The Claremont

I needed somewhere to hole up, and that’s what I got. The room was clean, the coffee was nice, and breakfast was a basic cold buffet. I was glad my other half couldn’t come, since she’d have hated sharing the WC and shower room. Luckily, nobody else was using it while I was there. It wasn’t good value.

The room was quiet, clean, and a good size, with an en suite bathroom, a comfortable bed, and good quality towels. Hand soap and shampoo were provided, as were tea and coffee in the room. Breakfast was lovely: the cooked meal had been preordered, and there were cereals and orange juice to help yourself to. The welcome was friendly, we got local information and the WiFi code on arrival, and parking was good. It’s a two minute walk to the Mayflower Theatre and close to the bars and restaurants on Bedford Place. Excellent value for our one night, and I’d happily recommend it and stay again.

The hosts were extremely friendly, and the breakfast was excellent, just the thing to set you up for the day. The location is perfect for the theatre. We were comfortable otherwise, though the extra bed took up space in the room. That may have felt more of an issue because of our age and mobility.

Parking is the main problem at Abbey Lodge. There are four spaces outside, but White Van men seem to keep them occupied. Street parking nearby is metered, costs money, and is strictly enforced by the Council. The B&B itself is friendly and relatively cheap, with clean, basic rooms that have a flat screen TV and sink. Toilets and showers are shared, and breakfast is a good full English.