The Swan Southwold
Market Place, Southwold, Suffolk Coast · Hotel
View on Google MapsPhoto: The Swan Southwold
Adnams-owned four-star hotel on Southwold market place, a few minutes from the beach, with two restaurants and a well-known cocktail bar.
What's nearby
- The Amber Shop & Museum next door
- Co-op Food - Southwold - Market Place next door
- Denny Of Southwold Ltd next door
- The Little Fish & Chip Shop next door
- Mills & Sons Southwold Ltd next door
Distances as the crow flies, via Google
Good to know
Accessibility
- ✓Accessible parking
- ✓Accessible entrance
Payment
- ✓Credit cards
- ✓Debit cards
Details via Google — worth confirming with the hotel before you travel, especially for access needs.
Photos
Photos via Google
About The Swan Southwold
The Swan stands on the market place in the middle of Southwold, owned and run by Adnams, the brewery and distillery that has operated in the town for centuries. The building dates from the 1600s and was rebuilt after a fire, giving it a Georgian frontage over much older bones. A major refurbishment reworked the interiors in a modern maritime style, so the public rooms feel bright and current rather than heritage-heavy, while keeping the original proportions and fireplaces.
Rooms are split between the main hotel and the Lighthouse Rooms in a separate block at the rear, which look towards Southwold's white lighthouse. Main-house rooms vary considerably in size and outlook, from compact doubles to larger rooms overlooking the market place; the Lighthouse Rooms are more uniform and have their own entrances, which suits guests arriving late or travelling with dogs. Beds are large, bathrooms are well finished, and Adnams products appear throughout.
Food is a serious part of the offer. The Still Room serves the more ambitious menu and holds two AA Rosettes, while the Tap Room handles lighter plates and pub classics. The bar has an unusually deep list of Adnams beers, gins and vodkas, and guests can walk a few hundred metres to the brewery and distillery for a tour. Breakfast is generous and includes local kippers and Suffolk bacon.
The location is the main draw. The beach, pier, beach huts and Gun Hill are all within a short walk, as are the town's independent shops and the harbour path towards Walberswick. It suits couples on a coastal weekend, groups combining walking with eating and drinking, and anyone visiting for the Latitude or Aldeburgh festivals. Parking is free on site, which is valuable in a town where street parking is difficult in summer.
Reception hours
- Monday
- Open 24 hours
- Tuesday
- Open 24 hours
- Wednesday
- Open 24 hours
- Thursday
- Open 24 hours
- Friday
- Open 24 hours
- Saturday
- Open 24 hours
- Sunday
- Open 24 hours
Current hours may differ from the usual schedule above (e.g. holidays) — check Google Maps for today's hours.
What guests say
I am so so impressed with this beautiful place there isn't any criticism at all. The hotel/rooms were spotless. The staff so so lovely very friendly nothing was too much trouble. The food was outstanding. I would recommend this gorgeous hotel to anyone many thanks to you all
a month ago · via Google
Restaurant - Afternoon tea review Wow wow wow. Fabulous! I recently visited a high end restaurant in north Norfolk for afternoon tea and paid a large chunk of money for it. THIS afternoon tea blew the socks off the other one. Beautifully crafted savoury and sweet treats that were light and so tasty. I want to come back again and again.
a month ago · via Google
A Beautiful Tradition – My Favorite Spot in Southwold! I absolutely love biking into Southwold and heading straight to The Swan Hotel. My absolute favorite thing to do is order a pot of tea and a piece of their lovely shortbread, and just sit by the window watching the world go by. The service here is impeccable—it truly feels like you are staying at The Savoy! The hotel is incredibly clean, pretty, and full of charm. I love it here and cannot recommend it enough. Tip: If you can, snag one of the window seats in the lounge area. It is the perfect spot to unwind after a bike ride!
2 months ago · via Google
Really lovely stay. Excellent service with friendly staff, amazing location in the heart of Southwold and lovely breakfast. The room was a very good size and nicely decorated, and the Adnams gin was a lovely touch. I didn’t use the coffee maker but it was great to have a proper one there. However, I felt for a 4* hotel at over £300 a night it wasn’t quite up to scratch. The curtains let in a lot of light which made sleeping difficult, linoleum on the floor in the bathroom felt a little cheap, and the paintwork was a bit dodgy in places. There was also no cosmetic mirror, and couldn’t find any air con so overheated a bit while trying to sleep. The soundproofing also isn’t great and I could hear everything from my neighbour’s bathroom. I wouldn’t expect to encounter those issues, except perhaps noise from neighbouring rooms (unavoidable a lot of the time), for the price. We did have a really enjoyable stay though.
2 months ago · via Google
People say this hotel offers delicious and innovative food, including excellent afternoon tea and varied breakfast choices. They also highlight the spotless rooms and comfortable accommodations. Guests mention the staff are friendly, attentive, and provide excellent service.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- Market Place, Southwold, IP18 6EG Get directions
- Property type
- Hotel
- Location
- Market Place, Southwold, Suffolk Coast
- Star rating
- 4 star
- Guest score
- 8.9 / 10 (1,400 reviews)
- Prices from
- £195 per night
- Good for children
- Yes
- Destination
- Suffolk