Whately Hall Hotel

Hotels
7 (2184 reviews)
17-19 Horse Fair , Banbury , gb

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Terrace
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Central location
Ample parking (including for large vehicles)
Friendly and exceptional staff (many mentions)
Large/refurbished rooms
Good breakfast with lots of choice
Good value for money
Clean and tidy reported by several guests
Pleasant atmosphere
Cons:
Cleanliness issues in some rooms (hairs, cobwebs, leftover rubbish)
No air conditioning / rooms too hot
Maintenance problems (shower drainage, extraction fan, bedside lights, door lock)
Isolated incidents of poor or patronising customer service
Dinner service/staff inattentive at times
Navigation/signage confusing (rabbit warren / maze)
Delayed check-in and occasional slow responses (e.g., hairdryer requests)
Serious infant-safety/cot provisioning failure reported by one guest

Categories

Cleanliness
4.5
Multiple reports of poor cleanliness in some rooms (hairs, empty shower gel, cobwebs, rubbish) and specific maintenance/health concerns (poor drainage, extraction fan not working) lower this score.
Service
7.5
Mixed but generally positive: several guests praise friendly and exceptional staff, though there are notable negative incidents (condescending reception, slow check-in, ignored dinner tables) that temper the rating.
Location
9
Consistently praised as central with ample parking and a very convenient location for Banbury stays.
Room Quality
6.5
Rooms described as large, refurbished and comfortable, but repeated complaints about lack of air conditioning, overheating and some maintenance faults (lights, door lock, cot equipment) lower the score.
Amenities
6.5
Good parking and breakfast options noted, but missing/inadequate amenities (no air con in many rooms), poor signage and confusing layout reduce the score.
Value for Money
8
Several guests explicitly state good value for money and praise the overall cost/quality balance.
Food and Beverage
6.8
Breakfast receives strong praise for choice by many guests, but issues reported with breakfast service (canteen feel, tough bacon) and inconsistent dinner service bring this down slightly.
Overall Experience
7.2
Generally positive stays and recommendations from many guests, offset by some serious negative experiences (notably infant-safety/cot issues and maintenance/safety concerns) resulting in a mixed but overall acceptable impression.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-12 21:12

Property Description

Historic Charm and Modern Comforts

Stylish Rooms and Convenient Amenities
Experience a blend of historic charm and modern comforts in our stylish rooms equipped with all the conveniences you need for a comfortable stay, including tea/coffee making facilities and free Wi-Fi. Start your day right with our grab-and-go breakfast before exploring the nearby attractions.

Dining in Style
Indulge in a dining experience like no other at the Swift restaurant, where you can immerse yourself in a 17th-century setting complete with oak panelling and a cozy fireplace. For a more laid-back atmosphere, unwind at the Horton bar with a selection from our snack menu.

Ready to immerse yourself in history and luxury? Book your stay at The Mercure Banbury Whately Hall now and make unforgettable memories.

Important information:

Minors under 18 must be accompanied by parents or legal representatives. Third person named by parents must present their written authorization (certified signature).

Please note that the credit card used to book must be presented on arrival.

Free car park accessed through the front archway. Parking at the front of the hotel is pay and display short term parking and restrictions apply between 08:00 and 19:00.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

7
Based on 2184 reviews
Cleanliness: 4.5
Service: 7.5
Location: 9
Room Quality: 6.5
Amenities: 6.5
Value for Money: 8
Food and Beverage: 6.8
Overall Experience: 7.2
J
James • solo_traveller • gb
6
2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • solo_traveller • gb
7
Pros:

Nice and central good parking

Cons:

The doors would slam closed

2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
C
Charles • extended_group • gb
8
as expected
Cons:

Toiletries ran out

2026-08-07 • via Nuitee
V
Vicky • solo_traveller • gb
8
Great stay
Pros:

All of it - only thing i would say was, the room would've been perfect with air con

Cons:

No air con in room

2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
T
Tom • couple • gb
7
Great comfort and friendly staff, wished it was cleaned before we arrived.
Pros:

The bed, the room size and access to the place was easy and very simple.

Cons:

The cleanliness of the room was disappointing. We found hairs in the bathroom, empty shower gel in the bathroom, we found cobwebs by the window and was sharing with a spider from the ceiling. We also found rubbish from the previous stay.

2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
C
Callum • couple • gb
10
2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
G
Giles • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
H
Helena • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Nothing was a problem for a staff, excellent breakfast with a lots of choice.

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • couple • gb
8
Clean and tidy good valo for money nd excellent breakfast
Pros:

Central

Cons:

A rabbit warren better direction signing required

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
D
Dariya • solo_traveller • ie
10
Pros:

Staff members are exceptional, rooms are great

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
J
jamie • solo_traveller • gb
8
A perfect location if you need somewhere to stay in Banbury.
Pros:

Great location, ample parking for a large vehicle

Cons:

Quiet location despite being central

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
H
Hendri • solo_traveller • nl
7
Prima
Pros:

Erg schoon en netjes

Cons:

Het was erg warm op de kamer geen airco terwijl dit wel was aangegeven

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
J
Jacqui • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

The atmosphere. Friendly staff

Cons:

A bit of a maze trying to find room

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
J
Jonathan • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Lovely hotel friendly staff great experience

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
I
Ioana Maria • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Good food
Huge rooms
Very clean

Cons:

Outdated reception, bar and restaurant
The service during dinner wasn't great, i know they had a big table but on several occasions saw the team chatting ignoring the tables

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • gb
8
2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
J
Jarrod • couple • gb
7
Acceptable but room way to hot
Pros:

Location

Cons:

To hot, no air conditioning.

2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
T
tracey • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
A
Abhishek • couple • gb
8
2026-07-24 • via Nuitee