Four of us stayed at Laurel Lodge for 12 days and had a marvelous time. We used the lodge as a base camp, walking daily to Willington to catch the train to the many interesting places in the region.
The lodge itself is comfortable and nicely furnished for lounging after a day of adventure. Although it was cooler than normal during our time there, the lodge was warm and allowed a nice breeze to pass through when the deck doors were open. Having three bedrooms worked well for a couple traveling with two unrelated friends. And having a kitchen made breakfasts easy to organize before setting out for a day of cathedrals, museums, and shops.
The Mercia Marina is enjoyable in its own right. It has a neighborhood feel to it with careful gardening practiced almost everywhere. There are two very good restaurants and a good number of shops that seem to have everything this side of hardware. Within walking distance in each direction along the canal are two other fine restaurants. About a mile and a half from the marina in Willington is the Dragon, where we are dinner twice. About two miles along the canal in the opposite direction from Willington is the Bubble Inn, which also deserves its good reputation.
Altogether, this was an excellent way to get to know Derbyshire and the midlands a little better.
Lu Conser241 days ago
What a perfect home base to explore lovely Derbyshire. Laurel Lodge was the right fit for the 4 of us and Mercia Marina had several excellent restaurants & shops. We loved walking along the Trent & Mersey Canal every day and exploring lots of villages and towns that are a bit off the regular tourist path.
Vera Stuchinski272 days ago
Our party of four thoroughly enjoyed our 12-night stay at Laurel Lodge. The lodge is cozy, neat, and well-appointed, with very comfy furnishings. The grounds of the Marina are beautifully landscaped, and delightful to stroll. A brief walk takes you to the tranquil Trent & Mersey Canal, or to the shops and restaurants of Mercia Marina for some recreational shopping or a good meal. We were quite pleased with the dining options. I highly recommend a stay at Laurel Lodge, and hope to return.
Max Bartley2 years ago
From start to finish, our 3 day visit to Laurel Lodge was perfect. It is a marvellous place to relax, next to the peaceful marina. The 3 bedroom lodge is full of character and beautifully decorated, with fantastic amenities, we couldn’t wish for anything more. The beds were very comfortable, the place was spotless and the welcome hamper full of goodies was a lovely surprise and showed the attention to detail used. It’s a great place for walks, we had lovely walks along the canal paths with great pubs near by. The Marina Complex itself has gorgeous shops, restaurants and bars and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time here. We truly had a wonderful time and can’t wait to book again next year!
Andy Morris2 years ago
What a fantastic weekend away!! Laurel Lodge was the perfect place for our long weekend. Upon arrival we were delighted to find a welcome hamper, full of goodies. This was very much appreciated!! The Lodge itself was spacious, clean and very well equipped. There was a lovely outdoor decking area where we could sit, eat and drink. The Lodge is also in the perfect setting. We had some lovely walks along the canal and we were only a short walk away from the Marina. The Marina had lovely boutique shops, bars and restaurants. We can’t wait to visit again. Many Thanks, Sarah
Yasmin Naghshineh2 years ago
Fantastic four night stay with friends at Laurel Lodge. We enjoyed breakfasts and brunch on the spacious decking area overlooking the beautifully manicured grounds. The lodge is very well equipped with everything you can think of for a comfortable stay including a very thoughtful welcome basket which was a lovely surprise! All three bedrooms are tastefully decorated with nice soft furnishings, extremely comfortable beds and plenty of storage. The marina is a short, easy walk from the lodge with a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes, deli and spa. Laurel Lodge exceeded all expectations and we all can’t wait to return!!
Diane2 years ago
The Marina complex exceeded our expectations and Laurel Lodge was in the perfect location to make the most of this boaters paradise. The lodge has a huge deck with water view. We ate our breakfast outside whilst watching the birds and wildlife and it was the perfect spot to enjoy an evening cocktail at the end of the day. The Lodge is extremely well equipped and tastefully decorated. The beds were very comfortable and everything was spotlessly clean. The photos on the website don’t do it justice. The Marina complex is only a short stroll away where you will find shops and restaurants and a great deli. Boat trips are available on the canal and it is a pleasant walk canal side to the nearby village of Willington where there is a variety of pubs and takeaways and also a small supermarket . We have already booked our return visit to Laurel Lodge, the perfect spot for a relaxing holiday.
Vicky Hugtenburg2 years ago
Stayed here recently for a long weekend with friends. The lodge was perfect! Beautifully presented, clean and comfortable. It had everything we needed for a self catering stay and lovely facilities for Al fresco dining. Having said that we were spoilt for choice for eateries on the Marina, most notable being 'Lotus' an excellent Indian with a delicious twist to their dishes. Also we would highly recommend the Fish and Chip van that stops at the lodges every Friday evening at 6.30pm. We also really enjoyed the canal barge trip that departs daily from the marina and meanders for a very pleasant trip to a local canal side tearoom or bar for a quick refreshment. All in all a super relaxing break. Thank you.
The lodge itself is comfortable and nicely furnished for lounging after a day of adventure. Although it was cooler than normal during our time there, the lodge was warm and allowed a nice breeze to pass through when the deck doors were open. Having three bedrooms worked well for a couple traveling with two unrelated friends. And having a kitchen made breakfasts easy to organize before setting out for a day of cathedrals, museums, and shops.
The Mercia Marina is enjoyable in its own right. It has a neighborhood feel to it with careful gardening practiced almost everywhere. There are two very good restaurants and a good number of shops that seem to have everything this side of hardware. Within walking distance in each direction along the canal are two other fine restaurants. About a mile and a half from the marina in Willington is the Dragon, where we are dinner twice. About two miles along the canal in the opposite direction from Willington is the Bubble Inn, which also deserves its good reputation.
Altogether, this was an excellent way to get to know Derbyshire and the midlands a little better.
beds were very comfortable, the place was spotless and the welcome hamper full of goodies was a lovely surprise and showed the attention to detail used.
It’s a great place for walks, we had lovely walks along the canal paths with great pubs near by. The Marina Complex itself has gorgeous shops, restaurants and bars and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time here. We truly had a wonderful time and can’t wait to book again next year!
Many Thanks, Sarah
Having said that we were spoilt for choice for eateries on the Marina, most notable being 'Lotus' an excellent Indian with a delicious twist to their dishes.
Also we would highly recommend the Fish and Chip van that stops at the lodges every Friday evening at 6.30pm.
We also really enjoyed the canal barge trip that departs daily from the marina and meanders for a very pleasant trip to a local canal side tearoom or bar for a quick refreshment.
All in all a super relaxing break. Thank you.