Earlham Road · Norwich · Norfolk
Arrandale Lodge
A small, family-run guest house on Earlham Road: a room-only base between UEA and Norwich city centre, with free parking behind the gates.
Seven room types on Booking.com, every one with a private bathroom, from economy doubles to a 32 m² deluxe triple. A 15 to 19-minute walk to the University of East Anglia, 350 m from Earlham Park and a 20-minute bus ride from Norwich station. No breakfast is served.
Check Availability & PricesA Quiet, Room-Only Guest House Halfway Between UEA and the City
Arrandale Lodge sits at 431 Earlham Road, in the NR4 postcode on the western side of Norwich. That is the stretch of road between the University of East Anglia and the city centre. Booking.com and the property describe it as a guest house, not a hotel, and that is a fair way to think about it. There is one owner-run house behind a pair of black iron gates. It has individually themed bedrooms with private bathrooms and free parking on the forecourt. There is no restaurant, bar or breakfast room. Booking.com rates its quality 3 out of 5, and the host profile shows a single managed property, so there is no chain behind it.
The rooms are where guests say it does well. Booking.com guests score it 8.2 overall from 312 reviews. The category scores are fairly even: location 8.8, cleanliness 8.7, comfort 8.5, free WiFi 8.5, facilities 8.4, value for money 8.3 and staff 8.1. Couples rate the location 9.0 for a two-person trip. Rooms have a smart TV, a work desk, a wardrobe, tea and coffee things and soundproofing. Two rooms have a four-poster bed, and one has a balcony over the garden. The larger rooms are generous by guest house standards, at 28 m² for the Deluxe King and 32 m² for the Deluxe Triple.
Why the location works (and what it means without a car)
Earlham Road is one of the main routes from the west of Norwich into the centre, and the lodge sits on its outer half. Booking.com puts the UEA campus at 15 to 19 minutes on foot. That is why guests here are often parents on university open days, interview candidates, or people at a concert at the UEA LCR. Earlham Park is 350 m away. The nearest takeaways (The Frying Machine and China Garden) are both about 500 m away, and The Little Fish Bar is 550 m.
The city centre is further away: about 30 minutes on foot, or a short bus ride. First Bus services 26 and 26A run along Earlham Road between the area and Norwich railway station via the city centre. Google Maps showed the trip at about 20 minutes, with buses roughly every 30 minutes in the evening. One guest summed it up as “walking distance to Uni and City but on bus route if don’t like walking more than 10 mins”. With a car it is easier still. Parking on site is free, and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is about 2.5 miles (9 minutes) away by road.
House rules and what is not included
Check-in is from 15:00 to 22:00, and check-out is from 09:00 to 10:00, which is on the early side. Children of any age are welcome. Cots for children up to 3 are free on request, but there are no extra beds, so the room you book has to fit everyone. Pets, smoking, parties and hen or stag groups are not allowed.
Here is what you will not find. There is no breakfast; it is not listed on Booking.com, and recent guests confirm it is not served. There is no restaurant or bar, and no 24-hour front desk is listed, only “reception services”. There is no lift information, pool, gym or airport shuttle. One July 2026 guest had to phone the owner to get into the key box, so make sure you have the arrival instructions before you set off.
312 Booking.com Reviews, Broken Down by Category
Every score on this page comes from Booking.com’s verified guest reviews, as read on 5 November 2026. We do not mix in scores from other platforms.
Overall: 8.2 “Very good” from 312 reviews. Couples rate the location 9.0 for a two-person trip. Staff is the lowest category, which fits a small house with no staffed front desk.
Rooms & Accommodation: Seven Room Types, All With Private Bathrooms
Booking.com lists seven room types. Every one has a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, soundproofing and free WiFi, and the rooms are individually decorated, so no two look the same. Room sizes are only published for four types, so we only quote those. The photos come from the property’s Booking.com gallery; the room you get may look different.
Economy Double Room
- 1 double bed · sleeps 2
- Private bathroom, flat-screen TV
- The cheapest way in; size not published
Double Room
- 1 double bed · sleeps 2
- Private bathroom, flat-screen TV, soundproofing
- From about US$133 a night on our check (see rates)
Standard Double Room
- 19 m² (205 ft²) · 1 double bed
- Private bathroom, flat-screen TV
- Sleeps 2
Standard Twin Room
- 2 single beds · sleeps 2
- Private bathroom, flat-screen TV
- Good for friends or a parent and student
Deluxe Double Room with Balcony
- 19 m² (205 ft²) · 1 large double bed
- Balcony over the garden
- One guest mentions a fridge in this room
Deluxe King Room
- 28 m² (301 ft²) · 1 large double bed
- Private bathroom, flat-screen TV
- “Generously sized room. Quiet.” (guest, Aug 2026)
Deluxe Triple Room
- 32 m² (344 ft²), the largest room type
- 1 single bed and 1 extra-large double bed
- The family option, since no extra beds are offered
Rates: What We Saw When We Checked
Prices change daily, so treat this as a snapshot, not a quote. On 5 November 2026 we checked one night (24 November 2026) for two adults on Booking.com. The Double Room came to about US$133 and the Standard Twin to about US$162, both including taxes and charges, with free cancellation until a week before arrival. Rates are room-only: breakfast is not part of any rate. Signed-in Genius members saw a discount of up to 13% on some room types.
Check Today’s Price for Your DatesAmenities & Facilities at Arrandale Lodge
In-room
- Smart TV (flat-screen)
- Work desk and wardrobe
- Electric kettle with tea and coffee
- Soundproofing, heating and a fan
- Carpeted floors, linen provided
- Daily housekeeping
Bathroom
- Private bathroom in every room type
- Bath or shower (varies by room)
- Free toiletries and hairdryer
- Towels and toilet paper
Property-wide
- Free WiFi in all areas (rated 8.5)
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking throughout
- No breakfast served
- No restaurant or bar
- No 24-hour front desk listed
Transport
- Free private parking on site
- Bus stops on Earlham Road (routes 26/26A)
- No airport shuttle
- No EV charging listed
Policies
- Check-in 15:00–22:00
- Check-out 09:00–10:00
- Children of any age; free cots (0–3) on request
- No minimum check-in age
- No extra beds
- No pets
- No parties, hen or stag groups
No Breakfast on Site: Where to Eat Nearby
This is the most common complaint in recent reviews, so it is worth planning for. Arrandale Lodge does not serve breakfast, and there is no restaurant or guest kitchen. The “kitchen facilities” on Booking.com means the electric kettle in your room. An October 2026 guest wrote that “breakfast provision would be good”, and an August 2026 guest said the room was lovely but “it would have been better to supply breakfast”.
The closest food that Booking.com lists is takeaway: The Frying Machine and China Garden, both about 500 m away, and The Little Fish Bar at 550 m. For a sit-down breakfast, the easiest option is to head towards the city centre on the 26 or 26A bus. If you are visiting UEA, the campus has its own cafes, about a 15 to 19-minute walk away. Some guests bring their own breakfast; one July 2026 guest in the balcony room was pleased to find a fridge.
Location & Getting There
Address: 431 Earlham Road, Norwich, NR4 7HL, United Kingdom. The lodge is on the main road between UEA and the city, on the side towards the university, close to Earlham Park.
What’s nearby
- Earlham Park350 m
- The Frying Machine (takeaway)500 m
- China Garden (takeaway)500 m
- The Little Fish Bar550 m
- University of East Anglia15–19 min walk
- Chapelfield Gardens2.5 km
- St Michael Coslany2.6 km
- Castle Green2.8 km
- Norwich Castle2.9 km
- Norwich Cathedral3.6 km
- Norwich railway station3.7 km
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital2.5 mi by road
- Norwich International Airport5 km
- Whitlingham Little Broad6 km
- BeWILDerwood19 km
Distances from Booking.com, except the hospital (Google Maps driving route). Read 5 Nov 2026.
By car
Parking on the forecourt is free and private. Booking.com says a reservation is needed. One August 2026 guest found it was first come, first served, so if you will be driving in and out, ask the owner to hold a space. Earlham Road is the B1108, so satnav brings you straight to the gates. Google Maps puts the drive from London Stansted at about 1 hour 41 minutes (86 miles) via the A11.
To the hospital and UEA
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is about 2.5 miles by road, around 9 minutes by car according to Google Maps. First Bus route 26 also runs between the hospital, UEA, Earlham Road and the city centre. UEA’s main campus is a 15 to 19-minute walk, according to Booking.com.
Getting to Arrandale Lodge Without a Car
All journey times below come from Google Maps routes we checked on 5 November 2026 for an evening departure. Timetables change, so check the live times before you travel.
From Norwich railway station
Trains from London Liverpool Street, Cambridge and Ely arrive at Norwich station, 3.7 km from the lodge. First Bus routes 26 and 26A leave from the station (stop DE) and run through the city centre and along Earlham Road. The ride takes about 20 minutes, with a short walk at the end, and the evening buses were roughly every 30 minutes. Walking takes about 50 minutes (2.2 miles). A taxi from the rank outside the station is the simplest option with luggage.
From Norwich International Airport
The airport is 5 km away in a straight line, about 3.5 miles and 11 minutes by taxi via the A140. By public transport, Google Maps suggested the PR1 bus from the passenger terminal, then route 26 to Earlham Road, about 52 minutes in total.
From London Stansted Airport
There is no direct bus. Google Maps’ fastest public transport route was a Greater Anglia train from Stansted Airport to Norwich, then the 26A bus, about 2 hours 23 minutes door to door. Coach options (National Express) took about 3 hours 10 minutes or more. By car it is about 1 hour 41 minutes.
From Norwich city centre and UEA
From the centre, catch a 26 or 26A heading out along Earlham Road, or walk about 30 minutes. Between the lodge and UEA most guests walk. Booking.com quotes 15 to 19 minutes, and the Blue Line buses connect the campus with the city in about 10 to 15 minutes.
The Area: Earlham, UEA and the Road Into Norwich
Earlham is a residential part of west Norwich, built around one long, tree-lined road that runs from the city walls out to the university. It is not a nightlife area, and that is the point: you sleep out here and go into the centre for dinner.
Earlham Park and Earlham Hall
Earlham Park is 350 m from the lodge, a large green space with open lawns and woodland next to the UEA campus. Earlham Hall, at its edge, is a 17th-century house that was home to the Gurney family. The Quaker prison reformer Elizabeth Fry grew up there.
The University of East Anglia and the Sainsbury Centre
UEA’s campus, a 15 to 19-minute walk away, is known for its concrete 1960s architecture by Denys Lasdun and for the Sainsbury Centre, the art gallery designed by Norman Foster. The UEA LCR hosts gigs, and one August 2026 guest booked the lodge for exactly that.
Norwich Castle and Cathedral
The medieval centre starts about 2.5 km away at Chapelfield Gardens. Norwich Castle, the Norman keep on its mound, is 2.9 km from the lodge, and Norwich Cathedral, begun in 1096, is 3.6 km. The 26 and 26A buses drop you close to both.
What Guests Say About Arrandale Lodge
A selection of recent Booking.com reviews, including the small criticisms, so you get the full picture.
“Ideal to visit family nearby.” Downside: “No breakfast provided.”
“Spacious and clean.” Downside: “Didn’t supply a breakfast.”
“It was a bargain to get such a large room to accommodate for a family.” Downside: parking is first come, first served, which was “stressful”.
“Convenient location for Norwich Rock n Roll Circus / UEA. Generously sized room. Quiet.” Downside: “Toilet roll holder was not fixed to wall.”
“Nice and clean and the owner was very nice.”
“Lovely room, quiet considering it was facing a main road. Loved the fact it had a fridge.” Downside: “Balcony could have been cleaner.”
“Clean modern bathroom. Good bed.” Downside: “Outside could do with a tidy up.”
“Convenient location for us and also good value.” Downside: “Had to ring owner to get into key box for key.”
“The room was well decorated and modern.” Downside: limited mobile phone reception.
Who Arrandale Lodge Suits (and Who It Doesn’t)
A good fit if you are visiting UEA or the hospital, you are driving and want free parking, you want a bigger, quieter room than you would get in the centre for the money, and you are happy to sort out breakfast yourself.
Think twice if you want breakfast included, you want to walk out of the door into restaurants and bars, you need a staffed 24-hour reception, you are travelling with a pet, or you like a slow morning, since check-out is by 10:00.
Good to Know Before You Book
Get your arrival instructions in advance
Check-in runs from 15:00 to 22:00. One guest found the key box locked and had to phone the owner. Message the property through Booking.com before you travel, and keep the phone number handy (see below), especially for a late arrival.
Mobile signal can be weak
A June 2026 guest could not make calls from their mobile at the lodge. WiFi is free in all areas and scores 8.5, so WiFi calling is the safe backup.
Parking: ask for a space
Parking is free and on site, but Booking.com says it needs a reservation, and one guest found it first come, first served. Add a parking request when you book.
Room-only, early check-out
No rate includes breakfast, and check-out is between 09:00 and 10:00. One guest said the owner let them check out a little late, but ask the day before rather than assume.
Check Availability for Your DatesContact Arrandale Lodge
Phone: +44 7936 460282 (07936 460282 from within the UK), as listed on the lodge’s Google Business Profile. It is useful for arrival times, parking or a cot request. Booking.com shares the property’s contact details in your booking confirmation.
Photo Gallery
Arrandale Lodge FAQ
Is Arrandale Lodge a hotel or a guest house?
It is a small family-run guest house at 431 Earlham Road, Norwich. Booking.com rates its quality 3 out of 5. It has private-bathroom rooms and free parking, but no restaurant, bar or breakfast.
Does Arrandale Lodge serve breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not offered and rates are room-only. Rooms have a kettle with tea and coffee. The nearest takeaways listed by Booking.com are about 500 m away, and the city centre is a short bus ride on the 26 or 26A.
What is Arrandale Lodge’s guest rating?
Arrandale Lodge is rated 8.2 (“Very good”) from 312 reviews on Booking.com (read 5 November 2026), with 8.8 for location and 8.7 for cleanliness.
How far is Arrandale Lodge from UEA?
Booking.com puts the University of East Anglia at a 15 to 19-minute walk. Earlham Park, next to the campus, is 350 m from the lodge.
How do I get there from Norwich railway station?
Take First Bus route 26 or 26A from the station (stop DE) along Earlham Road. Google Maps showed about 20 minutes. Walking takes about 50 minutes, and the station is 3.7 km away.
Is there parking at Arrandale Lodge?
Yes. Free private parking is available on site. Booking.com says a reservation is needed, so add a parking request when you book.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 15:00 to 22:00 and check-out is from 09:00 to 10:00. Ask the owner for arrival instructions in advance.
Is Arrandale Lodge good for families?
Children of any age are welcome and cots for under-3s are free on request, but there are no extra beds. The Deluxe Triple (32 m², one single and one extra-large double bed) is the room for families. Pets are not allowed.
Other Nearby Stays
Broadview Hotel
About 0.5 km from UEA, so it is the one to pick if you want to be right by the campus. Guests score it lower than Arrandale Lodge (7.3 against 8.2).
See Broadview HotelThe Red Lion Eaton
A pub with rooms in Eaton village, south of UEA. It has a slightly higher guest score and food and drink under the same roof, which Arrandale Lodge does not have.
See The Red Lion EatonThe Georgian Townhouse
The same 8.2 score from three times as many reviews, and much closer to the city centre. Arrandale Lodge is the quieter choice, nearer to UEA, with free parking on site.
See The Georgian TownhouseReady to Book Arrandale Lodge?
Free parking, a 15 to 19-minute walk to UEA and spacious rooms with private bathrooms, rated 8.2 by 312 Booking.com guests.
Check Prices on Booking.com