Crown Hotel Brackley

The receptionist was really helpful when we arrived, which did improve my impression a little. But the room was extremely basic and in poor condition. The bed was uncomfortable, the curtains left gaps at the edges, and the wardrobe door wouldn't stay shut. There was mould in the bathroom, wallpaper peeling off, and no hot water. Nobody was around to help early in the morning. Getting to the bathroom also meant going down stairs after entering the room upstairs. I wouldn't stay here again.

Mould in the shower and on the walls, peeling ceiling paint, cobwebs inside the windows, and furniture that was falling apart. The room was absolutely filthy. Worst hotel I've ever stayed in.

It felt like stepping back into the 1990s, and the check-in arrangements seemed just as dated. The hotel shuts at 10pm, so arriving after that meant there was no way to get in. A secure key box would solve the problem for late arrivals. Otherwise, guests are left to camp outside, which could almost be a reality show called “Sleeping Rough, Hotel Edition.” Come on, it’s 2025, time to bring the service into the present.

We slept well, and the beds were comfortable. They'd supplied tea, coffee and little shower gel bottles too. The young man who showed us to the room was pleasant and even carried a bag for us. The room itself was okay, but the bathroom was grim: mould around the bottom edge of the shower tiles and a floor that needed a serious scrub. The dirt was ground into the tiles, so Mum decided to wait until she got home to shower. There wasn't a hairdryer or even a chair, and the TV was right by the bathroom door, so you had to watch your head when coming out. For £109, I didn't think it was worth it. £80 would have felt fairer. We picked up breakfast croissants from Waitrose behind the building rather than pay another £30 for breakfast.