free with a paying adult which works out for us with 2 children in tow.
Fuzzy-Masterpiece-55@reddit
Crowne Plaza, I've been to 2 and all have been great, comfortable experiences. Modern rooms and great breakfast buffets.
Gwladys_Street_Blue@reddit
The Bell Hotel in Epping is really nice, there’s a promo on at the minute: you get a free bus service to the hotel with pickup points along the south coast, once at the hotel you get free food and the government will even pay you cash weekly via a pre-paid Visa card. Enter the code: TREASUREISLAND when making your booking 😆
ukbot-nicolabot@reddit
A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question
slitherfang98@reddit
All I need is a big comfort bed, smart tv, fridge, and a nice shower. I couldn't care less about the view or how big the room is.
RunningDude90@reddit
Premier Inn Plus and Hub are always good.
I stayed in a Crowne Plaza suite about 12 months ago as it was somehow cheaper than the normal room, and came with a free lounge with food and drinks…great!
The owner of Celtic Manor also have some Ty hotels which are very well priced, and the bed/extras are the same as the Celtic Manor resort, so you get robes etc. that was a great surprise.
spindoctor13@reddit
I went to a weather spoons hotel (inn I guess) - it was suprisingly decent. Not fancy, but large and good value
Strange-Direction-85@reddit
Premier Inn.
Stayed at one before a flight to florida & it was a lovely room, decent & cheap food in the bar. The only issue I had (not my log sleeper wife!) was that they had made it look posher by cladding it with metal sheets & it was so loud (it rained all night) that I hardly slept. Emailed to give feedback & ask about looking at sound deadening. Turns out they have a perfect night's sleep guarantee so we got a full refund!
The Royal oak in settle.
Got it with one of those 2 night hotel vouchers, costing £79. Lovely old pub & the room was massive! 2 double beds & windows, being an old building, started at floor level.
Now we hardly ever stay in hotels when having a uk holiday. Tend to look for whole property rooms on booking.com (stayed 3 times at pillarbox Cottage in Matlock. £300 for 7 nights) & last 3 budget trips have been at Haven caravans parks. Get a haven hideaway saver caravan for 7 nights for £115. We then just use it as a base to visit the local area. Any recommendations are appreciated for our next Haven Holiday!
No_Application_8698@reddit
The Four Seasons in Hampshire, but we did not pay for it (husband’s work event thing).
It was unbelievable, the service was so good and the waiters were like ninjas at the brunch. I had to be extra quick a pocketing the tiny individual jam jars because they were whisking stuff away the instant you’d finished with it.
No idea how much it cost because I know we’d never be able to afford it or justify it, but if you can afford it then I’d say it’s definitely worth it. It’s like a different world.
Having said that, we did enjoy our 1nt stay at the Holiday Inn Express, Walsall. Clean, tidy, friendly staff, and the breakfast was impressive (they had a machine that you could use to make your own pancakes!!).
vonthepon@reddit
Yes, Premier Inns are of a similar standard to more expensive , mid range, hotels.
ArcTan_Pete@reddit
Casa de Cesari (the Casa Hotel) in Yateley, Berkshire. Beautiful, quiet, peaceful hotel, not far from the M3 with a great Italian Restaurant attached.
I was put up a couple of times in the Holiday Inn (London Gatwick Airport) at Povey Cross. I was there for Business purposes, but it was a nice hotel - very quiet given the location. I would certainly stay there (and use the airport Parking function) if I was flying out of Gatwick
chibibabymoon@reddit
Husband and I stayed in a premier inn hub in central London this summer for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. The use of the room space was done very well and considering we were only there to sleep and drop off shopping bags, it was a very reasonable price for the height of summer.
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