Whately Hall Hotel

Hotels
7 (2230 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.
Managed by a private host
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 2230 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
R
Robin • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-10-17 • via Nuitee
J
Julie • family_with_children • gb
10
Great value for money, good location in the town lots of shops, pubs and restaurants withing walking
Pros:

Good selection of continental style breakfast and freshly cooked choices for English breakfast buffet style. All items were well placed and easy to use for self service. Plenty of room in the dining room with large tables to accommodate everybody.
Helpful and friendly staff

Cons:

Nothing, all was perfectly fine. I wish they has sent back my phone charger when I asked them, this was accidently left behind in the room. When I phoned the hotel to report this, the receptionist said he would call me back to advise but nothing to date!!

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
A
Andrei • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
T
Tim • couple • gb
9
2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • couple • gb
10
Pros:

Breakfast was good

Cons:

Not happy with small step into bathroom

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • gb
9
2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
L
lorraine • couple • gb
1
Sadden by the lack of customer service. No one in reception having to wait around for someone to turn up to check us in.
Pros:

Good location

Cons:

Under staffed . Unwelcoming no customer service.

2026-10-15 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • couple • gb
5
Pros:

Location was great

Cons:

Nothing

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
B
Bradley • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
A
Anthony • solo_traveller • gb
9
The top issue was embarrassing.
Pros:

Quiet and comfortable.

Cons:

I was very keen to tip the staff. But the hotel would not pass on tip paid using credit card. So staff were advised by management to only accept cash tips…

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
W
William • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Generous sized room

Cons:

Restaurant too brightly lit

2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
M
Mark • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-10-12 • via Nuitee
J
Jayne • solo_traveller • gb
10
Went the extra mile
Pros:

Excellent location. Close to the town. Staff were hard working and amazing. We were celebrating our ruby anniversary and they left us cake in our room.

Cons:

Climbing the stairs😁. I was aware that there were no lifts prior to booking though. Also, lighting in the room could be better.

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
I
Ian • couple • gb
5
Dissatisfied for the money
Pros:

Front of building was very grand

Cons:

Very tired and Needs an update

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
K
Kenneth • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

All staff we met were excellent.

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
J
Jane • solo_traveller • gb
4
Pros:

Location was good and the bed was comfortable. The breakfast was great too.

Cons:

The hotel is beautiful on the outside but a little run down inside...the rooms are ok no real character.

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
M
Mark • couple • gb
8
2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
J
Jonathan • solo_traveller • gb
9
Excellent stay.
Pros:

Nice room and breakfast.

2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
C
Clare • solo_traveller • gb
5
Pros:

The heating in the hotel wasnt working so my room was freezing, woke up so many times

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
C
Colin • extended_group • gb
7
2026-10-09 • via Nuitee