The Gulliver s Hotel

We were very happy with the room, which was tidy and much more spacious than expected, though a few areas could use a refresh. The outside of the hotel is really pretty, and it's easy to find. We booked at the last minute and were greeted quickly when we arrived. The lift wasn't working, so with the pram we had to go outside and around the building to reach our room. The children's area was really cute, nicely decorated with a little chalkboard and bean bag. There were TVs at the end of both beds, although only one remote worked and we managed. The hotel was extremely noisy that night. We got back around 8 and started settling our youngest children, but kids ran up and down the hall shouting until 11. Our baby was still awake close to midnight. I know the hotel didn't cause it, but it ruined the night for me. We'd booked breakfast for the morning, but the crumpets and all the pastries were already gone. Our food arrived quickly and was good for the price. The children's games room is a fab idea, though it costs extra.

My kids' magical expectations were really met by the Wizard suite. It's very new and clean. 10/10, I'd recommend it. The Wizard suite is newer and cheaper than the CBeebies hotel.

The room was generally fine and spacious, if a little dated, and the staff were pleasant despite being busy. What caught me completely off guard was the chaos on Saturday 1st November. This hotel is in a theme park, and there was a fireworks display in the grounds. There was nowhere to park near the hotel, kids were shrieking and loud music was blaring. It was a bit of a nightmare for a solo business traveller. Thankfully it was quiet by about 9pm 😂 A couple of days before check-in, the hotel emailed suggesting I upgrade to a themed room. As a single guest, I thought that was strange and vaguely wondered what sort of hotel I'd booked, but I hadn't realised the hotel was in a theme park. The carpets in the communal areas, especially on the stairs, were filthy. I also found the warnings about bodily fluids in the room really off-putting. Do they need to put that there, and does it actually make any difference?

It would be lovely for a visit with young children, though I was travelling alone on business. The shower was to die for, and the beds were really comfy. I hadn't chosen the Enchanted Palace specifically, just booked online and was allocated that room, but it was a lovely surprise. I think it's a recent build, as it looks and smells new, with stunning wizard-themed decor and ornaments. There seems to be a lot of development going on, and in November it gets dark early. I arrived at 5.30pm in the rain, visibility was poor, and there was no sign at all at the start of the road to Gullivers World saying where the HOTEL was. Hopefully signage is in the development budget.