We visited Banbury for business on Friday, staying at the Holiday Inn Express & decided to make a weekend of it & visit Leamington Spa on the Saturday - after staying in this hotel I wish we had stayed in Banbury!
The only good thing about the hotel is its location (& the staff were pleasant enough). I expected there to be noise as it is a town centre hotel & we chose to stay on a Saturday night so this didn't bother us. The main problem is that what looks like a beautiful hotel from the outside is shabby & in need of updating on the inside. The lift had graffitti in it, our room had a large damp patch on the ceiling, the double bed had a noisy plastic sheet on it & we were provided with just 3 pillows (in a family room for 4!) In comparison the Holiday Inn was bright & modern & clean with a choice of soft or firm pillows & the sofa bed had even been made up for us! The car park costs £7 (parking is free at Holiday Inn) & was not very close when you are travelling with a 3 year old & 1 year old (& all their luggage!) - You would think Travelodge would have some sort of arrangement with the car park re special pricing for hotel guests? (St Peter's car park - which is also disgusting & smells like a urinal!)
What annoys me the most is that the Holiday Inn cost £45 & the Travelodge cost £65.95! I feel like we have been ripped off - especially when the sign on the door says rooms from £19 (which is what I think we should've paid)
Will not go back here again & will look for a Holiday Inn Express wherever we travel in future!

Just stayed here for 2 nights and found it adequate for our needs. Yes, it's Travelodge so don't expect the Ritz but also don't pay any more than £29 for your room here or you will be disappointed. Firstly, the location. Right in the middle of the town centre about a 10 minute walk from the train station. Parking will be a problem as there is no on-site carpark you either have to use an NCP one or park in side streets, but as we came on the train this wasn't a problem. The reception area was dead, I think we got lucky as we caught a receptionist just as she looked like she was about to dash off somewhere but she checked us in quickly anyway.

We were in room 201, no directions given but I just assumed that the 2 meant it was the 2nd floor and the 01 meant it was the 1st room in the corridor and we found it by following other room numbers. This turned out to be a room at the back corner with a stained glass window, but which also doesn't open for "safety" reasons. Room seemed clean enough, I'm not one to spot fine details of hygeine and everything seemed to work. The TV only has the 4 terrestrial channels before Channel 5 and no Freeview. There is also no phone so you can't call reception or other rooms if it's needed. We found that the bed was ok and clean and everything had been changed and cleaned so no problems there, also the bathroom was basic but acceptable. We didn't hear any real traffic noise or rowdiness from outside, but the room was at the back where it's quiet.

However, this being a cheap budget hotel, it attracts guests who are also on a budget, i.e drunken revellers who need a cheap bed for the night. This was fine as we were also out drinking. However, my decision to put a "do not disturb" sign on the door handle to stop the cleaners coming in when we were getting dressed somewhat backfired, as it seemed to attract the same drunken revellers to bang on the door at 4am, as they were getting in from the clubs, something which they seemed to find side-splittingly hilarious. They only did it once and I was half asleep, so it was just a minor annoyance but a word of advice would be to put these signs on the door in the morning before 8am when they will go unnoticed by anyone except staff.

As there didn't seem to be any bar/restaurant area, I was a bit puzzled as to where the advertised £3 bacon/sausage/egg muffins came from, but it didn't matter as there is a McDonalds just up the road that sells essentially the same thing before 10:30am for £1.89. Two of these smuggled into each coat pocket and a bottle of coke from the Tesco made an effective and cheap breakfast alternative.

The lift worked when we were there, it's nicely decorated with books lining the walls for sophistication. Granted, a lot of the books had the spines ripped off and various bits of graffiti informed me that "so and so is gay" and to "call louise on this number for a good time", but it was a nice attempt at decor anyway. Checking out was also simple enough, the receptionist just told me to leave the room key on the desk without checking my name or any other details before I left.

Overall it's a good hotel if you want a cheap room to spend the night, but the place does look dated and the rooms are a bit grubby so as long as you don't pay too much for it it's fine.

A beautiful old building ruined by a substandard conversion into a Travelodge. The staff clearly have no knowledge of the hospitality industry, the ambience is depressing and the rooms are a disgrace with plaster falling off the walls, broken fixtures/fittings and an uncomfortable bed.

I know this is a 'bargain' chain but this is hotel must hold an award as one of the worlds worst. Just staying here makes me depressed, so I must be mad to have stayed here 4 times. My last stay will be my last. I had the room above the office meaning that the banging of the office door all night kept me awake. It's such a shame that the hotel is so bad as it has a prime position, is outwardly grand and obviously used to be the best place in the town. Sadly travelodge have spent no money on it and it is a dirty, falling down mess.

On the plus side there is the legendary 'vending machine' breakfast and 'oil like' bars of soap that leave a film on your skin that is impossible to wash off.

I'm looking for a new place to stay in Leamington so please send me any recommendations.