Down Hall Country House Hotel

Reasons for being in Bishop’s Stortford are few and far between. Reasons for staying there overnight are practically unheard of. However, if for some reason you do find yourself with a need to crash in the area and are not troubled by money matters — then the Down Hall Hotel is for you.
The Down Hall Hotel is pretty amazing. I found it by mistake. Me and a friend of mine like to go for drives at 2am when the rest of the world is sleeping. We were driving around in the middle of nowhereville and saw this sign that was almost entirely hidden by hedges and looked as if it was made in 1842. It pointed out the direction to a hotel. We decided to follow it, hoping we’d be able to find a cup of tea.
So we stumbled our way through the tiny country streets until eventually we came across the hotel. The Down Hall hotel doesn’t look like your regular Holiday Inn. This place is a mansion. You feel like royalty in this place. Especially after you get a pot of tea and it costs you the same as a flight to Eastern Europe.
I tend to not like places for the rich; as they tend to be pretentious. But this place was just kind of lovely. The rooms where you eat and drink look like places in ‘The West Wing’ where people used to have meetings. Just pure class, and great service.
I’ve not stayed here — but we did go for a wander and managed to find a room that wasn’t locked. It was pretty great. Spacious, comfortable and colourful.
If you need to get away, then maybe this little place in Bishop’s Stortford is just for you. The setting is idyllic and they even have some lovely grounds you can walk in. In fact, this place isn’t too far from Stansted if you’re looking for somewhere to stay the night before your flight (to Eastern Europe or otherwise)