Budget hotel chain Travelodge has opened a 58-room property near Ashford International station in Kent and says it is looking at ten other sites close to railway stations offering access to London.
Ashford International station is one of the stops on the Eurostar line and is Travelodge’s 200th hotel near the UK’s busiest railway stations, as well as its 574th overall.
The property features the Bar Cafe restaurant, with rooms available in family, double and accessible sizes. Each features a king-size Travelodge Dreamer bed or singles for children. They also offer temperature controls, a 32-inch Freeview TV and free tea and coffee making facilities.
Travelodge says it is now targeting ten other sites near railway stations in commuter towns offering quick access to London. It is looking at locations such as Broxbourne, Ware, Watford and Stevenage in Hertfordshire; Gillingham, Tonbridge and Maidstone in Kent; Haywards Heath in Sussex; Reading in Berkshire; and Shoreham in West Sussex.
The hotel chain says it is focusing on stops on the HS2 line, a high-speed railway that will link London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester when it begins opening in phases from 2026 to 2033.
Tony O’Brien, UK property director at Travelodge, said: “Our next stop is to open hotels by railway stations in key commuter towns across the south east that have a fast service into London. These towns are important business locations in their own right and are growing at a pace and attracting businesses of all sizes. They are also a magnet for savvy travellers who are seeking low-cost accommodation and don’t mind travelling into the capital.
“Collectively, this expansion would represent an investment of £59.5 million for third-party investors and create around 300 new jobs.”
travelodge.co.uk