St Mary at the Elms Tours

2.5/5 Stars Our stay here was a bit of a mixed bag. Upon arrival, we joked that we'd somehow entered the Twilight Zone – the vibe was more "motel" than "hotel." The staff were friendly enough, which was a definite plus. Our room was clean, for the most part, but we did notice that the spare pillows had some noticeable stains. Not a deal-breaker, but a bit disappointing. The real issue, though, was the overall atmosphere of the place. It felt deserted, like we were the only guests. The decor was straight out of a classic Western film – think tumbleweeds rolling down the sidewalk at any moment. While it had a certain quirky charm, it didn't exactly scream "luxury" or "modern amenities." If you're looking for a no-frills place to rest your head, this might be okay. However, if you're after a more hotel-like experience, you might want to look elsewhere. Perhaps a bit of renovation and some added amenities could elevate this place from motel vibes to something more impressive. For now, it's an average stop poor stay

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and had found the hotel based on searching for somewhere we hadn’t been before. The staff were very friendly and helpful. It was lovely to be able to walk around the grounds in the evening. While there isn’t a great deal to do in Ware, Scott’s Grotto (only open Saturday afternoon) and Hatfield House (30 minutes drive away) are both worth a visit. Thank you to all who made it an enjoyable weekend away for our family.

Very friendly staff, lovely room, quiet, lovely quaint town, classy shops, park areas and of course the duck pond.