An enormous bedroom and a heavenly view of one of Britain’s most beautiful cathedrals.
Many would happily splash out for a city-break hotel stay with these plus points.
But in Canterbury – considered one of the world’s prettiest cities – you can enjoy them on a budget. Just check into The Thomas Ingoldsby Wetherspoon Hotel, one of 50 run by the pub chain across the UK.
Priced from just £60 per night and with pints for only £2.11 (£1.49 on a Monday), The Thomas Ingoldsby is cheap, first and foremost.
But when I checked in, I discovered it’s not just price points that entice. It’s mere seconds from Canterbury Cathedral – and it was framed spectacularly by my bedroom window. What a sight to wake up to!
Sophie Foster checks into The Thomas Ingoldsby Wetherspoon hotel in Canterbury (above), one of 50 hotels run by the pub chain across the UK
Sophie notes that The Thomas Ingoldsby has two bars, one downstairs and one upstairs. She enjoys a £4.99 breakfast at the latter (above)
Sophie says the hotel is ‘mere seconds from Canterbury Cathedral’, which can be seen here through her bedroom window
Check-in itself was smooth, after spotting the charming exterior of the pub-cum-hotel – named after the pseudonym of author Richard Harris Barham who penned The Ingoldsby Legends – I entered the large, somewhat busy downstairs bar and simply presented myself at the counter as a guest in waiting.
Handed my key cards, I headed up to the second floor to a second, smaller bar and restaurant. The hotel lost marks here as the lift was faulty. A friendly local showed me the knack of holding down the buttons to make it judder into action.
But, the upper dining area itself was spotless, with shining brass fixtures and a view out of the window of the historic, half-timbered Moat Tea Rooms.
My home for the night – room number 10 – was upstairs again and through two locked doors. It was big enough to be classed as a suite, with enough room to swing a tiger let alone a cat.
It boasted a large, and comfortable, king-sized bed with plenty of pillows as well as an armchair, dressing table, lots of storage space and an en-suite with an over-bath shower. Plus, a typically garish pub-patterned carpet.
However, look up, instead of down, and you’ll see it’s the aforementioned view from the window that makes the room something to write home about. The soaring towers of the cathedral, seen through the window frame, appeared like a perfectly placed piece of artwork.
Sophie’s room (above) ‘boasted a large, and comfortable, king-sized bed with plenty of pillows as well as an armchair and dressing table’
Seen here is the room’s en-suite, which comes equipped with an over-bath shower
Sophie enjoyed a ‘cheap pint at ‘Spoons’ before heading up to bed. Seen here is the seating inside the pub
The room was clean, well-appointed, and – importantly – I couldn’t hear a whisper of the bustle happening downstairs. The pub is open from 7am to 1am and I was worried that my night would be plagued by the sound of raucous pub-goers, but it was blissfully silent.
However, another slight downside was the evening security at the door. If, like me, you forget to take your ID out with you (aged 29) then you may face a grilling when trying to re-enter – and be watched beadily to ensure you go straight to bed instead of to the bar.
The next morning, I decided to have breakfast in the upstairs dining area where sunshine streamed in through the many windows. Breakfast is not included in the price of a room (though unlimited tea and coffee is) and a full English costs an extra £4.99.
Sophie says: ‘I visited the cathedral (above), a 30-second walk away, for free by attending the 5pm evensong where visiting choirs lift their voices to the heavens’
Sophie ‘took a tour of the city via punt’ where she saw ‘beautiful gardens and centuries-old architecture’ from the River Stour (pictured)
Surrounding Canterbury was a treat, highlighting that the hotel’s location is top-notch. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy a quaint, history-rich city break.
I visited the cathedral, a 30-second walk away, for free by attending the 5pm evensong where visiting choirs lift their voices to the heavens every night except Thursday. Usually, it costs £17 for adults to enter the church.
I took a tour of the city via punt – a river boat moved by a tour guide with a long pole – with the Canterbury Punting Company. On the Stour River, I saw beautiful gardens and centuries-old architecture.
The Roman Museum, meanwhile, has recreated a Roman street and lets you try your hand at making mosaics. And the Beany House of Art combines modern and older art pieces with a bizarre collection of everything from a lion’s head to ancient jewellery.
I finished my sightseeing day with a drink at Houdini’s Magic bar where a live magician performs tricks at your table. And, of course, indulged in a cheap pint at ‘Spoons (after fetching my ID) before walking upstairs to bed for the nighttime version of that incredible view, with the cathedral towers enchantingly lit up.