Holiday Inn Express Swindon City Centre

The staff and location were the best parts. It’s handy for the outlet and the city centre, and most staff were welcoming. Angelo at breakfast was especially friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean and functional, but very basic and tired. I’ve stayed in much better three-star hotels. Breakfast itself was poor. The fruit looked ready for the bin, and the rest was low quality. Some young men in hoods were often loud at breakfast, which made it unpleasant. We also felt unsafe when one of them followed us around the hotel. We told reception, and she said there were no asylum seekers staying at the time, though there had been before, and advised us to keep away from them. We wouldn’t come back, and will probably avoid Holiday Inns in future.

The staff were a real highlight, friendly and professional, and always ready to help. The dining room stayed relaxed and well organized even when breakfast was busy, with a good choice of hot and continental food. My room was modern, clean, and thoughtfully laid out, with a roomy bed, good linens, a useful desk, reliable Wi-Fi, and a spotless bathroom stocked with the basics. Being right in Swindon’s centre made it easy to get to the station, shops, and restaurants, whether travelling for work or leisure. I had a thoroughly enjoyable visit, and the comfort, location, and attentive service made the hotel great value. I’d happily stay again.

The location is very handy, about a five-minute walk from Swindon station, and it’s easy to get around once you know the layout. The lobby is on the upper ground floor, reached by stairs or lift. Check-in is usually simple and the welcome friendly, though now and then I’ve had to look around for reception staff at check-in, checkout, or other times. I’ve raised suggestions at checkout, but usually just get a restatement of how things are currently done. Customer focus can feel uneven, although I’ve also met some great team members. My rooms have been consistently clean, with fast Wi-Fi and fairly quiet nights for a central hotel. Ask for a non-connecting room if you want more peace, since you may hear neighbours through the adjoining door. Bathrooms are plain but functional, with pump toiletries and plenty of towels. The bar and basic food service stay open 24 hours. The rooms are standard Holiday Inn Express, and breakfast is included. Breakfast starts and ends half an hour earlier than at many hotels. In the final half hour, hot food may be running low or gone, so ask staff to top it up when you spot it. That way it comes hot from the kitchen. They do stick to the finishing time, though, so arriving a couple of minutes late won’t get you a takeaway coffee, and the machine may be in cleaning mode anyway. The bar stock has also been hit and miss on my last couple of visits, with some draught beer unavailable and bottled water out. One of the two lifts has been out of service on every visit I’ve made, and was still out in February 2026. Signs say it will be replaced, but staff I’ve asked don’t seem to know when. It can mean a wait at busy times, or you can take the stairs around the corner. It’s six floors at most. Booking ahead makes this good value: clean rooms, dependable sleep, an early breakfast, and a convenient spot. I’ll stay again. For overnight parking at nearby Sheppard Street Car Park, register your car on the tablet at reception rather than paying through the app. It’s added to your stay and costs a couple of quid less.

The reception and lounge feel cozy, and the staff there are welcoming, cooperative, and easy to approach. The hotel is centrally placed, with the station in walking distance and attractions easy to reach. But the entrance stairs are a hassle with large or heavy bags, and the parking area has little room for arrivals and departures. It’s also unclear whether there’s accessible parking and other wheelchair facilities. For two people, the rooms feel cramped, and the standard amenities are only adequate. There aren’t enough power outlets if you need to charge several devices, and there are no ironing facilities. Breakfast was disappointing, with little variety and uninspiring choices. Halal items weren’t available or clearly marked, and staff were sometimes slow to refill food.