The Swan - A Colombo Edition Hotel

Hotels
7.4 (364 reviews)
1 Sandhill Littleport , Ely , gb

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Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Nightclub
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Express check-in/check-out
Safety deposit box
Facilities for disabled guests
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Clean and comfortable rooms
Friendly staff
Cons:
Heating issues
Restaurant closures and limited amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
6.86
Most rooms were clean, but the lack of heating and some issues with the bathroom affected perception.
Service
8.33
Staff were helpful and friendly, contributing positively to the overall experience.
Location
8.37
The location by the river and proximity to Ely were appreciated by guests.
Room Quality
6.82
Rooms were comfortable, but issues with heating and overall maintenance impacted quality.
Amenities
7.35
Basic amenities were provided; however, some were not operational.
Value for Money
6.31
Guests felt that the experience did not meet expectations for the price paid.
Food and Beverage
7.86
Food was noted as amazing, though breakfast not being served on-site received criticism.
Overall Experience
7.33
Mixed experiences noted, with high points in service and location balanced by significant drawbacks.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-11 02:22

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation
Indulge in 5-star comfort with free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom in each guest room.

Dining and Entertainment
Enjoy a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant or unwind with a drink at the bar. Experience karaoke for a fun evening.

Scenic Surroundings
Relax in the garden or on the terrace, and take advantage of free private parking. Explore nearby attractions like Ely Cathedral and The Apex.

To experience luxury and comfort in Ely, book your stay at The Swan - A Colombo Edition Hotel now.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
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.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

7.4
Based on 364 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.86
Service: 8.33
Location: 8.37
Room Quality: 6.82
Amenities: 7.35
Value for Money: 6.31
Food and Beverage: 7.86
Overall Experience: 7.33
W
Woodd • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-03-28 • via Nuitee
A
Adam • solo_traveller • gb
5
Pros:

Can't argue with price.

Cons:

Place looks bit run down.

2026-03-28 • via Nuitee
C
Clare • couple • gb
6
Strange
Pros:

The river ran along side the pub/rooms.
Staff lovely.

Cons:

It was a bit smelly and scruffy as you go to the rooms with smelling drain covers and bins by the entrance.
The bed is a double size so much smaller than we are used to. The room smelt very strongly of “febreeze”.
There were half used shower gel and shampoo in the shower left from previous occupant.

2026-03-25 • via Nuitee
M
Michael Johnson • couple • gb
3
A disappointing visit. We would not recommend The Swan as a place to stay.
Pros:

The lady behind the bar was friendly but she seemed to be the only member of staff on duty.

Cons:

The room was very dated and not very clean. The shower leaked all the time. There was a long wait for the evening meal and a limited menu. There was no breakfast.

2026-03-22 • via Nuitee
C
Cerrie • couple • gb
3
2026-03-22 • via Nuitee
K
Katy • couple • gb
2
Not a pleasant stay- needs a good clean.
Pros:

The location on the river has the potential to be very nice, and the staff were very friendly and chatty.

Cons:

The room was in a barn at the rear of the pub. Outside were three bins full of linen and a linen bag full of linen which remained there for the duration of our stay. The carpet was dirty and the bathroom was really dirty. Urine stains on the toilet. Hairs and dust on the toilet. Grime around the base of the tiles. And toothpaste stains on the tap and mirrors. There were brown marks on the towels. The room was very dusty and the walls were paper thin. We could hear our neighbours very loudly. The pub was full of locals and dogs and had a nice atmosphere, but the restaurant had barely any of the items on the menu and it was very average. They don't serve breakfast at all. We left the bar at 9:20 and the owner locked the door behind us. Nice to be made to feel welcome. Advertised closing time was 10pm! We only paid about £55 to stay, so didn't raise the issues at the time, because it was quite clear that when we were locked out as we left, that they wouldn't be available for us to raise issues. We got up at 8 and left. Definitely won't be coming back. We tried to be positive as it had clearly been a nice place to stay at one time, but things need seriously improving here.

2026-03-22 • via Nuitee
J
jennie • couple • gb
10
2026-03-12 • via Nuitee
C
Claire • couple • gb
6
Nothing like the description
Pros:

It was fairly quiet and the bedding and towels were clean. Staff were helpful, but apart from that the description of this hotel does not match the reality.

Cons:

The room was dirty, the block with the rooms and the pub needs upgrading. Unpainted windows, dirty carpets and mirrors. Food in the pub was average. No idea where the 5 stars came from or the facilities mentioned in the description. No radiators, but they had installed an electric heater.

2026-03-09 • via Nuitee
G
Graham • couple • gb
7
2026-03-07 • via Nuitee
D
Danny • solo_traveller • gb
5
2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
J
jennie • couple • gb
10
2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
L
Loraine • couple • gb
9
Pros:

River view

2026-03-03 • via Nuitee
B
Bywater • couple • gb
10
Pros:

Friendly staff, location, comfortable beds, warm, modern bathroom. Good food. Location on the river.

Cons:

Decking needs lick of paint but that is being over critical as its the only thing that let's it down slightly.

2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
M
Mullane • couple • gb
7
Great place & location but some small issues
Pros:

Location
Friendly staff
Evening Meal was good
Realy nice room & also very clean

Cons:

No breakfast
No central heating so bathroom was cold even though bedroom was quite warm has electric heater supplied
No spare toilet roll ( we ran out ) had to use tissues that we had with us
Didn't no how to check out, has place was locked up & no one available, se we called back later in day to give keycard back

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • couple • gb
5
Short break
Pros:

Nice location by the river, the staff were very helpful.

Cons:

Could do with so TLC

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
L
Lynden • couple • gb
6
Pros:

The staff were delightful, Very reasonable bar meal.

Cons:

The accommodation seemed a little rundown. No breakfast. Sort of expected it to be a lot closer to Ely.

2026-02-25 • via Nuitee
S
smart • couple • gb
9
Altogether a very pleasant and relaxing and convenient stay. Shall be staying again.
Pros:

Having a balcony was lovely, and the room was a generous size. The shower absolutely excellent. The staff very friendly and so helpful. Easy walk into town, great Indian Restaurant The Jamadi. Friendly pub. Ideal to catch the train to Ely which takes only 10 minutes for a visit to the Cathedral.
Didn't have chance to eat at the Swan but all looked very good what we saw.
Very reasonably priced.

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
T
Tony • couple • gb
8
Peaceful and pleasant
Pros:

The scenery and the staff were amazing for the price we could not of asked for more plus the steak was amazing. We have booked to stay again the 13-15th march for work would not go anywhere else.

Cons:

It was cold in the restaurant as the heating system had failed but they did there best to find an alternative solution in the mean time but the room was lovely and warm so not a huge issue.

2026-02-12 • via Nuitee
B
Brian • couple • gb
4
Tired and dated place, could do with some TLC.
Pros:

Staff friendly and helpful, easy to find.

Cons:

Place was very quiet and looking a bit tired and run-down. Lots of potential and some nice touches like wine in fridge on arrival. Food overpriced and not to a good standard.

2026-02-09 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • solo_traveller • gb
1
Very sub standard and lack of care and service levels
Pros:

The location

Cons:

Generally the room was tired and unclean,stained bed linen,broken toilet seat,worn fittings,the bed hadn’t been stripped and remade and the sheets look like they’re were the sheets from the previous occupants,if you’re going to provide accommodation at least try to make the best of what could be an amazing stay,very poor and my initial room stank of cannabis

2026-02-09 • via Nuitee