The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon

The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon describes itself as "the star of Stratford’s hotel scene". The hotel's USP is its central location, right in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon and directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Overlooking the River Avon and ideally located for exploring the town, the hotel does score well in terms of location.

Stratford-upon-Avon is a beautiful town and one that is close to my heart. So we were quite delighted when we had the opportunity to visit the town recently and spend a night at The Arden Hotel.

Checking In

We drove from Enfield to Stratford-upon-Avon on a rainy Saturday. Thankfully there wasn't much traffic or delays and we reached our destination in under 2 hours. We had a little trouble locating the hotel's cark park. It is located to the rear of the hotel and we missed it when we first drove past it. That minor hiccup aside, the check-in was very quick and we were swiftly shown to our room.

The Room

Our room was a deluxe room with an en-suite bathroom. There was a king size bed with high quality bed linen. A flat screen digital TV, DVD player, tea and coffee making facilities, a personal drinks fridge, hairdryer and a room safe were some of the amenities in the room. Bottled water was provided. The room was a decent size with enough space to move around. A desk with writing paraphernalia and free, high speed Wi-Fi meant that we stayed on top of emails. There were enough electrical wall sockets to charge all our gadgets. The bathroom had a bath tub and walk-in shower. Bathrobes and luxury toiletries (ESPA) were provided.

Overall, the room was clean and had all the amenities that one would usually look for in a hotel room. The room was not river facing but it was very quiet and peaceful- perfect for getting a good night's sleep.

Relaxed Dining

When it comes to food and drinks, you have many options at The Arden Hotel. If weather is favourable you can enjoy al fresco dining on the terrace. The Club Bar is ideal to entertain business clients or simply to unwind. The Champagne Bar serves a range of Champagnes and innovative cocktails. You can enjoy luxurious afternoon teas or freshly brewed coffee in the lounge. With its comfortable sofas and beautiful fireplace, this is a perfect place to relax. Or you could enjoy a relaxed dining experience in the Waterside Brasserie. And that is what we did. We had our breakfast and dinner at the Waterside Brasserie and enjoyed both. The food was excellent - well cooked, nicely presented and delicious. Thai spiced butternut squash soup was our choice of starter and it was quite filling. For the main meal, we opted for Chickpea cassoulet with wild rice and it was equally delicious.

The staff were attentive, efficient and friendly at all times adding to the dining experience.

If you are looking for a lovely place in Stratford-upon-Avon to have your Sunday lunch, then I would recommend that you book your table at the Waterside Brasserie.

Local information | Things to do

There is loads to see and do in Stratford-upon-Avon and the hotel is perfectly located to explore the town. The renowned Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre is just a stone's throw away. Stratford Butterfly Farm is also very near. The Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare's New Place, Hall's Croft, Tudor World and Swan Theatre are some other attractions in the vicinity.

The major attractions in the town (for a first time visitor) are the five houses related to William Shakespeare. If you plan to visit all five, then a good way to save money is by purchasing the 5 House ticket. You can check with the Visitor Information Centre located near Bridgefoot (CV37 6GW) for discounted tickets and other deals. If you prefer not to walk (and some places like Mary Arden's House and Anne Hathaway's Cottage are a bit far) then you can go for the City Sightseeing buses which begin from the Visitor Information Centre. You can hop on and hop off the bus at any of the stops and as many times as you like for the duration of the ticket's validity. You can also save money by combining your bus ticket with other attraction tickets.

Plan Your Stay

The Arden is a part of the Eden Hotel Collection which includes seven other luxury hotels, restaurants and spas.  Arden has a fantastic location (within walking distance of the river), is well maintained, has helpful and attentive staff and good, well equipped rooms. We had a pleasant and comfortable stay and would not hesitate to come back.

The Arden Hotel would make an excellent choice for a weekend getaway and would work equally well for business travellers. You can book your room online or if you have any special requirements, you can call the hotel and discuss.

The Arden Hotel | Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6BA
If you are driving to the hotel, you need to use the postcode CV37 6BE which will bring you to the car park entrance.
Phone: 01789 298682

Tips

• If you are after views, opt for a river facing room. But if you prefer quietness, go for the rooms at the rear.
• If you have difficulty with steps, talk to the reception and get a room that is nearer to the reception as there is no lift in the hotel.
• Like I mentioned in the beginning of the post, we missed the car park due to the road being one-way and the access to the car park not very obvious. So ensure you have the right post code and keep a look out for the access road to the car park.
• Park your car at the hotel and explore the town on foot. Many major attractions are nearby and the best way to enjoy the charming town is on foot - meandering through quaint walkways, popping into the several small independent stores or enjoying a riverside walk. You could also go for a guided walking tour of the town.

We stayed as guests of the Arden Hotel but all opinions expressed are, as always, our own.