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Summary of reviewsHoliday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG, garners positive reviews across several categories, making it a popular choice among travelers. The hotel's location stands out, being centrally situated in Barrow-in-Furness with easy access to shopping centers, restaurants and key attractions like the Forum Theatre and Lake District. Guests appreciate its peaceful ambiance and proximity to the train station, although some note it can feel lonely at night and slightly out of the way for certain attractions.
The breakfast experience is largely favorable with guests enjoying a variety of hot and cold options in a clean and modern setting. The selection of pastries, cereals and fresh fruit is particularly appreciated, though improvements in variety and space management are suggested.
Dinner at the hotel receives commendation for its surprising quality and availability, though the menu is noted to be somewhat limited and expensive. Despite occasional inconveniences like having to collect room service orders, the food quality and friendly bar scene contribute positively to the dining experience.
The hotel's rooms are consistently praised for their cleanliness, spaciousness and modern amenities. Guests highlight the stylish décor, comfortable beds and practical conveniences such as air conditioning and smart TVs. While most find the room size adequate, some mention minor noise issues and occasional cramped quarters.
Cleanliness is a prominent strong point with the hotel maintaining a spotless environment in both rooms and common areas, contributing to a fresh and inviting atmosphere. The staff's friendliness and helpfulness further enhance the guest experience with many noting the professional and courteous service provided.
The free wifi service is generally reliable and appreciated with guests enjoying the added benefit of Chromecast-enabled TVs. However, the parking situation is a mixed bag; while free parking is available, the limited number of spaces can cause inconvenience.
Families find the hotel particularly accommodating with spacious rooms, child-friendly amenities and a welcoming atmosphere. Breakfast favorites for kids and family-oriented facilities make it a pleasant choice for those traveling with children.
The beds in the primary rooms are highly praised for their comfort, though the sofa beds receive mixed reviews, highlighting a need for improvement. Overall, the hotel delivers a reliable three-star experience that meets and often exceeds expectations, providing a comfortable and convenient stay. Show more
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Categories
3-Star Hotel
This hotel offers express check-in/check-out, a restaurant, and a bar. It also provides family rooms and a terrace, making it suitable for various travelers. Guests can enjoy free WiFi throughout the property and benefit from a 24-hour front desk.
Hotel Taking Steps Towards Sustainability
Family Friendly Hotel
Business Hotel
Accessible Hotel
Room Types
Standard Double Room with Free Hot BreakfastOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, heating and a TV with streaming services. The unit offers 1 bed.
Standard Double Room with Single Sofa Bed and Free Hot BreakfastProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a sofa, a carpeted floor, as well as a TV with streaming services. The unit offers 2 beds.
Standard Twin Room with Free Hot BreakfastProviding free toiletries, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The twin room provides a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, heating and a TV with streaming services. The unit offers 2 beds.
Standard Double Room with Free Hot BreakfastFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, heating and a TV with streaming services. The unit has 1 bed.
Standard Room with Free Hot BreakfastThis room is equipped with a kettle.
Please note, these rooms have either a double bed or two single beds and are allocated subject to availability. Bed configuration cannot be guaranteed.
Double Room with Free Hot Breakfast - AccessibleOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a wardrobe, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, heating, as well as a TV with streaming services. The unit offers 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.8
Excellent
Location
Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG, enjoys a location that appeals widely to its guests for several reasons. Situated in the city center, the hotel is conveniently close to shopping centers, restaurants and local bars, making it an excellent base for exploring all that Barrow-in-Furness has to offer. Many guests highlight its proximity to the Forum Theatre and Town Hall as particularly beneficial, especially for those attending events or on business trips.
The hotel is also praised for being well-connected to the Lake District and other tourist attractions with many picturesque and interesting sites within an hour's drive. Its central town location ensures convenient access to amenities like supermarkets and fast-food restaurants, while still being quiet enough for a peaceful stay. Moreover, the accessibility is emphasized by its short walk to the train station, adding to its appeal for visitors relying on public transportation.
However, some guests feel the location can be lonely at night or a bit out of the way for specific attractions like Lake Windermere. Despite these minor drawbacks, the hotel's position remains its strong point, particularly for those interested in local shopping, dining options and exploring the surrounding Cumbrian nature reserves.
The modern, clean and well-designed rooms contribute to a comfortable stay, complementing the practical advantages of its location. Overall, the Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes stands out as a convenient, centrally located option for both relaxation and exploration.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG, presents a mix of commendations and areas for improvement. Many guests lauded the breakfast for its good value, describing it as lovely, tasty, hot and plentiful with a varied selection of hot and cold options. Positive highlights include clean and modern facilities, a wonderful selection of pastries, cereals, toast, muffins and fresh fruit. Numerous reviews praised the breakfast as fantastic, excellent and even the best they had during their holiday.
However, there are recurring mentions of limitations in variety with some guests desiring more vegan and vegetarian options, mushrooms, fried eggs and black pudding. The breakfast area received criticism for being too small, leading to long queues and limited seating. There were also issues with food not being replenished swiftly, resulting in cold or hard items and a lack of organization during peak times.
Despite some areas needing improvement, the breakfast offerings seem to generally meet guests' expectations, bolstered by friendly and professional staff. For those staying at the hotel, the complimentary breakfast offers a satisfactory start to the day, especially appreciated by those who enjoy a good selection of breakfast items.
Dinner
At the Holiday Inn Express in Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes, dining experiences overall receive a positive nod. Guests were often pleasantly surprised by the quality of both dinner and breakfast with descriptions of amazing and lovely food frequently mentioned. The bar and restaurant scenes also contribute positively, boasting a good menu and boasting great 24-hour food availability.
Despite these positives, there are notable downsides. The menu is reported to be limited, especially past certain hours and some diners found their meals average or had specific grievances such as soggy fish and chips. There were occasional issues with the availability of hot food later in the evening and some guests noted that reservations for evening meals were constrained, especially for smaller parties.
Room service, while praised for its quality, did come with restrictions. Some guests had to collect their food from the reception or go downstairs to the bar to order, which could be inconvenient.
Price is another point of critique with some diners finding the bar and restaurant options expensive. However, hearty dishes and a range of vegan options are available, adding some diversity to the offerings.
Overall, while there's room for improvement in menu variety and pricing, the dining experience at this hotel garners mainly positive feedback for the quality and pleasant surprises in meals.
Rooms
The rooms at Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes receive glowing feedback from guests, reflecting their overall satisfaction. Guests consistently praise the hotel's clean, spacious and modern accommodations. The rooms are often described as spotless with a stylish and cozy ambiance that makes for a comfortable stay. Amenities such as air conditioning, well-equipped bathrooms and modern conveniences like smart TVs and ironing boards are frequently highlighted.
Many reviews mention the generous size of the rooms, providing ample space for relaxation, although there are occasional comments about some rooms being slightly small or cramped. The beds are noted for their comfortable quality, contributing to a restful night's sleep. The hotel maintains a high standard of cleanliness with rooms meticulously tidied and refreshed.
Additionally, guests appreciate the practicality of the room facilities, including the provision of toiletries, hair dryers and in-room ironing equipment. The rooms are also praised for their smart designs and modern touches, making them both visually appealing and functional. Noise insulation seems satisfactory for most, although a few mention traffic noise as a minor drawback.
Overall, the rooms at this hotel appear to meet and often exceed expectations in terms of comfort, cleanliness and modern amenities, ensuring a pleasant stay for visitors.
Beds
At the Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes, the general sentiment regarding the beds leans towards the positive. Guests frequently praised the comfort of the beds with many describing them as very comfortable or particularly comfy. Words like "cozy," "lovely," and "spacious" were commonly used and the beds were often noted to be large and conducive to a good night's sleep. Cleanliness and new mattresses also contributed to favorable impressions.
However, there were some mixed reviews as well. While most found the beds in the rooms to be highly comfortable, there were consistent complaints about the sofa beds, which many guests found uncomfortable. Single and twin beds were occasionally described as small or noisy and some guests noted issues with firmness or sagging mattresses.
Overall, the main beds in the rooms garnered praise for their comfort and size, providing many guests with restful nights, although improvements could be made with the sofa beds and single beds to ensure a uniformly comfortable experience.
Cleanliness
Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG receives high marks for its cleanliness from guests. The hotel consistently maintains clean facilities and rooms with many reviewers describing their experiences as very clean, spotlessly clean and impeccably maintained. Modern and tidy environments are particularly noted, providing a fresh and inviting atmosphere for travelers. Bathrooms, too, are mentioned frequently for their superior cleanliness. Guests appreciate the modern, up-to-date decor and well-maintained common areas, adding to the overall pleasant experience. Despite some minor issues with occasional lapses in daily room cleaning or specific concerns like a hair in the shower or dirty cutlery at breakfast, the overwhelming sentiment is that the hotel excels in keeping its space clean and organized. Clean towels, fresh sheets and a generally spotless environment contribute to making guests feel comfortable and welcomed during their stay. Overall, the hotel's commitment to cleanliness stands out, reinforcing its reputation as a reliable and inviting place to stay.
Staff
The Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes impresses with its notably friendly and helpful staff. They are consistently described as very friendly, welcoming and polite, ensuring a warm atmosphere from arrival through to check-out. The front desk receives specific praise for their friendliness and the day manager is highlighted as organized and helpful. Many guests appreciate the staff's knowledge and attentiveness, often mentioning their professional and courteous nature.
Several reviews mention that the staff go above and beyond to make guests feel comfortable and supported. Whether it's handling busy periods smoothly or providing comprehensive support, the team is commended for their approachability and willingness to assist. The staff do everything possible to enhance the guest experience, even accommodating special requests and providing helpful information throughout the stay.
Despite a few isolated comments about less satisfactory interactions, the overwhelming sentiment is that the staff significantly contribute to a positive and comfortable stay. Their cheerful and polite demeanor adds to the overall excellent service, making the hotel a standout choice for travelers seeking a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
Wi-Fi
Guests at the Holiday Inn Express in Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes appreciate the free wifi provided on site, noting that the signal was generally good and the internet speed faster than anticipated. The ease of accessing the wifi stands out as a positive feature, although some found connecting laptops to be somewhat complicated. A notable perk is the TV equipped with Chromecast and screen mirroring options, enabling guests to stream services like Sky Sports via NowTV. While some connectivity issues were reported, overall, visitors found the wifi service to meet their expectations well.
Parking
The parking situation at the Holiday Inn Express in Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes generally presents a mixed experience for guests. On the positive side, there are free parking options available, either onsite or across the road and the hotel offers an overflow car park. Despite these benefits, reviews consistently point out the limited availability of parking spaces with many guests mentioning that the hotel's car park is quite small and often full. Some appreciated the proximity of a public pay-and-display car park, albeit noting that it can be expensive and the cost of parking needs to be covered during the day. Guests reported ease of parking if they arrived early but acknowledged that a more extensive parking solution is necessary to accommodate all visitors. Overall, while some guests found the available parking sufficient and appreciated free spots, others faced difficulties and suggested improvements to better handle the parking needs.
Family
Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG, is highly praised for its family-friendly atmosphere and extensive amenities tailored for children. The hotel features spacious family rooms ideal for larger groups, providing a comfortable and pleasant stay. Guests highlighted the availability of toddler toys and child-friendly games, creating an engaging environment for younger guests. Families appreciated the friendly and accommodating staff, who went out of their way to interact with children and introduce them to kids’ activities.
Breakfast at the hotel receives commendations for its variety and quality with options like hot chocolate in the lounge, muffins and Nutella being particular favorites among children. The buffet breakfast is noted for its wide selection, making it convenient and enjoyable for families to start their day.
The hotel's atmosphere and amenities create a great base for family holidays with a family-style environment that makes everyone feel welcome. Despite some comments on the room size when using the sofa bed, the overall spaciousness of the family rooms is appreciated. Located in a good family neighborhood, it is easily accessible and convenient for family travels and excursions.
In summary, Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes stands out as an excellent choice for families looking for a comfortable, engaging and friendly place to stay.
3 Star
Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG, offers a solid three-star experience that appeals particularly to business travelers. As part of the IHG family, this establishment delivers consistent service and amenities one would expect from a three-star property. The accommodations provide good value and are marked by comfort and convenience, earning it praise as an ideal spot for business travel. Not only are the facilities considered appropriate for its rating—such as a business center and basic yet satisfactory breakfast options—but some guests even believe it merits an extra star. With its practical amenities and solid three-star service, it successfully meets the expectations of travelers seeking functionality and ease during their stay.
Business
Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG, is an ideal choice for business travelers. The hotel is strategically located for convenience, making it a suitable option for business trips. Guests have access to onsite business facilities, which are valued features for professionals on the go. The hotel's business center is noted for its utility, contributing to a comfortable and effective stay for those traveling for work.
The establishment is well-presented with professional and friendly staff enhancing the overall experience. It stands out for offering good value for money, which is a notable difference from other business-oriented hotels frequently encountered. Whether for a short business trip or an extended stay, the hotel delivers on the essentials needed for a productive visit.
No, Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG.
No, Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG.
No, Holiday Inn Express - Barrow-in-Furness & South Lakes by IHG doesn't have a gym.