Best Western Plus Grim's Dyke Hotel

The negatives first: there was no slip mat in the bath, and I couldn't find one in the cupboards. I nearly fell because the bath was slippery, so older guests should be careful. The shower water pressure was very low, which would always cost it a star for me. Otherwise, everything was perfect for the price. I was here overnight for work and arrived too late to comment on the evening meal. Staff were friendly from reception through to the bar. I stayed in the Lodges, away from the main building, following the road to the right of the amazing old part of the hotel. I'd booked an executive room with a balcony and wasn't disappointed for the price. It had very wooden decor, with more colorful details above mid level. The large second-floor balcony overlooks a corner of the fabulous grounds. There are no screens between balconies, but that meant a nice 180° view. The bar has a pleasant outdoor area with some covered tables and some uncovered, depending on your mood. I had the fried breakfast in the morning, and could choose how I wanted my eggs. It was five-star presentation and tasted as good as it looked.

A real gem, especially for Savoy Opera fans, since W S Gilbert used to live here. It's a Victorian Arts and Crafts house that retains many original features while offering the modern facilities you'd expect. The gardens are beautifully kept. Service was excellent, with some staff especially keen to be helpful and friendly.

We only stayed one night after visiting Warner Studios Tour, and I slept really well. The hotel sits in lovely gardens and feels properly peaceful, almost like being out in the countryside, though it’s not far from the studio. Our garden lodge room was separate from the main house, clean, quiet and comfortable. The decor could use an update, but it wasn't a big issue. Dinner was lovely and the staff were friendly and attentive. We didn't try breakfast. It's dog friendly, with nice walks nearby, and I'd recommend it.

The hotel grounds are spectacular, and there's a lovely bar for cocktails. Our room rate included breakfast: the cooked English breakfast was made to order and very good, though the other options, like croissants, cheese and yogurt, seemed as if they might have come from Costco. We'd only been there our first night, after a long flight from Los Angeles. We landed around 3:00 pm and didn't go to bed until midnight. At about 3:00 am, someone shook our glass patio doors hard, trying the handles. I was groggy, but once I got up, he left. Since the hotel allows dogs, we later figured he was our neighbor, taking his dog out to pee and then mistakenly trying to get into our room. When I mentioned it at the front desk, after they asked how I'd slept, they promptly offered us a larger room. They moved us into a beautiful, huge suite, one of only two or three, and we stayed there for the rest of our visit.