Brook Red Lion Hotel

I’ve stayed in Red Lion Hotel multiple times while travelling from London to Colchester for work twice a week, and after trying almost every hotel in the city, this is always the one I come back to. One of the oldest hotels in Colchester, the Red Lion has such a unique charm, it genuinely feels like stepping into a royal place from the 90s, but with the warmth and comfort of home. The atmosphere is historic, cosy, and welcoming all at once. The staff here are absolutely amazing and incredibly friendly, especially Peter, who always goes above and beyond to make guests feel comfortable. Their attention to detail is unmatched and they even left me a thoughtful handwritten welcome note in my room, which made my stay feel extra special. If you’re looking for a hotel with character, history, homely vibes, great service, and excellent value for money, I highly recommend the Red Lion Hotel. Every stay here feels personal, comfortable, and memorable. - Rachana Ramesh

The hotel is very old and very beautiful. It is not a luxury hotel and we think we got value for our money. We dropped off our bags at 2 pm and when we arrived at 3 pm our bags had been taken to our room. There is a residents only bar and there was a huge TV and a great set up to watch the football game.

To everyone leaving complaints in their reviews, I'd like to remind you that the building is old, located on a main street, and the prices are affordable. With this in mind, it would be helpful to focus on the service and cleanliness aspects. In my experience, the service was very good, and the breakfast was fantastic. While the cleanliness could be improved, the only thing I would change is the mattress. Overall, everything else was quite good. It's a great place to spend the night, full of history and charm.