Premier Inn Waltham Abbey

Yes, Waltham Abbey is definitely worth a visit if you enjoy history, nature and a traditional town feel. At its heart is Waltham Abbey Church, which has connections to King Harold II and the Norman Conquest. Around it, you’ll find the remains of a medieval abbey, landscaped gardens and walking routes that link to the River Lea and the Lea Valley Regional Park. The town is also a great base for exploring nearby attractions like the Royal Gunpowder Mills, making it a lovely spot for a day out.

Waltham Abbey sits right on the edge of both. Officially, it’s in Essex, but it borders Greater London, which makes it feel connected to both. That means you get the best of both with easy access to the capital while still being surrounded by countryside and historic landmarks.

Waltham Abbey is most famous for its historic church, believed to be the burial place of King Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England who died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The town was once an important religious centre with a grand abbey that attracted pilgrims from across the country. It’s also known for its links to the Royal Gunpowder Mills, which played a vital role in Britain’s military history.

Waltham Abbey is a small town with a compact centre that’s easy to explore on foot and shops, cafes and historic sites all close together. Despite its size, it feels lively and is surrounded by lots of open space in the Lea Valley, giving it more to explore than you might expect.

There’s plenty for adults to enjoy in Waltham Abbey. You can step inside Waltham Abbey Church to take in its architecture and history, wander through the abbey gardens or explore the fascinating Royal Gunpowder Mills with its exhibitions and nature reserve. The Lea Valley Regional Park is perfect for walking, cycling or even trying out water sports. For a more relaxed day, you can browse local shops, enjoy a riverside pub lunch or join a guided walk to learn more about the area’s past.

Waltham Abbey itself doesn’t have a train station, but there are several nearby. The closest options are Waltham Cross, Cheshunt and Enfield Lock stations, all within a couple of miles, with regular bus connections into town. From these stations you can easily reach central London or other parts of Hertfordshire and Essex.

Waltham Abbey is close to a number of towns and villages. Waltham Cross and Cheshunt are just minutes away, while Enfield, Loughton and Epping are also nearby. Hertford and Harlow are a short drive too, making Waltham Abbey a great place to base yourself if you want to explore both the Essex countryside and North London.

Definitely – despite being a small town, Waltham Abbey has plenty to keep you busy. You can visit the historic church and abbey grounds, spend a few hours at the Royal Gunpowder Mills or head out into the Lea Valley Regional Park for walking, cycling or birdwatching. The town centre has shops and cafes for a relaxed browse and there are traditional pubs where you can stop for a meal or a drink. With history, nature and leisure all rolled into one, it’s a great spot for a day trip or a short break.

Flex – Pay now or on arrival, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Our most flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 1pm on the day of arrival. You can also amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Semi-Flex – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to three full days before arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to three full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Advance – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 28 full days before arrival, free to amend thereafter until the day of arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 28 full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Standard – Pay now, non-refundable. Free to amend booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Slightly flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel and get a full refund, but you can amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Non-Flex – Pay now. No amends or refunds. Our least flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel or amend your stay after booking.

Our standard check-in time is 3pm. For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

Checkout is by 12 noon on your departure date. If luggage storage is available, our teams will be happy to store any bags for you if you’d like to check out before 12pm.

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

In 2020 we launched Premier Inn CleanProtect™, our rigorous, daily cleaning method that’s used throughout our UK & Ireland hotels. Developed in partnership with Diversey, a global leader in cleaning and hygiene products for the healthcare and hospitality industries, our promise seeks to give you extra peace of mind so you can always book and stay with confidence.

Check-in - minimising contact at reception and providing hand sanitiser in most public areas for peace of mind. 

Bed linen and towels - laundering all our linen and towels at over 60°C to thermally disinfect them, so you can enjoy a great night’s sleep. We’ve also placed spare pillows in a zip-up bag, for extra peace of mind.

Equipping our teams - providing our team members with all the equipment and sanitisers they need, as well as always operating in the safest way possible for our teams and guests.

A generous serving of safety - you can relax knowing that enhanced cleaning measures are in place throughout our restaurants. Tables are cleaned between visits and contactless payment is in place too, so you can dine safely and comfortably with us every time.

Clean on request - if you'd like your room cleaned during your stay with us, just let us know at reception and use the handy door hanger on the back of your door by 12pm each day.

Most Premier Inns have specially-adapted rooms allowing easier access for customers with disabilities. If there is no specially-adapted room available at the hotel of your choice, we will be happy to offer you alternative accommodation at a nearby Premier Inn. If you have difficulty walking, but do not need a specially-adapted room, please feel free to request a room near reception on the ground floor for easy access. 

If you'd like get in touch, you can reach out to our specialist team via email at pi.accessible@whitbread.com or call us on 0333 0919 817 between 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday (calls charged at local rate).

Unfortunately, with the exception of trained assistance dogs, we don't allow pets to stay at our hotels.