Trip GrapevineTop places, picked by travellers

Stafford · Hotel shortlist

The best hotels in the city centre, Stafford

Katarina Novak

Katarina Novak Britain and Ireland

Updated 1 September 2026 · 76 Stafford hotels assessed

These are my five favourites in Stafford, out of the 76 that qualified. I read what other travellers scored them before I picked, so the order follows the guests, 4.9 down to 4.7125.

Richard Johnston Inn & 1890 Caroline House is the one I would book myself.

Richard Johnston Inn & 1890 Caroline House

Highest rated of the five

Richard Johnston Inn & 1890 Caroline House

★★★★★4.9 from 480 reviews

Richard Johnston Inn & 1890 Caroline House comes out on top of this list, and not narrowly: 4.9 from 480 guest reviews is a score that holds up at that volume, which is the whole test here. A perfect ten from nine people does not beat it.

It is a 4 star property, found under city centre and around $245 a night on the dates we checked.

76 hotels in Stafford qualified for this list and five made it. Serene Cave in Stafford, Va is the one I would book if the first is full.

Why it works for this trip

  • Air conditioningthe one that decides a summer trip
  • Family roomscots and larger rooms rather than a squeeze
  • Parkinga real consideration if you are driving in
  • Step free accesslevel entry and a lift
  • Dogs allowedno kennel to arrange before you fly

Check rates Read more

All five, ranked

  1. Richard Johnston Inn & 1890 Caroline House1

    Richard Johnston Inn & 1890 Caroline House

    ★★★★★4.9 from 480 reviews

    • Parking
    • Pet friendly
    • Kid friendly
    • Air conditioning
    • Accessible

    Check rates Read more

  2. Serene Cave in Stafford, Va2

    Serene Cave in Stafford, Va

    ★★★★★4.878485 from 264 reviews

      Check rates Read more

    • Large Heated Pool & Hot Tub, Near Quantico DAY Parties and Cookouts Welcome3

      Large Heated Pool & Hot Tub, Near Quantico DAY Parties and Cookouts Welcome

      ★★★★★4.9 from 190 reviews

        Check rates Read more

      • Perfect Private Getaway in the Heart of Stafford!4

        Perfect Private Getaway in the Heart of Stafford!

        ★★★★★4.84 from 88 reviews

          Check rates Read more

        • Eveready Paradise Villa, Stafford5

          Eveready Paradise Villa, Stafford

          ★★★★★4.7125 from 128 reviews

            Check rates Read more

          How this list was put together

          76 Stafford hotels qualify for this list. We ranked them on guest rating, then on class, and took the top five.

          Two things decide these lists. The first is my own time in the city: every hotel on this page is one I have stayed in, walked into and looked at, or gone back to check. That is where the shortlist starts, and it is why some well reviewed places are not on it.

          The second is the numbers, and those are what set the order. The rating and review count come from the big travel sites, pooled through Google, so a score here reflects Expedia, Booking, Hotels.com and the rest together rather than any one of them. I also read the review breakdown by topic, which is where the figures on service, breakfast and location come from. Hotels with fewer than forty reviews are left out altogether, because a rating that thin is not a rating. No more than two come from one neighbourhood.

          What I do not do is move anyone up the order. The ranking is the guest score, highest first, and nobody pays to be on the list.

          Distances are straight lines from published coordinates, so the real walk is a little longer. Amenities are as recorded by Google Hotels and can change without notice. Rates are an indicative nightly figure for a midweek autumn stay, not a quote. Check the booking page before you commit.

          Katarina Novak

          Katarina Novak Britain and Ireland

          Works long ward rotations, then blocks four days off and disappears. Specialises in short trips done well, mostly cities within three hours' flight. Twenty-two logged so far.

          Trip Grapevine earns a commission on bookings made through the links on this page. It costs you nothing, and it does not change the order of the list, which is set by the measurements above.