Travelodge Durham

The town is small, scenic and nice, with the essentials. As a university town, its eateries stay open quite late during the week. The hotel itself is basic but okay for a quick stay, and I was there for a nearby work event. It’s on a small hill, around a 20-minute walk from the station. Walking there isn’t recommended: the route goes uphill, partly beside the canal and a bushy area, feels a little isolated, and includes stairs. Bus access is limited, though there is on-site parking. I checked in at 7pm, and it took a long time because the receptionist didn’t seem to know what she was doing. There are three separate accommodation blocks. My room was at the back, up a short, poorly lit hill, in a block with card swipe entry and no supervision. I wouldn’t recommend that for a solo female traveller. The room was spacious, but the bed visibly sagged in the middle, there were no plugs beside it and nowhere to put my case. The kettle needed descaling. Reception has a vending machine, and there are snacks and drinks in the rooms. There’s no restaurant or bar. Breakfast comes in a box to collect from reception at 8am. The hotel isn’t central, and the nearest shops and restaurants are about 10-15 minutes away on foot. I’d suggest having an evening meal before arriving, or you’ll need to go into town. It’s a very hilly area, so comfy shoes are essential.

The staff seem less motivated than on my earlier visits, and I think the manager may have changed. I’ve stayed here many times because it’s handy and relatively inexpensive, in the old railway sheds. The rooms are basic, but the ones I’ve used have been well maintained. Still, the lack of decent WiFi and the newer absence of bedside sockets are making the place feel dated. It’s quite a steep walk down into town, so you need to think about getting back and forth. The excellent Italian next door went downhill quickly and has sadly closed. I understand people’s concerns about the upper terrace block after dark, though I think the area is safe.

Clean, comfortable rooms and very pleasant staff. It’s about a 10 minute walk into the city centre, and the main feature is free on-site parking. Does what it says on the tin.

The room facilities felt rather old, and the price didn’t seem worth it, even with the discount for booking and paying in advance. The hotel has several buildings, and since I didn’t pay to choose a room, I was assigned one in the very last building, quite far inside. Walking back after dark felt a bit scary, so I had to return earlier. I’ve stayed at Travelodge before, but this was the first time I felt the room wasn’t worth the price.