Swan Hotel & Spa

Swan Hotel & Spa descritpion

In the Suffolk countryside, between Bury St. Edmunds and Sudbury, this beautiful 15th-century building offers 4-star accommodations and a restaurant with 2 AA Rosettes for its fine food.
Lavenham is one of the best-preserved Tudor villages in Britain, and The Swan is perhaps one of England's finest historic hotels. The building has been carefully restored and beautifully renovated, with ancient oak beams, large open fireplaces and a minstrel gallery.
Decorated in warm, relaxing colors, the rooms with private bathrooms combine historic features with modern facilities. Each includes a flat-screen plasma TV and facilities for making tea and coffee.
The Swan serves modern British cuisine, made using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Guests can dine in the informal Garden Lounge and historic Old Bar. Outdoor dining is possible on the grounds, as well as fine dining in the Gallery Restaurant.

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Facilities of Swan Hotel & Spa

Outdoors ：Grounds

Pets ：Pets are allowed. Charges may apply.

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.

Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

General ：Newspapers | Safe | Non-smoking Rooms | Heating | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Reviews for Swan Hotel & Spa

Review 1：We were very disappointed with the evening meal which was not particularly cheap.We decided that the chef was concentrating too much on presentation and not enough on content and taste

Review 2：The staff were extremely polite and very efficient. We were personally taken to our room and all ameneties shown and explained to us..Our room was very well appointed and very clean.

Review 3：Bistro had no atmosphere and food was very average.

Review 4：The location and the history of the building. Not far to travel to for a night way. I thought the staff were very helpful as we asked to be moved as we were originally placed in a noisy room next to the staff's working room. We were moved to a much better room on the ground floor however you could here doors closing and due to the age of the building you can here a lot of creaking.

Review 5：none at all...

Review 6：We love the location and the Hotel is one of the best in Lavenham. We have stayed a couple of times before and always had a good time. This time it was my Husbands Birthday treat and they gave us an upgrade to one of the best rooms without even asking, how cool is that. They even left a Birthday card in the room for him, this place is a must for anyone thinking of staying in Lavenham, just book it, the foods great, the service is great and the hotels fabulous......

Review 7：The lounge and bar get really crowded with non residents, v popular local haunt it seems Means even if you are staying it can be tricky finding somewhere to have a tea in the afternoon or a drink, or even just a sit down !! Busy Staff can make you feel a bit in the way, even when you are paying a small fortune to stay !!

Review 8：Wonderful hotel with lovely staff Comfortable rooms Food delicious Fires v cosy Lavenham a pretty place

Review 9：Exactly what we imagined when we wanted to stay in an historic "English" medieval building. Room 10 (the Newman room) was full of old beams and Tudor charm. Superb atmosphere (check out the walls of the pub/bar and the main lounge open hearth fireplace) all run by a very skilled and friendly staff. With a luxury spa attached and first class dinning and wine selection available ,set in perhaps the most spectacular little village you'll ever find in the UK, you can't go wrong!!

Review 10：Superb service, attention to detail, "can't do enough/can do" attitude. Staff so friendly and going the extra mile, fantastic dining and comfortable bedrooms with all you need for that bit more of a 'special' stay. Can't recommend the Swan at Lavenham highly enough.

Review 11：Not bad but I felt that one or two of the staff were not in the right job. Possibly they were trainees. On a couple of occasions I had difficulty winning attention in the dining room. We had one of the smaller bedrooms but I still thought it should have included a fridge/mini bar.

Review 12：The Swan is a beautiful historic building and very well presented and maintained. The bar is intimate and the main restaurant stunning. The staff were generally very courteous, friendly and helpful. F&B was excellent.

Review 13：The bed sloped backwards and so I had to move so that my head was at the bottom of the bed. Not the hotel's fault as it's such an old building but moving the room around may help if possible

Review 14：Could hear noise from other rooms and generator type humming at night so didn't get a great sleep. Asked for car parking space but none reserved. Luckily room in car park behind hotel for first night but had to park across the road for the second and no one gave us the code to get in.

Review 15：Gallery restaurant beautiful and food delicious. Loved the historic building.

Review 16：We thought the Gallery restaurant was pretentious and the bill references (i.e. Afternoon Tea for coffee after a meal) were very confusing!

Review 17：Great location!

Review 18：The service at dinner was very slow. Their whole system should be updated, especially at breakfast. An hour or so after arriving we were resting when the reception rang to ask if everything was ok. It was until they woke us! Unnecessary call.

Review 19：The bedroom was very small and very hot. The windows had chains on them so you couldn't open them fully.

Review 20：The staff were so helpful and friendlyl. The Gallery restaurant for both dinner and breakfast was amazing. It was my inlaws 30th Anniversary and they put a card in the room and made a special desert for them which was a lovely touch.

Review 21：We had expected fine dining from the Gallery restaurant but were very disappointed. Pretentious over priced nouvelle cuisine food for those who don't need or appreciate a proper meal.

Review 22：Historic wood frame building which obviously dictates the rooms facilities. The staff were superb doing every thing to accommodate our visit.

Review 23：I think for a 4 star hotel it was very disappointing. The breakfast was not very good, neither was the lunch. The carpets in the corridors upstairs were dirty and tired. Our bathroom was nothing special and looked tired. It certainly was not good value for money. I would say it was overpriced. We did complain and the receptionist did make a small compensation, but we didn't come away happy.

Review 24：Room 28 was large but above the laundry so was incredibly hot in the day and at night, no apology. The Breakfast on Saturday was very slow, my tea and toast arrived 10 minutes after I had finished my Full Suffolk breakfast. Toast was cold on both mornings.

Review 25：The hotel was lovely and the service very good, as was the dinner.

Review 26：To get to our room involved many treks up and down different staircases. (Yes I know its the age of the building but I would not stay in that room again). Breakfast is VERY formal which is not relaxing and a bit OTT (you cannot serve your own juice, Or ketchup!)The room was a little tired and some fittings a bit tempremental.

Review 27：The location is great, and all of the staff are very professional, and also very friendly. Quality products used both in bathrooms and for meals. Amazing characterful building.

Review 28：Breakfast, especially the vegetarian option was pretty poor all things considered. Bit too 'a la carte' approach but otherwise all was good.

Review 29：The building is beautiful. Staff were great. Location awesome. Nice and welcoming and relaxing stay for us.

Review 30：Our room was stuffy and hot. The lights didn't work and when the staff got them to work by pulling the headboard forward, they flickered all the time.

Review 31：Staff were excellent, a lovely looking hotel, breakfast was very nice .

Review 32：If I had to quibble I would say that while the public rooms are maintained to a very high standard some of the "upstairs" would benefit from a bit of a refurb, eg upstairs hall carpets tired and worn. But as the hotel has been in business for approaching 500 years I guess some wear and tear is understandable,

Review 33：Beautiful 15th century hotel with excellent food, comfort and facilities, it is full of character and located in one of the UK's best preserved historic villages, close to many other fascinating places. Two excellent restaurants, first class service. We would certainly return.

Review 34：Indifferent customer service when checking out and location of bedroom 35 was less than ideal for a good night's sleep

Review 35：Very friendly day and evening staff and beds were very comfortable. Quality and presentation of the food was excellent.

Review 36：Location of room poor. Food from bistro was disappointing. Small portion of mussels, tasteless prawns. Really salty potatoes in contrast to blandness of main dish. Toileteries provided were second hand.

Review 37：Location, building, room.

Review 38：The hotel staff were so helpful - the hotel,because of its age ,is not the most accessible of buildings but we had a family lunch celebration and they made it all possible from reserving accessible dining and lounge seating - and moving a portable ramp numerous times - always without asking and always with a smile.

Review 39：I feel the staff aren't so attentive these days. My parents and I stayed for one night as we had to attend a funeral in the area the next day. The young Romanian bar man had a bit of attitude one lunch time and when I asked whether we could eat in the brasserie he rather aggressively asked whether we were residents. He's been there for a year but doesn't seem that happy. The young British waiter who served us in the brasserie the night before was charming and pleasant but obviously quite new. I hadn't seen him before and he was a little inexperienced but we all have to start somewhere. As usual Jackie was professional and pleasant in the dining room at breakfast. She takes everything in her stride and is a credit to The Swan. One thing that annoyed me was that o had emailed reception with some questions 2 days before our stay but I had to call them in the end as no one replied. I found the reception staff friendly but a little unpolished for front of house.

Review 40：I'm a regular here so I know the hotel well.

Review 41：If we had been any taller (we are average height), the bathroom ceiling height would have made showering impossible.

Review 42：Beautiful building with all the quirks of something very old. Decor etc stylish and appropriate. Staff friendly and welcoming with excellent service. Will go there again.

Review 43：The Reception desk facilities for a Hotel of this stature/price point are simply inadequate. The separate check-in table remained unmanned throughout, and it took several visits to get some post check-in assistance. The only member of staff available was having to take a succession of incoming'phone calls in a back office. I brought this to the attention of a Manager, but by the following day there had been no visible improvement. All in all, it does make you wonder what you are paying for, when the room that we were originally allocated for £195.00 was no more than the sort of room that you would find in a smart pub/Inn.

Review 44：The new, if quite compact Spa, is finally open. And so the garden and car park is back to normal. After registering our disappointment with the room we were first given on arrival, we were offered a much better one - which was splendid by comparison.

Review 45：Nothing to not like

Review 46：What can I say. My husband and I booked an overnight stay for our anniversary and from the moment we got there,we were impressed with the hotel, staff and the quality of everything. The food was delicious. Can't wait to go back.

Review 47：Restaurant and food is not up to the standard expected for such a high class hotel. Staff need more training as knowledge is very limited.

Review 48：Beautiful hotel with superb rooms. Historic and out of the ordinary. Very romantic. Friendly staff.

Review 49：This hotel does not have a buffet breakfast, everything is brought to table.Therefore there is no portion control and my cereal was swamped in milk as you don't even get to pour it yourself. Neither do I want or need a whole carafe of juice for the sake of a small glass. It spoilt an otherwise excellent stay.

Review 50：The ambiance is great and the service brilliant. All facilities and everything one could possibly need.

Review 51：Sadly the restaurant was fully booked so we didn't get to try it (we were a last minute booking). Having said that, there is a brilliant Indian resto across the road so all was fine.

Review 52：Beautifully laid out and much improved since we last stayed some nine years ago. The staff are professional and lovely and dogs are welcome.

Review 53：The Atmosphere of the hotel was lovely. The staff were marvellous, without exception. The food in the restaurant was also very good, with very helpful staff and sommelier.

Review 54：view of rooftops from our room

Review 55：the staff chatted and found that my husband's birthday was the next day and on his dessert plate a message of happy birthday was given

Review 56：Nothing

Review 57：Central location, superb old building with lots of character, tastefully modernised to an extremely high standard. Breakfast is served at your table, a big improvement over the normal buffet offering.

Review 58：The very small modern (ish) bedroom. Mid afternoon only one member of staff in the bar, so people were leaving as they weren't getting served. Us included. Came back pre-dinner and there was more staff, so all well.

Review 59：The welcome, the area, the general gorgeousness of the building. The excellent evening meal in the totally fabby restaurant. The staff were all very friendly.

Review 60：There is nothing to dislike.

Review 61：The rooms are exquisite, with high beamed roofs and rafters and interesting sloping walls. All the staff are very friendly and charming. The weather was good, so we had lunch in the very pretty gardens. The food and service in The Gallery Restaurant is second to none, it was full and there was a lovely atmosphere. A fabulous experience all round - we hope to to go back some time.

Review 62：only 1 small complaint ..we had a noisy radiator which disturbed our sleep ..(reported)

Review 63：excellent location a fantastic 15th century building with the added bonus of a new spar ..plenty of similar buildings of same age close by plus good selection of shops and places to eat.

Review 64：No water! Power failure early on Sunday morning resulted in failure ofwater supplies to the rooms. There was no water to shower or shave forseveral hours. The preparation of breakfast was disrupted and only basicfare was available. No discount or refund was offered. No, "we werevery sorry Sir " on check-out. A hotel of this standard should haveback-up for essential supplies.

Review 65：The building is delightful.

Review 66：The whole village had a power cut in the morning, which eliminated the chance of a cooked breakfast! However the staff did manage a 'bacon sandwich' from the barbque.

Review 67：Lovely atmosphere and surroundings, the evening meal was very good, although the portions were rather small.

Review 68：Public areas are very comfortable and attractive with log fires. The staff were friendly and keen to make our stay pleasant. The Swan was a good choice for a winter break.

Review 69：We had a lovely room very spacious with luxury bathroom, my only niggle was that the location was above the kitchens and the extractor started at around 7 am not great on a Sunday morning! In the evening it went off around 11.30pm you could also hear the general kitchen noises and staff voices we did tell reception who agreed it was a problem, and would not book us into that room on future visits.

Review 70：Lovely historic building sympathetically renovated to provide modern facilities. Great staff very attentive. The quality of the food was excellent .

Review 71：My only moan is the evening menu could have had more choice but that is a very minor point.

Review 72：As this is the very place i met my partner there was nowhere else we could go to celebrate our first year together and it didn't fail to meet our expectations in any way. The staff were excellent the service very special and the whole atmosphere very relaxed and comfortable. Even though we live in the area Lavenham is a very special place and I would challenge anyone not to enjoy exploring the village and its history. The Swan is the perfect base for this and both my partner and I had a wonderful time there enjoying the good food great service and the feeling we were somewhere very special.

Review 73：Shower room not heated and poor visibility by way of no main mirror. Tea making not replaced when used. Poor timing of delivery of room service.

Review 74：Bedroom was wonderful. Breakfast and service excellent. Dinner good but nor excellent.

Review 75：Room 36 not good. It's a nice room till someone leaves the main entrance slamming the door and if it's windy the sign outside creeks very loudly. This was the first time in 3 visits that I have found something I wasn't completely happy with so it won't put us off going again.

Review 76：Love the whole place. The rooms are comfy the staff polite. The food is excellent a little expensive but lovely. The fires in the winter and comfy sofas is great.

Review 77：The Swan is a lovely, characterful hotel and yet it still delivers all the mod cons.the staff were friendly and attentive. The restaurant was wonderful with great food and atmosphere.

Review 78：Bed was slightly hard, didn't sleep to good, couldn't open window, then again it was rather old property.

Review 79：Excellent service,friendly staff, food very tastie,very homely

Review 80：Having to have 3 courses within the dinner option.

Review 81：All aspects about the stay was carefully thought out by the hotel which made for a lovely stay. No small children in the dining room and a great pianist to accompany a fantastic meal.

Review 82：The room was too hot (but then we like a cold bedroom).

Review 83：Lovely room and very compfortable. They were brilliant with the dogs and the restaurant was also excellent.

Review 84：Road traffic noise very loud and very busy .lack of interest on checking out after asking how our stay was .

Review 85：Location ,great food ,lovely open fires .

Review 86：The staff couldn't have been more attentive or friendly or done anything to make our stay more enjoyable from the moment we checked in to the moment we reluctantly left. I left behind a scarf and they very kindly posted it to me for which I'm most grateful.

Review 87：Stayed here before 10 years ago it was good then . It far exceeded my expectations we had been married the day before so we chose the swan to stay for a couple of days . The main restaurant was fine dining at its best very attentive but not to pushy rooms were very comfortable afternoon tea was another treat would come back for a special occasion

Review 88：Our room faced the road quite noisy also bathroom needs modernising

Review 89：Restaurant staff excellent, lovely old building,lovely position in a lovely old village.

Review 90：Just a little expensive compared to other hotels in the region.

Review 91：The friendly welcome on arrival, the reception prior to the function and the quality of the food and service for the dinner. A good nights sleep and a breakfast with waiter service rather than a buffet.

Review 92：Thought our room was overpriced as for a classic room at £195.00 the room was v small. Can I give a suggestion for this price for a classic room, think it would be wonderful if maybe an afternoon tea was included in that price makes it seem a little more fair as a nice included treat as did see this on the bar menu but the price of a classic room obviously not cheap this would even it out a little..

Review 93：The Dining area/hall was amazing and staff were most polite!

Review 94：nothing

Review 95：What made our stay so enjoyable was the service we received from accessible, well trained and personable staff. They made our stay stress-less and very relaxing.

Review 96：To use a double negative - there is nothing not to like.

Review 97：Wonderful sense of history in an intriguing and comfortable setting. Not to be missed if travelling in Suffolk.

Review 98：The hotel has been a bit " overworked " to my taste but it does provide every comfort.

Review 99：In the best spot in the area the hotel has every luxury including 2 restaurants, The breakfast was superb, individually served in the beautiful old Hall. the separate lounge areas and courtyards are lovely to relax in.

Review 100：Nothing. Looking forward to staying there again.

Review 101：Wonderful room, lovely beams and gorgeous comfortable bed. Staff very attentive nothing too much trouble. Fabulous cream teas and breakfast well presented.

Review 102：A bit expensive for the size and facilities of the room.

Review 103：Bags of character, attentive and very pleasant staff. Good choice of restaurants, excellent food. Lovely location.

Review 104：There was only one thing that we did not like and that was the noise of the traffic with being in a room facing onto the high street. We would definitely go back to the hotel but would ask for a room at the back of the hotel.

Review 105：The Staff were very friendly and helpful. We ate in the restaurant and the food was excellent as was the service. Lovely Australian waitress was very attentive. The room was beautiful with everything you might need including an iron and ironing board.

Review 106：Bedrooms probably need air conditioning on warmer summer nights.

Review 107：Beautiful charming old building faithfully restored and well maintained. Outstanding restaurant with impeccable service and attention to detail. One of the few hotels remaining with no breakfast buffet - how wonderful!

Review 108：It is an upmarket and quite expensive hotel and one is paying for the quaintness as the rooms and facilities carry the 400 year old burden in terms of layout and building structure. However it is obviously well maintained.

Review 109：If you want an authentic 400 year old hotel then this is it. Has been modernised in terms of facilities but still has winding stairs, low beams, sloping floors as you would expect. Rooms comfortable, but interesting to watch a glass slide on a table due to angle of floor. Staff helpful, carried suitcase to room, breakfast is included in price and served to one' stable. Lavenham is a lovely town and the Swan well positioned . Nice public areas for sitting around and socialising.

Review 110：We did have to wait at bar while barman continued to restock his wine collection.Really should have dealt with us and then completed the task,but really a small point.

Review 111：Great service and a very 'home from home' feel to the place,where my wife enjoyed entertaining our two grandsons on her birthday.

Review 112：Extra charge for newspaper - not clear this isn't complimentary. Towels were changed even though we hung them up in an eco-friendly gesture and were happy to reuse them.

Review 113：Amazing setting and building populated by courteous and friendly staff. The restaurant is also great and in keeping with the standard of the hotel.

Review 114：The hotel is located on the edge of two busy roads, so traffic noises in bedroom from 06:00 a.m. Good food but prices not in relation to portions. Breakfast: too small portions at the time and waiting too long for serving the (cooked) dish. Big dogs allowed in bedrooms (very unhygienic with the fitted carpets). Cleaning of the room + bathroom could be better (objects are not moved).

Review 115：'Ye Olde English' hotel in 'Ye Olde English' small town. Cosy interiors and bedroom (room 14). Friendly staff. Ideal for a short stay !

Review 116：The bar wasn't manned and customers had to keep going to find someone to serve.

Review 117：Relaxing surroundings, lots of seating areas, lovely clean and quiet rooms, good food and friendly staff, even left an anniversary card for us in our room, nice touch. All in all a very pleasent stay.

Review 118：Nothing. All was perfect

Review 119：On arrival the swan was lovely, staff were very polite. Showed to our room which had been upgraded for us - very nice. The dinner was excellent - best I have had in a long time. Recommend a stay at the sway to anyone.

Review 120：Some regrouting in bathroom needed. Kettle full of calcified deposits.

Review 121：Loved the location and character of TheSwan. Food was delightful. Surroundings in restaurant stunning. Lots of quiet corners for reading or chatting. Garden very pretty!

Review 122：The twin room we had (no 8) tended to be a little bit dingy as it was a little dark being on the road side of the hotel; however loved the hotel overall. My mother had room 15 and it was lovely. The chairs in the informal restaurant where we had dinner were a little low.

Review 123：The quaintness, the willingness of the staff to be helpful, the food in the (less formal) restaurant.

Review 124：We booked a couple of nights at The Swan Hotel Lavenham to celebrate our 40th Ruby Wedding Anniversary and could'nt have choosen a better hotel. The staff, location, food, rooms everything really was 100%. I would highly recommend this hotel staying in a beautiful Suffolk village with lots to see and do.

Review 125：No air conditioning which mattered because it was a very hot night. But a fan had been provided.

Review 126：Friendly staff. Willingness to help with cases. Excellent food. Avery enjoyable stay.

Review 127：Our superior room was small and a bit dark with a tiny bathroom but it's 15th Century so that's to be expected. I wasn't expecting spaciousness.

Review 128：The staff are exceptionally friendly. Couldn't have been nicer to us and my two small dogs. Very laid back. Breakfast is service only but excellent. It's a labyrinth of characterful rooms. The village is stunning of course. It's not cheap but it is an experience and that is what you are paying for. A nice sense of spaciousness outside our room with gardens and tables and courtyyards. If you are visiting the UK this place would be everything you thought the UK would be.

Review 129：The refurb has detracted from the sense of timelessness experienced on previous visits. The inflexibility of the woman on reception in not allowing us to put back our dinner time by half an hour (us and six friends were dining). The drinks prices are a rip off (pint of bitter 60p cheaper at Marco's place).

Review 130：The location, the history, the quirky lay out. The quality of the food and dining experiences. The staff are very good and so too are the facilities in the hotel.

Review 131：After staying for 4 nights the menu that stays the same in the bistro got boring. The desserts are a little too messed about and would be better in my opinion if they were made without all the fancy stuff. Expensive for what you get.

Review 132：Bistro food lovely. Lovely rooms with everything you will need. Bed very comfy slept very well. If your looking to relax and stroll around this is a good place to stay but also one of the most expensive in the area. Beautiful building that has been very well updated.

Review 133：No views from room. No fan or aircon. Shower over bath. Not all windows opened.

Review 134：Airy dinning-room. Food in restaurant of a good standard. Served breakfast by waiting staff. Comfortable bed. Friendly staff. Ambience.

Review 135：Wonderful location, beautiful hotel packed with charm and a pleasant ambience. Staff friendly and courteous, room spotless and very comfortable a very enjoyable stay.

Review 136：Very hot in rooms in the peak of summer. Bar service a little slow.

Review 137：Interesting building. Friendly staff. Good food. Comprehensive wine list. Locality worth exploring.

The Fine Print

If you wish to dine AA rosette Gallery Restaurant, prior reservation is recommended to avoid disappointment.Please note the hotel is a 15th-century building and may not be suitable for disabled guests. There are ground-floor rooms available on request, any special requirements can be added to the booking.