The Swan At Hay

Hotels
8.2 (1594 reviews)
Church Street , Hay-on-Wye , GB
+44 1497 821188

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
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.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 1594 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
S
Susan • couple • ca
10
Had a lovely time in this fantastic booktown. Staff were warm and welcoming. Facilities were perfect for a comfortable
Pros:

Conveniently located in town with a great garden for sitting out in.

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
M
Martyn • couple • gb
8
An good place to stay when visiting Hay on Wye
Pros:

The room was very clean and the shower worked very well. The hotel is a little dated in places but this does give it some character. Staff were very pleasant, helpful and attentive. Good beer available in the bar (HPA) and the food was excellent both at dinner and breakfast. The evening dining area was a little quiet during our stay, somewhat lacking in atmosphere but there was a larger party being catered for separately so perhaps this would not always be the case. Parking is a bit limited but there is a large public car park just across the road which we used during our stay so no problems there. The location of the hotel is excellent for the town, which is well worth a visit. A short walk gets you to the many book shops, other artisan shops and cafes/pubs (and the castle).

Cons:

We thought that overall it was a little expensive but no doubt this was the going rate for Hay on Wye, which is a lovely little town. Well worth a visit. Lots of bookshops! You could browse for hours. Plenty of places to eat. Good food. The castle was an excellent diversion for an hour or so- great exhibits and multimedia presentations.

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
C
Claire • couple • gb
8
2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
E
Emma • couple • gb
5
2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
J
julie • couple • gb
9
A lovley hotel with great staff
Pros:

Staff were all very friendly and helpful in a great position and a really lovely building full of charm the garden was great to sit in to relax

Cons:

The room was a little jaded but. Was clean

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
T
Tim • couple • gb
8
Nice old hotel near centre of Hay on Wye.
Pros:

Lovely old coaching inn with original features.

Cons:

Our front room was noisy with road traffic.No lift for our luggage.

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
D
Dawn • couple • gb
6
Glad we were only staying one night
Pros:

Location was great

Cons:

Room was noisy, food was ok but nothing special

2026-09-15 • via Nuitee
G
Gary • couple • gb
10
2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
C
Christopher • solo_traveller • gb
7
2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
T
Tanya • couple • gb
7
Some good points.
Pros:

The staff were great and the location was fabulous. The bed was very comfortable.

Cons:

We were in room 11 which needed a bit of TLC. The bedding and towels had seen better days.

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
C
Carolyn • solo_traveller • gb
6
Pros:

Location very good. Small car park very useful. Big bed

Cons:

Although dog friendly, not in main dining area which tbh the only comfy looking area to eat. Ended up in the garden as the area to eat with dogs is very uncomfortable and a bit gloomy. The garden unlit and felt a little abandoned. No offer of dessert. Poor choice at bar. Generally needing an update, no netflix etc just terrestrial tv and intermittent WiFi. Quite expensive for room only

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
P
Patricia • solo_traveller • gb
8
A traditional hotel with comfortable rooms, well located for the town and surrounding countryside
Pros:

Good location, comfortable

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • couple • gb
9
2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
R
Rob • extended_group • gb
8
Friendly hotel close to centre of Hay
Pros:

Great food, friendly staff, bike storage

Cons:

Bedroom could do with some TLC

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
A
Alexandra • family_with_children • gb
8
The hotel is pleasantly placed and close to the town centre. Staff are attentive and likeable.
Pros:

Breakfast was good with a reasonable selection on offer. Often juice jugs and pastries ran out so you had to ask for more - met with politeness and prompt action by staff. Room was simply fitted out, clean and had a really good shower. As with age of property, you can hear voices in the room next door, they also had the TV on loudly. Thankfully, sleeping after 10pm. Hotel has a variety of lounge areas, garden and bar, which we made use of and liked a lot.

Cons:

Dinner was a mixed experience, cold mushy peas, very small piece of cod in batter and over salty mushroom gnocchi, so didn't quite meet value for money. Surprised as there were no issues with the cooked breakfast. Breakfast table set for two instead of three was slightly annoying.

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
B
Bruce • couple • au
9
Comfortable, not too large or busy and walking distance to all this quirky town has to offer
Pros:

Conveniently located in the heart of the town where our car was secure. Nice restaurant and breakfast was a scrumptious. The staff were amazing and extremely helpful.

Cons:

Narrow staircase but not a deal breaker.

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • couple • gb
10
Excellently run hotel.Ideally situated for exploring area
Pros:

The friendliness of the staff.The professionalism and how personable everybody was especially acting manager Sarah who went out of her way to make us feel welcome.
Room was very comfortable and had been modernised.
Food menu had variety and was tasty and well presented

Cons:

Liked everything about the Swan at Hay

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
M
Maria Lisa • solo_traveller • no
9
2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
J
Jade • solo_traveller • gb
8
Pros:

Lovely hotel and attentive staff. Room was nice, and lovely to have a bath

Cons:

A bit expensive and an extra dog charge

2026-09-12 • via Nuitee
C
Christopher • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-09-12 • via Nuitee