Holiday Inn Express Swindon City Centre by IHG

We were welcomed by friendly, professional staff who were always ready to help, and the breakfast was excellent. There were hot and continental choices in a bright, welcoming dining room that stayed relaxed and organized even when busy. My modern, well-designed room was clean, with a spacious bed, good linens, a useful workspace and reliable Wi-Fi. The bathroom was spotless and had the essentials. Holiday Inn Express Swindon City Centre is right in the heart of Swindon, close to the train station, shops and restaurants, so it's convenient for business or leisure. I had a very enjoyable stay that exceeded expectations, and found it good value for comfort, convenience and attentive service.

I’ve stayed here several times and will come back. Once you know the routine, it’s easy to navigate, with clean rooms, reliable sleep and a very convenient location. Book ahead for good value. It’s a standard Holiday Inn Express, around five minutes’ walk from Swindon station. The lobby is on the upper ground floor, reached by stairs or lift. The welcome is usually friendly, and check-in is straightforward when someone is at the desk. A practical tip: for overnight parking at Sheppard Street Car Park, register your car on the tablet at hotel reception. The charge goes on your stay and is a couple of quid cheaper than paying through the app. My rooms have been consistently clean, the Wi-Fi is fast and nights are reasonably quiet for a central location. Ask for a non-connecting room if you want complete peace, as you may hear neighbours through the joining door. Bathrooms are basic and functional, with pump-dispenser toiletries and plenty of towels. The bar and simple food service run 24 hours. There are a few irritations. Bar stock has been hit and miss: on my last couple of visits some draught beer wasn't available and bottled water had run out. Breakfast is included as standard, but starts and ends 30 minutes earlier than at many places. If you arrive in the last half hour, hot items may be running low or gone. Ask staff to replenish them; what you get will be hot from the kitchen. Don't be late, either. They stick to the finish time, and if you show up a couple of minutes late there's no takeaway coffee instead. You'd have to pay for coffee, though the machine will be in 'clean' mode anyway. One of the two lifts has been out of action on every visit, including as of February 2026. Signs say it's going to be fully replaced, but nobody I've asked seems to know when. At busy times you might wait, though the lift does come eventually. Or take the stairs around the corner, six floors at most. Sometimes I've had to look for reception staff at check-in, checkout or other times. I've offered feedback at checkout about issues for future consideration, but have just been told the current arrangements again, without much interest in looking into it. Customer focus feels a bit patchy, though I've met some great team members.

George was lovely to deal with and made me a pizza in the small hours. I stayed on a Saturday night, and the location was great, right by the railway station. There's also a bar and food available 24 hours.

I had to cancel after contracting chickenpox, which is highly contagious. I emailed the hotel formally to explain my high fever and physical condition, and offered to send medical certificates. The hotel ignored my email and refused my refund request without considering it. It's incredibly disappointing to see so little basic empathy or social responsibility. They seem willing to risk having a contagious guest rather than show some flexibility. Avoid this place if customer service matters to you 👎