RIVER RETREAT- near Holloway U, Thorpe Park and Heathrow airport

Location on very close to Thorpe Park - 10 mins walk - the house is over looking the Thames and very picturesque.

The 10am checkout time was quite early, especially as we were travelling with three children and needed time to get them fed and organised. We were also asked to strip the beds and clean the basins before leaving, which wasn’t an issue in itself, but it did feel rushed given the early checkout time. I spoke to the owner about this, but was told we could pay for an additional hour, which I declined as we were only using the property as a stopover. There was also an extra £14 charge (£7 per day) to park on the driveway. Considering the overall cost of the stay, this felt like an unnecessary additional charge. That said, the property itself was brilliant, the host was lovely, and we really enjoyed our stay overall—I would still recommend it to others.

Was a beautiful location and friendly owners

Shame that the experience made this impossible to answer

Extremely poor experience from both the host and Booking.com. When booking, there was an option to select a rate that explicitly stated it included a stay for pets. This cost around £30 more than the standard rate and clearly stated that no additional charges would be payable at the property. However, this was never reflected in the booking confirmation. Despite me providing screenshots and proof from Booking.com showing that I had selected the pet-inclusive option, the host repeatedly demanded additional payment for our dog. The communication was excessive and inappropriate throughout the stay. The host contacted me via WhatsApp, which I have never experienced with any other Booking.com reservation, and continued sending messages at unreasonable times. On the very first evening, he repeatedly promoted discounts at a local restaurant despite us showing no interest. In my view, all communication should have remained through the Booking.com platform rather than being taken to WhatsApp. Before our stay had even begun, the host was asking us to transfer money directly for parking and an additional pet fee of £15 per day. We were also charged £10 for parking after initially being told it would be £7. The host claimed the higher fee was because we had a “large car” (a Renault Arkana), despite already knowing what vehicle we were arriving in. After I provided evidence from the listing showing parking was advertised at £7, he admitted the overcharge and refunded £6. The accommodation itself was disappointing. Despite being asked to provide advance notice of our arrival time, the property had clearly not been aired out before we arrived. There was a noticeable amount of dust, and we even found dirty socks underneath the bed. The accommodation is also located in the family’s back garden with very limited privacy, leaving guests in full view of the main house throughout their stay.

Beautiful surroundings, so peaceful and relaxing. The property was spotless, cosy and had everything we needed for a perfect little getaway. Such a lovely place to switch off and make memories with family. We’ll definitely be back😃 host was great. Our son loved watching the boats go by and the ducks and swans. We also tried the Indian restraunt near by and it was lovely food.

There wasn’t anything we didn’t like.

The property has a good location with convenient access, and the garden has some unique and beautiful plants which made the place look nice. The host was helpful in explaining the background and history of the area, which we appreciated.

The host also lives in the same area, and the garden is shared with them. Also, charging an extra £10 per car for parking inside the property’s own yard did not feel professional or reasonable. Unfortunately, the cleanliness was also disappointing. The duvets, blankets, and pillows had an unpleasant smell and did not seem to have been cleaned properly for a long time.

What a beautiful place!

We loved our stay here at river retreat. The hosts was very nice, and communication was spot on. We was also able to park our car at the property for a small fee, making accessibility very easy for me.. the property is all on one level so no step 👍 it is a self catering annex with an open plan kitchen with everything hou would need if you was wanting to make, breakfast, lunch etc. The sofa was very comfortable, but we ended up leaving it open into the double bed for our son because we always sat at the table, mostly to chat and have a drink and eat, but to also play the family games games that are provided by the hosts. Family time is key for us so this little extra was a nice touch. And if nobody was up for a game, you could read a book also provided by the hosts. The beds are extremely comfortable, I have trouble sleeping in a different bed when we go away but I slept very well in this bed. The property has very large windows all around so you can enjoy the veiw of the river or the beautiful garden kept by the host. Free WiFi is also available. On arrival, the hosts was very informative and educated us of the history and the garden of the property, he even gave us a little history about the surrounding area and buildings, but i won't say and spoil it, just incase you decide to go and the Dr himself can give you the very interesting history. Rivers retreat is situated within walking distance to thorpe park, and was the main reason for booking this little gem. We had the best time, and had a very relaxing time ( apart from thorpe lol ). It was lovely just to sit outside in the morning time and the evening with such a tranquil setting, so beautiful and so quiet. We will definitely be back. Thankyou so much! 😀

Absolutely nothing.

Property is clean and homely. In a beautiful location by the river. Has everything you need there to have a fantastic stay. Second time we have been and are definetley going to come back next year

Nothing

Beware. Host was so unreasonable about refunding, and would not answer my calls after getting his money. Booking.com recommended this place after double booking my first choice of hotel, but this was too far away. The host knew this and still wouldn't help. Makes you lose faith in humanity. Really disappointed in booking.com and this host. Beware, all they want is your money.