Crown Hotel Brackley

The reception man was very helpful when we arrived, which did improve my impression a little. Still, I wouldn’t stay here again. The room was extremely basic and in poor shape: mould in the bathroom, wallpaper coming away, and a wardrobe door that wouldn’t stay shut. The bed was uncomfortable, and the curtains didn’t meet the edges, so people outside could see in. There was no hot water, and no one was around to help early in the morning. The room was upstairs, while the bathroom was downstairs.

The worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in. The room was absolutely filthy, with cobwebs inside the windows, mould on the walls and in the shower, flaking paint on the ceilings, and decrepit furniture.

Getting in after 10pm wasn’t possible because the hotel closes at 10. A secure key box would let late arrivals collect their keys instead of ending up camping outside, which is what happened to me. The customer service feels stuck in the past, and the place itself has a real 1990s feel. Come on, it’s 2025, not 1995. Otherwise you’ll be inspiring a reality show called “Sleeping Rough, Hotel Edition.”

The beds were comfy and we slept well. Tea, coffee and mini shower gel were provided, and the young man who showed us to the room was really pleasant and carried one of our bags. But the bathroom was a different story: mould around the bottom of the shower tiles, and the floor needed a proper scrub. Dirt was ingrained in the tiles, so Mum decided to wait until she got home to shower. There was no hair dryer or chair in the room, and the TV was right by the bathroom door, so you had to watch your head coming out. It wasn’t worth £109 in my opinion, £80 would have felt fairer. We got breakfast croissants from Waitrose behind the building instead of paying another £30 for breakfast.