Ickworth Hotel

My husband and I stayed at The Ickworth with our 5 month old baby. The hotel staff were really helpful even prior to our visit by allowing us to book in compliementary sessions for our son at the creche (for 2 hours at a time), asking us about what items we would like in our room etc. When we arrived we were all very impressed by the room size and the facilities available. In our room we had a bottle warmer, fridge for cooling bottles, bottle sterilizer, changing mat and cot as well as the other usual facilities. On top of this we were also amazed by how much the staff were willing to help us, providing a bottle cleaning service and doing this 'ad-hoc' sometimes. This fantastic level of service also extended to our meal times and the staff at the creche, when staff were at pains to make our stay as stress-free as possible. We just stop short of the full 5 star review as the food was pricey for what it was and some areas of the hotel were dated and in need of renovation (which in fairness is going on). Also it was a shame there was limited space for changing within the swimming pool area. On water, in spite of their being 'hot water' signs all over the place regarding the taps and shower in the bathroom, you are likely to forget! If you have small children I'd make sure you're careful when running bath/shower/taps. All in all I think both of us had our expectations surpassed by how easy the holiday was for us when being in the hotel, the facilities provided were fantastic. I would recommend this hotel for a holiday with young children.

We were almost fooled when we pulled up to the hotel and walked around the grounds before our check in. Unfortunately when you go into the hotel you're met with a dated, dirty, miserable hotel. It’s understandable that the building is old but it doesn't excuse the fact that the carpets, windows, bathrooms etc are dirty and dusty. The carpets in our room didn’t even reach the wall in some parts! We stayed out of the hotel and room for as long as possible. Which isn't ideal considering the luxury price tags for the stay. Once we got back to the hotel we spent the evening debating whether to pack up and drive home. The room was boiling which isn't ideal with a baby. There is no AC but we received a desk fan upon request. When we got into our room the window was wide open probably because staff know how hot the rooms are. This meant we had about 4 or 5 flies in our room. We had breakfast included in our stay… The food was ok. There is a continental breakfast section in the middle of the main hall way incase you want to awkwardly get in everyone’s way who’s walking past. The staff were miserable and all very young. I can’t blame them for their mood though, I imagine I’d be the same working there. We planned on going swimming at the pool but I can’t comment on that as we were so desperate on leaving we didn’t bother. When we checked out we weren’t even asked how our stay was. I can only assume this is because they hear a lot of complaints. If you would like to visit the Ickworth estate then maybe just visit for the day and enjoy the grounds.

Our (three) rooms were the mid-range 'classic' style. There was some need of refurbishment of some items in the rooms but that reflected the age and ambiance of the property. The ensuites were modern and up-to-date. We had dinner, bed and breakfast and the food was of a high quality with excellent service.

To summarise - highly recommended in every way! You won't be disappointed if you stay here. Now for the detail... When we arrived, we were given a very warm welcome at reception. The lady even knew our little boy’s name (I assume either from the booking details, or some sort of magic!) and spoke with him, which absolutely made his day. There was an activity pack for him to take, which kept him entertained. She showed us to our room, which was spacious, clean, and had a fantastic view. At dinner, the Manager came over and very kindly offered us a complimentary (free) bottle of Prosecco (we’re still not entirely sure why, but we happily accepted!). He also checked in a few times throughout the meal to make sure we had everything we needed. The food and service were excellent - definitely a 10/10. After dinner, we stopped off in the library for a little while, which had a great selection of toys and games for the kids. On the way back to our room, we spotted a table in the hallway with biscuits and milk set out for the youngsters to help themselves - it's the small touches like this that set this hotel apart. There’s also a cinema room available, which is a nice addition. Our boy isn’t a fan of cinemas, but it’s a great idea for families who are. In the morning, after breakfast, we spent some time in the lounge. A lovely lady named Ellena, who is the supervisor and deserves a special mention, kindly offered to bring us coffees and took the time to chat with our boy. She was incredibly friendly and welcoming. After checking out, we spent a few hours exploring the Ickworth grounds. The long walks are peaceful, scenic, and definitely worth doing.

The grounds are lovely but the hotel itself is rather tired. It would have been fine if we hadn’t been paying ‘luxury hotel’ prices. The food in particular was shockingly bad value - very mediocre but at posh London restaurant prices. I couldn’t believe a bowl of pasta and tomato sauce was £18 - it was the sort of thing you would get as a kids meal in a mid-range pub. Another vegetarian dish was £23 but with aubergine so badly cooked I couldn’t cut it. On the third evening I just played safe and had chips. The beds were very bouncy and I could feel the springs through them. Unfortunately we had very small children in the room above us so were woken in the night a few times as they were up and pacing around. Our own kids loved the pool and the relaxed atmosphere, but were too old to be interested (or indeed in the 10 year old’s case qualify) for the organised activities in the ‘den’. Overall, there are a few things that would make the hotel significantly better that don’t require massive changes - principally the food! I have only been driven to write a review because I think people should know about the disconnect between the 4* prices and the disappointing food and facilities. I would have given feedback in person but the very young staff (although friendly and perfectly helpful) obviously didn’t want it - we were not asked once if the room/meals etc were ok.