The Brown Horse Hotel

Hotels
8.2 (241 reviews)
High Stoop, Tow Law , Wolsingham , gb

listing image 1
Show all photos
Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Packed lunches
Non-smoking throughout
Private check-in/check-out
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good food
Convenient location
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
No heating in rooms
Dated room quality

Categories

Cleanliness
7.34
Some reviews indicated that the rooms were not clean and had issues such as black mould.
Service
8.81
Exceptional staff, friendly and willing to help based on multiple reviews.
Location
8.35
Convenient location mentioned positively in several reviews.
Room Quality
7.3
Rooms were described as dated and in need of refreshing.
Amenities
8.33
Amenities met requirements, with mentions of comfortable beds.
Value for Money
8.29
Many guests felt the experience was worth the price paid.
Food and Beverage
8.84
Positive remarks about food quality, especially breakfast and dinner.
Overall Experience
8.31
Overall positive sentiment despite some issues, guests enjoyed their stay.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 22:31

Property Description

Charming Family-Run Property:
Experience the warmth and hospitality of The Brown Horse Hotel, nestled just outside Tow Law. Only a short drive from Durham, our family-run hotel boasts a cozy restaurant and complimentary WiFi for all guests.

Comfortable Accommodations:
Indulge in our well-appointed rooms featuring attractive decor, flat-screen TVs, and convenient tea/coffee facilities. Each room also includes a private bathroom for your comfort and privacy.

Convenient Location:
Explore local attractions with ease as The Brown Horse Hotel provides quick access to must-see spots like Beamish Museum, Hadrian’s Wall, and Shildon Railway Village. With Newcastle a mere 22 miles away, your adventures are endless.

Book your stay at The Brown Horse Hotel now for a delightful getaway!

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for £20 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for £20 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 241 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.34
Service: 8.81
Location: 8.35
Room Quality: 7.3
Amenities: 8.33
Value for Money: 8.29
Food and Beverage: 8.84
Overall Experience: 8.31
S
Sharron • couple • gb
8
In short - it was great & we's go again
Pros:

Cost & homely
Excellent minced beef & dumplings
Great breakfast
Very friendly staff
Great location

Cons:

The bedding - I prefer cotton or linen

2026-03-23 • via Nuitee
N
Nigel • family_with_children • gb
10
Excellent and would recommend to anyone
Pros:

Room was warm and comfy, food was great and staff were absolutely 10 out of 10.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
H
HARNISH • solo_traveller • gb
10
Excellent service provided, would definitely recommend!
Pros:

Stopped here for an overnight stay and was genuinely impressed. From the moment I arrived, the service was fantastic – the staff were incredibly friendly, warm, and courteous. I was welcomed with such genuine hospitality, which really made a difference. The room was very comfortable and clean – a lovely place to relax after a long journey. There’s also a large parking area, which was perfect for parking my coach with no issues at all. The food was absolutely delicious with generous portions and great quality. Would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend to others!

Cons:

N/A

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
M
Mike • couple • gb
9
Excellent room, excellent food and lovely family owners.
Pros:

The room was spacious with a huge round bed and it had a double width bath and large shower in the bathroom. The room was very clean and all the amenities you would expect. The home cooked food served downstairs was lovely. We had both breakfast and dinner and for the price you couldn't get better. They also have a well stocked bar, especially if you like whisky which myself and the Mrs certainly made the most of. The family that run the place make you feel very welcome as soon as you arrive. The brown horse maybe abit remote for some people (although the village is only a 20 min walk away) but for us it's location was perfect for a night away with countryside all around. We will definitely return.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
S
Steven • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • solo_traveller • gb
10
Great will go again
Pros:

Everything clean tidy great value for money

Cons:

Couldnt stay longer

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • solo_traveller • gb
7
Average
Pros:

Excellent

Cons:

Bedroom carpet has seen better days

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
M
mark • couple • gb
10
2026-01-11 • via Nuitee
J
Jonathan • solo_traveller • gb
10
👍 The Brown Horse Hotel 👍
Pros:

Enjoyed the location, completely out the way situated on the A68, no noise in the room and although the bed creaked, had the best 3 nights sleep in such a long time. Bar / Cafe below the room with really nice owners which gave a very warm welcome and easy to talk to, had a couple of beers with them and was left in awe of how much they have achieved!

Cons:

Getting out of bed!

2026-01-09 • via Nuitee
N
Neil • couple • gb
10
2025-12-16 • via Nuitee
M
Manel • solo_traveller • es
9
2025-12-12 • via Nuitee
P
Phillip • couple • gb
1
Very cold during the night heating was not on with below zero temperatures
Pros:

Location was open and plenty of parking

Cons:

They did not put the heating on and temperatures were very low. We were cold all night as well as other guests complaining about it. Tried to call the number on night and went straight to voicemail. Got an excuse the next morning that the day staff didn’t pass message to night staff to have heating on but this should have been a given with temperatures below zero. Very run down looking building. Paid the next morning and would have expected a discount as they admitted there mistake but still took the full amount for the stay, very disappointing. Would have been the same temperature through the night if we had stayed in a garden shed.

2025-12-07 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • gb
1
No heating in my room or my sons room
Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

No heating in room

2025-12-06 • via Nuitee
H
Hamilton • solo_traveller • gb
10
2025-10-30 • via Nuitee
N
Nina • extended_group • gb
10
2025-10-29 • via Nuitee
D
David • family_with_children • gb
8
Pros:

The staff were very welcoming

2025-10-27 • via Nuitee
D
darren • solo_traveller • gb
8
2025-10-22 • via Nuitee
A
Adam • extended_group • gb
10
Pros:

Rally clean and tidy and really welcome

2025-10-18 • via Nuitee
G
Graham Robert • solo_traveller • gb
9
2025-10-16 • via Nuitee
R
Rob • couple • us
8
Great stay at a rustic country hotel with a friendly staff.
Pros:

Friendly staff, loved talking with Bennie, Melody and the other ladies. They knew a lot about the area and were happy to share information. The hotel was quite near the place we were visiting.

2025-10-06 • via Nuitee