Whipsnade, somewhere to stay

*manda*

OH fancies going to Whipsnade, over August bank holiday weekend ( no time off work although we realise it will be busy). We would ideally need to stay either the sat or Sunday night, somewhere within about 20 ,miles or so, to the south or west as we are coming up from Hampshire.

Usually I'm really good at finding good deals but I'm struggling this time! Budget up to around £100.

Don't mind premier inn or holiday Inn but tend to find travelodge poor and usually you can find somewhere as good or better for the same price.

We want to be nearish somewhere to go for the evening as well- pubs/ town or village centre as were not into sitting in our room all night! We are a youngish couple, no kids.

All help gratefully received.

susancs

There are several Premier Inn's near Whipsnaid if you put in the zoo postcode LU6 2LF) with availability for 24th August and at reasonable rates e.g. £29 for a double room in Luton South (it seems to have a Harvester beside it). Most PIs tend to have restaurants or pubs near them, but you would need to look at the reviews on tripadvisor and what the PI states is nearby at night.

*manda*

Yeah I had looked at PIs, they're a fairly safe bet, just wondered if there was anything else slightly more interesting- it's not an area I'm very familiar with, so any suggestions on where to stay are appreciated!

verityboo

I don't live far from the Zoo and don't really recommend the ar5e end of Luton (unless you're taking a flight from the airport next door)

My recommendation would taking a look at St Albans (not too far south of whipsnade), a quick search shows several reasonable quality hotels available that weekend in budget

*manda*

We like nice places, and being that we are unlikely to return to the area in a hurry we would prefer to pay a little more but to stay somewhere interesting - not necessarily a top hotel, but a nice area that we can mooch about in on the Saturday ( or Sunday) depending on when we actually go, then somewhere with options for eating out before doing the zoo the next day.

I wondered about St Albans, also Welwyn or Tring, but I know very little about any of those places so its interesting you mentioned at Albans!

susancs

*manda* wrote: »

We like nice places, and being that we are unlikely to return to the area in a hurry we would prefer to pay a little more but to stay somewhere interesting - not necessarily a top hotel, but a nice area that we can mooch about in on the Saturday ( or Sunday) depending on when we actually go, then somewhere with options for eating out before doing the zoo the next day.

I wondered about St Albans, also Welwyn or Tring, but I know very little about any of those places so its interesting you mentioned at Albans!

A friend of mine lives in St Albans and it is a nice town with plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. I remember we went as children on a school trip from London to there. In St Albans there is a great Cathedral, a bell tower in the town itself and they have a market on Saturdays. Verulamium Park is lovely to walk around and you can see the roman remains of the old city walls there. There is also a really old pub at the end of the park.
http://www.allaboutstalbans.com/directorylist/ye-olde-fighting-cocks-public-house/3-27-592-2


I was in Welwyn Garden City for the same friend's childs birthday party and found ito be a nice small town. It had a nice park called Stanborough Gardens which we drove past and my friend said she had often gone there and it was nice to walk around.

susancs

The Quality Inn St Albans seems to have good reviews and is £65 for the Sat night you want and about 20 mins walk away for the heart of the town it seems.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186306-d189728-Reviews-Quality_Hotel_St_Albans-St_Albans_Hertfordshire_England.html#REVIEWS

Also one nearer the centre of St Albans at £79.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186306-d189729-Reviews-Comfort_Hotel_St_Albans-St_Albans_Hertfordshire_England.html

This on looks great
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186306-d639553-Reviews-The_White_Hart_Hotel-St_Albans_Hertfordshire_England.html

converted-lurker

Tring is my area and I would say it depends on what you want to do. It is a lovely small town with some lovely architecture but nothing much happens on a sunday. The Rothschild Museum (natural history museum) is fantastic though and if you have kids I would recommend it but I think its open afternoons on sunday, all day Saturday (check website).

I would say st albans is probably a safer bet if you just want a mooch around shops, cafes etc.

Also don't worry to much about whipsnade being busy. It is so massive that you never feel crammed in. The cafes can get busy though.

Enjoy

converted-lurker

Sorry just read that you have no kids, then I would say go for st albans.

*manda*

Great! Thanks everyone, you've really helped narrow down location. You're spot on about mooching- enough to do for a few hours is fine, walking distance to town sounds perfect.

I have seen tesco do exchange vouchers for whipsnade and I have plenty of money off restaurant vouchers so the hotel is our only significant cost very MSE!!