Please select your travel dates to see rates and availability
Check In
Check Out
1 room2 guests1 room, 2 guests
Info
Summary of reviewsThe King's Lodge Hotel receives strong reviews overall, notably for its exceptional location, making it an ideal choice for fans of the Harry Potter Studios Tour due to its close proximity. Situated in a lovely village with quiet roads, local amenities and rustic charm, the hotel offers free parking, adding to the convenience for travelers. The staff consistently contributes to the positive experience with their warm and welcoming demeanor, going above and beyond to assist guests, ensuring a pleasant stay.
Breakfast at the hotel, featuring a traditional English spread, is highly praised for its quality and generous portions. Despite some criticisms about the late start time and occasional availability issues, the freshly cooked meals offer great variety and value, adding to the appeal. Similarly, the dinner experience is lauded for its excellent, well-presented food at reasonable prices with a varied menu appreciated by guests who enjoy both lunch and dinner options.
The hotel’s rooms with their mix of old-fashioned charm and modern amenities, are generally well-received for their spaciousness, comfort and distinct historic style. Cleanliness presents a mixed verdict; while many guests find the facilities tidy and comfortable, there are notable instances of inadequate cleaning and maintenance that suggest room for improvement.
WiFi at the hotel could also benefit from upgrades, as guests frequently report issues with speed and reliability. On a brighter note, parking facilities receive positive feedback for their convenience and availability, enhancing the guest experience further.
Families visiting the hotel find its location ideal for a magical adventure, particularly due to its proximity to the Harry Potter studios. The hotel exudes a family-friendly, homely atmosphere and offers good value for family rooms, even though some practical concerns about room suitability and stairway access are noted.
Lastly, the beds receive positive comments about their comfort and cleanliness, although there are occasional negative remarks regarding the condition of mattresses and pillows. Overall, The King's Lodge Hotel is highly recommended for its strategic location, charming atmosphere, friendly staff and quality dining, despite some areas needing attention. Show more
Read review summaries for all categories
Categories
Hotel near Golf Courses
Family Friendly Hotel
Hotel with Parking
Small Hotel
Room Types
Double/Twin RoomRooms have an en suite bathroom with free toiletries, and benefit from a TV.
Please specify your preference of double or twin beds when booking. You can use the Special Request box when booking.
Guest Reviews
7.6
Good
Location
The King's Lodge Hotel boasts a superb location, particularly for fans of the Harry Potter Studios Tour. Positioned just a short drive from the Warner Bros. Studios, it offers unparalleled convenience for those visiting the magical world of Harry Potter. Many guests highlight its close proximity, noting that it's often just a 4 to 6-minute drive away with some even mentioning the possibility of reaching the studios on foot in about 30 minutes.
The hotel's surroundings also receive praise, described as a lovely village area with quiet roads and pleasant local amenities such as a canal for walking, pubs and nearby towns. The rustic charm and historic building add a homely feel to the stay, enhanced by friendly staff who provide excellent service and useful tips for navigating the area.
Additionally, the availability of free parking makes it even more convenient for travelers. Given this blend of location, charm and service, The King's Lodge Hotel emerges as an ideal choice for those planning a visit to the Harry Potter Studios or simply looking for a well-positioned base to explore the nearby areas of Watford and London.
Breakfast
The breakfast at The King's Lodge Hotel generally receives high praise from guests, many of whom describe it as excellent and amazing. The breakfast menu primarily offers a traditional English breakfast that is consistently noted as delicious, hearty and of good quality with excellent-sized portions that offer great value for money. Guests appreciate the freshly cooked meals and the good variety, including options like cereals and toast.
However, there are some criticisms regarding the breakfast timing, as it starts at 9 AM, which some guests find inconvenient. Although breakfast is available daily according to the online listing, some reviews mention that it is only served on weekends and that there can be occasional issues with availability due to staffing problems. Despite these hiccups, the staff is noted for being helpful and accommodating, offering satisfactory solutions when possible.
Overall, the breakfast experience at The King's Lodge Hotel is highly regarded, making it a highlight of the stay for many guests, even though improvements could be made regarding its availability and timing.
Dinner
The dinner experience at The King's Lodge Hotel consistently receives high praise from guests. The food quality is described as excellent, delicious and, in many instances, amazing. Many guests highlight specific items, such as an excellent roast dinner, impressive pies and top-notch ribs. Meals are not only well-cooked and flavorful but also well-presented with portions that are generous and satisfying.
The restaurant offers a varied menu with typical tasty dishes, available throughout the day and all at reasonable prices. The food, whether homemade or cooked in-house, is noted for being clean and perfectly priced with good value for money being a recurring theme. Guests enjoyed both lunch and dinner options with many appreciating the cold beer that complemented their meals.
Although a few minor setbacks, such as occasional delays in service and some instances of greasy or cold food, were mentioned, these were exceptions rather than the rule. In general, the service is friendly and accommodating and the staff is willing to help with food orders or provide dinner early when possible. The atmosphere of the place, described as having a proper country pub feel, adds to the overall dining experience.
Overall, the dining experience at The King's Lodge Hotel is highly recommended for its great food, good value and commendable service.
Rooms
The King's Lodge Hotel offers rooms characterized by a blend of old-fashioned charm and modern amenities, aligned with its 300-year-old heritage. Guests appreciated the clean, spacious and comfortable accommodations with many noting the cozy beds and warm atmosphere that make for a restful stay. The rooms retain a rustic, traditional aesthetic, featuring four-poster beds and charming, historic decor that add to the overall quaint vibe of the hotel.
However, there are a few areas where improvements could be made. Some reviews mention the need for updates and a more thorough cleaning with specific comments on frayed decor and minor maintenance issues such as broken mirrors or windows that wouldn't close. Additionally, a few rooms were reported to be smaller with limited plug sockets and insufficient places to hang clothes. Despite these drawbacks, the character and history of the building, along with the warm and cozy pub atmosphere, contribute to The King's Lodge Hotel's unique charm.
In summary, the hotel's rooms are generally well-received for their spaciousness, comfort and distinctive old-world style, accommodating guests who appreciate a mix of historic charm and basic modern comforts, even if some areas might benefit from further attention to detail and upkeep.
Beds
The beds at The King’s Lodge Hotel largely received positive feedback from guests, emphasizing the comfort and coziness of the sleeping arrangements. Numerous guests praised the beds as "very comfortable" and "comfy," contributing to a restful night's sleep. Some guests highlighted experiences reminiscent of sleeping on a cloud, particularly with the four-poster bed. Additionally, the beds were noted for being clean and well-made, further enhancing the comfort factor.
However, there were mixed reviews as well. A portion of guests found the beds to be uncomfortable with issues such as being too soft and springy, worn-out mattresses and occasional cleanliness concerns like stains and hair. There were also remarks about hard pillows and missing or broken headboards, which detracted from the overall experience for some. Despite these occasional setbacks, the general consensus leaned towards a positive experience with many guests appreciating the comfortable and cozy beds offered at the hotel.
Cleanliness
The King's Lodge Hotel presents mixed reviews regarding cleanliness. Guests have generally appreciated the hotel's clean facilities with many highlighting that their rooms were clean, tidy and comfortable. Terms like very clean, clean and tidy frequently emerged, indicating that some visitors found the environment pleasant and well-maintained. Clean beds, clean linen and a comfortable atmosphere were noted, making some stays quite satisfactory.
However, the hotel faces several cleanliness issues that cannot be overlooked. Complaints about dirty carpets, black mold and unclean bathrooms suggest inconsistency in cleaning standards. Instances of dirty cups, dusty rooms and insufficient attention to detail, such as rubbish left in rooms and inadequate bathroom cleaning, were repeatedly mentioned. Several guests indicated that the rooms and ensuite facilities could benefit from thorough cleaning and refurbishment.
While the positive feedback highlights a generally clean and tidy experience for some, the recurrent negative comments on the state of certain rooms and common areas suggest that improvements are needed to provide a consistently clean and pleasant stay for all guests.
Staff
At The King’s Lodge Hotel, the experience is greatly enhanced by its exceptional staff. Guests consistently highlight the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the friendly team. The staff are described as brilliant, fantastic and amazing, making visitors feel right at home from the moment they arrive. Their helpfulness and attentiveness are frequently praised with many reviewers noting how they went above and beyond to assist with any requests or queries.
Whether it’s the manager or the reception staff, each member of the team contributes to a pleasant stay characterized by politeness and professionalism. The food service is noted for being both friendly and efficient, adding to the overall positive dining experience. Across various interactions, the staff's kindness and lovely demeanor leave a lasting impression, encouraging guests to return.
In summary, The King’s Lodge Hotel staff play a pivotal role in delivering excellent service, creating a welcoming and friendly environment that enhances the overall guest experience.
Wi-Fi
The WiFi situation at The King's Lodge Hotel shows room for improvement. While a few guests found the connection satisfactory, many expressed difficulties with the speed and reliability of the internet. There were mentions of complicated access processes and instances where the connection was either poor or entirely unavailable, even in the bedrooms. These issues affected some guests' ability to manage their reservations. Overall, while there were moments of good connectivity, the hotel would benefit from addressing these recurring challenges to enhance the guest experience.
Parking
The King's Lodge Hotel offers a variety of parking options which are mostly well-received by guests. Many reviews highlight the convenience of free parking and the availability of numerous parking spaces, making it easy for visitors to find a spot. The hotel features a good-sized car park and there is also free parking available at the pub associated with the hotel. Onsite parking is consistently mentioned as a positive aspect with ample parking availability ensuring that guests do not have to worry about finding parking upon arrival. While some reviews mention that parking can be tight or limited at times, the general consensus remains that the hotel provides good parking facilities. Overall, parking at The King's Lodge Hotel is generally seen as convenient and sufficient for guests' needs.
Family
The King's Lodge Hotel offers a mixed experience for families with children. On the positive side, it is praised as having a great location for a family stay, particularly noted for its proximity to the Harry Potter studios, making it a perfect place for families looking for a magical experience. The hotel exudes a homely feel reminiscent of an old cottage pub and is described as family friendly with fun activities for kids. Many families, including those with young children and teenagers, enjoyed their stay and several reviews highlighted the helpful, welcoming staff that contributed to a pleasant experience.
The hotel also caters well to people with disabilities and offers good value for family rooms. However, some reviews mentioned concerns about the suitability of the rooms, noting risks and the difficulty of stairways for both kids and the elderly. Families expressed mixed feelings with some indicating that the accommodations were not ideal for a family stay. Additionally, it was noted that children must remain quiet at some point during their stay, which might not suit all families. Overall, while The King's Lodge Hotel provides a charming and convenient option for some families, it might not be the best fit for everyone.
No, The King's Lodge Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The King's Lodge Hotel.
No, The King's Lodge Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at The King's Lodge Hotel.