Abbotsford Guest House

The shared toilet was fine, and the room had a decent amount of space, though two walls were taken up by wardrobes. There was a kettle with tea, coffee, water and biscuits. Lots of places to eat nearby, but I ended up getting a kebab. The bus made it easy to reach the train station. I wish the French windows had opened onto the garden.

The location was handy, easy to find on Google Maps, with nearby bus routes, food shops and cafes. The shower had good pressure for a quick wash, and the bathroom was clean and nice. My room downstairs was large, with fresh towels, tea and coffee, and a huge, very comfortable bed. I gave it three stars for the bed and bathroom. For the price, I expected more. Check-in was simple: I rang the doorbell, got an answer right away and was shown where to pick up the key. I hadn’t received a message beforehand through Booking.com, though. The bathroom is shared with other rooms. It was quiet from 10pm until morning, but before then I could hear people next door and walking past constantly, so it didn’t feel private. The room needs a major refresh. The carpet looked old and dirty, there were odd marks on the walls, and the cupboards felt excessive. I’d get rid of some of them and the very old chair, replace the carpet, and either clean or change the insides of the bedside cabinets. I didn’t use the TV.

The room was pleasant and clean, though the bathroom was tiny. Parking was the main problem. Finding a space is almost impossible, and if you do find one, it’s paid after 8:30 on weekdays and all weekend. Not a great choice if you’re travelling by car.

We stayed over the Easter bank holiday weekend. The room was warm and good, and the location suited us perfectly. The kitchen was being refurbished, so there wasn’t any service while we were there. Still, there was enough information available to call someone and get any problems sorted easily.