Overview

Having looked over this delightful historical hotel, and even though it’s not the best of days with a light rain falling, we still ventured outside so as to see what else the hotel offered. please read part one to set the scene for your visit here. OUR REVIEW The honey coloured Cotswold stone is a wonderful addition to this attractive hotel, with lots of parking bays (photo 1) and modern additions have been kept in character with the rest of the buildings, with pleasant pathways to encourage exploration (photo 2). We now wanted to venture outside and followed the well signed posts (3) and took the ramp (4) to lead us to gardens, which did mean a short ride across a soggy lawn (5) into a lovely and well maintained wall garden, spring flowers just beginning to open up (6). Beside this area, the way ahead, over grassland again from this spot (7) pointed the way towards the river Thames, but to wet for us today, but other exits from hotel can take you along paths towards the river, and the St Johns barge, so we doubled back into the warmth of the hotel (8) and took the corridor (9) towards the pleasant indoor pool (10) with a bubbling heated jacuzzi inviting us to jump in, ( but the steps put my husband off) but it truly is a delightful swimming pool with plain elegant simple colours in the lovely Leaf Spa, which has a sauna and steam room available and they say a very good fitness centre, but sadly reached by the use of a staircase (11) and fit or not, without a lift available, there’s no way my husband could even think about it (12). Now though, having throughly enjoyed our visit here for a few hours, we decided to move on (13) and took the paved walkway towards our car parked up in the disabled bays a few yards along (14) and drove out of the grounds (15). Just a short drive later we arrived at Sandford-on-Thames by the river itself, with many a coloured barge moored up for the day (16. During the warmer days this will be a delightful place to sit and watch the world go by, with many a wooden bench for you to relax a while (17) or move nearer to the Kings Arms inn (18) overlooking a small lock and countryside views (19). OUR FINAL THOUGHTS. A bit disappointed with the grounds, very tidy and well kept, but basically grassland, with very little colour, and even the path towards the old barge did not tempt us today, but as you will note from our part one review of the hotel, it’s well worth your visiting.

Transport & Parking

You are able to park up quite close to entrance for hotel, in one of the three disabled bays, and a brick pathway will lead you into the hotel itself.

Access

Inside the hotel it is all on the level, and exits to the grounds have ramps provided for you,it’s just a matter then on how you wish to view the landscape, across grassland, or make your way around on paths provided.

Toilets

We give 3.5 stars as it’s a bit of a ride to find the toilets, and although on the level, it’s a bit of a nuisance. However, the disabled toilet is large, very clean, and well looked after, just simple plain tiles, but it has pull cords and grab handle, with plants of room to spin around in there.

Staff

Very good, they will help to make your trip here enjoyable.

Photos