Premier Inn Stratford Upon Avon Central Hotel

Housed in an boxy off-white building a short walk from the Avon, this Premier Inn doesn’t make a great first impression. A glass door opens onto a tiny hall with stairs and an elevator leading up to the main reception area, located on the second floor. The lobby is spacious and light, with several large windows overlooking the street, and a small seating area with three metallic-colored chairs and a simple wooden coffee table. An ATM, two vending machines, and two self-check-in kiosks are convenient amenities, but make the space feel more functional than warm. A wooden screen separates the lobby from the restaurant, a square space with a few wooden tables, and comfortable booths with dark brown upholstery. The space has been updated with brown accent walls, large sepia photos of local scenes, and touches of the chain’s corporate purple. But the grayish tiles and hospitality-style carpet are generic and a tad dated. Most guests are couples, though during school holidays the hotel tends to fill up with families with kids. 

On a busy street in the northern part of Stratford-upon-Avon’s historic center, the Premier Inn is ideally located for visiting the town’s many historic sights. There is a pub across the street, and plenty of other bars, restaurants, and shops can be found within a few blocks. Picturesque River Avon is also an easy one-minute walk away, and the Royal Shakespeare and The Swan theaters can be reached in five minutes on foot. Major attractions such as Shakespeare’s childhood home, Holy Trinity Church, Hall’s Croft, and Harvard House are all within five to 15 minutes’ walking distance. Stratford-upon-Avon’s train station is a 15 minute walk away. The Birmingham Airport is a half-hour drive. 

All 87 rooms are decorated in the chain’s corporate purple color theme, and feature simple wooden furniture and generic flower prints hanging on the walls. Although lacking in character, rooms are clean and spacious, with quality mattresses topped with duvets and several pillows, and work desks with access to several power sockets. Standard amenities are on par with other mid-range properties and include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and electric kettles. Free Wi-Fi is a great perk that not all other chain properties in town offer. Bathrooms are simple but clean, with shower/tub combos and wall-mounted soap and shampoo dispensers. Beige accent walls and small purple mosaic tiles along the white tiled walls add some style. Hairdryers are provided. Light sleepers may want to request rooms in the back, as street-facing units can get traffic noise. 

Continental and full English breakfast are served every morning at The Kitchen, the hotel’s on-site restaurant. Although breakfast is not included in the standard rate, kids under 16 eat free in the morning when accompanied by a paying adult. The Kitchen also serves an international menu, snacks, and drinks in the evening. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, but there have been some complaints of spotty service. There are a few drop-off spaces in a parking lot across the street, but the hotel has no on-site parking. Several paid lots can be found within 10 minutes of the property.