Whately Hall Hotel

Hotels
7 (2230 reviews)
17-19 Horse Fair , Banbury , GB

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
D
Dave • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
C
catherine • couple • gb
7
very brief stay due to late arrival. Person on duty most friendly and helpul
Cons:

food and plates could be warmer

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
J
Joseph • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Historic nature of the property.

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
S
Sian • family_with_children • gb
9
One night family stay in a hotel with centuries of history and character in the heart of Banbury.
Pros:

A charming old hotel with plenty of character and a great location for visiting Banbury. The breakfast was very good, and there is parking at the back of the hotel where you can register your vehicle with reception. The reception staff were very helpful and accommodating. Overall a good stay in a hotel with lots of character and a very convenient location.

Cons:

The only thing we would mention is that the floorboards above our particular room were quite creaky, as can be expected in an old, historic 17th century building. That said, it was all part of its old-charm and character.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
C
Christine • couple • gb
7
A comfortable place to stop
Pros:

The breakfast was brilliant, everything you want.
The hotel is in an ideal location for roads in and out.

Cons:

A better chose for evening food
We stopped for 4 nights and it would have been good if the tea/milk /toilet paper had been refreshed. I understand you are trying to help the environment, but it was difficult to find someone to ask for these things. We left early and came back late

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
S
Scott • couple • gb
9
Service excellent breakfast amazing value exceptional
Pros:

Great location and full of character

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
N
Neil • solo_traveller • gb
5
Cons:

The shampoo and conditioner were empty when we got the room, spoke to front desk, they came up and just left two bottles as she couldn't be arsed

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
L
Lara • couple • gb
2
2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
J
Joan • solo_traveller • gb
7
Nice place, great location. Perfect for what we used it for.
Pros:

Location; free parking; room size.

Cons:

It’s very warren-like. It needs a few more signs, or more prominent signage to figure out where you’re going. The lift is very small and old. I took the stairs rather than trust it with 3 people and luggage.

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
E
Eddie • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Booked a superior suite, it was lovely
Great view lovely bed big shower
Would highly recommend

Cons:

Everything was great until breakfast
Albeit we were a little late but still 20 mins before end of breakfast service
Eggs and mushrooms all dried up no coffee but coffee was soon sorted out
Asked for fresh eggs or poached eggs to be told the chef had gone home
To be fair the staff tried their best but no-one could cook eggs
At 09.25 we were told they were clearing breakfast away but our eggs were coming
10 mins later our eggs arrived but everything else had gone

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
D
David • solo_traveller • gb
6
2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
I
Ian • extended_group • gb
9
Pros:

Good breakfast and comfy rooms

Cons:

Disco in the bar area

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
A
Anita • couple • gb
1
Awful
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Smell in the room, music and party on until after 1 am

2026-09-10 • via Nuitee
D
Dai • couple • gb
7
2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
A
Alison • couple • gb
9
2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
S
Saqlain • family_with_children • gb
10
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
Y
Yurii • couple • ua
6
Cons:

Not working bath dispensers.
For three days no one time to clean the room and change towels.

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
J
Jack • couple • gb
10
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
J
Jo • extended_group • gb
8
Good centrally located hotel with a bit of character and comfortable
Pros:

Newly refurbished, with modern bathrooms.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee