Windermere Guesthouse

The self check-in was easy, with the door codes sent by text when we arrived. The room stayed nice and cool despite the heat outside, and dogs are allowed. It was clean, though a little dusty in spots. The room was very basic, with a kettle and hairdryer. There was a TV, but it wasn't smart and wasn't even connected to an aerial, which was disappointing. The website didn't make clear that we'd share a toilet with another room, and that felt awkward in the mornings. I wouldn't book again because I'd rather have my own bathroom.

The mattress was uncomfortable, with springs that made it hard to find a decent position. Parking was another problem: the listing says parking is available, but we were directed to a school entrance across the road. It felt too secluded to leave our car there, especially with a sign calling it a private road, so we paid an extra £8 for overnight parking at the train station. Our room looked lovely at first, with nice decor and a big TV, and it was clean. But the walls were so thin we could hear the people next door and upstairs. There's no staff member or number to call, and no noise policy. We politely asked a man we met outside on our way to the loo to turn down their movie, but he only grunted. We could hear them badmouthing us and saying they'd report us and ask for their money back. They'd already kept us awake for over an hour before midnight, and only turned the TV down around 1am. We then managed some sleep before our seven-hour drive in the morning. Dogs are welcome, which is a plus. I've given two stars because of the decor and thought put into the design. If your neighbours are considerate, you might get an okay night's sleep.

There were no reception staff, no kitchen, and very little beyond the basics. The location is also shown poorly on Google Maps, and we were charged £25 for cleaning on top of a £67 room rate. The room itself was okay. The bed was good, and the lighting and electrical outlets were decent. When another guest accidentally set off the fire alarm, a manager arrived within 10 minutes and sorted it out.

We'd booked two rooms for one night, but only one had an en-suite, which we hadn't expected. Both rooms smelled damp, the carpets were damp, and the skirting boards were thick with dust that looked long overdue for a wipe. There were stained towels, and the bedding smelled musty and damp. The shower head wasn't fitted properly, so water sprayed everywhere. It ruined what should have been a good weekend. We wouldn't recommend the property or ever stay here again.