The Swan At Hay

Hotels
8.2 (1540 reviews)
Church Street , Hay-on-Wye , gb

Free
Children allowed
Pets 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

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 1540 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
P
Petra solo_traveller at
6
Pros:

Lage

Cons:

Wirkte ziemlich abgewohnt, Essen im Restaurant war wirklich nicht gut, sehr kleiner Parkplatz und schnell voll,

2026-07-03 via Nuitee
C
Chris couple gb
7
Start of a trip along the Spine of the Dragon
Pros:

Lovely room, helpful staff. Good location.

Cons:

Evening meal was average at best

2026-07-03 via Nuitee
A
Alun couple gb
7
Nice hotel in a nice town.
Pros:

Nice and clean, comfortable.

Cons:

There were very few to channel options. The room out in the courtyard was quite small with a very steep stairway to get to it.

2026-07-01 via Nuitee
D
Delyth couple gb
6
Had a lovely stay at The Swan in Hay. Some good parts to the hotel mainly the staff but some improvements could be made.
Pros:

Central location to the town centre of Hay on Wye.
Bedroom was spacious.
Good breakfast.
Staff were very good, friendly and helpful.
Lovely beer garden.

Cons:

The traffic noise from the main road especially from about 5am onwards. We had to keep the bedroom window open as the weather was hot!
The hotel car park is small.
Evening meal was average.

2026-06-29 via Nuitee
R
Robin couple gb
7
2026-06-29 via Nuitee
A
Andrew J couple gb
6
Reasonably good, but it is absurd that the hotel told my wife it has "no olive oil" for her salad.
Pros:

The young lady in charge when we arrived was very impressive. The location of the hotel is good because Hay is fun as a place. Handy places close by to walk the dogs in a very green setting -- we brought two dogs. Our electric car was charged very efficiently.

Cons:

The main bad thing was my wife's tomato and mozzarella main course at dinner. Bizarrely, it came drowned in a dark spicy pesto kind of heavy drizzle, and she believes it had chilli in it even after she explained she is allergic to chilli. So that was disappointing and she sent it back, and she asked for a standard tomato and mozzarella (in the form that would be served in most restaurants around the world, after all). Unfortunately, it came back now with half a mozzarella of extremely lumpy quality and a tiny tomato salad. She then asked if she could have some olive oil on it, which after all would be served on such a salad in the restaurants of the world. The young waitress went back to ask. "We have no olive oil" came back the reply from the kitchen. This reply seems absurd. It indicates to us that the chef was simply grumpy with my wife. It is inconceivable to us that the Swan at Hay on Wye has no olive oil in its substantial kitchen. So we will probably never go back to this establishment. This culinary part of our stay was unusually poor and odd.

2026-06-24 via Nuitee
N
Natarajan couple sg
10
an excellent experience
Pros:

Very friendly staff. Very close to the plethora of book shops

2026-06-24 via Nuitee
L
Long solo_traveller gb
8
Very welcoming after a long days walking.
Pros:

I booked the Swan at Hay through the booking .com portal. I can tell you the hotel was quiet by the time I arrived. Check was easy and I was directed to my room which was in the old stables. Breakfast was extra. there was the choice of continental or English. I chose the continental which was very good with many options within that to satisfy anyone. A shortcoming was the bar had no beer, only rather expensive lagers. Over £9 for a pint and a bag of peanuts!!

Cons:

No Beer.

2026-06-23 via Nuitee
M
Mark couple gb
6
2026-06-23 via Nuitee
M
Michelle solo_traveller gb
9
Pros:

Perfect location, lovely gardens, very friendly staff. One of the receptionists in particular was extremely helpful.

Cons:

N/A

2026-06-21 via Nuitee
C
carey extended_group gb
9
Beautiful old hotel. Comfortable and clean rooms. Good location
Pros:

Very clean rooms. Very comfortable bed (although a little small for a double). Lovely hotel

Cons:

Breakfast was extra. Understaffed so had to hunt for someone to serve in the bar.

2026-06-21 via Nuitee
D
Diane couple gb
8
Would go back
Pros:

The location was great and the staff were lovely. The hotel was clean and comfortable. It’s an old building so the rooms are quirky as you would expect.

Cons:

We found our room a little cramped with not enough storage but we did have our golden retriever with us so we had to accommodate her crate.

2026-06-17 via Nuitee
W
Waters couple gb
9
A very happy occasion
Pros:

View over garden from Room 1.
Generous buffet breakfast.
The artwork on the walls.
High windows.
Wine on the garden in evening sunshine

Cons:

A lift, obviously.

2026-06-17 via Nuitee
N
Neil couple gb
9
2026-06-15 via Nuitee
J
Janet couple gb
9
2026-06-15 via Nuitee
K
Katie couple gb
8
It’s a great hotel with very kind staff!
Pros:

Great location and staff were super lovely and helpful! It has a lovely beer garden for the nice weather so it is a perfect place to stay when visiting the area.

Cons:

Quite expensive for just a room rate for one night.

2026-06-14 via Nuitee
H
Holger solo_traveller de
7
2026-06-14 via Nuitee
J
Janet solo_traveller gb
8
2026-06-14 via Nuitee
J
John couple gb
8
Good food/ good location/great staff!👍
Pros:

Central! Good position!
Great garden!
Staff brilliant!

Cons:

Poor shower!
Toilet drains noisy!
Toilet/bathroom door not closing!

2026-06-13 via Nuitee
A
Annette solo_traveller gb
7
Pros:

Staff were professional friendly and welcoming.
Bed comfortable.

Cons:

Room hot window did not open.
Decor and fittings tired.

2026-06-13 via Nuitee