The Royal Hotel

Hotels
9 (1600 reviews)
Barnstaple Street , Bideford , gb

Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Clean and modern rooms
Great location
Good food quality
Cons:
High breakfast prices
Noise during events
Issues with service timing

Categories

Cleanliness
9.08
Guests mentioned it as immaculate and very clean.
Service
9.05
Staff were described as friendly and helpful across multiple reviews.
Location
9.09
Perfect location in Bideford with easy access to the town center and car park.
Room Quality
9.04
Rooms were noted as roomy, beautifully decorated, and modern.
Amenities
9.07
Facilities mentioned included free parking and dog-friendly areas.
Value for Money
8.53
Some complaints about the high breakfast prices.
Food and Beverage
9.08
Compliments on the food quality and service during meals.
Overall Experience
9.05
General sentiment was highly positive, despite minor complaints.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 12:44

Property Description

Historic Charm and Convenient Location
Experience first-class food, friendly service, and a prime location to explore North Devon's gems like Clovelly village and the scenic Tarka Trail.

Rich History and Cultural Significance
Immerse yourself in the heritage of the 17th-century Court of Assize and the literary legacy of Sir Charles Kingsley, adding a touch of literary charm to your stay.

Elegant Rooms and Unique Features
Relax in clean, comfortable rooms with 24-hour room service and marvel at the exquisite oak-panelled Kingsley Room, boasting a stunning sculpted ceiling.

Book your stay at The Royal Hotel to indulge in a blend of history, comfort, and exceptional service.

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 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.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Property Policies

  • Groups

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

  • Parking

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

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for £5 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 3 years old to 12 years old stay for £15 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 13 years old to 17 years old stay for £25 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for £12.50 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 1600 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.08
Service: 9.05
Location: 9.09
Room Quality: 9.04
Amenities: 9.07
Value for Money: 8.53
Food and Beverage: 9.08
Overall Experience: 9.05
F
Franziska couple de
4
Enttäuschend
Pros:

Die Lage war für uns eigentlich entscheidend, wobei wir mit einer leiseren Straße unter den Fenstern gerechnet haben. Ohne Frage hat das Haus Charme und der garantierte Parkplatz ist super. Die Executive Lounge war praktisch, da das Zimmer zu klein war, um es sich gemütlich zu machen.

Cons:

Wir haben extra ein Deluxe-Doppelzimmer gebucht, um den Blick auf den Fluss zu genießen. Das Zimmer hatte 3 Fenster, nur von einem hatte man einen seitlichen Blick auf den Fluß. Direkt vor diesem Fenster standen 2 Sessel, wenn man drauf saß, Blick auf das Bett, unten eine laute Straße mit Kreisel. 16m² sind für diese charmanten, aber wuchtigen Möbel einfach zu wenig. Das Zimmer war bereits bezahlt. Beim Check-In hatten Pass-Nummer und Kreditkartendaten für eine Kaution Priorität. Schade.

2026-07-04 via Nuitee
K
Klaus couple de
3
Nicht wiederholenswert.
Pros:

Leider nichts.

Cons:

Schlechte Lage direkt am Kreisverkehr der Brücke. Extrem laut. Altes Bad mit wirklich schlechter Einrichtung.

2026-07-03 via Nuitee
S
Steve couple gb
9
Lovely "traditiomal" but well maintained hotel. Super friendly staff. Nice dinner and breakfast.
Pros:

Large room, comfortabe and large bed, plenty of storage space. Lift. Hotel decor. Friendly and helpful staff. Breakfast.
Garden.

Cons:

Bathroom quite small and no bath. No fridge. No A/C or fan. Bedroom door quite tricky to open. No safe.

2026-07-02 via Nuitee
B
Barbara solo_traveller gb
6
Pros:

Good location

Cons:

The room was too hot, it had two fans in the room but did not give enough cool air they were on all the time. Floor to ceiling windows over looked by the Tarka trail so you think people are looking in. Curtains were closed when you had a nap.

2026-07-02 via Nuitee
A
Allison couple gb
10
Beautiful comfortable hotel with superb views of the river and bridge.
Pros:

Beautiful comfortable room with superb views of the river and bridge. Exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. Great bar.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-06-30 via Nuitee
M
Michele couple gb
9
The Royal Hotel in Bideford - an enjoyable weekend break!
Pros:

Breakfast, and the 2 evening meals we had at the hotel were really delicious!

The staff were friendly. We particularly liked the history of the hotel, and there were several plaques on the walls describing what went on at the hotel in the past, e.g. the D- Day landings being discussed during WWar 2, and so on.

Cons:

We were there during the tail end of the heatwave. A fan was supplied, but our room remained uncomfortably hot at night. This was undoubtedly the same in most hones and hotels at the time! However, we didn’t always sleep well.
The shower in our room couldn’t be turned down to “very cool”, and this was rather a concern at the time.

2026-06-29 via Nuitee
K
Kathy couple gb
5
2026-06-28 via Nuitee
F
Frances solo_traveller gb
9
Cons:

Wifi failed on the room

2026-06-27 via Nuitee
B
Bill solo_traveller ca
8
Pros:

Character, location

2026-06-24 via Nuitee
J
Jo solo_traveller nz
8
2026-06-24 via Nuitee
M
Martin couple ch
8
Empfehlenswert und freundlich
Pros:

Sehr freundliches Personal, gutes Essen.

Cons:

Das Zimmer war nach hinten zum alten Bahnhof, vor den Fenstern eine Mauer.

2026-06-24 via Nuitee
A
ASLIHAN solo_traveller tr
8
2026-06-22 via Nuitee
D
Dominic solo_traveller gb
10
2026-06-21 via Nuitee
R
reddy extended_group gb
7
2026-06-21 via Nuitee
B
Bettina couple de
8
2026-06-21 via Nuitee
D
David couple gb
7
ok but nothing to write home about
Pros:

Friendly staff and good service.

Cons:

Brasserie looks better on web site than in real life. Paper napkins and sachet sauces not what you would expect given the pricing. River view is unfortunately, fast becoming a view of a building site.

2026-06-20 via Nuitee
R
Rob solo_traveller nl
9
2026-06-20 via Nuitee
S
Sean solo_traveller gb
8
2026-06-20 via Nuitee
J
James solo_traveller gb
1
Never stay here, you have been warned.
Pros:

Had free parking

Cons:

Rooms are outdated and need a complete re-fit, the bathrooms are terrible and not clean.
Cups at breakfast are not clean, please check before use.
Smell of bleach on the 1st floor all week.
Road works the other side of the road that you can hear from 8am.
Staff are rude when asking for payment even though you have already paid for breakfast, charged twice, will be checking my C/C statement again when I get it.
Complete con and not worth over £150 a night.

2026-06-19 via Nuitee
A
Agustín solo_traveller es
7
2026-06-18 via Nuitee