The Kingfisher

Hotels
•
Classic British Hotels
8.4 (952 reviews)
Cardington Road , Bedford , gb

listing image 1
Show all photos
Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Electric bicycle charging station
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Express check-in/check-out
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Convenient location
Comfortable rooms
Good breakfast
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Outdated furniture
Hard beds
Some amenities can improve

Categories

Cleanliness
7.65
Some guests mentioned cleanliness issues, particularly regarding bathrooms and upkeep.
Service
9.15
Staff were frequently described as friendly and enthusiastic, with many positive mentions.
Location
9.15
The hotel is in a very nice and convenient location by the river.
Room Quality
8.15
Rooms are generally comfortable, though some found the bed hard.
Amenities
8.15
Bar and restaurant were positively noted, although some amenities could be improved.
Value for Money
8.15
While some found the price high, others felt good value for money was received.
Food and Beverage
8.15
Food quality varied; some meals were excellent, while others were average.
Overall Experience
8.65
Overall, many guests had a very positive experience, with a few minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 08:42

Property Description

Riverside Pub with Rooms on the River Great Ouse

Tranquil Setting and Delicious Dining
The Kingfisher offers a tranquil setting with views of the River Great Ouse and a local country park. Enjoy friendly service and delicious food, wines, and cask ales. Relax on the terrace by the river for a memorable dining experience.

Quality Ingredients and Comfortable Accommodation
Championing quality ingredients, the Kingfisher sources locally for a fresh dining experience. Choose from a variety of bedroom options, each with spacious bathrooms and essential amenities like a TV and tea/coffee facilities.

Nearby Attractions and Easy Access
Conveniently located near the M1 motorway, explore attractions like Woburn Abbey and Safari Park. Immerse yourself in nature and culture while staying just minutes away from major roadways.

Book your stay at The Kingfisher for a delightful riverside retreat.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 3 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

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

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children from 2 years old to 14 years old stay for £10 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

8.4
Based on 952 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.65
Service: 9.15
Location: 9.15
Room Quality: 8.15
Amenities: 8.15
Value for Money: 8.15
Food and Beverage: 8.15
Overall Experience: 8.65
P
Pow • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-03-27 • via Nuitee
J
joanne • family_with_children • gb
8
over happy
Pros:

breakfast and staff were lovely and helpful. The beds are a bit old but ok. Overall it was a lovely stay

Cons:

prices of the wine and no guiness

2026-03-22 • via Nuitee
L
Linsay • couple • gb
10
2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
M
Michiel • solo_traveller • nl
8
2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
J
Julie • couple • gb
10
2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
C
Catherine • couple • gb
9
Very pleasant.
Pros:

Loved the bag of sweets left in the room!

Cons:

Lack of lift. My husband has Parkinson’s and by end of the wedding night , he was very tired to negotiate the stairs and long corridor. I can’t remember if we were given an accessible room option or availability. Not sure if it’s a listed building which would prevent this adaptation.
Would love a hot chocolate drink option in the refreshment tray !

2026-03-16 • via Nuitee
M
Matthew • couple • gb
8
2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • couple • gb
9
Great short stay
Pros:

Lovely peaceful location, with excellent attentive and professional staff.
Room was excellent and very comfortable.
Food was also very high quality and tasty.

Cons:

Only a minor point, shower was a bit underpowered.

2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
Q
quinn • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-03-13 • via Nuitee
J
Johnson • family_with_children • gb
8
Pros:

Nice area and location

Cons:

Charging extra for extra 2 hours

2026-03-12 • via Nuitee
C
CAROLE • family_with_children • gb
9
2 night stay
Pros:

Good location. Clean room, friendly staff and good meal in the restaurant.

2026-03-10 • via Nuitee
B
Barry • couple • gb
8
We have stayed at this hotel many times in the past and always enjoyed our stay
Pros:

Room and facilities are kept very clean and well maintained.
Staff are very friendly.
Good location to town centre and close to A1

Cons:

All good

2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
I
IANCU • family_with_children • gb
10
Pros:

Everyting was ok
Big thanks !!!

2026-03-08 • via Nuitee
J
Jamie • couple • gb
9
Loved it would go back again
2026-03-08 • via Nuitee
R
Rebecca • family_with_children • gb
10
Well run, beautiful hotel
Pros:

Great place to stay, the staff all seemed happy to be there and we found it very clean and beds were super comfortable. Shower was good too. I would happily stay there again, beautiful place. Very happy with the value for money too.

Cons:

The cooked breakfast buffet was the only slight down point. Mostly good food (fabulous mushrooms) but the scrambled egg let it down. Very dry and the metal it was in turned it green/bluey. I asked for more eggs, they brought fresh out and it was exactly the same.

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
J
Josephine • couple • gb
9
2026-02-28 • via Nuitee
G
graham • solo_traveller • gb
8
lovely place / good value
Pros:

nice room / good food and bar area

Cons:

receptionist was not very welcoming on arrival

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
M
Muffy • family_with_children • gb
8
Brilliant for our one night stay, thank you.
Pros:

Staff were friendly, welcoming and efficient. Rooms were clean and comfortable, windows open properly (oh joy!) and had everything needed for the night's stay. We can see why its such a popular venue, really lovely place.

Cons:

We ate dinner in the restaurant, it was busy, lovely atmosphere and staff, but the food wasn't brilliant. Bavette Steak Pinwheel was tasty enough but tough (great mash) but the burger overcooked and bland and the pizza had way too much cheese.

2026-02-22 • via Nuitee
B
Beattie • extended_group • gb
6
Over all satisfied
Pros:

Clean and comfortable

Cons:

Miss lead on service of food leading us to not getting dinner

2026-02-22 • via Nuitee
C
Clive • solo_traveller • gb
1
I booked for two nights but left after the first night. Not good.
Cons:

The room smelt musty and wasn’t comfortable at all. The bed was hard and the shower was awful. It was really slow and didn’t wash soap off. I couldn’t wait to get out of the room. I paid top dollar for a very bad stay.

2026-02-11 • via Nuitee