The Old Talbot

The room's cleanliness was poor: there were visible bodily fluid stains on the bedspread and decorative pillows, which looked as though they hadn't been changed or washed between stays. The bed pillows had makeup marks, and so did the rug and bathroom towels. On our last day, the cleaner came in without warning two hours before checkout. We felt rushed and our privacy was invaded. The Old Talbot rooms also feel badly located, too far from towcester or Milton Keynes to get a taxi without paying an extortionate fare. Check-in was poor too, with no real booking confirmation until the day itself and payment taken without warning or a call. I had entered my card number incorrectly, but staff could identify that the CVV was the part I got wrong. That means, in my view, they store the full card number and CVV, which is illegal, and could charge the card for any amount. I don't trust them to keep my information secure, so I'll be replacing my card. For that premium price, I'd expect much better. There are cleaner, better-located and cheaper rooms nearby, and I wouldn't recommend this hotel.

Even with our late check-in, the owner got our room sorted quickly and was very accommodating. The hotel is right by a main road, but the rooms are well insulated, so traffic noise wasn't an issue. The room was modern and spotless, with thoughtful touches like homemade brownies, and the bed was super comfortable. We thought it was excellent value for money and would highly recommend staying here.

Everyone at the hotel was super lovely, and parking was great. We stayed for the British GP, and the location worked really well, close to Silverstone Circuit and to the bigger city of Milton Keynes, where you can find most things you need. The rooms aren't big, but they're very comfortable, and the bathroom is super clean and fairly spacious. If you're visiting from outside the UK, bring or buy an adapter.

The traffic is the one downside, as you can hear it. Still, I'd stay again. The rooms and bathroom are nicely decorated, the bed is comfy, and I liked the heated towel rail. There's a good-sized TV, free WiFi, a coffee station and free parking, with easy access to MK.