Flying from Stansted? Try the Harlow Hotel for a pre-flight stay

To bring our experience at the hotels to life, we create fresh videos and images showing you its best features. Here's our take on the latest airport hotel we visited – the Harlow Hotel by Accor, which is just down the road from Stansted.

The moment we stepped inside the hotel lobby, we felt right at home. Friendly staff greeted us with a smile, and the cosy seating area is the kind of place where you immediately feel comfortable. The Sculpt Bar and Sculpt Restaurant caught our attention right away – their names are a nod to Harlow's reputation as a Sculpture Town, known for its impressive collection of over 100 public artworks. The hotel's interior reflects this theme, with unique light fixtures and intriguing artwork adding a creative touch.

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Get an idea of how your stay at the Harlow Hotel might look…

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Location

The hotel is 11 miles south of Stansted, so it's not exactly the closest hotel to the airport you can book. But we didn't find that an issue – we were heading to Stansted from the south anyway, so the Harlow Hotel made for a handy stop-off on the way.

And from there, it was a simple 18-minute drive without actually having to stay at the airport. Instead, you could explore Harlow Sculpture Town or check out the nearby bowling alley, escape room, cinema and leisure centre. Or do as we did and relax with a well-earned pint away from the airport noise.

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Food and drink

The laid-back vibe at the Sculpt Restaurant, complete with chilled music and modern artwork, made for a very satisfying lunch. We tried the fish and chips, burger and Caesar salad – they all tasted great and the portion sizes were generous, so we left happily full. The menu is super-varied, offering up everything from sandwiches and paninis for a light lunch to seasonal specials and curries for an indulgent sit-down meal.

After a long day of filming, the Sculpt Bar proved to be the perfect place to unwind with a couple of drinks. Think laid-back sports bar – we enjoyed chatting away by the pool table with cue in hand, plus there are plenty of TVs showing all the big games. But don't worry if sports aren't your thing, as there are plenty of tables away from the screens if football isn't your idea of a holiday.

Breakfast didn't disappoint either. The all-you-can-eat buffet had plenty of full English and continental favourites, and the pancake maker was a fun bonus. Making our own pancake stacks, loading them with yummy syrups and then pairing them with a fry up and pastries was an indulgence fit for a holiday.

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Rooms

The rooms were bright, simple and had everything we needed for a relaxing stay – comfy beds, tea and coffee, a TV and lovely-smelling toiletries from Elemental Herbology. We didn't find much clutter, as none of the hotel info was printed out. Instead, we scanned a QR code to find out everything we needed to know about our stay – it was easy to request extra pillows, towels and see the bar menu with just a few clicks.

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Everything else

We spotted plenty of board games in reception if you fancy getting the fun – or family arguments – started early. Also easy to spot was the hotel's commitment to sustainability. Pride of place in the hotel lobby was the Green Key logo, awarded to environmentally responsible businesses in the tourism industry. We noticed thoughtful touches throughout our visit, like QR codes replacing paper menus and welcome booklets, plus the option to skip daily room cleaning. It was great to see the hotel taking steps to reduce its environmental impact while still prioritising guest comfort.

While there are hotels closer to Stansted Airport, there aren't many better in value – especially if you add airport parking too. If you're after a fun, cosy place to kick back in before that early flight, the Harlow Hotel's a great choice.

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