Lovely classic hotel, with spacious rooms and good food, in a lovely location beside the river 💚
I stayed 2 nights here and I had the most wonderful experience during my stay, all thanks to two incredible gentlemen – Michael from Security and Finnus at Reception. From the moment I met them, their kindness, friendliness, and genuine care completely transformed my stay.
I arrived feeling stressed, but because of their warmth and attentiveness, I left with the biggest smile on my face. They went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable and well looked after, and their accommodating nature truly stood out.
Michael and Finnus didn’t just provide excellent service – they made me feel valued, cared for, and completely at ease. It’s rare to meet people who can have such a positive impact on your stay, and they certainly did that for me. Please give them my biggest thanks.
I would definitely return to this hotel purely because of the outstanding experience they gave me. Five stars all the way.
My friend and I went to use the spa facilities one Sunday morning (1030 -1230 session). On arrival greeted by lovely lady who showed us the changing rooms and how to get to spa. We were first to arrive to this session so plenty of room. During the session another 7 ladies joined (in total 9) and this was absolutely fine in the spa area. However it was very tight in changing rooms all getting changed back at 1230 and we also felt rush as the lady was coming in grabbing used robes and towels etc for presumably turnaround as you couldn't fit anymore in here, so felt pressured to hurry up and leave spoiling the feeling a little of being chilled. It would be also be helpful for an explanation on how to activate things in the spa area as it was 'hit and miss' when they can on. Also my shower did one temp and no amount of twiddling taps changed this.
Little things but would have just finished off a lovely 2 hours.
We came for the thermal spa and afternoon tea. The afternoon tea was absolutely lovely but the spa was ok, with no quiet areas to relax so we only went for an hour. My partner also slipped and was quite shaken up by the experience and it was generally very wet and slippery all over, with no -one mopping up the water.
We went for a drink in between the spa and tea and that was where we were really disappointed. The bartender was indifferent, bordering on rude and kept us waiting with no apology or acknowledgement and we couldn't sit outside as all the tables were full of plates and cutlery and no-one was bothering to clear them up. Such a shame, as it's a lovely hotel, right by the river, and just making a few adjustments would have made it a lovely experience.
One part that exceeded expectations was Anna's tearooms, which was a lovely, big room beautifully decorated, with fantastic service and cream tea. So, at least the afternoon ended on a positive note.
★★★★★
more than a week ago
Well appointed but tiny bedroom and bathroom. Everything worked well. The only real flaw was the absence of staffing at the reception desk when we needed to call a taxi for friends after dinner. No bell at the desk for access at that point. We were aided by another guest who helped us out.
★★★★
more than a week ago
A good three nights. Nice rooms and breakfast
★★★★★
more than a week ago
“A huge thank you to Bedford Swan for making our wedding day truly unforgettable. The staff were outstanding—friendly, professional, and so attentive, with great communication and an incredible eye for detail. The food was absolutely delicious, the surroundings were stunning, and the bedrooms were beautiful and comfortable. A special thank you to Amie, Stuart, Mick, and Aisha—you each played such an important role in making everything perfect. We’re so grateful!”
Highly recommended.
★★★★★
more than a week ago
Best place to hang out for a drink on Bedford riverfront. Great outside space with settees, high tables etc and good vibes playing in the background. Drinks very reasonable prices too, especially for location
Whilst the room looked like it had been refurbished, the carpet looked awful/dirty.
Also, despite requesting a room at the end of the hall as a light sleeper, I was given one next to the lift. So no attention given to requests.
★★★★
more than a week ago
Really lovely night away at Bedford Swan Hotel & Spa, Afternoon Tea was delicious, Spa was clean and well kept, Room was pretty with a nice view of the river, lots to choose from at breakfast. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Will definitely visit again. Thank you