Old Hall Hotel

Hotels
7.6 (2595 reviews)
The Square , Buxton , GB

Paid
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Free WiFi
Parking
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly, helpful staff
Great location for the Opera House / town attractions
Large, comfortable rooms and comfy beds
Some guests found rooms stylish and well fitted
Good/large breakfasts reported by several guests
Easy car parking
Quirky, characterful Georgian building
Handy on-site spa mentioned
Cons:
Poor cleanliness in places: dust, musty smells, dirty entrance carpet and a filthy rubber shower mat
Hotel generally shabby and in need of refurbishment (peeling wallpaper, damp patches)
Food and beverage is weak: bland evening meals and inconsistent/poor breakfasts
Bar described as dingy, cold and noisy; bar food not enjoyed
Inconsistent housekeeping and occasional unstaffed reception/closed dining access
Rooms sometimes do not match online photos

Categories

Cleanliness
4
Multiple reports of dust, musty smells, dirty entrance carpet and furnishings, a filthy rubber shower mat and inconsistent housekeeping — cleanliness is a clear weakness.
Service
10
Staff repeatedly described as friendly and very helpful in several reviews, with positive comments about helpfulness and breakfast table presentation; isolated service lapses (unmanned reception once) noted but overall service sentiment is strongly positive.
Location
10
Consistently praised: prime position for the Opera House and Pavilion Gardens, easy car parking and very convenient for town attractions.
Room Quality
8.2
Mixed but generally favourable: several guests found rooms large, comfortable and stylish with comfy beds, though others reported hard/lumpy beds, musty or dated furniture and rooms not matching online photos.
Amenities
8
Amenities are present (spa mentioned as handy, on-site bar), and parking is easy; however the spa access/info was poor and the bar was described as dingy and noisy, so amenities work but need attention.
Value for Money
8.5
Several guests said the price was reasonable and good value given location and room size; other negatives reduce perceived value for some, but overall value sentiment leans positive.
Food and Beverage
4.5
Repeated criticisms: bland evening meals, poor and inconsistent breakfasts (overcooked/undercooked bacon, limited continental options, tinned/cheap items), and bar food generally disliked — food/beverage is a notable pain point.
Overall Experience
7.6
A mixed overall experience: excellent location and very helpful staff offset by shabby, dated and poorly cleaned areas and inconsistent food; reasonable value for some guests but the property needs investment to improve guest experience.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-10-12 15:14

Property Description

Blending centuries of history with modern comfort, the Old Hall Hotel offers visitors a truly atmospheric stay in one of Britain's most significant heritage buildings. Set in the very heart of Buxton, it overlooks the historic crescent and thermal spring, steps from the town's Georgian architecture, cultural venues and parks, and is a base for exploring the Peak District.

Important information:

Please note that only on-street parking is available. This is offered at a discounted rate by the hotel.

Please note that no extra bed can be accommodated in the standard double rooms.

Dogs are only allowed in the Classic rooms, subject to availability. When traveling with pets, please note that an extra charge of GBP 20 per night applies.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: MAN

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed. An extra bed for children 12+ years costs 10 GBP per night. A cot for children up to 2 years is free of charge.

  • Age restriction

    Guests must be at least 18 years old to check in.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available and is free of charge.

  • Smoking

    Non-smoking throughout.

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

7.6
Based on 2595 reviews
Cleanliness: 4
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 8.2
Amenities: 8
Value for Money: 8.5
Food and Beverage: 4.5
Overall Experience: 7.6
W
Wareing • couple • gb
4
Very average
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Sad building in decline.Disorganised breakfast

2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
V
Vicki • couple • gb
7
2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
J
June • couple • gb
8
Pros:

The room was spacious and the beds very comfortable. Lovely bathroom with walk in shower and roll top bath, breakfast was included which was buffet style would recommend the Old Hall Hotel especially if you are going to the opera house which is just a short walk away.

2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
V
Vicki • couple • gb
7
Liked tge location and hotel but needs refurbishing.
Pros:

Location was excellent. Parking was easy if you could get a space on the public parking that was available on the street , cheap with the hotel.

Cons:

Thought that communal areas were shabby , need of updating. The reception area needs redoing aswell , not obvious. Someone just sitting behind a desk , behind a window . Communication difficulty through glass if you are average height.

2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • gb
9
Interesting Historic Hotel nicely located.
Pros:

Always use the Old Hall in Buxton for the convenience of location and quite an interesting stay in such a historic building. Spacious rooms and usually with a good view over the park.

Cons:

Currently covered in scaffolding, but that's unavoidable due to roofing work. The only small downside would be a lack of staff in the breakfast room but otherwise a nice breakfast.

2026-10-21 • via Nuitee
L
Lindsey • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

The breakfast was excellent 👌

Cons:

The stairs

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
C
Carl • couple • gb
8
Would stay again if attending a show or concert.
Pros:

Close to town Centre, and theatres, very quiet, room was clean and well appointed. Breakfast was excellent.

Cons:

Had to ask staff at Breakfast for Coffee after being ignored for twenty minutes.

2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
S
stephen • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Old, but the food was fresh, great breakfast.

2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
L
Lorna • couple • gg
6
OK for one night
Pros:

Close to town

Cons:

Weird smells in the room and stains on the floor in the bathroom like there's damp

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
W
Wade • couple • gb
10
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
S
Steph • couple • gb
7
2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
A
andy • couple • gb
9
We stayed before a long distance walk and the location was perfect the Rome was massive the bed was massive no complaint
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Breakfast starts a little late for us 7.30 I guess for many that will be fine

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
B
bryn • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

five minute walk from the train station and virtually opposite the opera house-perfect for what I was looking for.

2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
• family_with_children • gb
6
Three ladies of mature years
Pros:

The staff were friendly and very helpful. The rooms were pleasant and clean. I understand the hotel has changed hands recently and I think it could be improved and still retain the unique atmosphere

Cons:

The evening meal was bland, the same every day. Apart from Monday it was served only in the bar. The bar was dingy, cold and at times very noisy. We did not enjoy the food in there. We hadn't any transport and being elderly were not able to go elsewhere apart from our last night when a fellow guest gave us a lift to an Italian restaurant which made all the difference to our final day.

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
A
Andy • couple • gb
9
Pros:

Quirky

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
G
Georgina • extended_group • gb
6
Very convenient and friendly, but needs some tlc
Pros:

The room was large and comfortable. Evening meal was excellent on the night we arrived, breakfasts were good. The staff were generally very friendly and helpful. The location was excellent and the price reasonable, which just about made up for the defects noted below.

Cons:

The main door was open all the time, even when no staff were visible. It made the public area cold and unwelcoming and full of leaves, On one evening there was no-one in reception, the bar was closed (and the door handle hanging off), and we could not get into the dining room to find anyone, even though it was supposed to be open. The hotel was generally shabby

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
S
shani • couple • gb
3
Very dissapointing, felt cheated.
Pros:

Spectacular position in old georgian section of old Buxton town. The building has tremendous character and history. I did like the effort made for the table dressing at breakfast. Handy spa. Prime location for the opera house and pavillion gardens.

Cons:

Character spoiled by neglect. Incredibly shabby. The entrance hall was dirty, musty smelling with a dirty unkempt carpet and furnishings. very unwelcoming. It established a poor impression straight away. The decoration in the whole hotel was well past its prime, with peeling wallpaper, missing patches, knocked to bits painwork, and damp patches on the ceilings. The rooms were nothing like the photos on Trip advisor, which when we later checked up on were 7 years old. musty old furniture (and I love antique furniture) Nothing was made of the history of the place. The food was appalling, not fresh, not well cooked, poor breakfast selection. No continental option, no sliced meats or cheeses or fresh fruit. Tinned fruit and cheap pastries! First day, bacon and sauage overcooked to being inedible, every day after, not cooked enough, and had a residual cheap packet bacon taste and smell. Poor housekeeping and hospitality! Hard lumpy beds, cheap poly duvets and pillows. The place needs a complete overhall, updating, redecorating, reburbishment, lots of investment to bring it up to even an acceptable level. Considering the spa was advertised as a potential experience for hotel guests, there was no information about it in the hotel, and the concession for hotel guests was negligable in an otherwise very expensive spa!

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
E
Elaine • couple • gb
9
Great location and value for money
Pros:

Great location for the Opera House. Room very nice - large and well fitted. Lovely breakfast. I hope the new owners will give it a facelift now.

2026-09-05 • via Nuitee
P
Patricia • couple • gb
4
Such a shame this hotel is dated and not cleaned well. For the cost the food should be much better.
Pros:

The comfy beds
The location

Cons:

The room was dusty. Had to request it to be vacuumed as I reacted to the dust, making me wheezy. You could see the dust under the furniture. It was sorted quickly; however going were covered into the bathroom the mirror and light shade were thick with dust.
The breakfast wasn’t nice. Bacon grey colour, mushrooms watery and tasteless, sausages grizzly, hash brown wasn’t pleasant with a slimy texture.

2026-09-04 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • gb
8
2026-09-03 • via Nuitee