Host & Stay | The Duck Pond — Guest Reviews

The place was phenomenal. I stayed in Durham with my family for my graduation and I am so glad that I made this choice. This home was close to city centre. The Host -Mark was very kind and responsive. He helped us a lot. We all had a great time, especially my grandfather enjoyed and it was very comfortable, spotless and just like a home away from home. The house was equipped with all essentials and kitchen was filled with all the things that a family would need. They even had the some sauces, oil, salt, pepper etc. Definitely would recommend to others!! Please do bring your family here and I hope you have the same experience as we did.

Enjoyed our stay as a family. Positive: Good location with character. Plenty of room for a family of 6. Good facilities and friendly host. Negative: Not very safe with a toddler due to the stairs, the back window that opens onto the roof below and the large gap in the bannister on the top floor. The accommodation was above the barbershop, so didn’t quite feel like a cottage. It could have been cleaner.

Property description On arrival it was clear that the property layout had been misrepresented. Our family included 2 people who need significant assistance with stairs. As the description was 2 groundfloor bedrooms, we did not think there would be an issue. We found on arrival that the 2 bedrooms were actually on the 1st floor and the 3rd bedroom was on the 2nd floor. This caused considerable difficulty for our family, as there was a flight of stairs to the apartment. As per the consummer rights act we expected the accommodation to be accurate as to cleanliness and safety.

Simply gorgeous Positive: Excellent space for a family stay another bed in the attic would increase the number of people that could stay or make it more comfortable for a couple who like there space. Fabulous and well equipped kitchen. If you fancy a haircut look no further than your fabulous host downstairs got up at 9.10 popped down the stairs for 9.30 appointment excellent cut felt wonderful after. Negative: Nothing

A very clean, comfortable and warm apartment- just right for our family stay. A convenient location with great parking and a good distance for walking into the city centre- particularly along the river. A charming and helpful host. Thank you for our stay at the Duck Pond - we hope to visit again!

Great family stay at the Duck Pond for 3 nights. Perfect location for exploring Durham with an easy walk into the town Center. Clean and spacious and central location. Only note, it would have been good to have had some kitchen basics (oil, salt, pepper) supplied.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! Centrally located and perfect for families. It sits on top of a hair salon so if you’re sensitive to fragrances just take note. I am sensitive but was ultimately fine. Excellent and kind host. Booking process somewhat taxing due to deposit and automated booking messages. Would definitely recommend.

The Duck Pond provided us (3 couples) with comfortable accommodation for a couple of nights- wish we had booked to stay Positive: Really lovely accommodation - great design and immaculately clean. Perfect location for a walk into the city through the woods and along the river. Negative: Everything was great. Parking is available for one car only - so for a group of 6 it may have been tricky as street parking was limited. However Mark was very kind and allowed us to use the space reserved for hairdresser’s customers so we were able to park a second car on the Sunday when the shop was closed. (Thanks Mark!).

The Duck Pond could use some updating Positive: Location, 3 bedrooms Negative: Beds are to small for a couple and very uncomfortable. The 2 bathrooms on the main floor should be converted to 1 big bathroom, the small bathroom was useless.

The Duck Pond Good accommodation for 3 couples. Lovely big bi fold window from the kitchen area looking over gardens and trees - perfect for hot weather.

Great apartment, would stay here again Positive: Lovely flat, three big double bedrooms, very clean and a great open plan kitchen/ lounge with high ceilings and plenty of windows - ideal for us as a party of adults. Check-in instructions were really clear. There was a separate small dining room which we didn't use and apparently garden access (though the downstairs garage). Loved the location - slightly up out of town but a nice 15 minute walk down into central Durham (which is obviously hilly). There is a handy Sainsbury Local 5 mins away on foot and the fabulous Lebaneats for takeaways. We travelled by train and it's only 5 mins in an uber or a 25 minute walk. There seemed to be two parking spaces shared with the barber shop below (also owned by the flat landlord). He popped out of the barbers to say hi when we were passing and is very friendly & helpful even letting us leave our bags after checkout with him for an hour before we got our train home which was appreciated. The heating is very generous - not always the case these days! Negative: The flat is managed by a property company and there is a proper damage waiver to pay on top of rental fees. It is stated in the advert but not very clearly (IMO!). It will cost you an additional £10 as a minimum. I was also uncomfortable when asked via booking.com to click on a link to an external document that asked for payment details (given booking.com themselves urge caution when using external links), the property company did try to reassure me when I contacted them about it. You have the option of paying a flat £25 for damage waiver insurance or having a charge on you credit card for about £250 up to 10 days post your stay (and therefore outside of the booking.com review period?). Assuming no problems this is then refunded with a £10 admin fee deducted. It's a shame that they feel they have to use damage waiver insurance but I felt irritated by the extra "admin fee" - why not just include this in the property rental price?

Perfect house to stay with friends and visit Durham centre (a walkable distance away).

Me and my friends had a great time staying at The Duck Pond for a couple of days. Durham is a lovely city and it was easy enough to walk into the centre of town. The house itself was very comfortable and the hosts were very communicative.

This is an absolutely stunning apartment. The host clearly has a super fine attention to detail: plenty of kitchen equipment, everything spotlessly clean and well-maintained. Airbnbs are often known for the bodge jobs/landlord special repairs, but here it is maintained like a high end hotel. We briefly met Mark the landlord, who was warm and friendly but not at all intrusive. It was lovely to have the flexibility of a lockbox but the warmth of a personal welcome. Thank you!

Thank you - a perfect place to come home to after a full day of training.

Had a lovely stay at the Duck pond, plenty of space and ideal location for walking in to Durham. Mark was a great help a Positive: The location and space of the property. Well decorated for the festive season. Easy parking. Relaxing and secure. Negative: I would not say it was a dislike but the loft conversion room at the top i would say is better suited to smaller middle age or younger people, due to the slopping roof and different level flooring could be a trip hazard for elderly or less mobile people.

A lovely property, very close to the city centre and excellent value for money. I will definitely be coming back next time I am in Durham.

It was great. Positive: It was exactly what we needed to attend our daughters graduation Negative: Nothing

Lovely place, very clean. 15mins walk to the cathedral. Host very helpful with any queries . Great stay. V well- equipped!

Warm, spacious and good location. Positive: Spacious bedrooms. The dining room. The light. Nice and warm. Very well equipped. Lots of thoughtful little extras. View from the sitting room. The friendly landlord. Lovely walk into the city centre either down through the woods (approx 20-25mins) or along the road plus a regular bus service for the non-walkers. Negative: The parking. The simplest solution for me was using the multi-story in town for the 2nd car for 2 nights. The sofas. The smaller one particularly was uncomfortable. We were a group of 4 and I can’t imagine 6 people sitting together although we could have brought chairs in from the bedroom if I’d thought of it. The top floor en-suite under the eaves probably more suited to shorter people.

Ideal location to stay, with parking outside

Super clean, friendly host and very well located. Many thanks!

A joy to stay at. Hosts were impeccable. Positive: Spacious property with plenty of room(s), lovely decor and lots of facilities Negative: Nothing!

Added extras made for a luxurious stay, the host was attentive and friendly, totally recommend Positive: Spotlessly clean, well equipped and maintained Negative: There was nothing not to like - it was perfect!

Positive: Wonderful apartment and we really enjoyed our stay, very well equipped and very clean! Negative: Having to leave :(

This is a really great apartment, very clean and well supplied with all essentials, and more. Spacious rooms, lovely garden, and not far from the centre of the city. I would definitely stay here again

So grateful to Mark for a wonderful stay. The house was perfect. We enjoyed being able to relax in “our own” space, being able to do laundry, and the easy walk into the heart of the city. Great meeting Mark, who was eager to make sure we had everything we needed. Also appreciate the items provided in case needed by guests.

A clean and spacious apartment, with tasteful decor, conveniently located 10minutes walk into town.

Positive: A lovely well presented property with some great personal touches .

Positive: It was clean, comfortable, and lots of extras, the owners had obviously thought about people's needs. Negative: The information the agent sent concerning the keylock was incorrect. I don't think they are used to them. It should have read:- clear-4750, not C4750. It was a pain, especially as it was raining. We spoke to the owner. Hopefully, it will be sorted. Other than that, it was lovely.

We had a great time staying at the Duck Pond. Easy check in and clean modern apartment, would happily stay again.

Amazing place to stay! That was the first time for me feeling nostalgic for an Airbnb property literally as soon as we left it! The Landlord was very friendly and supportive! He even told me some stories that stood behind some interesting objects of art we adored in the place. The cottage is so pretty, having its own personality! The garden is lovely as well.

The property was just beautiful. Everything we needed . Marc the host was friendly and helpful .

Positive: Fantastic

We enjoyed our stay at The Duck pond. We met the owner Mark on the first evening which was nice. The apartment was warm and cosy when we arrived on a cold afternoon. It is within walking distance of the town centre and has a good bus service really near the property. The vietnamese restaurant just across the road hasfantastic food and great value for money.

Great location for a visit to Durham. About a 25 minute walk to town centre, but could take a route by the river which was lovely. Duck Pond was roomy and very homely. Definitely recommended

Positive: Location and excellent property

We booked the Duck Pond accommodation for a week to explore Durham and South Shields. Parking was ideal; set back from the road and Mark the owner called in to help with a small query about recycling. He also wished us well on our journey home. The accommodation was warm, comfortable, very clean and spacious, ideal for a very pleasant relaxing week. It is located within walking distance from the city centre and plenty of public transport is available. We are more than happy to recommend Duck Pond to anyone visiting the area. Many thanks again Mark.

Very clean, comfortable property Positive: Very clean and comfortable. Easy to access and well presented Negative: Bath sheets instead of bath towels would have been great. The heating was stuck on and the weather was mild so it was quite hot, but we just turned the individual radiators off/on. It is a bit of a walk into the city with some pretty steep hills on the way back

Great location, walkable to the centre, with parking, and plenty of space inside - no complaints at all! 😁

Very comfortable stay in a beautiful flat. Positive: The flat is beautifully furnished with lovely spacious bedrooms. It has everything you need for a comfortable stay. It is very conveniently located for a leisurely walk into central Durham. Negative: Traffic noise but that can’t be helped because of the location on a main road.

The Duck Pond was perfect for our stay - the place itself is very spacious and has absolutely everything we needed. The beds were all very comfy and we all slept well. It's not far into Durham centre, and there are nearby shops for any self-catering. We enjoyed the feel of the place and it was like briefly staying in a lovely new home we had designed ourselves. Thank you so much for having us and when back in the area I'd certainly want to book again.

The property is beautifully furnished, very clean & spacious. We also met Mark (the owner) who was very friendly & helpful. There is a Sainsburys Local very close to the property which is handy, a 15 minute walk into town and off-road routes around if you fancy a less busy walk. All in all, we were very happy at The Duck Pond.

A really cosy apartment close to Durham itself.

it was a nice accommodation plenty of useful amenities tea coffee washing up liquid, netflix. spacious and warm. would return.

Once we had worked which building it was , everything was very good. The apartment is very spacious and nicely decorated with every facility for a self catering stay. Location was great , close to center and cathedral and shops . Thank you .

Quaint cottage - very warm and cozy. Spotlessly clean - lovely beds and bedding and beautifully decorated. Will definitely stay again .

Extremely clean accommodation

Excellent stay in great location.

Positive: It was a great place to stay. Very clean and tidy

Our second stay here. Such a lovely property, well equipped and perfect for exploring Durham.

Positive: Our stay at The Duck Pond was amazing. Great accommodation, clean, bright space with lots of amenities and beautiful walks on the doorstep. Negative: Nothing! All good!

We had a lovely break at the Duck Pond. It was clean and comfortable and just what we needed. Good beds and all the facilities. It’s also very handy for getting into Durham and scenic walks along the river. The host was friendly and helpful. We would highly recommend. Thank you Mark 😊.

Perfect Positive: Clean, excellent facilities, kitchen perfect and seated area very relaxing . Loved it. The bedrooms were warm, comfortable and superbly maintained. Negative: Nothing

The Duck Pond had all we needed for a stay in Durham. It was comfortable and stylish and the use of the garden a real bonus. Would recommend 😊

A stunning and well thought out space.

The house was great, spotless and included the little touches that we've missed in other places, simple things like bin bags, washing up liquid, foil. This made things so much easier. The place was clean, tidy and had a helpful information folder. The garden was lovely, especially in this beautiful weather. We couldn't find the key for the bifold window, messaged the host and it was resolved within an hour, key delivered and apology as it seemed the previous guests had inadvertently taken it. Fantastic customer service. Would recommend and if we are back in Durham and it's available we would definitely book the Duck Pond again.

Positive: It's a huge house!

Great stay, thank you

Comfortable, light, spacious, welcoming and conveniently located. Positive: The Duck Pond was very comfortable, spacious and convenient. Mark our host was friendly and very welcoming. The skylights made the living area very light and with the view of trees and wildlife it was a lovely place to sit with a cup of tea or to read a book. Negative: As an Australian, I would always choose a top sheet and blanket option over a sheet covered doona but this was a problem everywhere we stayed and more a comment on current trends than the Duck Pond.

Really good place, recommend it

A spacious, light, comfortable and well equipped property. Need to take a little care navigating beams in the loft room but would be happy staying there again. Both the managing agents and the landlord, who kindly replaced the battery in a beeping smoke alarm within hours, were superb. Helpful online guide to the property and area with great recommendations we followed.

Positive: Fantastic location and lovely quirky flat - great space and amazing light (bifold doors 😊)

The Duck Pond house architecture is a beautiful entwinement of old contemporary architecture with a refreshing new twist. Lots of windows and light, beautiful view. It was an absolute pleasure to discover and stay in.

Positive: The modern bright setup in an old building. Soundproof windows on a busy road. Negative: Nothing. Maybe the price

Great location , host easy to contact and helpful Positive: Great accommodation

Fantastic stay, beautiful apartment! Well equipped and great location …walking distance into town. We’ll definitely be returning next time in Durham!

Great house and location will definitely be back when next in area thanks

Positive: Was a really good location, lovely home & helpful host.

Good location, spacious and comfortable. Positive: Easy walking distance from city centre, with all of the sights and amenities we needed. Spacious apartment. Lovely and warm, and well-equipped.

Practical, beautiful and comfy Positive: Comfortable, great space and good host! Really amazing føat that we felt was our home away from home immediatly. Bedrooms are huge with great beds and storage. Kitchen got more than ypu need. Walkable distance to city. Negative: A bit overinvested in scented candles and perfume-stuff, to much, not for people with allergies or just wantinf a natural smell/air.

Positive: The apartment was clean and comfortable. We really liked the garden. It was close to a good restaurant and a bus stop into Durham was just down the road. It was great to be able to leave the car at the apartment. Negative: We found the single sink inconvenient when washing up. Other than that, everything was fine.

A gem of a place - light and clean. Mark is a very friendly and helpful host. Highly recommended. Positive: N/A

Positive: Mark was so helpful and even arranged for a late check out. he was available if we needed anything - would definitely stay again.

Positive: Location - easy walk into the city. Beds were very comfortable. Hosts were very friendly and welcoming. Easily accessible if needed. Negative: Not much storage space for food especially if you’re staying for a while. ?need for extra fridge and freezer.

A great location, super host and a very enjoyable stay which we will go back to! Positive: The location and friendliness of the host.

Great place, decent location, good facilities

easy to book, was good for our needs

Positive: Spacious Negative: A lot amenities like fan and hair dryer not available

Not too convenient. Avoidable. Negative: 1. Information and photos should have been accurate. They were not. The photos do not show that the property is actually located on the first floor of the building. It is not the entire building. 2. Cleanliness should have been a lot better. 3. Poor wi-fi. You can't catch it more than 10 feet away.

Duck pond Positive: Plenty of room Negative: Lock not working properly on inside have reported it , also bits of rubbish in drawers

Had a great stay at the Duck Pond. It was very spacious. There were 3 of us but would be fine for 6. Location was good, it would be walkable but we had an elderly person with us so we drove into Durham but parking was easy. It was a fairly busy road so a bit noisy if you are a light sleeper.

Not recommended Positive: Location Negative: The apartment is on the first floor. The kitchen and all the stuff and drawers were dirty. The fridge was dirty also.

I'll go again if I decide to go back to Durham! Positive: The location was very convenient, the house really comfortable and the decoration was simple but very interesting the detail here and there. Mark, the owner was very nice with us. Durham is worth to pay a visit. Negative: I don´t like Nescafe because their bad marketing reputation in poor countries. To contact the Host & Stay just to clarify something was really difficult and the instruction to open the black box to get the keys were not very accurate. Fortunately Mark, the owner was there and he saved us. One minute after I booked the place with Booking.com The Host & Stay charged my card with 75% of the total amount and one minute later with the other 25%. Later they sent me an email asking me to pay another 25GBP more o to leave a deposit of 250GBP in case anything was damaged.

Positive: Very clean. Parking. Negative: Over priced

We had a very relaxing stay. Within walking distance to Durham City Centre. Accommodation was very clean, spacious, homely and very comfortable. Would recommend to friends and would certainly stay again.

Great stay and huge thank you to the owner for helping when we were locked out. The front door is shared so it was a worry when someone else had locked the door preventing us to get in but the owner fixed this in a matter of minutes. Slightly confusing with the management company charging additional deposits to Airbnb but no fault of the property or owner! Would stay again.

Nice place not to far walk from all amenities. Clean and tidy and comfortable.

The Duck Pond was well equipped with everything we needed during our stay, and is in easy walking distance to the centre of Durham.

Clean and comfortable stay in an impressive apartment with quirky features. Loved it! Positive: N/A Negative: The water pressure in the shower on the lower floor was quite low, however it worked so it was fine. We couldn’t make the coffee maker work, despite consulting the internet. Still not sure if it didn’t work or if we just didn’t get it 😆, so perhaps some instructions would help? Also,only half the toaster worked. Again, these details didn’t spoil our stay, I just wouldn’t want you to think we’d damaged anything.

Great accommodation, would highly recommend!

Great accommodation would highly recommend