"Holiday Inn Express is at the budget end of the hotel market, comparable to brands such as Travelodge and Premier Inn. From this end of the hospitality industry, my expectations are fairly simple: reasonably priced rooms, clean and tidy accommodation that isn’t overly tired, on-site disabled parking, friendly staff, and the option of a reasonably priced cooked breakfast. With that in mind, here is my experience.
Booking:
Booking through the IHG website was straightforward. We paid £226 for three nights, which works out at just over £75 per night for a standard double room. Bath is a high-demand tourist destination and can be expensive, even out of season, which this was (the week before the Easter holidays).
Compared to similar hotels in the area, this was around £20 per night cheaper and had on-site parking, which ultimately influenced our decision. However, I missed the parking cost at the time of booking. Had I seen it, I would not have booked this hotel.
Arrival:
The hotel was easy to find using sat nav and is clearly visible from Lower Bristol Road, located next to a cemetery. The surrounding area appears to be a former industrial area currently undergoing regeneration, with a lot of construction work ongoing. It’s not the picturesque setting you might expect when staying in Bath, but it didn’t feel unsafe—just a little run down.
The hotel is around a 20-minute walk from the historic centre and sits on the opposite side of the river to most attractions. There is an Indian restaurant opposite, but most independent eateries are a 15–20 minute walk along a main road and across a busy junction.
First Impressions & Parking:
The building itself is modern and functional, if a little lacking in character. There is a reasonable amount of parking, but it is not exclusive to hotel guests and is not sufficient for all rooms. There are six disabled bays directly outside the entrance, although we observed these being misused (e.g. by delivery vehicles).
Parking is not owned by the hotel. Standard pricing is £75 per 24 hours, reduced to £50 per 24 hours for hotel guests. You can pay for 24 hours and leave and return within that period, but if the car park is full on your return, there is no guarantee of a space despite having paid. Thankfully during our stay it was seldom to capacity.
There is no additional reduction for Blue Badge holders, regardless of mobility needs. This added £150 to our stay, effectively increasing the room rate from £75 per night to £125 per night in a budget hotel, out of season.
While this information is technically on the website, it is easy to miss. In our case, we didn’t see it.
As my husband is a wheelchair user, alternative parking options were not practical. Using cheaper parking elsewhere would have required repeated drop-offs and collections, managing a wheelchair and luggage over distance, and raising concerns about vehicle security.
To add to the frustration, Bath allows Blue Badge holders to park free in many on-street locations, which makes the hotel’s parking charges feel excessive.
Payment was also inconvenient. The machine inside the hotel only allows payment for one day at a time. There is an app, but it did not accept the hotel discount code when we tried to use it. We felt forced into taking the car out because the alternative meant a day of clock watching to ensure we returned to the hotel to renew the parking.
Staff:
The staff were excellent throughout—friendly, professional, and helpful. On arrival, we were greeted promptly and asked whether we needed one or two keys. Although upon booking there were no accessible rooms available, the receptionist acknowledged my husband’s wheelchair use and ensured we were comfortable with the standard room.
Bar and breakfast staff were equally polite and attentive, and the hotel appeared well staffed throughout our stay.
Room:
We stayed in Room 148 on the first floor, overlooking the entrance. The room included tea and coffee facilities, a television, a small desk suitable for a laptop, and sockets (including USB) on both sides of the bed.
There was a small sofa (likely a sofa bed suitable for one small child), an iron, ironing board, hairdryer, one suitcase stand, and hanging space for approximately six items.
The ensuite included a shower, toilet, and sink, with basic toiletries and dual-voltage shaver sockets. The shower pressure was moderate—not weak, but not particularly powerful—and the temperature was adequate, though not very hot.
The room was clean and reasonably well maintained, with expected minor wear and tear. Housekeeping attended daily. There was also sufficient space to accommodate a wheelchair comfortably.
The bathroom tended to feel quite cold, particularly when stepping out of the shower.
Bed:
The bedding was clean and fresh. The mattress was firm but comfortable, possibly with a topper. Pillows were also quite firm and not entirely to my preference, but still adequate for a good night’s sleep.
Room temperature could be adjusted, although mornings felt noticeably cool once out of bed.
Communal Areas:
The hotel was clean, quiet, and well maintained. Corridors were well lit and clutter-free. The recessed doorways were particularly helpful, as housekeeping trolleys could be moved into alcoves, allowing wheelchair access along the corridor during morning room maintenance.
Breakfast & Restaurant:
Breakfast is included and runs from 6:30am to 9:30am on weekdays. The buffet included croissants, toast, cereals, yogurt, fruit, and a basic full English breakfast, along with tea, coffee, and juices.
While not the widest selection, it was perfectly acceptable for a budget hotel—especially given it is included in the room rate.
The bar area also offers light snacks in the evening (e.g. pizza and toasties), and the space itself is bright, clean, and comfortable.
Lifts:
There is one lift and stair access. The lift accommodates around three to four people, or one wheelchair with one or two others. The doors close quite quickly, which may be difficult when reversing a wheelchair out.
Overall:
This hotel meets expectations in many areas for a budget chain: clean rooms, friendly staff, and a decent included breakfast.
However, the parking situation significantly undermines the value, particularly for disabled guests. If you do not require parking, it represents good value for Bath. If you do, especially with accessibility needs, this should be carefully considered before booking."
