The Duncombe Arms
An Ashbourne inn built for an EV road trip
About this hotel
The Duncombe Arms in Ashbourne offers family rooms with private bathrooms, air-conditioning and free WiFi, each including a work desk, TV and free toiletries, just five kilometres from Alton Towers. The family-friendly restaurant serves British cuisine in both traditional and modern settings, with breakfast options covering continental, buffet and full English or Irish, and the bar provides a relaxed space for the evening. A garden, terrace and outdoor fireplace extend the property outdoors, and an electric vehicle charging station is a genuinely useful detail for families driving an EV to Staffordshire. Daily housekeeping and free on-site private parking round out a stay that consistently earns some of the highest guest ratings in the area. The consistently high guest ratings this inn receives are a useful signal for families who have not visited the area before.
- EV charging
- 5 km to Alton Towers
- Outdoor fireplace
- Free parking
Our take
The Duncombe Arms suits families who want a short drive to Alton Towers combined with genuine modern conveniences like EV charging, in a proper Ashbourne base rather than an isolated village. Its consistently high guest ratings make it a safe default choice for families who have not stayed in the area before. Families wanting a larger resort-style hotel rather than a village inn setting should look toward Stoke-on-Trent's chain hotels instead.
- ✓Book the EV charging station ahead if you are driving an electric vehicle, since demand can be high during peak travel periods.
- ✓Sit by the outdoor fireplace on the terrace for an evening drink rather than staying indoors after a day at the waterpark.
- ✓Take advantage of the five-kilometre distance to Alton Towers by leaving slightly later than families staying further out.
Why we love it
- Electric vehicle charging station
- Just 5 km from Alton Towers
- Outdoor fireplace and terrace
- Consistently high guest ratings
Why guests love itFamilies booking The Duncombe Arms frequently mention the electric vehicle charging station as an unexpected convenience for a Staffordshire countryside inn, alongside the short five-kilometre drive to Alton Towers. The outdoor fireplace on the terrace gets used most evenings for a drink after a day at the waterpark. The consistently high ratings other guests leave are often cited as the reason families chose this inn over other options in Ashbourne.