Hotel on drive from London to Scotland

[DarwinLoves]

We are driving from London to North Scotland with the kids at Christmas. We would like to stay in a decent hotel on the way up with a pool to break up the journey.

Any recommendations for a nice hotel anywhere on the drive north?

Fly?

We've stopped at a Holiday Inn in Lancaster before, roughly half way and I think it had a pool. Flying much nicer but very expensive especially when you add in a rental car at the other end!

Where abouts in northern Scotland? Will try to suggest a hotel half way.

Thanks for the suggestions, we are heading to Elgin. We've done the drive a number of times and unfortunately flying is not an option for us this time, it's usually our preferred option. So thought we would try and make the journey a bit more pleasant with a nice hotel stop over rather than the usual budget hotel. We don't mind city or country.

Just wondered if someone had stayed anywhere nice, probably north of England

Just stayed in Tebay in the Lake District on a similar journey. Fabulous!

I've stayed in a lovely hotel, The Pickled Trout in Preston. Was a really pleasant surprise and is exactly halfway between Edinburgh and London. Reasonable rates as well and also had other friends stay there and recommend it.

My parents always stay at the hotel at Tebay. It's a service station but don't let that put you off. Its the best service station ever! Duck ponds, countryside, farm shop and not a WH Smith's, Burger King, Costa, other crap chains in sight.

Brilliant thanks for all the suggestions

There's a couple of hotels in Penrith with pools. I think the North Lakes is supposed to be good.

Oh thanks, north lakes looks great.

So which way are you actually going? Both London and Elgin being on the East coast and everyone presuming you are going up the M6 on the west! Try MacDonald resort hotels, there is one in Northumberland not too far from the A1.

We go to Aberdeen double which is about as far on the East Coast as possible but we still got up the West on the M6. Often come down on the East Coast if we are stopping for a holiday in Northumberland. But driving the M6 through Cumbria and via Glasgow is a million times nicer drive that the A1/M1 on the East

That's good if you find it better. I hate the M1/M6 from Coventry to about north of Preston, it's so busy and much prefer the A1 now they have taken away the roundabouts. Sometimes go up the A19 through the Tyne tunnel to cut out the shopping traffic around the Metro Centre at busy times like Xmas.

if you're doing the A1 route the Village Hotel Leeds North is Lovely

The Swan at Newby Bridge. It’s probably 20 minutes off the M6, junct 36, so not as convenient as the others mentioned, but it’s much nicer imo!

Fat lamb in Kirkby

Portland at Ashington.

Brilliant, thanks so much! Just checked the thread to lots more suggestions to google.

We usually go M6 but don't mind going A1, bizarrely it seems quicker going all the way south west to Glasgow/Carlisle!

I would break the back of the journey and stay near Hamilton or Glasgow. The doubletree at Strathclyde park is good as is or slightly further the New Lanark Mill hotel. Both good pools but new Lanark will have visit Santa etc if you fancy a morning of fun then around 3hrs to Elgin.

expatlife

I've stayed in a lovely hotel, The Pickled Trout in Preston

Its the Tickled trout!!
I drive past it every work day going into Preston.

Having done Oxford to Elgin several times (though never stopped overnight) I would say stop in Scotland rather than northern England. Although on distance N. England looks about half way, once you leave the motorway that A9 just drags on forever and it's a long way on A roads.

OP: if you want to break your journey in the Northwest, you could cross the Pennines north of Wetherby, going up the A1 first. The M6 is a horror ATM, with roadworks from J2 to J4, J16 to J20, the usual queues up to J25. At the moment, the only choke points on the A1 are at Brampton Hut and the Doncaster rush hour.

Simplyput thanks, that's maybe the best idea. Getting over the border will certainly feel good and give us a longer lie the next day to enjoy the hotel.

@notacooldad 🙈 oops! Tickled or pickled, it's lovely 😂😂