The Swan At Hay

Hotels
8.2 (1501 reviews)
Church Street , Hay-on-Wye , gb

Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Excellent location
Clean rooms
Cons:
Room quality issues
Overpriced rooms

Categories

Cleanliness
8.13
General sentiment indicated rooms were clean, but some dated aspects noted.
Service
8.8
Staff were very friendly and welcoming, contributing positively to the experience.
Location
8.64
Multiple reviews praised the excellent location of the hotel.
Room Quality
7.89
Some rooms were dated or had issues like doors that didn't close properly.
Amenities
8.12
Amenities were generally adequate, though some guests had specific requests.
Value for Money
7.58
Some guests felt the rooms were overpriced for the quality provided.
Food and Beverage
8.13
Breakfast options were good, but some reviews criticized the quality.
Overall Experience
8.3
Guests had a pleasant overall experience despite some minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-09 15:44

Property Description

Charming Georgian Hotel in Hay-on-Wye

Individually Designed Bedrooms: The Swan at Hay offers 19 uniquely designed bedrooms with picturesque views, flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms for a comfortable stay.

Culinary Delights: Guests can indulge in classic British cuisine at the relaxed bistro and restaurant, featuring original Georgian windows overlooking the garden. The well-stocked bar offers award-winning ales and ciders for a delightful dining experience.

Ideal Location: Positioned between the Brecon Beacons and The Black Mountains, the hotel is a perfect retreat for exploring the Offa’s Dyke Path and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Enjoy the convenience of free parking and proximity to boutique shops and pubs in Hay-on-Wye.

Experience the charm and comfort of The Swan at Hay – Book your stay now!

Important information:

Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: CWL

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 4 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not possible).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for £10 per person per night when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 5 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 6 years old to 16 years old stay for £20 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 15 years old stay for £25 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 1501 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.13
Service: 8.8
Location: 8.64
Room Quality: 7.89
Amenities: 8.12
Value for Money: 7.58
Food and Beverage: 8.13
Overall Experience: 8.3
K
Katherine couple gb
9
2026-05-16 via Nuitee
N
Nicki solo_traveller gb
8
2026-05-15 via Nuitee
J
Jennie extended_group gb
8
Pros:

Welcoming staff

2026-05-15 via Nuitee
A
Anne couple us
5
We left early because you don’t need five days in Hye-Wye and the stairs in the hotel!
Pros:

Back garden was nice.

Cons:

The stairs to our room were horrible; not the cleanest; furnishings have seen better days; nothing really cheerful about the place.

2026-05-13 via Nuitee
P
Patrick extended_group gb
8
very convenient stay in heart of Hay for walking Offa's Dyke path.
2026-05-12 via Nuitee
S
Stan couple gb
9
Great place lovely staff
Pros:

Everything

2026-05-12 via Nuitee
D
David solo_traveller gb
7
A pleasant enough stay with very welcoming staff. It feels like a hotel that caters for older people.
Pros:

Good location & the staff were generally very helpful and friendly.

Cons:

It’s a little old fashioned in places. Onsite parking is very limited. The quality of the food at dinner was very average with far better options elsewhere.

2026-05-12 via Nuitee
M
Michael solo_traveller gb
10
Wonderful place
Pros:

Was a amazing trip into a time warp
Exactly as I imagined England 50 years ago bar the lovely modern convenience

Cons:

Nothing to dislike

2026-05-10 via Nuitee
R
Rosaleen couple gb
8
Not a bad hotel, location was very good
Pros:

Food very good, the staff is excellent

Cons:

Decor looked tired, slightly overpriced

2026-05-10 via Nuitee
C
Chris solo_traveller gb
9
Pros:

Friendly pleasant staff, comfortable and spacious room.

Cons:

We had dinner in the restaurant both nights. The food was generally fairly good, but the vegetables were barely cooked, including the french beans which were practically raw and crunchy. The service however was very good, charming and attentive, so I didn't feel like complaining at the time.

2026-05-09 via Nuitee
J
John solo_traveller gb
5
Disappointing
Pros:

Nice room first breakfast.

Cons:

Price was too high for the quality of the room and amenities. The room was small, complimentary offerings appeared to be very cheap considering the price paid. Restaurant also seemed overpriced so we ate elsewhere.

2026-05-09 via Nuitee
S
steve solo_traveller gb
5
Disappointed smelly room with difficult access and breakfast was not worth waiting for
Pros:

It was central location

Cons:

The room smelt of drains it was accessed from the car park which made it difficult to get into the room because of cars parked in front of the entrance.
Breakfast was very disappointing there was a lack of staff to inform them of the standards of the stay

2026-05-09 via Nuitee
J
Judy couple gb
7
2026-05-08 via Nuitee
R
Richard couple gb
2
Not good.
Pros:

Location and the people

Cons:

The bathroom stank of drains.
Above us at night rats were running round.
I tried feeding this back to them directly but they haven’t responded so I’m writing it here in the hope of some response.

2026-05-06 via Nuitee
P
Paul couple gb
6
Very enjoyable stay, would use again. Local artisan market and walk to our liking.
Pros:

Garden was pretty, suited our little dog. Good location and friendly staff. Charged our EV on site. Oat milk provided for the room on request and our ice block was refrozen for us in the front of house freezer. Staff were more than happy to help.

Cons:

Doesn’t serve Guinness so drank elsewhere in the town.

2026-05-05 via Nuitee
C
Claire couple gb
5
Pros:

good breakfast with very efficient service
well located

Cons:

small room with a very small 'double' bed, tired decor and smelly due to no fan or outside window in the bathroom
the hotel is rather tired and could do with updating

2026-05-04 via Nuitee
C
Carole couple gb
8
Another enjoyable stay at the Swan on Hay
Pros:

All staff were friendly and helpful. We enjoyed our food. Lovely garden.

2026-05-03 via Nuitee
G
Gail solo_traveller gb
9
Pros:

Arrived late from Surrey.
The night porter Rhodri was so warm and welcoming, just what you need after a long journey 😊
The room was very clean and comfortable.
Didn't catch her name but the lovely lady looking after us in the dining room was so accommodating,
Breakfast was very good, with high quality ingredients.
Also really good that there are electric car charging points on site.
A beautiful place to stay 😊

Cons:

£180 for one night is pretty steep, especially as this didn't include breakfast.

2026-05-02 via Nuitee
H
Helen couple gb
8
Comfortable and friendly hotel
Pros:

Very good service- friendly and helpful staff. Very nice restaurant.

Cons:

Steep stairs. Room a bit small but well equipped. Don’t like shower in bath.

2026-04-29 via Nuitee
D
David solo_traveller gb
10
Comfortable, relaxing stay in hotel with excellent customer service
Pros:

Excellent customer service. comfortable, spacious and garden a real asset in some very sunny weather. Location for both town of Hay on Wye, and access to river Wye is excellent.

Cons:

Nothing really. I intend to return.

2026-04-29 via Nuitee