Acorn Lodge Gatwick Hotel

The bed was comfortable and everything worked, and the photos online matched the room exactly. Ours had an awkward shape and a low ceiling, though, and some people might find the shower tricky to use. It’s well placed for public transport and getting to the airport. Breakfast is a simple grab-and-go setup with coffee, tea, juices, cereal, and snacks. I’d happily stay again while passing through 😀👍

I don’t usually leave reviews, but I’d urge anyone staying here to check their room before paying. I’ve stayed in plenty of budget places, including Super 8’s and Days Inn’s across the States and Europe, and I’ve never had three rooms in a row in this kind of condition. I booked for the 1st March. The first room was covered in dust, and the switched-off fridge held a ready meal dated 16th February, nearly two weeks before my stay. After I complained, I was moved to another room. That one was just as dusty, the bed frame and cupboards included, and its broken front door wouldn’t lock. I complained again and was taken to a third room. I checked the bed frame for dust in front of a staff member, and there was still loads; the bathroom was covered in it too. The heating was off and the room was freezing, and the sheets were ripped. It was too late to go elsewhere. Staff apologised about the state of the rooms. I woke with a sore throat and blocked nose after breathing in so much dust, and it didn’t clear until the afternoon.

The staff were generous and lovely, and we had no trouble communicating. They gave us a 10% off voucher for the hotel’s Indian restaurant, where the food was delicious. Our clean room had a comfortable bed, free coffee, and a complimentary bottle of water, all in line with what we expected for the price. Breakfast was included and open from 4am-10am, which made an early flight much less stressful. Gatwick is easy to reach by the hotel’s very affordable shuttle or the 100fastway bus, and some car rental places are within walking distance too. Acorn Lodge was an affordable, convenient stay near the airport, and we’re grateful to the staff.

If you want somewhere clean and functional, this is a fab place. It’s simple, as I’d describe it, rather than dated or run down. The traffic noise people mention didn’t bother me, and the bed was comfy. The shower was fab, there was a hair dryer, and the staff were polite, lovely, and accommodating. I even had a bit of nostalgia in the morning because the shower gel smelled like my first boyfriend 🤣. I waited for my transfer in the lounge with real coffee, and there’s a cute little fountain outside. I’d stay again. If you’re pretentious, it probably isn’t for you.