My honest review of Surrey’s ‘£10 spa’ hotel just 30 minutes from London

Lovely views from the small but pleasant spa (Picture: Guildford Harbour)

Staring at the glass front of Surrey’s Guildford Harbour Hotel, I must admit, my heart sank.

I could picture it already: grayscale decor, meeting rooms galore and lots of loud business-people on serious-sounding calls.

But behind the clinical facade is a welcoming space that feels like fun.

Just 30 minutes by train from London, it is just the ticket for a weekend getaway: a spa from a tenner an hour, two excellent restaurants and a pretty cobbled High Street right around the corner.

The outside feels a little cold… (Picture: Isabel Fraser)

First impressions

The foyer is bright and kooky, with bold patterned wallpaper, enormous lime green sofas and a floor-to-ceiling bookcase (well-received by this English lit graduate).

A hot pink vespa mounted on the wall by reception adds youthful energy, and a well-stocked bar is waiting for you to pull up a chair.

Staff are friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and check-in is a breeze.

Pleasantly surprised by the funky design (Picture: Isabel Fraser)

The rooms

The rooms are plush and spacious. My classic double feature a king-size bed, dark oak furniture and colourful touches through textured cushions and a buttoned headboard. 

Through the window is a distant view of the rolling Surrey hills, but really, it looks out over a road.

The bed gave a comfy nights sleep (Picture: Isabel Fraser) The bathroom felt high end (Picture: Isabel Fraser)

Still, I enjoyed a decent night’s sleep undisturbed by traffic.

The highlight was definitely the double-shower en-suite, decked out with a huge porcelain tub that I wasn’t expecting in a room of this price.

The spa

A stay here comes with complimentary access to a two-level gym and fitness studio, and for just ten bob an hour you can melt your cares away in the small but perfectly serviceable HarSpa.

Home to three pools, a stone-oven sauna, a crystal steam room and mud rasul, it’s a nice place to kick back and relax.

The facilities don’t go beyond the basics, but what sets this apart from others (aside from being the only spa in the town centre) is its setting.

A clear view of Surrey’s leafy streets from the heated outdoor pool.

Budget prices, decent food 

It’s a while since I’ve got dinner and drinks for less than £70 in London, but that’s exactly what’s on offer get at the two restaurants here: The Long Bar and the HarBAR.

Breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and dinner plates are all served in the HarBar, and all come with the option of dining al fresco on the terrace.

It’s open until 11:30pm and serves late-night bites.

The Long Bar is more formal. Serving a cut of the day from an open kitchen,you can expect a lively atmosphere and delicious food.

The sirloin steak was excellent, as was the Hugo Spritz (what everyone’s drinking this summer).

The food at the Long Bar & Grill was a highlight (Picture: Isabel Fraser)

Vegetarians, fear not – there are options for you, too, with a light bucatini pasta or garlic risotto on offer.

There are two-for-one cocktails from Tuesday to Thursday, so if you can make the trip midweek you’ll get the best value for money.

There’s also a pre theatre menu, perfect for if you’re catching a show at G-Live, which is just a few minutes walk away.

If you’re there for the weekend, get to the Long Bar by 5pm on a Friday and get 50% off sparkling wine until 7pm.

Things to do in Guildford

Conveniently set just off Guildford High Street, the hotel is a 5-minute drive or a short walk from London Road station – where you can get a direct train to Waterloo.

Guildford High Street still has a few independent shops (Picture: Getty Images)

Spend the afternoon strolling on the Downs (from which you can see Woking, half-way to London), or rummaging in the charity shops and independent boutiques on North Street.

Swerve the chains and stop off for melt-in-the-mouth cannoli at Sicool, a traditional Sicilian café in The Shambles, a preserved medieval building.

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