Stretham Old Engine 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

Room was just as advertised and had everything we needed - except hair conditioner. Easy and helpful check-in staff. Clean. The collection of buildings were absolutely stunningly cute and well-maintained, especially for the age, and nice explorable grounds. Not much open in the area or walkable past evening time. Quick cab ride to Stanstead. Beds a bit on the short size, rooms could use fans in the summer. Opening the windows was an option but we were on the road side which was surprisingly noisy for most of the night, in addition to very loud planes overhead nearly every 5 minutes well past 11 pm. Nice place, but bring ear plugs or a white noise machine.

Double glazing is needed at the front of the property. I realise this is probably a listed building but extra sliding glass could be fitted. It was so noisy outside that even wearing ear plugs I got very little sleep.