The Cricketers
Refined 16th-century inn with breakfast and local fare
Airport access
How you get from this hotel to the gate.
About this hotel
This is a step up from the standard countryside pub stay: the rooms are described as refined rather than basic, set inside a 16th-century inn with the character that implies. A full English breakfast is included, not paid separately, alongside free Wi-Fi and free parking, a combination that removes every recurring cost a terminal-ring hotel would charge for. The on-site restaurant serves local fare rather than a generic hotel menu, and the bar extends the evening beyond the room. Kid-friendly and smoke-free rooms widen who the stay works for, and a 9.0 rating across 1,451 reviews is among the strongest of any property in this guide, well beyond a marginal pick. It suits a traveller who wants a genuinely good inn stay near Stansted rather than a merely convenient one.
- Free breakfast
- Free Wi-Fi and parking
- Restaurant with local fare
- Kid-friendly rooms
Our take
I would recommend The Cricketers to a family that wants a characterful stay near London Stansted Airport rather than a chain hotel. A 16th-century inn with refined rooms, a full English breakfast included and free parking is a strong combination, and local fare in the restaurant keeps dinner simple. A 9 rating from nearly 1,500 reviews is one of the stronger scores here. Journey time to the airport is not given, so I would plan it.
- Book the restaurant for dinner; the local fare is a real reason to choose this over a chain hotel.
- Confirm the 16th-century building's room layout if travelling with mobility needs; older inns vary.
- Bring the kids along if needed; the rooms here are tagged kid-friendly.
- Arrive with the strong 9.0 rating in mind and book ahead in peak season, given the review volume.
Why we love it
- Refined 16th-century inn character
- Full English breakfast included
- Local fare in the restaurant
- 9.0 rating across 1,451 reviews
Why guests love itThe Cricketers is a 4-star hotel rated 9 from nearly 1,500 reviews, with refined rooms in a 16th-century inn. A full English breakfast is included, along with free Wi-Fi and free parking, and local fare is served in the restaurant. A bar is on site, and the rooms are kid-friendly and smoke-free. It is an inn with real character near Stansted, a strong choice for a family that wants more than a chain hotel.