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Bedford Swan Hotel And Thermal Spa, Bedford

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From111US$ /night
Check-in
31Jan2025Select date
Check-out
01Feb2025Select date
Rooms and Guests2 Guests, 1 Room
Key details

About the Hotel

The Embankment, Bedford, United Kingdom, MK40 1RW

The Bedford Swan Hotel is a heritage hotel located on the banks of the Great River Ouse in Bedford, England. This charming hotel combines contemporary comfort with 18th-century features, offering guests a unique and stylish experience. It is renowned for its exclusive Thermal Spa, which promotes relaxation and wellness. The hotel provides a central base for exploring Bedford's rich history and beautiful countryside.

Location

Situated in the heart of Bedford, the hotel is just a short walk from the historic Old Town markets and local attractions like Bedford Castle and the Panacea Museum. Bedford Railway Station is approx. 15 minutes away on foot, offering fast rail links to central London. The hotel is also conveniently located 21.5 miles from London Luton Airport, providing various transportation options.

Rooms

The hotel features 113 individually designed rooms, each equipped with air conditioning, flat-screen LCD TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms include standard doubles, deluxe options, and junior suites with lounge areas. Many accommodations provide stunning riverside views, which enhance the overall experience. All rooms are designed for comfort, featuring quality linens and essential amenities.

Eat & Drink

On-site dining is available at Pen & Cob, the British Brasserie, which serves a menu of freshly prepared seasonal dishes. The River Room Restaurant offers a more formal dining experience with English and continental cuisine, complemented by an excellent wine list. The hotel provides allergen information upon request, ensuring that guests with dietary restrictions are accommodated.

Leisure & Business

The Bedford Swan Hotel includes a Thermal Spa that features various relaxation experiences, including a vitality pool, sauna, and steam rooms. Guests can pre-book spa sessions, which are suitable for those aged 16 and over. For corporate guests, the hotel provides a range of meeting spaces and business facilities to meet various needs, including intimate meeting rooms and grand event spaces.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals
King Room
Max:
2 persons
14 m² 
Bed options:
1 King Size Bed
Shower
Heating
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Junior Suite
Max:
2 persons
14 m² 
Bed options:
1 King Size Bed
Shower
Heating
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Deluxe King Room
Max:
2 persons
14 m² 
Bed options:
1 King Size Bed
Shower
Heating
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Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Center
Bedford1000 ft
Airports
London Luton (LTN) 21.4 mi
Cambridge (CBG) 34.1 mi
Bus
Bus stop700 ft

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

General

  • No smoking on site
  • Wi-Fi
  • Parking
  • Safe deposit box
  • 24-hour reception
  • Express check-in/ -out
  • Pets allowed
  • 24-hour security
  • Baggage storage
  • Smoke detectors
  • Electric vehicle charging station
  • Fire extinguishers

Guest Parking

  • Electric kettle

Services

  • Room service
  • Welcome drink

Dining

  • Restaurant
  • Bar/ Lounge area
  • Special diet menus

Business

  • Meeting/ Banquet facilities

Children

  • Cribs
  • Children's menu

Spa & Leisure

  • Leisure/ TV room
  • Spa & wellness center
  • Sauna

Room features

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Sitting area
  • Garden furniture
  • Tea and coffee facilities
  • Ironing facilities

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries

Self-catering

  • Electric kettle

Media

  • Flat-screen TV

Room decor

  • Carpeted floor
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Location

The Embankment, Bedford, United Kingdom, MK40 1RW
Map view
street view
The Embankment, Bedford, United Kingdom, MK40 1RW
Nearby
Museums
The Higgins Bedford
1100 ft
Monuments and Landmarks
Statue of John Howard
400 ft
Bedford Castle
500 ft
Church
Saint Paul's Church
800 ft
Ardor House 2 The Broadway
Statue of John Bunyan
1500 ft
10-36 Silver Street
Reflections of Bedford
800 ft
Museums
Panacea Museum
900 ft
26 Castle Lane
Rogan's Books
400 ft
Museums
John Bunyan Meeting House and Museum
1600 ft
7 Howard Street
Art Centre and Gallery
1100 ft
Dame Alice Street
Dame Alice Almshouses
1600 ft
Embankment Bridge
2000 ft
St Pauls Square
Shire Hall
500 ft
The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin
1900 ft
Castle Ln
The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum
1000 ft
Mill Street
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and St Cuthbert
800 ft
Silver Street
Archbishop Trevor Huddleston Bust
900 ft
Mall
Harpur Shopping Centre
1100 ft
Harpur Square
The Meeting Sculptures
1800 ft
Prebend Street
County Bridge
1900 ft
2 Brereton Road
The Holy Child & St Joseph R C Church
2000 ft
Restaurants
Albero Lounge
600 ft
Cowper Building Riverside Square Riverside Square
Nazar Turkish Restaurant
600 ft
17 High Street
Nando's Bedford
300 ft
Swan House 3 High Street
Pen & Cob
200 ft
The Embankment
The Higgins Pantry
1100 ft
Castle Lane Castle Lane
Baja
900 ft
17 Castle Lane
FatCap Smokehouse
900 ft
15 Castle Lane
Thali & Tandoor
900 ft
28 Castle Lane
Decant Wine and Cheese Deli
800 ft
20 Castle Lane
Blue Monk
600 ft
19 High Street
Quay Seafood & Fine Cuts
800 ft
19 Castle Lane Castle Quay

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.
70%
liked the hotel and would stay again
beautiful view
friendly service
room temperature
slow service
7.0/10
Very good
Rooms
7.0
Location
8.3
Service
7.7
Dining
5.5
Guest reviews
7.0/10
based on 6 reviews
3.5/5 based on 1861 reviews
7.9
7.9/10based on 2502 reviews
#15 of 19 hotels in Bedford based on Tripadvisor
Francis
United States of America, February  2024
6.6/10

My stay at the hotel was a mixed experience. The location was wonderful, right on the river bank, and the staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. However, the rooms definitely needed improvement with cleanliness issues and noise from a nearby bar. The dining options were somewhat limited, and I encountered some overcharging during checkout.

Rooms
5.0
The rooms were in need of a spruce up with cleanliness issues such as fungi around the bath tub and a cracked window. The noise from a nearby bar made it a bit hard to relax.
Service
7.0
The staff were extremely welcoming and friendly, always available to help, but I did experience overcharging during checkout.
Location
8.0
The location was excellent, with a lovely river view from my room, and convenient access to bars and restaurants. However, the noise made showering a bit difficult at times.
Dining
6.0
The dining options were somewhat limited, with routine delays in service. I also missed having more vegetarian choices available.
Facilities
Not ideal.
Alan
United Kingdom, December  2023
7.6/10

The hotel offers bright and clean rooms overlooking the river, situated right in town. The lovely restaurant and spa facilities, along with friendly and helpful reception staff, make for a pleasant stay. However, the hotel's lone, small lift occasionally caused inconvenience, such as when it was blocked by a couple taking wedding photos. Noise issues necessitated a room change, but all necessary amenities were provided.

Rooms
8.0
The rooms were bright and clean, with a lovely view of the river, but the noise required a room change.
Service
9.0
The staff was gracious and helpful, especially with special arrangements like a horse and carriage for my daughter's wedding. They even removed a food charge from the bill, which was greatly appreciated.
Location
9.0
The hotel's location is excellent, situated right opposite the beautiful river in Bedford. Close proximity to shopping, restaurants, the park, and the river for delightful walks.
Dining
5.0
The dining experience was subpar, with slow replenishment of items and limited choices, lacking basics like tea or coffee at the table.
Facilities
7.0
The hotel boasts a lovely restaurant and spa facilities, though the dining experience could be improved.
Robert
United Kingdom, November  2023
6.2/10

The hotel has a brilliant location close to the town center with easy access to restaurants and bars. The rooms, despite some noise issues, were small with limited hanging space. The service was extremely friendly and welcoming. The location, although vibrant, suffered from noise disturbances every 15 minutes from a nearby town clock. The dining experience was disappointing with low-quality bacon and basic sausages. The facilities need some improvements.

Rooms
6.0
The rooms were small with limited hanging space and some noise issues during the night.
Service
9.0
The service was extremely friendly and welcoming.
Location
7.0
The location is vibrant but suffers from noise disturbances every 15 minutes from a nearby town clock.
Dining
5.0
The dining experience was disappointing with low-quality bacon and basic sausages.
Facilities
5.0
Facilities need some improvements.
Philip
United Kingdom, November  2023
7.6/10

I had a wonderful stay at this hotel! The rooms were very clean, modern, and had a lovely view over the lake, perfect for my partner's birthday celebration. The only downside was that it was very hot in the room.

Rooms
8.0
The room was very clean and tidy with a lovely view over the lake.
Service
7.0
The service was friendly and welcoming, but there were some delays in getting cocktails in the evening and checking in guests.
Location
9.0
The location was stunning, perfect for what we were looking for with cozy spaces and a well-stocked garden bar.
Dining
6.0
The dining experience was alright, but there were some issues with the drinks order and breakfast quality.
Facilities
8.0
The hotel offered a lovely beer garden with a well-stocked bar.
beautiful view
room temperature
Harry
United States of America, July  2023
7.4/10

The hotel offers a marvelous view of the river from the rooms, but the lack of wardrobe space was a little disappointing. The staff service varied, with the dinner staff going above and beyond while the room service was subpar. The location is excellent for river walks and close to various entertainment options, but the dining experience was haphazard despite the reasonable pricing. The facilities offered were satisfactory overall.

Rooms
8.0
The rooms were marvelous with a great view of the river, but the lack of wardrobe space was a downside.
Service
7.0
The staff were friendly and professional, but the room service was not up to par compared to the exceptional dinner staff.
Location
9.0
The hotel's location is excellent for river walks and close to entertainment options, with a friendly staff at the terrace bar.
Dining
6.0
The dining experience was haphazard and could have been better for the price paid, with some service miscommunications.
Facilities
7.0
The facilities met basic expectations, but there were areas that needed improvement.
Frank
United States of America, June  2023
6.8/10

The room was smaller than expected, considering it was sold as a suite at a premium price, and the noise from the air conditioning unit was a bit bothersome. However, the hotel provided bathrobes, slippers, and premium toiletries for added comfort.

Rooms
7.0
The room was smaller than usual, but the amenities like bathrobes, slippers, and premium toiletries were a nice touch.
Service
7.0
The staff were nice but unhelpful, especially when it came to specific drink orders. However, they were nothing but attentive during my stay, which was appreciated.
Location
8.0
The hotel is close to the town center, despite having limited parking options. It was lovely overall, with a smart feel, but finding alternative parking took some time due to the end location on the High Street.
Dining
6.0
The food quality varied, with some dishes being overcooked. However, some items were among the best I've had in a hotel setting. Takeaway food was an option to consider due to the mixed dining experience.
Facilities
6.0
Facilities were average, with some room for improvement in the dining area cleanliness and overall dining experience.
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Check-in
31Jan2025Select date
Check-out
01Feb2025Select date
Rooms and Guests2 Guests, 1 Room