Bath Road, Knowl Hill, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Charming country inn
dating back to the 14th century
Atmospheric bar
with inglenook fireplace and real ales
Easy access to M4
and half an hour from West London
Suites have
original period features and roll-top tubs
Homey rooms with electric kettles and flat-screen TVs
Cooked buffet
breakfast included in rate
Large car park
with free parking
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Wi-Fi can be slow
Some rooms are poorly
soundproofed
Little of
interest in immediate area
Not all rooms have air-conditioning
The 22-room Bird In Hand
Country Inn is an upper-mid-range property located a half hour's drive from London. Although there's little to
explore in the immediate area, its Berkshire location also means easy access to
tourist spots such as Windsor and Henley-on-Thames for guests that have their own cars. The main draw is the property's
wonderful snug and ancient bar, complete with log fire and a great selection of
real ales. A cooked buffet breakfast is included in the rate. While Standard Rooms are just that, newer Superior Rooms and Suites
-- with their lovely period features -- are certainly worth the extra outlay. All rooms have electric kettles, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Upper-mid-range country inn dating back to 14th century with modern add-ons
The Bird in Hand Country Inn has a large parking lot that fronts the property. The low-rise
facade of the building itself is pleasantly "Olde England"
with black timber struts, ivy-clad red brick, and mullioned stained-glass
windows. Although parts of the building date back to the 14th century, the
entrance is a bit disappointing and modern, as is the scruffy and lackluster reception
area. The charming period character does kick in in the wonderfully cozy bar
where bowed wooden beams, centuries-old carved oak paneling, and inglenook log
fireplace combine to recreate a genuine ancient inn ambience. Much of the rest
of the hotel is a blend of old and new, with modern add-ons and
contemporary trappings, while a rear garden provides a pleasant spot to unwind
overlooking a swathe of grassland. Overall this is a peaceful property that attracts both business guests during the week and leisure travelers on the weekends, though the location is on the isolated side.
Location
Off a main road in the Berkshire countryside half an hour from West London
This inn is
located set back from a relatively busy road just outside of the small Berkshire
town of Kiln Green in the southeast of England. Being largely just fields and golf
courses, there's not a great deal to explore in the surrounding area though for
those with a car the position means easy access to West London in just over
half an hour via the nearby M4. It's also convenient for visiting tourist spots
just as historic Windsor or picturesque Henley-on-Thames -- both around 20
minutes' drive away. There is little local public transport, however, with the nearest
train station about 10 minutes away by cab.
Rooms
Homey, cozy rooms; suites feature lovely period features and roll-top tubs
The inn has 22
rooms in all, most of which are decorated in simple, unfussy styling with
modern furnishings, carpeted floors, and patterned wallpaper. Standard
amenities are also pretty straightforward, offering free Wi-Fi, flat-screen
TVs, and electric kettles -- higher-end rooms also have iPod docks and air-conditioning units. Two Suites and five Superior Rooms opened in 2012 in the
original section of the property and feature more attractive contemporary
design (in the rooms) or lovely period features (in the suites). Bathrooms in
all the rooms are clean and very well maintained -- the Suites also include roll-top
tubs, separate showers, and bathrobes and slippers. Rooms without air-conditioning can
get stuffy in the warmer months while lack of soundproofing means some rooms
are prone to noise. While Wi-Fi is free, the signal can be weak.
Features
Snug and atmospheric bar with real ales and inglenook fireplace plus full English breakfast
A full English
breakfast is served buffet-style each morning in the hotel's restaurant and is
always included in the room rate. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner seven
days a week and provides a range of options including barbecue, children's menus, and
Sunday lunch menus -- all made in-house made using locally sourced ingredients when
possible. The wonderfully atmospheric bar serves a range of real and local ales
as well as bar food that can be enjoyed around a roaring log fire or on the
outside terrace overlooking the garden. On-site parking and Wi-Fi are also
available free of charge (though Internet can be slow at times).
