Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings
63 Ivy Lane, Canterbury, CT1 1TU
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury
Originally a private Georgian house, Chaucer Hotel stands opposite Canterbury's ancient city walls and is a 5-minute walk from the city centre. It is close to a... more
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| Hotel Details | Hotel Reviews | How to Book & Cancel |
7/10 Overall rating
| Category | Average Rating |
|---|---|
| 8/10 | Check-in process |
| 7/10 | Your room |
| 7/10 | Working order of facilities / equipment |
| 8/10 | Order and cleanliness of the hotel |
| 7/10 | Performance of staff |
| 7/10 | Overall experience |
| 7/10 | Overall value for money |
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Michael ( Mature couple)
from Magham down , GB on November 1, 2009
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David ( Young couple)
from London , GB on September 1, 2009
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Not great value for money but generally adequate for a 1 night stay." (108283261)
Good location, parking.
Tired rooms need a lift.
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Anonymous ( Group of adult friends)
on August 30, 2009
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Excellent experience.The hotel did a lot to majke our visit to canterbury enjoyable" (107789443)
Proximity to City Comfort Pleasant demeanour of staff
No lift Evening meal mediocre
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Anonymous ( Mature couple)
on July 8, 2009
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Not good value for money compared with other hotels in Canterbury that we have used recently for overnight stays " (107749813)
Staff were friendly and helpful Bathroom facilities were good
Booked as a double room but the bed was extremely small and caused us discomfort during the night Earl Grey tea was on the breakfast menu but not available. Food was o.k but expensive
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Anonymous ( Mature couple)
on May 31, 2009
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Reasonable" (107792858)
Nice Room
creaking Floorboards of upstairs people woke us up twice during the night and again in the morning
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Anonymous ( Mature couple)
on May 19, 2009
squeaky floors
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John ( Solo business traveller)
from Dukinfield , GB on April 4, 2009
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Average" (107422655)
Toilet basin postioninung up against towel rail (which was labelled as hot ! fortunately it was not )
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Andrew ( Mature couple)
from Basingstoke , GB on October 21, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Did not feel welcomed or encouraged to come again. " (107249579)
Nice room if a little dark . Comfortable bed . Bathroom large and reasonably clean.Good position central to City.
The young staff in dining room and Reception area were not polite and did not say sorry when I politely pointed out something that went wrong. They more wanted to say it was not their fault. Paper ordered on checking in was not delivered , cutlery dirty , and bacon was plastic and tasteless. One packet of two biscuits in room. Not very generous.
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Anonymous ( Group of adult friends)
on October 8, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Adequate for needs" (107861439)
choice of breakfast and quality of food was good, staff pleasant.
Not necessarily bad but bedding was very basic, hotel would benefit from some refurbishment and modernisation.
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Suki ( Family with older children)
from Aberystwyth , GB on September 1, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Very good. I would definitely recommend." (107192795)
Reasonably priced, pleasent and easy stay. Very convenient for the town, jsut a short walk took you to the centre. No need to use the car at all and easy parking within the hotel.
The room was a bit noisey. I'd rather the staff at breakfast at least acknowledge that there is a three year old talking to them instead lf acting as though they don't exist. Otherwise the staff were very friendly and helpful.
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Paul ( Mature couple)
from Loughton , GB on July 30, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"It was good value and the staff were very friendly." (108045344)
Good room and spacious bathroom. Quiet, although close to centre. No noise from slamming doors in corridors which is a problem we have found at other hotels.
Decoration a bit tired. Carpet on the stairs was well worn. Mattress was a bit bouncy.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
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Anonymous ( Same sex couple)
on July 17, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Whatever would Chaucer have said? Would not care to repeat the gastronomic experience. Some attention should be paid to the standard of hygiene in the kitchen,or litigation might ensue should a frailer guest be more seriously affected." (108052523)
Well appointed.Pleasant ambience.
Breakfast trays with dirty dishes still outside rooms on first floor when we checked in at 2.30 pm. Served deliquescing prawns at dinner with inevitable consequences. Breakfast potatoes cold, hard, barely fried.Lacklustre service.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
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Alan ( Mature couple)
from Rowlands gill tyne & wear , GB on July 16, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"First time back in canterbury for a 40 year re-union since graduation in Architecture - very good weekend" (108082191)
Staff Excellent - location of Hotel good
Poor maintenance - floors creaked . Shower did not work - chip out of bath Toilet soap etc not refreshed every day - absence of Tea on tea tray. Telly did not work!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
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Jilly ( Mature couple)
from Byfleet , GB on July 15, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"not good value for money - the hotel could be lovely with a complete refurb. Very overpriced for what we had." (108016951)
The hotel has a lot of potential - would be a shame to see it completely run down.
TV reception was poor Window in bathroom was falling apart sheets did not fit the bed Breakfast - ran out of black pudding but no one advised of this or apologised for it fruit juices at breakfast seemed watery no butter available at breakfast - not everyone eats margarine
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
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Derek ( Mature couple)
from Berkhamstead , GB on July 8, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"We had a very plesant stay" (108087303)
room very good,food was excellent and the staff helpfull.
No bad points as regard to the hotal and staff, the only problem was all the drunks shoutting at 2.00 am
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
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Anonymous ( Mature couple)
on May 6, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"The breakfast staff were very helpful to my wife who is recovering from a broken arm, also the barman was very helpul. A lift would have been useful but obviously not always practical in older buildings. Although near the main road and not far from some of the bars in town noise was not a problem." (97799993)
The executive room was very clean a very good size and, the tv was excellent. The bed was very comfortable.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
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Anonymous ( Young couple)
on March 26, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Overall, it was an excellent stay: I had only booked the hotel because it was the only one with vacancies over the Easter weekend, but it was very nice. Unlike other hotels I have stayed at, it was wonderfully quiet and I was very impressed." (97731620)
The location was very convenient, and very near the town centre. We got back quite late at night, but the staff very quickly let us in.
The room was quite cold, and the windows had a tendency to fly open in the high wind.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
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T a ( Solo business traveller)
from London , GB on April 15, 2008
Convenient location; easy to find from the train station.
Room was undusted, many layers of grime on the television set. Pulled out the bed to find an electrical outlet and found many used tissues: disgusting. Found it outrageous that for a £50 room there was: only terrestrial television; no availability of DVD players anywhere on the premises according to the receptionist; that breakfast by room sevice would have cost TWENTY POUNDS. Was treated with considerable hostility in the bar when I entered in jeans and a jacket with a backpack on my back to look at the bar menu in preparation for the evening.
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Anonymous ( Young couple)
on January 23, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"I would recommend this hotel for the overall service, the rooms are large with the bed, T.V and armchairs all fitting comfortably. There was a good selection of food for breakfast and we were overall very satisfied." (97024062)
The building was very nice and tastefully decorated
Bed needed more support / new mattress
2 of 2 people found this review helpful:
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Anonymous ( Young couple)
on January 5, 2008
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"For guests staying at the Hotel it is in an ideal place if visiting the area. The coastal resorts and other places of interest are mostly within 30 minutes drive. The breakfast was of an excellent standard and the staff were attentive." (97599177)
Central to Canterbury and all that, that, offers. It was pleasantly quiet considering it was close to the Ring Road
Creaky floor boards (was worrying if you were disturbing other guests when moving about your room), decor very tired in places
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
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Anonymous ( Solo leisure traveller)
on January 4, 2008
Central to the city centre Free parking available
The bed was on castors and kept rolling away from the wall. Floorboards exceptionally creaky - another guest in the room above mine was moving about from 6 am and I could hear every footstep Bathroom only had a net curtain at the window - room was in view of the road and I felt as if I could be seen when showering with the light on.
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Anonymous ( Mature couple)
on November 29, 2007
The accommodation was very close to the Cathedral which was what we wanted as our visit to Canterbury was to an event at the Cathedral. The food was very good, the staff very friendly and efficient. The hotel is very close to the centre of Canterbury and you do not need to use your car.
The central heating worked fine on the ground floor but not in the upstairs corridors or in our bedroom. The heaters provided could not be used in the bathroom and this was a very cold weekend in November! It was cold in the bedroom in the mornings so you had to get out of bed to put the heater on and then wait for it to warm the room.
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Anonymous ( Solo business traveller)
on November 23, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"It was value for money and food was good" (97582834)
Budget Price
Very small
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Anonymous ( Solo leisure traveller)
on November 11, 2007
Creaky floorboards that kept me awake half the night
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Anonymous ( Family with young children)
on November 7, 2007
special attention mentionned in the booking and not followed
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Deborah ( Young couple)
from Dartford , GB on October 31, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"We had a really enjoyable stay and would recommend it to others it is just in the right area close to town but not noisy at night. The room and the rest of the hotel was really comfortable and the staff were lovely." (97784757)
It was central the room was lovely and it was warm, clean and a good size including the four poster bed which we didn't know about before.
The booking confirmation hadn't arrived by the time we did ! The breakfast finished too early - 9:30am
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Rory ( Mature couple)
from Tonbridge , GB on October 27, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"We had an executive room, but there wasn't any mini bar or mineral water, also the CD player was defective. This was reported but never resolved. It would be nice to know if there was a function occurring at the time of our stay. Breakfast was good with plenty of choice." (97398529)
It a very charactoristic hotel with plenty of charm, in an ideal location for Canterbury centre.
The floorboards are very creeky so not much sleep, there was a wedding with people having domestic fights most of the night.
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Anonymous ( Other)
on September 29, 2007
the low internet access in my room
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Anonymous ( Mature couple)
on July 24, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Very pleasant. Would suggest that the staff give more information on arrival; when bar is open;when breakfast is served;and generally more details about the available services, morning call for example." (99518622)
It was pleasant with friendly staff and the hotel had a old world feel about it.
Floors were a bit too sqeaky along the corridors in some places.
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Anonymous ( Young couple)
on July 17, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Nice, but too expensive for what it is" (97771557)
Perfect location, good service
Hotel and room needs some paint and curtain to be cleaned
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Anonymous ( Family with older children)
on July 7, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"The room is not worth the room cost." (99283217)
It is near the town centre.
The decoration is rather old. The cover sheets and blankets seemed unclean.
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Richard ( Solo business traveller)
from Bristol , GB on June 19, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"As this was a late booking I arrived with modest expectations .The website does not do the hotel justice . This is a great little hotel and will recommend. It is efficient, friendly, good value and within a minutes walk of the main street of the city. I had a wonderful room, tastefully and individually furnished and with a view of the cathedral!" (99785644)
everything from location, ease of car parking, excellent staff and service and a great rooom
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Anonymous ( Mature couple)
on June 15, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Comfortably old fashioned without being shabby. Made a change from some of the modern hotels I stay in which lack a warm ambience. Staff were very friendly. A little expensive but very convenient for Canterbury city centre." (99702331)
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Stuart ( Young couple)
from Welling , GB on June 6, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"The hotel is well situated and well equiped for a short break like mine. The facilities are clean and tidy, and every seemed to be working fine. The staff were particularly friendly, especially the young girl on the front desk with the gem on her tooth. The breakfast was cooked nicely and there was a wide variety to choose from. Unfortunately the walls seemed to be a bit thin as could hear people returning to their rooms late at night, but that was no big deal for me. I would def stay here again if I visit Canterbury." (99015896)
Reception staff were incredible friendly and helpful. Couldnt fault any of the staff in fact. The barmaid and waiter were also top notch. The room was clean, if not overly grand, but it had everything we needed for one nights stay. Nice little walk to the city centre so not too far to carry home shopping bags. Nice and easy to find, well directed from the main road.
Could hear alot of noise from the next room.
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Holly ( Young couple)
from Bury st. edmunds , GB on June 6, 2007
Accomodations were exactly as described online and in various travel guides. Perfect distance to all Canterbury attractions with ample parking. Above average service at breakfast.
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Keith ( Young couple)
from Southampton , GB on May 9, 2007
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"Would have been good to know that this was a very old hotel in desparate need of redecoration and modernisation. It was noisy when guests were moving around due to old creeky floor boards. The bathrooms and bedrooms were very dated and in need of regeneration. The hotel smelled of stale cigarette smoke which is off puting." (99538987)
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Anonymous ( Mature couple)
on January 5, 2007
Great location for city sightseeing. Good value breakfast, served in a pleasant setting.
We stayed for one night. Our particular room was narrow and would have been uncomfortable for more than a short stay. Other rooms nearby, seen through their open doors, were more spacious.
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Austin ( Mature couple)
from Herne , United Kingdom;GB on December 7, 2006
Swallow Chaucer Hotel, Canterbury - Reviews & Ratings"A twin room was booked but only a double was available, the room itself appeared to have used sheets the windows had not been cleaned for some time as they had a thick black build up of mould. The smell in the room was awful and the carpets also appear not to have been cleaned for some time. As a result we checked into another hotel, very disappointing for such a beautiful looking hotel in a prime location." (99040121)
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Geraldine ( Mature couple)
from Great shefford , United Kingdom;GB on November 27, 2006
Ideal location.
Single room No. 7 was right next to the cleaner's room and very noisy from 6am onwards.
The views expressed on this page are the personal opinions of guests and therefore do not necessarily represent the views of Active Hotels, Active Reservations or our distribution partners (About our hotel reviews).
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