The Royal Hotel
Barnstaple Street, Bideford EX39 4AE England
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Avg. S$121 /night, 12/14 - 12/15
S$196
per night
S$154
per night
S$112
per night
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About
#3 of 8 hotels in Bideford
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Royal Hotel is an excellent choice for travellers visiting Bideford, offering a charming environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.
While staying at The Royal Hotel, visitors can check out Tarka Statue (0.2 mi) and St Mary's Parish Church (0.2 mi), some of Bideford's top attractions.
Rooms at The Royal Hotel provide a flat screen TV, and guests can stay connected with free wifi.
In addition, while staying at The Royal Hotel guests have access to 24 hour front desk and room service. You can also enjoy an on-site restaurant. Need a place to park? Free parking is available at The Royal Hotel.
If you’re looking for a cafe, consider a visit to The Chocolate Teapot, Cafe Collective, or Cafe du Parc, which are all conveniently located a short distance from The Royal Hotel.
Looking to explore? Then look no further than Victoria Park (1.2 mi), Burton at Bideford (0.6 mi), and Pannier Market (0.3 mi), which are some popular Bideford attractions – all conveniently located within walking distance of the hotel.
Enjoy your stay in Bideford!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Restaurant
Highchairs available
Taxi service
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Parking
Wifi
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Kids' meals
Special diet menus
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Room features
Desk
Housekeeping
Room service
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Electric kettle
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Private bathrooms
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TheAA: The Automobile Association.
HOTEL STYLE
Classic
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Barnstaple Street, Bideford EX39 4AE England
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 80 out of 100
80
49 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
Reviews
4.0
1,287 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The Royal Hotel has garnered praise for being a good value, with its prime location and a myriad of amenities that guests appreciate, such as excellent dining options and historic charm. The hotel's atmosphere is frequently described as inviting, blending historical elegance with modern comforts.
Although rooms are typically lauded for their cleanliness and comfort, a few visitors have pointed out issues with inconsistent quality and overheating. The staff's attentiveness is often commended, though the speed of service has received mixed reviews.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Detailed Reviews
Exceeded our expectations. We stayed one night in a standard double room which was an adequate size and well appointed. Plenty of storage and a lovely amenity box for teas and coffees. The bathroom was big with a good over-bath shower. Lovely big fluffy towels and good quality toiletries. Walls are not sound proofed but we managed to sleep well.
The public areas were also well presented and in keeping with the age of the hotel. Good Covid precautions in place. The car park is across the road from the hotel but has a security barrier to stop others parking there - just collect a token from reception to exit.
The staff, with the exception of one waitress who would not interact with guests unless absolutely necessary, were friendly, helpful and courteous. The housekeeping lady who was sanitising the public areas all day was especially friendly and made us feel right at home - a credit to the hotel.
The public areas were also well presented and in keeping with the age of the hotel. Good Covid precautions in place. The car park is across the road from the hotel but has a security barrier to stop others parking there - just collect a token from reception to exit.
The staff, with the exception of one waitress who would not interact with guests unless absolutely necessary, were friendly, helpful and courteous. The housekeeping lady who was sanitising the public areas all day was especially friendly and made us feel right at home - a credit to the hotel.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lyndsey Short, General Manager at The Royal Hotel
Responded 19 Oct 2020
Dear Guest, Thank you for leaving your recent review. I am very pleased to see you enjoyed your stay, and found that all covid precautions were in place. May I apologise for the one waitress you encountered would not interact with guests etc, this would not normally be the case so am sorry you encountered this during your stay. However, I am glad the housekeeper was friendly and made you feel at home! We hope to welcome you back in the near future. Kindest Regards The Royal Hotel.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We took advantage of a special rate and the Chancellor's Eat out to help out initiative and booked a 3 night stay and are so pleased with the hotel. (Although Bideford itself is pretty, it seems to have little for us to do but it is a good centre to travel about) The hotel has a long history and there are some beautifully preserved parts of this old building.
We travel a good deal and were worried about staying in a 3 star hotel, but there was no need to have been concerned. The hotel itself is beautifully decorated with attractive soft furnishings; the cloakrooms in the entrance area are equal to those of a 4/5 star hotel and everywhere has been cleaned meticulously. Every member of staff has gone out of their way to be helpful and the food is excellent. For us the only complaint is that it is too much! Evening meals are attractively served.
The whole experience has been great and excellent value for money
We travel a good deal and were worried about staying in a 3 star hotel, but there was no need to have been concerned. The hotel itself is beautifully decorated with attractive soft furnishings; the cloakrooms in the entrance area are equal to those of a 4/5 star hotel and everywhere has been cleaned meticulously. Every member of staff has gone out of their way to be helpful and the food is excellent. For us the only complaint is that it is too much! Evening meals are attractively served.
The whole experience has been great and excellent value for money
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Date of stay: August 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The Royal Hotel Bideford is situated in an ideal location for visiting North Devon. All the Hotel Staff are excellent ambassadors for the Brend Hotel Group, everyone of them ensures that every guest has a pleasant stay at the Hotel. Excellent for dog owners too, dogs are allowed to stay in the standard rooms. These rooms are well equipped, towels and toiletries are provided, very clean and comfortable beds with quality bed linen. Excellent parking facilities next to hotel controlled by a barrier with tokens available from reception. A well catered breakfast menu with a good choice of cooked and continental style menu, high quality cooked food. Clear and easy to follow Covid safety procedures in place for all guests and staff to keep everyone safe. I have no hesitations in recommending The Royal Hotel.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: May 2021
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As advertised as dog friendly was looking forward to this stsy and this was our first break since start of covid. But decor was quite shabby 60s style or perhaps it was retro? and our room was suffocating and hot right at the end of the building. At over £65 per person it was not "cheap". Breakfast was fresh but toast was your regular thin sliced from the local Coop I reckon. The staff were very nice and polite but I was very disappointed with our room and just as well my partner and i were not overweight as the bathroom was tiny. Marks out of 10 would be 5
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I stayed at The Royal Hotel for a two night mid week break. It’s a nice hotel, our room was clean and comfortable, the food was very good and the staff were cheerful, friendly and helpful. Unfortunately these pros were for us outweighed by several cons, the first of which was traffic. The hotel is located right beside what must be the busiest road junction in Bideford and because the hotel has old, large single glazed sash windows the traffic noise in the room is horrendous even with the widows closed. From early morning until late evening there is a constant stream of cars and commercial vehicles going within feet of the hotel frontage, see the picture from our room window. Traffic noise dies a bit towards midnight with just the town’s boy racers doing their thing past the hotel into the small hours, but it all starts again at around 6 am. So despite the comfortable king sized bed we did not have restful nights. On our first morning we went downstairs at about 8.30am for breakfast to be met by a young lady vigorously vacuuming the reception area carpet with her large cleaning trolley at the bottom of our stairs emitting strong smells of cleaning fluid and furniture polish. This was an unpleasant prelude to our breakfast and so unnecessary. On our second day we drove to a local attraction in the morning and returned to the hotel for our lunch to find all the hotel parking spaces, about 25 in all in two car parks, fully occupied. We had to park in a pay and display down the road and walk back to the hotel. I asked the receptionist why the hotel car parks were full when they were empty when we arrived the day before. There was a lunch party in the hotel, she explained, and I asked why day visitors were given all the hotel car parking spaces forcing paying residents to pay and display down the road. There was no explanation and no apology. Then there’s the plumbing. How is it that when the toilet is flushed a loud, persistent gurgling noise comes from the hand basin? Work that one out, if you really want to! We paid for a river view room and we got a river view for sure, but with a large expanse of derelict fenced off land in front of it, see the picture from our breakfast window. As we said at the beginning this is a nice hotel with lovely rooms and staff and good food but it’s just in the wrong place. It will have been a fabulous private residence for the wealthy merchant who built it in the late 17th Century, no doubt surrounded by green fields and open country at the time. But it is hopelessly situated for the 21st century and its best efforts are undermined by its location and surroundings and perhaps by a somewhat thoughtless management. We like Bideford with its pannier market, the Atlantic Shopping Village and Dartington Crystal Factory nearby but if we visited Bideford again we would definitely check out alternatives before returning to the Royal Hotel.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Checking in was efficient and friendly.
Stayed 4 nights in probably the smallest room in the hotel. (102) Far too small for a 4 night stay. The room was very old fashioned and the bathroom even older with a delightful avocado bathroom suite from the 70’s I’d guess! The toilet you’d have to fight with for a flush and a cold sink tap that constantly dripped and the hot tap completely turned around as you turned it on ( almost a disaster waiting to happen!) After all said the room was very clean and had a really comfortable bed that we were so grateful for after hectic days spent with grandkids. Being at the front of the building right on the main road was incredibly noisy. It seems that no youngster driving a car in Bideford has a silencer fitted and our room was just at the point on the road where they put the foot to the floor to roar out of town at a zillion miles an hour! So a warning to you all if you’re disturbed by traffic noise don’t have this room.
There is a very nice and extremely comfortable bar area on the ground floor opposite reception to relax in whilst nursing your gin and tonic and very tasty good quality bar meals are available. (We never ate in the main dining room) All meals and snacks we consumed there were just superb.
Staff were extremely attentive and very friendly.
There is no question that this has to be the best hotel in the very depressing bleak Bideford. A town that has nothing to offer visitors, it really is the most rundown place I’ve visited in years. So if I were you don’t bother venturing out unless you have to, just stay in this comfortable little hotel and enjoy the great food!
Stayed 4 nights in probably the smallest room in the hotel. (102) Far too small for a 4 night stay. The room was very old fashioned and the bathroom even older with a delightful avocado bathroom suite from the 70’s I’d guess! The toilet you’d have to fight with for a flush and a cold sink tap that constantly dripped and the hot tap completely turned around as you turned it on ( almost a disaster waiting to happen!) After all said the room was very clean and had a really comfortable bed that we were so grateful for after hectic days spent with grandkids. Being at the front of the building right on the main road was incredibly noisy. It seems that no youngster driving a car in Bideford has a silencer fitted and our room was just at the point on the road where they put the foot to the floor to roar out of town at a zillion miles an hour! So a warning to you all if you’re disturbed by traffic noise don’t have this room.
There is a very nice and extremely comfortable bar area on the ground floor opposite reception to relax in whilst nursing your gin and tonic and very tasty good quality bar meals are available. (We never ate in the main dining room) All meals and snacks we consumed there were just superb.
Staff were extremely attentive and very friendly.
There is no question that this has to be the best hotel in the very depressing bleak Bideford. A town that has nothing to offer visitors, it really is the most rundown place I’ve visited in years. So if I were you don’t bother venturing out unless you have to, just stay in this comfortable little hotel and enjoy the great food!
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Avoid rooms at the front, traffic noise is horrendous!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked this hotel for a short staycation in North Devon. It turned out that it had only recently re-opened.
The hotel has taken a pragmatic approach to Covid, instituting one way systems and screens etc, but not having staff covered in visors and masks. They are to be applauded for this safe, but understated position.
Rooms are comfortable and clean.
The outstanding feature, which made the hotel feel welcome and homely, were the staff who were informal but efficient.
I can't remember last staying in a family run chain of hotels. From what I could tell the management style was quite effective. Members of the family were in evidence assisting during dinner and breakfast.
There was a reduced menu choice for dinner, but sufficient to choose from. I was pleased that the chef could produce eggs benedict from scratch at breakfast.
The hotel has taken a pragmatic approach to Covid, instituting one way systems and screens etc, but not having staff covered in visors and masks. They are to be applauded for this safe, but understated position.
Rooms are comfortable and clean.
The outstanding feature, which made the hotel feel welcome and homely, were the staff who were informal but efficient.
I can't remember last staying in a family run chain of hotels. From what I could tell the management style was quite effective. Members of the family were in evidence assisting during dinner and breakfast.
There was a reduced menu choice for dinner, but sufficient to choose from. I was pleased that the chef could produce eggs benedict from scratch at breakfast.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good location for Bideford and walking the South West Coast path, spacious and warm room, everything clean, and bed was comfortable. The room furniture and decor was old-fashioned and bland, but not scruffy. It was okay for one night's stay. The breakfast was not cheap (£15 per person), so we opted for the Costa across the bridge.
The walls between the rooms are paper-thin, we could hear the TV and people next door talking, and they were not loud. Luckily they didn't stay up late, so we still had a good night's sleep.
The walls between the rooms are paper-thin, we could hear the TV and people next door talking, and they were not loud. Luckily they didn't stay up late, so we still had a good night's sleep.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Really enjoyed my stay here and I was very impressed with the standard of cleanliness throughought, it was excellent. The hotel is within 5 mins walking distance from shops, restaurants and cafés. Also close to the Tarka trail walk. The bedroom was large and spacious with a comfortable bed, the hotel is dog friendly with no extra charge for dogs staying. Would definitely visit again.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Lyndsey Short, General Manager at The Royal Hotel
Responded 19 Oct 2020
Dear Sue, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. I am very pleased to see you were impressed with our standard of cleanliness and am glad to see you would defiantly visit again. We hope to welcome you back in the near future. Kindest Regards The Royal Hotel.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A very enjoyable visit to Bideford, staying in a huge room with a spotless bathroom and very comfortable bed. Overslept therefore and caught out by the breakfast (wide choices) only being served until 9.30 on a Saturday (9.45 on a Sunday) and not keen on the overpowering piped jazz but otherwise everything was delightful including the helpful staff. Great location, free parking, nice bar and a bistro right outside although we walked across the old bridge into town to really good Italian restaurant Belluno, also highly recommended. Will definitely choose to stay at the Royal for future visits.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes, cosy is just smaller. You can check on their own website - royalbideford co uk
Yes it does.there was a couple of dogs there when we stayed.i would phone Hotel ahead of stay.
Hello, I am sorry I saw your question just after Christmas... I hope you had a good break, and yes I would most definitely recommend it!
opposite the hotel there is private parking for our guests and customers, alternatively you can drive up the hill 100 metres and on the right is a car park which again is reserved for guests and customers
"Book early. It's the best hotel around here and in the summer it is always booked."Read full review
"Two car parks, lower opposite front door and more space up the hill. Street parking too up the hill if ever required"Read full review
"There are two car parks for the hotel. First one is directly opposite the hotel. The other one is a bit further up the road past the bridge"Read full review
"There's a second car park on a higher level if you can't park in the one opposite the hotel. "Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
S$123 - S$154 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
royal hotel bideford
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandDevonTorridgeBideford
NUMBER OF ROOMS
32
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Royal Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to The Royal Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Stained Glass Workshops (0.4 km), Tarka Statue (0.3 km), and Bideford Railway Heritage Centre (0.06 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Royal Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at The Royal Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, breakfast, and free instant coffee during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to The Royal Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Le Petit Monde, Number Eight, and Cafe Collective.
Is The Royal Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.5 km away from the centre of Bideford.
Does The Royal Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and a banquet room during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to The Royal Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Chudleigh Fort (0.2 km), St Peter's Church, Westleigh (2.6 km), and The Old Windmill (5.2 km).
Is The Royal Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.