Bedford Swan Hotel

Bedford Swan Hotel descritpion

With a stunning location overlooking the Great Ouse River in Bedford’s town center, the 18th-century Bedford Swan Hotel features a Roman-style pool and a hot tub. Its elegant restaurant holds 2 AA Rosettes rating.
Bedford Train Station is only one mile from the hotel, providing 40 minute service to central London.
Contemporary 4-star rooms are decorated with rich fabric, signature wall paper and stylish furniture. All have air conditioning as well as a 32-inch LCD TVs with on-demand movies and internet access.
The River Room Restaurant has an outdoor riverside terrace and serves a varied menu and 24 hour room service, all prepared by a skilled team of chefs.
Full of historic character, The Bedford Swan also offers a wide choice of health treatments including Swedish massages, holistic facials and luxury manicures.

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Facilities of Bedford Swan Hotel

Outdoors ：Terrace

Pets ：Pets are allowed. Charges may apply.

Activities ：Golf Course (within 2 miles) | Spa | Massage | Hot Tub | Indoor Pool

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Breakfast in the Room | Special Diet Meals (upon request)

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge. | Wired internet is available in the hotel rooms and charges apply.

Parking ：Private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 5 per day.

Reviews for Bedford Swan Hotel

Review 1：I was disappointed that the beautiful indoor swimming pool was out of order & I wasn't able to use it given the short time I was there. This would have been a great way to relax & unwind after a long drive from Hampshire!

Review 2：Location of this hotel was great for accessibility for my business meeting.

Review 3：Poor choice of TV channels & having to pay to park in the hotel car park

Review 4：The room was very nice & clean & the breakfast was very good the staff was polite & helpful

Review 5：We really enjoyed this hotel but choose this Bedford hotel for the pool and spa but was told on arrival the pool and stream room wasn't available. I wish o had known this before I booked.

Review 6：Our room was lovely and clean with a fab view.

Review 7：Pool was closed for the weekend and the notification explaining this was obscure, so booked prior to reading, Was no further discount offered due to lack of facilities.

Review 8：Spa excellent, service good. Restaurant very good. Rooms very comfortable. Location excellent.

Review 9：the restaurant wasn't very good, would have expected better for a 4 star hotel

Review 10：Lovely homely feel, very friendly staff and nice comfortable room which was very clean

Review 11：When booking my room I did request a smoking room and usually the lady at reception alwayys checks with me an allocates me a smoking room however this time all the rooms had been taken and so she couldnt do aynything but the most dissapointng was that I was asked online when booking and I chose yes but apprently this is irrelevant and so I dont really see the point of the question when booking on-line!

Review 12：The lady that checked me in is the usual lady that checls me in and she always remembers my name, this is very impressive considering the amount of people that must stay at the hotel. She is always very accomadating, polite and helpful :)

Review 13：Pool got a few wires showing on the wall and close to the water line - not a good look

Review 14：Charming features with really helpful staff. Duty manager was visible and ready to make sure all was in good order. Great place and great experience. Hotel was recommended to us, now we know why.

Review 15：An excellent hotel but it was the staff that made the stay an amazing experience! Nothing was too much trouble they were always at hand but never in your face. Thefood was great and there were some good wines to choose from. I will come again

Review 16：The parking lot was very crowded and we were unable to park our car at the hotel the first night. It would have been better if the parking lot was monitored or reserved for hotel guests only. Anna, the daytime manager, was very accommodating when we received a parking ticket for having parked on the street overnight. She credited our parking fees and offered us tea for two.

Review 17：The room was spacious! The restaurant afternoon tea was delicious! Anna, the daytime manager was very helpful in our parking dilemma and Meagan, the night desk clerk was friendly and very helpful too when we needed our TV remote fixed and wanted a late dinner and visit to the pool. The spa was relaxing and the pool was beautiful. Location is walkable for restaurants and shopping and local sites. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this wonderful, historic hotel. Would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it!

Review 18：The so called 4* hotels restaurant menu was appalling and the food they produced even worse, breakfast was a joke no brown bread very poor quality of ingredients scrambled egg kept in a warmer all through service and topped up occasionally restaurant absolutely filthy and to add insult to it all they charged us £5 a day to park in their car park after paying £100 odd pound per night, would highly recommend GO ELSE WERE!

Review 19：The massage but was not cheap!

Review 20：So disappointed our PERFECTLY behaved dog Kye was not welcome in bar area so we could eat with her present enjoying the comfortable atmosphere all together. Management insisted she could only go straight to our room! Pet friendly should mean pet friendly not pet tolerant if not seen! Management eventually relented and (reluctantly) allowed her in the bar. Everyone who met her loved her like we do and so many commented that she made their stay special.But I had to fight to have staff accept she should be allowed in the bar. I don't spend a lot of money to fight for what I want.

Review 21：Beautiful Hotel in a truly great spot overlooking river. Room was lovely. Clean and comfortable. Food was great.

Review 22：Staff is not always helpful and very slow. Some are very nice though. Breakfast is a rip off and the coffee is like water. Better to have breakfast dowm the high street at a coffee house or at the greasy-spoon caffee next door. Noisy at night. Swimming pool dated and very small but still good fun.

Review 23：How the cleaning staff manage their equipment leaving it standing unattend and their areas were left open and exposed which deflected from how beautifully the hotel is decorated. The hotel also did not have guest toothbrushes and tooth paste or face clothes and could effect the experience.

Review 24：The feel, of fine vintage and the atmosphere.

Review 25：I was completely humiliated by the staff as I was wrongly accused of damaging a tv and the window on a previous stay. The situation was only resolved since I challenged the accusation and then the staff decided to check who I was. I was only allowed to take my booking when another member of staff came out to confirm to her colleagues that it wasn't me or my partner who caused the damage. When I approached a manager about the situation she competely dismissed it and told me that it was something I had to take up with booking.com. It was unacceptable and I was left feeling upset and humiliated since I was accused of criminal damage. Furthermore I regularly use the swan hotel and the spa facilities so if this issue wasn't challenged by myself I would not be welcome to stay once again. It's ridiculous and I am very upset about the outcome.

Review 26：I did hit maximum Christmas party week so hotel was very full with visitors making parking on site impossible - but the hotel still functioned well with no delays to service

Review 27：Hotel is full of Chracter

Review 28：No steam rooms, Quite expensive treatments and very expense room service. Did not appreciate being told. £10 per hour for late check out esp as the hotel was not even busy.Our room needed a refurbish.

Review 29：friendly spa staff and good treatments. Enjoyed breakfast.

Review 30：The car parking is very limited, especially at Christmas time when the ice rink is in use. The outside corridors are also very creaky and you could hear noise from other rooms.

Review 31：Hotel was in a very good location and food was good

Review 32：Coming home

Review 33：The friendly staff Brilliant location Views Food is excellent Rooms always clean Warm lounge and bar Easy access to the river and town Great cycle route from hotel

Review 34：I had a lovely stay but was dissatisfied with the service at breakfast. I was rudely spoken to by staff refusing to bring out fresh food for the buffet as there was only half hour left and had to make do with what was left. To then witness that same waitress offer a guest to cook him a full fresh breakfast as he was late to breakfast by 5 mins. Having paid quite a lot of money I would have expected a hot breakfast not stale and cold. My partner asked for some milk with his coffee to be abruptly told the milk is by the cearal buffet bar. Two new families came to sit at breakfast and we're given both coffee and milk jugs. I then approached the lady and asked why were we being served differently as we are also guests at the hotel and have paid just the same as everyone else.

Review 35：The room was clean and lovely. The reception staff and room service were brilliant. They were polite hospitable and very well mannered. The spa area was also very nice.

Review 36：The noise from the xmas party directly under our bedroom wasatrocious!!! Soooooo loud. Was like party was in our room. Had to callmanager up to listen! This should have been mentioned to us before and Iwould have expected a reduction in our fee for the inconvenience anddisturbance until midnight!

Review 37：The style of the hotel felt very luxurious. It was homely relaxing andgreat location.

Review 38：On the noisy side with people on floor above getting up & using bathroom in night. Main toilets in hotel extremely smelly - needs something doing - urgently . .

Review 39：The pool was a little chilly

Review 40：A lovely welcoming cosy oldey worldly hotel, but with modern comfortable bedrooms. Excellent location, an amazing find in Bedford.

Review 41：Everything was great. To pick a fault, the bar on my return was closed earlier than I was told it would before I went on my night out.

Review 42：The quiet location of my room despite being fully booked for a Christmas party downstairs.

Review 43：Not a bad experience , but our double room was small, with the bed pushed against the wall. We were only there for one night but if any longer the room would have been an issue.

Review 44：The location and interior decor of the hotel is super

Review 45：We were told we didn't have to book car into hotel car park, but on arrival, it was full, so had to park down road, and my husband can't walk far. We booked dinner in restaurant on friday night, My dinner wasn't cooked the way i ordered it, so send it back only for it to come back same way, and was charged full price for it. No hot water for a shower, on saturday morning, because there was a flood night before,so no hot water!! disappointed.

Review 46：afternoon tea.

Review 47：Wifi was down on day of arrival. Quite important these days !

Review 48：The location was great , right by the river with excellent views. Rooms with period beams and good value breakfasts. Staff were helpful and friendly.

Review 49：The swimming pool is not available for everyone to use without paying and he car park is very small compared to the size of the hotel.

Review 50：The location was brilliant.

Review 51：Noise from nearby shops and other guest. Many parts of hotel looking worn, e.g. spa area, ceilings in lounges, window frames. Roof filthy with pigeon poo (part of our view).

Review 52：Being by the river, breakfast was very good.

Review 53：I loved everything! The pool and hot tub, the tea and cakes and the room was be on what we paid. We had a smoking room what was great and location from perfect.

Review 54：The cost variation on the room. We had two different prices for each night for the same room and my daughter's room was more expensive even allowing for wedding rate.

Review 55：The atmosphere was very nice and the staff were very friendly.

Review 56：The only thing that lets this hotel down is the lack of parking. The ice rink was being put in place during our stay so not sure if that made it even worse.

Review 57：The hotel was quirky and interesting with it being an old building, made a nice change to characterless properties. Food in the restaurant was fantastic and the staff were much more helpful than in many hotels.

Review 58：The staff at the hotel are brilliant. Good old fashioned hospitality The food is excellent. Huge choice of breakfast. The location of the hotel is beside the river and a stones throw from the town. It's our 5th visit. Always sad to leave

Review 59：The hotel was really beautiful, the reception area and bar were lovely. All the staff I dealt with were very courtious and friendly. Ate in the restaurant and the food was amazing! Our room was really nice, bed was a little soft for me but still very comfortable.

Review 60：The bathroom was a bit small but functional. It is an historic building so we didn't mind this but someone large might have a problem!

Review 61：The view of the river from the bedroom was wonderful. We were upgraded and had a lovely room; we have had standard rooms in the past which are fine. The reception and café staff were very good, charming and efficient.

Review 62：Bathroom very dated and needs some maintenance. Room was not worth the extra money as only had a sofa as extra but not useable as not near TV. Very noisy people in room above also. Room not cleaned after first night even though told cleaner when leaving!

Review 63：Hotel room was nicely decorated and food was good. Receptionist on arrival was excellent.

Review 64：You really need to sort staff..bar as usual disorganised..surly unhelpful staff...even reception has caught the surly bug...sort it out!!! Simon pearce roberts

Review 65：Didn't like asking if room service e was availing 24/7 but when I called for this they told me they couldn't provide room service which was very annoying as I had planned to use this

Review 66：Nice rooms friendly staff decent food average prices all round a good place to stay

Review 67：EGGS COLD ON THE BUFFET BREAKFAST. RADIO 2 WOULDNT TUNE PROPERLY THROUGH THE TV

Review 68：COMFORT LEVEL CITY CENTRE LOCATION CLEAN FACILITIES EXCELLENT STAFF

Review 69：The parking charge was disappointing. The last hotel I stayed at re-imbursed me for the parking charge I incurred at an adjacent public car park so I did not expect to have to pay when you own the car park.

Review 70：Clean and efficient

Review 71：As stated above.

Review 72：On Friday night the 31st of November after a wedding.. There was a lot of noise around Zone 169 - 189+ into the early hours of the morning 5:30am is when I managed to get some sleep. As a result I was too tired to access other facilities as hoped. Because my seven year old daughter And I had to spend the afternoon of Saturday sleeping to make up for lack of sleep. As if that was not enough, a domestic violence incident shook us on Saturday night and this resulted in lack of sleep until after 5:35am when the police attended an hour after the incident.. Very unsettling.. Very disappointed! Poor value for money. Never again will I put up at Bedford Swan Hotel, let alone recommend anyone to stay too.

Review 73：Central location. Beautiful room in old section overlooking the river. Gorgeous bathroom. Suited our overnight needs perfectly. Very helpful receptionists.

Review 74：Although the bed was lovely, the pillows didn't match up - hard and lumpy. Slightly dated ensuite and room looked in need of a bit of extra love in places. Paid extra for duluxe room, but no free water, paper or what looked like extra special toiletries. Squeaky floorboards too (though the lovely old building could explain this). Breakfast nothing special for £15.

Review 75：Lovely looking hotel and spa with rooms that looked a touch more special than usual. Great view across river and a comfy large bed!

Review 76：The room did not merit the extra cost if our room which to me was very basic I hate to see what the normal rooms were like.Therewas nothing to merit the eXtra cost

Review 77：Location and the breakfast were both good and the staff attentive

Review 78：Stayed here on many occasions , parking is now truely awful,wedding was taking place and cars were everywhere. The over flow car park was half a mile away and the directions being handed out were non descript vague and the photocopy was rubbish. The air conditioning was like a mouse sneezing and didn't work at all. Bed was lovely,bath is tiny and needs re-grouting .Hotel has lost its magic really.

Review 79：We went for a relaxing Weekend!!!! Hotel had two Functions on, hotel Bar crowded with noisey, Drunk Function guests, sons room literally vibrated from loud music till early hours they got little Sleep, no response to complaint about noise, be warned if you stay here, it could happen to you.we Would have been better staying at home, Would we go back, No, and no response from hotel er complaint

Review 80：The hotel Itself was very nice, Staff very nice, they did there best

Review 81：See above

Review 82：I think the room rate I had was good - I booked very late so I received a good price - however I was disappointed that when I wanted to extend my stay the full rate was chargeable when the hotel had empty rooms - loss of revenue by yourselves - not good PR. I was disappointed with the extra £5 per day for parking. The fact that when my friend parked their car in the car park - I went to pay for the parking when I booked out & was told that they would receive a penalty notice which we would need to appeal - crazy ! Breakfast was also an additional charge of £10. Surely it would be better to charge an all inclusive charge especially when parking in your hotel car park is outsourced and you have no control over it - not good PR for you in my case. The customer care in the hotel bar was not representative of the other CC that I had received in the hotel thank goodness - they made me feel like i should not be there - very uncomfortable. Overall a beautiful hotel which unfortunately comes over as being money grabbing charging extras that at other hotels are included - with some quite rude staff - I would love to stay again but the above makes me think twice or about recommending it to any of my friends. Perhaps you can look to improve some of these things - I hope do.

Review 83：The rooms need an upgrade, the bathrooms are tired and a little grubby. The bed was two beds pushed together which was a disappointment. I paid a lot of money for my 2 nights at the Bedford and have stayed in far superior hotels for less money.

Review 84：Staff were lovely and dinner was delicious.

Review 85：welcomed by friendly and efficient staff we enjoyed the spa facilities, we enjoyed a comfortable nights sleep followed by an enjoyable breakfast I left my phone charger - they posted it for me - thanks

Review 86：We wanted to chill in bed with a movie but the movies wouldn't work. Only Negative!

Review 87：Amazing cozy hotel, loved the rooms the massage team are fantastic, Best buffer breakfast I've had. Hotel receptionist solange I's particular very friendly and nicely mannered. We asked for an extra quilt (it seemed like the old one was a summer one) the new quilt camr in ten minutes. Perfect service

Review 88：The interior of the hotel was too dark. The toilet in our bathroom didn't flush properly, the shower was difficult to use & water flow not strong enough. Cooked breakfast often cold.

Review 89：Nice room, warm, clean & comfortable with great views of the river. Friendly & very helpful staff. The hotel was easy to find, nice & quiet, relaxing.

Review 90：Rooms were quite small and dull generic modern in a more modern block. Car park very very tight had to exit via the tailgate! Breakfast expensive and average. Could have done without the wedding drunks staggering around :)

Review 91：Great location right on the river bank and an easy walk to bars restaurants including a great very chic curry house. Impressive lobbies and reception area with a very nice feel.

Review 92：Had dinner in the restaurant and for the price I expected much better. Could not eat my main it was the driest duck I have ever tasted. We had a large group and tried to book a meal and they told us they couldn't take us for lunch on Sunday!

Review 93：Rooms are comfortable

Review 94：Late wake up call....food overpriced for what it was and heard other diners also discuss. Was disappointing to find my raspberry mille feuille had no fresh raspberries in site.

Review 95：Lovely appointed rooms, clean. Wonderfully quirky hotel with original features.

Review 96：There was a mix up with our booking and the suite we booked was not available, bit upset about that but they provided a double room at a cut down price and included breakfast and parking. Were very apologetic.

Review 97：Lovely hotel. Great location.

Review 98：Bar and restaurant staff were really inattentive and the terrace bar seemed really disorganised. One girl rushed off her feet while others just milled around trying to look busy.

Review 99：Location was excellent and the reception staff were fantastic.

Review 100：For a superior room it was small would have expected more space. Restaurant Menu was disappointing even though it was reasonable early in the evening ,some of the choices were unavailable and the wine was expensive.However the food we had was of a very good standard. Need more reception staff on in the morning when checking out

Review 101：River location was excellent with a river view from our room. Reception staff in the evening she was excellent and gave us a lot of information Internet was fine as was car parking even though you paid .

Review 102：Phoned in afternoon to check booking and that we could book in late as at a festival locally until midnight. Got there at midnight to discover they didn't have a booking for us. Took an hour and a half of them trying to ply us with drink as, bearing in mind we potentially had three hour drive home, to offer us a room which was also a smoking room. Then they told us breakfast wasn't included but as a "act of goodwill" they would include it. He then told us we would still be paying full amount even thought we had all this inconvenience. Being a non smoker the room was awful and we both felt ill all night. We had breakfast then come check out the day staff knew nothing of all this and tried to charge us extra for breakfast.

Review 103：The location

Review 104：My booking was messed up as booked a twin but on arrival none left. However staff very accommodating and gave us two rooms instead, waived breakfast charge and car parking fee. Definitely not enough car parking though.

Review 105：Rooms well equipped and comfy bed. Very helpful staff. Good breakfast. Great central location.

Review 106：Bathrooms need updating, no walk in shower (not even in luxury rooms), Swimming pool area needs a toilet & separate shower cubicle so male & female can use afterwards(ie not one communal shower with no curtain!) or at least this information being made aware to guests

Review 107：very helpful staff, who tried to be of assistance at all times.Caters for a range of food & drink for a variety of customers throughout the whole day. Outdoor bar overlooking the river great for summer

Review 108：Pool-spa area was dated and decaying. Was surprised not to find any toilet facilities within the pool area (only changing cubicles and showers).

Review 109：Friendly reception staff and comfortable room

Review 110：Cleanliness needs a good deep clean, to get rid of cobwebs around the hotel and in the room. The bathroom was very hot, with poor ventilation. Bed too soft for my preference. Breakfast was a little limited, service a little sparse. Overpriced in comparison to other similar hotels I have stayed at.

Review 111：Great location. Quaint decor in lobby, bar and dining area. Nice spa facilities but I didn't use them.

Review 112：Due to two weddings being held on the day we stayed car parking was non existent. I would personally have liked paying guests to have priority for car parking over wedding guests.

Review 113：Lovely location by the river

Review 114：Car Parking is very tight, the fridge shelves were missing in room. The breakfast was a little basic, oranges were tough, no prunes, very basic bread to toast, cheese plastic and cheap.

Review 115：staff were very friendly and helpful. Everything was there for our brief stay. Room comfortable. In the centre of town and a nice building.

Review 116：Room was far too hot and the breakfast area was also uncomfortably hot and airless. Staff were generally a bit sullen.

Review 117：Bar areas were excellent , especially the outside bar.

Review 118：The lack of parking spaces was a shame and the cost of breakfast at £10 per person. Otherwise a great hotel to stay in.

Review 119：The staff were very friendly and helpful. The room was very clean and well decorated. Centrally located. Overall, a lovely hotel.

Review 120：Check-in not very welcoming or upbeat, parking staff suggested we go down the rd to park ;-((

Review 121：Beautiful room, gorgeous lobby/reception, check-out receptionist very good.. Breakfast in room excellent

Review 122：I found the hotel pretty hot in all the communal areas, so you may wish to dress accordingly - the weather outside wasn't hot at all whilst I was there. I had air con in my room however so that was much better for getting ready etc.

Review 123：Great bedroom, bathroom & breakfast. Lots of different areas to lounge in and meet friends for drinks etc. Staff all very friendly and helpful.

Review 124：woken up very early by an argument between a guest and hotel staff with no apology and took 15 minutes to check out

Review 125：Location was lovely however parking us bet limited and not knowing the area it took a while to find alternative parking

Review 126：Breakfast eggs and bacon dry and overcooked and had been standing too long. Housekeeping knocking on our door at 9am despite us not needing to check out until 12, no option to use do not disturb sign as far as we could see

Review 127：Excellent staff, friendly and efficient. Clean and comfortable room. Our requested extra pillows arrived within minutes.Nice relaxed ambience in the hotel.We were given a river view room and the room was quiet.

Review 128：Parking, we arrived on a Saturday afternoon and there was nowhere to park so had to park across the river in the college car park. I did ask if we needed to reserve a parking spot and was told no there is plenty of room, not. Otherwise the hotel is great.

Review 129：The location of the hotel is ideal for a trip to bedford

Review 130：We had a very bad experience which in fairness we did receive a refund for. The hotel is advertised as having "parking, no reservation needed" and we called to confirm this. I would describe the parking more accurately as "limited parking, reservation not possible" we therefore spent 2 hours doing laps of the town looking for parking spaces. When we did check in after midnight we found our non smoking room had been smoked in and the hotel Advised there were no available rooms to move to. All in all very disappointing.

Review 131：Dont think u should have to pay car park if a resident or pay extra for dog its not like they get fed while there

Review 132：The ambience of the hotel its got a grand feeling but everyone seems to be treated equally feel comfortable staff very efficient

Review 133：Having to pay for car park on an overnight stay. Room 148 Very noisy room..Air conn unit in room and elect machinery/units outside

Review 134：Being let off the £5 parking fee because of the noisy room

Review 135：On the Friday night there was a loud disco till mid-night. On the Saturday there was constant loud noises outside - cars revving up, shouting. The lifts were constantly out of order.

Review 136：The hotel location was very good. All staff were very friendly and helpful.

Review 137：The parking was ridiculous. No markings for flow. People abandoned their cars blocking others. No signage to create flow. No monitoring, I saw someone Park and then make their way to another location. Forcing me to park away from the hotel.

Review 138：The decor, atmosphere and overall ambience of the hotel was superb.