Royal Hotel Kettering

Royal Hotel Kettering History and Architecture

The Grade II listed Royal Hotel Kettering – formerly The White Hart Hotel with more than 200 years of history – boasts in its book of records prominent guests such as Queen Victoria in 1844 and Charles Dickens in 1835. He was serving as a reporter for Morning Chronicle to cover Northamptonshire elections. Built in Jacobean style, the red-brick Royal Hotel Kettering is tastefully and impeccably ornamented by stone dressings and a Dutch gabled, Welsh slated roof at the back of meticulously designed cornice and parapet. The semi-circle bow windows also add to the intricacy and delicacy of the design. So, while you’re staying in Royal Hotel Kettering, you get to enjoy an authentic touch of history and marvel at the awe-inspiring architecture. 

Location

Located 5 minutes from Kettering town centre and Kettering Cenotaph, an iconic monument risen in the memory of fallen heroes in WWII, Royal Hotel Kettering stands in glamour and candour of this market town brimming with history and authenticity. No matter why you’re in Kettering, whether you’re on a business trip or vacation, the city of cotton has everything to cater for its admirers. Royal Hotel Kettering is set a short distance away from the nearest bus stop and Kettering Train Station, making the location ideal for a bigger group of travellers or those travelling on a budget. The nearest airport to Royal Hotel Kettering is Birmingham Airport, which lies 80 kilometres away or an easy one-hour drive. 

In addition, Royal Hotel Kettering is conveniently close to the market area, where guests can buy anything around the hotel within a few minutes walking distance.

Royal Hotel Kettering in More Detail

The three-storey Royal Hotel Kettering offers 43 ensuite rooms, including Deluxe Single, Deluxe Double, Deluxe Twin, Deluxe King, Deluxe Triple, Standard Quad, Deluxe Quad, and Family and Deluxe Family rooms. Equipped with almost all mod cons, the rooms make for a comfortable and affordable stay no matter how many travel companions you’re bringing to Kettering. There is free Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel, and the rooms are laptop-friendly and feature a flat-screen TV, so you should never worry about working remotely and attending online business meetings. For those travelling by car, limited free parking is possible at the hotel’s premises. 

Things to Note:

- Royal Hotel Kettering is currently under reconstruction. Thank you for your patience. 

- Pets are allowed to enter if they are under medical ground or if you need dogs for guiding only. In this case, the pet should be kept away from public areas during the entire stay in the hotel and should only be kept in the guest's own room.

- The restaurant, bar, and nightclub at Royal Hotel Kettering are NOT currently working. 

Things to Do near Royal Hotel Kettering

Located in the heart of North Northamptonshire, the vibrant market town of Kettering extends to you a myriad of attractions, restaurants, shops, and fun activities to enjoy your time while staying in the city. The Grade II listed Wicksteed Park, the first theme park in the country, is a 5-minute drive or an effortless 25-minute stroll from Royal Hotel Kettering. The park is a must-visit if you wish to have a fun family day out. Hailed as “one of Britain's grandest stately homes,” Boughton House – often entitled the “English Versailles” – is also very conveniently accessible, a maximum of 15-minute drive from the hotel. The marvellous House is there to awe you with its preserved splendour and well-trimmed garden and country park. Other attractions near Royal Hotel Kettering include:

- Kettering Museum and Art Gallery (2 min)

- Rushton Triangular Lodge (15 min)

- Kettering Conference Centre (7 min)

- Manor House Museum (1 min)

- Kirby Hall (20 min)

- Bugtopia (5 min)

- Billing Aquadrome (25 min)

When it comes to spending some leisure time and shopping, Kettering boasts a lot of options to offer you. Kettering’s Cultural Quarter encompassing Market Street, Sheep Street and Market Place features trendy shops, restaurants, and cafes, all in the immediate vicinity of Royal Hotel Kettering. The Yards – previously a fire station, and lovingly renovated and converted into a small retail market – is literally on the hotel’s doorstep! If you fancy a more modern shopping experience, Newlands Centre & High Street Shopping with its many high street shops, independent shops, and department stores are also not far from the hotel.

Being a Charter Market, Kettering also offers street markets on the traditional market days of Friday and Saturday, with different items of interest for sale, in Kettering town centre, footsteps from Royal Hotel Kettering. And the famous Flea Market is held on Wednesdays, featuring what is characterised by these shopping venues such as antiques and second-hand items. The market is equally close to the hotel. 

Other similarly historic and bustling towns in close proximity (10 min from the hotel) and definitely worth a visit include Desborough, Rothwell, and Burton Latimer. 

Kettering is also known for its excellent selection of restaurants and pubs such as Prezzo, Casa Di Roma and Mystic Diners. Although these are the nearest restaurants to Royal Hotel Kettering, many other options abound in the town centre, so it’s totally up to you to pick the right place, menu, and cuisine. Kettering’s town centre has been recognised as a safe, vibrant, and well-managed area, so you should expect an amazing nightlife experience. The status of Purple Flag given to the town centre guarantees this.

To those travelling to Kettering for business, Kettering Business Park – with direct access to J7 of the A14 – is an 8-minute drive and a 15-minute if you take a bus from Bus Interchange (Stop 14) and get off at Venture Park stop. 

How to Get to Royal Hotel Kettering  

Since Kettering benefits from an ideal central location, travelling to the town, and the hotel, is easy by either car or rail. London, Cambridge, Oxford, and Birmingham are just an-hour's drive away. East Midlands operates Kettering Train Station and offers trains to central London, not taking more than an hour. Other cities such as Bedford, Luton, Leicester, Nottingham, and Leeds are also easily accessible by train. Besides that, travelling to Kettering by bus proves to be fairly straightforward from different departure points. For more information, click here.