I had a bit of an unfortunate stay at the Felbridge hotel. We had booked the overnight spa trip for…read more£238. We arrived at the hotel and upon entry we were greeted by a clean, well laid out reception and a smiley receptionist. We booked in and were given brief directions to our room, but we did have the offer of help with our bags, which I think is an improvement after reading some older reviews. We got to our superior double room and couldn't see a thing, so we fumbled for the light switches, which did nothing. Then for the lamps, which also didn't switch on. My other half found the phone with the light from his mobile and phoned reception, who told us we need to put our room key in the slot near the door to switch on the electricity. It ruined our first impression of the room a tad that they forgot to tell us this when we checked in. We had a peek out the window to a terrible view of a huge hedge and some wood construction materials in an alleyway. We did our room check and when opening the wardrobe we were horrified to find a grotty pair of socks on the shelf from a previous customer. I'm still haunted by the image now. I think the housekeeper was rather distracted when they got to our room as the bin was also full of coffee and empty packets, and a glob of hair. We had massages booked for 4pm and we went down 20 mins early. We had robes and slippers with the room (My other half had one with a yellow stain on the shoulders/collar which made him uneasy) and were able to wear them down to the spa. We got there before quarter to and filled out the health forms. When we handed them in we were told to wait for the therapists. They arrived just after 4 and we were confused as to why they were introducing themselves to us individually, then we were incredibly disappointed to discover they don't have double massage rooms so we were in separate rooms. I was so miserable and really not relaxed, as we usually hold hands when we receive massages (I know, soppy fools). The therapist was a lovely lady, she was very calm and asked me if there were any specific points of tension. The actual massage was really painful (She said I was really knotted) and I wish I spoke up and said something as I felt quite a lot of pain the following day too. Afterwards we went in to the pool area and relaxed in the jacuzzi for a while. It was a lovely layout in the pool area and the jacuzzi was larger than that of of other hotels. I was rather disappointed to see that you only get 1 hour of free internet when you plug your laptop in on the room desk. I think it was £6 per hour after that. The food menu and room service was a bit too posh for us, we're a bit of a McDonalds couple. I genuinely take my hat off to the manager; Carl. He dealt with our complaints well particularly as after all of it plus back ache from the massage, I was rather upset. He offered us an alternative room should we decide to stay, and met us directly to personally apologise when we decided to go home. He refunded our money and called my Fiancé the day up to ensure we got home okay and were feeling better. Because of the service I find myself wanting to try and exaggerate the positive points of our stay, which is a change for me. The customer service we received during our short time is second to none, and is the reason for me leaving a more positive than usual review. I wouldn't discourage anyone visiting the hotel, as I know our negative experiences are rare. And we'll most likely be back for the £15 a day spa passes!

Haven't used hotel but the spa is not what I call 4 star for a 4 star hotel…read more Dirty Broken lights hanging off the wall Pool always had problems with water Changing room was meant to supply bath mats but never was any

I want to be quite clear, I understand these are challenging times for the hospitality industry…read more However, not allowing people to reschedule non-refundable stays affected by Covid travel restrictions is, to me, unacceptable. I did not want a refund, I had to reschedule because of govt restrictions. Two nights was almost $1,000. That's lost. Be wary of this!!

My husband and I spent one night here as a special treat during our layover from Gatwick. It's…read moredifficult enough to go home after an amazing trip but staying at Alexander House made it even harder! This historic house lives up to its reputation for stellar accommodations. It's pretty remote, about a 20-minute taxi ride (approximately 20 GBP) but we appreciated the quiet atmosphere. We booked a room here last minute and were placed in the Rochester suite -- beautiful accommodations with a king bed, a perfectly romantic bathroom, and all the amenities we could have needed. Access to the spa facilities were included in our stay so we enjoyed the afternoon lounging in the spa and plunge pool. Next time, we'll splurge on a treatment or too. We walked for about 20 minutes to a nearby pub for dinner but there are two restaurants on location that looked divine. We did have breakfast here the next morning (20 GBP per person) and it was a great way to kickstart the day before we headed home on our transatlantic flight. I would highly recommend staying here. It's straight out of a Jane Austen novel and I hope I have a reason to return one day.

Jolly Good Time It's…read morebeen a while since our memorable visit, but I'm writing this review of GRAVETYE MANOR in the memory of my mother who passed away just three months ago. Having her own colorful English-style gardens in suburban America for most of her life---on a much MUCH smaller scale, of course---and being an exceptional cook--- Gravetye was one of the particularly wonderful highlights of our road trip. That, and seeing the Queen. (Later, below.) It was while looking through my photos of England and Scotland, that I came across those that I'd taken of our visit to Gravetye. Wondering if there might be reviews of this country estate from anyone on Yelp, I found not even one. The "press" link on their site showed several accolades from a number of publications, so I decided to write one, too. I'm sure that this magnificent manor is well-known throughout the U.K., but by probably only a handful of visitors from across the pond. Gravetye deserved a least a single Yelp mention from a smitten Yankee. Our schedule that day was to arrive before nightfall at a destination further south, but heading down the M23 I spotted a highway sign reading that the East Grinstead exit was just ahead. That name rang a bell. Quickly scanning my notes, sure enough, it was where Gravetye Manor was located. "Anyone ready to eat?" My husband and my parents were all enthusiastically in favor. "Well, be prepared for one heck of a meal. Turn off here." (I wasn't driving. Yikes, no !) Traveling plans included 4 to 8 points of interest to visit each day on a leisurely, un-rushed day-time road tour. I also noted little side-trips, and only if it might fit into our schedule, would we detour. Gravetye Manor was one of those. (Per Gourmet magazine it was one of the finest country inns/restaurants in Great Britain and Europe. This would be one unforgettable experience. It was.) Taking country roads, we arrived at the entry. Like driving through a park, with lawns, trees and shrubs lining the winding drive, after half of a mile the circa 1598 manor comes into full view. This is one old house. Already decently attired---but for comfortable road touring---we hoped we'd pass inspection. Greeted with approving smiles--whew---we were graciously welcomed and led into a spacious wood-paneled, vaulted-ceiling dining room. Every course was perfectly prepared and perfectly delectable---starters, salads, and entrees of two beef, one chicken, and one rabbit. (Not me. I'll never eat bunnies.) And desserts? Almost too beautiful to eat. But, of course, we did. And the wines were excellent recommendations. Something that we'd never experienced before, however, but one that left a delightfully lasting impression, was the line of probably eight white-shirted and black-slacked or skirted servers standing along the wall near our table. Quiet as church mice, facing straight ahead and about a foot apart with hands behind their backs, at-the-ready and providing anything needed for luncheon guests at the seven or eight white linen-covered tables. I couldn't help but imagine that this is what it must feel like to be an aristocrat or a royal, famished---and ready to dig in---after a morning of polo matches (ah, yes), or a hunt (uh, never). The manor, the food, the gardens, the lush inviting grounds---all spectacular and highly recommended. To stay here is a bit pricey, however, so having had previously arranged and paid for accomodations elsewhere, we saved ourselves a quid or two. (tee-hee) Now, on to the Queen. (And Queen Mum, too.) There we were---like typical tourists doing what typical tourists are obliged to do---waiting to observe the "changing of the guard" at Buckingham Palace. ...wait... Is this part of it? Two 1940-ish shiny tone-on-tone gray luxury motorcars---each one nearly as long as a schoolbus---pulled into the courtyard and drove slowly along the wrought iron fencing, past the crowd of us commoners. Crikey! HRH waving from the window. Mum, too, from the car just behind. Unprepared, I quickly snapped a few pictures. But because this ceremony "bonus" was a total surprise---and I hadn't set my camera for closer shots---I could only hope they'd turn out. Not. All out-of-focus. WE know who these obscured images are, but to anyone else looking at these photos, they could be just two blurry-faced British ladies in big fancy hats. Oh, well . . .

Had a great lunch here in the restaurant today. The gardens are looking beautiful as the spring…read moreweather has finally turned up. I think the quality of the food is getting better and the new owner continues to put his heart into the business.

The Copthorne Hotel is not exactly by London Gatwick Airport but I'm glad it's off the beaten path…read moreand provides momentary seclusion from the outside world. Those of you who travel often know there's only one side of the picture being displayed as many are so quick to share their envy or "wow your so lucky, "....not really. What makes this hotel unique for me is the seclusion, private patio deck and beautiful view providing a few hours of serenity. Another bright spot about this hotel is they provide shuttle service to and from Gatwick Airport for 4 Pounds.

From the owner: Copthorne Hotel Effingham Gatwick is a 4-star hotel located in a picturesque parkland estate that…read moredates back to 1841 just 10 minutes dive away from Gatwick International Airport.

New mattresses needed in our opinion - everything else about our stay met expectations…read more As a a retired small lodging business owner we know a thing or too....and the Marriott was impressive and also quiet when staying, as racing only takes places a few days a year. The check in was efficient, our room upgraded to a race course view and very spacious it was too. One negative which lost this review a star, was our bed mattress...it is at the end of it's life as you could feel the springs. However we managed to have 'some fun' and it didn't squeak. That said no one would have heard as there were very few clients staying! You don't want to hear other clients do you, as it's irritating along with slamming bedroom doors, which this hotel did not suffer from. Very clean hotel as well as the outdoor areas. The pool is compact but again lovely as no one was in it. The staff were also very pleasant. The hotel sign on the street appears unlit and thus it was difficult to find the entrance as that is on a small road with no street lighting. Even with GPS we missed the entrance four times!

Cute and quiet location. Marta G and guy helped me with luggage so kindly and greeted me by name…read more Also bar staff Emily and Dody from Bali were super kind. Gem of a small hotel with good service a bit off the beaten path. However rooms smell of smoke SUPER STRONGLY and planes from Gatwick are super noisy.

The Ashdown Park Hotel exceeded my expectations in terms of customer service. I traveled with a…read moredisabled friend, and the concierges went out of their way to ensure she was able to travel the grounds as needed. We were given a beautiful ground floor suite that included a large jacuzzi bathtub. The dinner restaurant was a bit fancy so we opted for room service, ordering the hamburger option. Our meals were wonderful, and they included perfectly crisp French fries. The price was reasonable. For relaxation, we made our way over to the calming spa area and swam in the indoor pool. We met lovely guests and had a fantastic day. The jacuzzi was small though, only holding four to six comfortably. Early morning I strolled through the stunning property and located the secret garden. Making my way through the black and golden gate, I was greeted with a rainbow arching over the mossy fountain. I sat for a few minutes of solitude. Vibrant, interesting stained glass windows and arches can be found all over the property. We were told the property was a converted convent. Downside, the rooms are old and the one we stayed in did not have air conditioning. Perhaps some rooms do have it. They did provide a fan and with our open windows, we were comfortable. I would definitely recommend this hotel and would stay here again. Special thanks to Paul and Paul, our concierges.

A well presented hotel in a stunning location. We were…read morestaying for 2 nights due my sister getting married there. On the first night I was dissapointed when the head waiter had a hissy fit when we turned up for dinner without a dinner jacket. Considering the price we were paying I felt this was slightly unreasonable.