Alexandra Court Hotel ★★★

"The room is clean and tidy"

Lion & Swan Hotel ★★★★

Shellow Lane Lodges ★★★

"I genuinely wish I had checked reviews on Tripadvisor before booking, as I would not have chosen to stay here. We booked well in advance for a group of five. Communication beforehand was poor—I had to chase multiple times for payment details and check-in information, including on the day of arrival. Arrival & overall condition The lodge was cold on arrival and not welcoming—we had to put the heating on ourselves. While it didn’t look obviously dirty at first glance, it quickly became clear that cleaning standards were poor. Walking around barefoot, our feet were black, suggesting the floors had not been properly mopped. There was also a noticeable, unpleasant smell throughout the lodge. Initially I thought it was just stale air from not being aired out, but after going outside and returning, the odour was still clearly there. The en-suite toilet also produced a strong smell after use, almost like a backflow issue, which made it worse. Overall, the property feels very dated and tired. It was likely good years ago, but now feels worn and poorly maintained. Major issue – constant train noise The biggest issue by far is the railway line immediately next to the lodges. Trains pass extremely frequently—roughly every 10 minutes—including late at night (past midnight) and starting again early in the morning. This is not occasional background noise—it is constant and intrusive, and it significantly affected our ability to sleep. There is no mention of the railway line on the ******* listing. If I had known how close the property was to the track, I would not have booked. I’ve included photos showing just how close the railway line is to the lodges, as this is not made clear in the listing. Overall We chose this expecting a quiet countryside stay, but it was far from peaceful. Between the constant train noise, noticeable odour, poor cleaning standards, and lack of basic comfort on arrival, this was a disappointing experience. If you are looking for somewhere quiet or travelling with family, I would strongly reconsider booking here. Would I stay again? No."