Holden House

The room was cosy, very clean, and I loved the decor. We only stayed one night and wished we’d booked a couple more. Breakfast looked beautiful and tasted delicious, and we enjoyed every bit of it. The hosts were warm and friendly, happy to chat, and quick to help with anything we needed. Thank you for having us, we both had such a pleasant stay!

Anna and Andy were full of useful local knowledge, from the SkyLink Derby bus service and nearby pubs and restaurants to pleasant walks for our free time. Anna also coordinated with us ahead of time about lunches away from the property, based on some of our daytime plans. Breakfast each morning was comfortable and convenient, with the option to arrange our preferred type in advance. It felt like a mix of a proper hotel breakfast and eating with friends. Holden House sits in a beautiful spot between the River Trent and the Trent and Mersey Canal. Our king room looked over the River Trent and had a lovely view, a clean modern bathroom, and a quiet night. The bed was comfortable for both of us. The room had plenty of power outlets, with USB on both sides of the bed, and enough space for our UK and US adapters. The wifi was reliable throughout, which helped as we booked more things and arranged events during the trip. We could adjust the radiators and towel rails to get the temperature right. There were fluffy towels and robes, a kettle, tea, instant coffee, bottled water and some snacks waiting for us after a couple of days of cancelled and delayed flights. Anna and everyone at Holden House made our stay easy despite the scheduling pressures of travelling from the US, and made it a real pleasure. We felt welcome the whole time. We hope to stay again when we’re in the area, though we’d also feel welcome to drop in for a chat even as non-guests. That kind of hospitality can be rare. Bonus photos of the Aurora overhead!

The hosts were friendly, the shower was decent, and they know how to get bacon right. We had a fantastic stay and won’t hesitate to come back. There’s a good canal walk to a couple of pubs too.

I’ve stayed at Holden House several times, and it’s always a pleasure to come back. Andy and Anna are among the nicest people you could meet. The area is great too, with lots of excellent pubs and restaurants.