We're planning a weekend excursion (from London) up to Stratford. We were hoping to do Stratford in day-trip, but with how long it takes to get up and back, we figured a night in a hotel would be more sane--plus we'd like to visit Warwick on day 2 before returning to London. I'd love suggestions for hotels in Stratford. Something clean, central (handy to town or station) to get us (two adults and two children) a good night's rest for one night, but under 75 pounds a night (is that possible?). Then the train itineraries to Stratford are nuts--crazy combos of rail/walking/bus. What is the deal with that? I expected getting to Stratford from London to be much more simple. Any tips on that? Many thanks!

There are through trains from London Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon (there's only one station in the town). Schedules are on www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Direct trains, in principle, run every couple of hours from London Marylebone to Stratford, taking two hours.

However, there's a major reconstruction programme going on around Bicester, and this may well mean that direct trains won't be running some weekends - the time fewest people travel. If you're failing to get direct trains at www.nationalrail.co.uk, you're probably aiming for a weekend when there's work on. Your choice then is between whatever complicated alternative might have been set up and driving.

But are you sure you're feeding in the right Stratford? You want Stratford-upon-Avon.

Yes, I've got the right Stratford. I've spent a lot of time on nationalrail.co.uk and there are no direct trains, and they all involve some kind of bus/train (some even add a leg on foot) combo. We must be going on a weekend affected by construction--it's everywhere here now (the tube has been a real treat at weekends!). So I guess we're stuck with this crummy patchwork itinerary or check coach options.

There are a number of central hotels in Stratford. the one nearest the theatre is (I can't remember what it used to be called but it seems to have turned into a Thistle) advertising rooms from £59. The Shakespeare is more town centre and is advertising from £78. The Swan's Nest is on the other side of the river and is advertising from £56. The Falcon is opposite the Shakespear and is advertising from £45; and the one I used to work in, the White Swan, which is about half way between the station and the river, is advertising from £40.

It may not shock you to know there are dozens to choose from. Those are the central ones with character, I consider not dives but not mega dear, either

Sheila, thanks so much! Which of these would you recommend most? To your knowledge would any of these be unwelcoming to small children? Thanks!

I spent a lot of time in stratford upon avon with a client of mine. therefore, i got to know some hotels.

the white swan looks lovely from the outside and quite charming as you enter. however, they have some of the most dreadful rooms in stratford. i believe they have exec rooms in the back, though. despite being an excellent customer (dozens of nights in the off season) i was treated horribly by a staff who could not care less. one time, i (very nicely) reported that i had no hot water in the shower --- i was rudely told, "no problem...take a bath". when asking for a quiet room, i was constantly given the first room that every guest has to walk by. the doors and walls are very thin and this place is loud. do not stay here.

the grosvenor (just recently affiliated with best western) is decent. they were charging about £65/night with breakfast. their staff is also quite unfriendly but overall it is the best hotel option.

my least favourite is the stratford manor. don't stay here.

the stratford victoria is OK but for the money, the grosvenor is better. vic is close to the train however.

i also stayed at the big one on the river, by the leisure centre..that one is nice but without charm.

unless you can find a nice family run b&b, you will find that the service in stratford (hotels and restaurants) is awful. they just don't care and work with the assumption that 95% of the people just visit once.

Which date and time are you travelling? I've never seen a journey on the National Rail website that involves walking. When buses replace trains, they normally leave from outside the station, though it's still a tiresome business, best avoided if possible.

Our experience with Stratford hotels used to be always somewhere between awful and barely tolerable.

So, before we bought a house reasonably nearby, we rented self-catering flats by the night. The RSC used to do deals for them with theatre tickets. The only alternative to watching a play at night in Stratford is eating in the town's dreadful eateries, so since the one thing Stratford does outstandingly is putting on Shakespeare plays, the decision's a no-brainer. Few experiences in this world are more enjoyable than looking around the theatre in Stratford and seeing how many children are both in the audience and manifestly having a great time.

If those packages aren't going any more (and I can't find them on the RSC website) look for Lysander Court at www.apartmentservice.com/LYCOSTAV.htm. The deal used to include the fixings for an adequate Sunday morning fry-up.

Clean, no incomprehensible staff with attitude and a few seconds' walk from the theatre.

Incidentally, don't miss the Guild Chapel, which still has some medieval murals of infinitely greater interest than the tat so prevalent elsewhere in the town.

It's a very long time since I worked at the White Swan- my aunt used to live next door- but even then it was a bit about largest number through in shortest time.

Of the ones I listed, I'd probably stay at the Thistle. Of the ones I didn't list, I'd stay at the Welcombe if money were no object.

We're planning for this weekend, April 1 & 2. I did see at least one itinerary that included a walking portion. I'm seriously considering taking the coach, because although it's a bit longer (than some rail itineraries, but not all) there are no changes. Not to mention it's cheaper.

From the sound of it, it seems as if Stratford isn't such a lovely place to visit (bad food, bad hotels, etc.). I'm going to need to research the hotel options more. We just need something basic, but something a little friendly and quiet might be nice. Are there better options in Warwick? Thanks to everyone!

The hotels aren't wonderful, but don't be put off if they're cheap.

You can get the Moathouse (which has a pool, and some refurbished rooms) for only 65GBP a night which really is nothing. Don't go expecting luxury..British hotels are never wonderful outside of London if they're not five star, and even then, they lack a lot in atmosphere.

thanks, m2k...it was the moathouse i was referring to (by the leisure centre). i had forgotten the name. that place is pretty decent compared to the others and a bargain if you can get it for £65. i'm not so sure it is widely available at that price as the usual cost is more toward £100.

i have also stayed at the welcombe (in a nice suite when my clients were feeling generous). however, you cannot walking into town from there.

in stratford, like many places in the UK, the hotels suffer from the problems of britishness. even the newer places (stratford manor and victoria) are dreadfully designed....dark wood, faux medieval look. just awful, really. nothing is fit for purpose...the shower curtains extend about 1cm into the bath and of course chase you around rather than keep the water in. and of course, everyone loves germ trapping wooden toilet seats in a hotel --great idea (and they don't stay up by themselves). the bathrooms look like they are from an NHS hospital. they are left to be run by young, inexperienced poles as the british management are completely incompetent. and these former soviet bloc countries are not known for their customer service. the stratford vic and manor are not cheap hotels either (£85-100 for a single).

as m2k suggests, if it is not a top class place, most of the time it is a joke of poor hotel design (carpet in the toilet, etc) and poor service. even in so called backward countries you can expect so much better in terms of the plumbing, aircon, heat, toilet/bath design. why do you think britons love to travel abroad?

and it's a shame that so many eastern european young people are getting their experience in the british hospitality industry rather than in a country that actually knows how to do it.