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Summary of reviewsThe Goddard Arms, a historically charming hotel located in the heart of Swindon’s Old Town, garners significant praise for its exceptional and convenient location. Its proximity to shops, restaurants, cafes and various social events, combined with its central position and traditional charm, make it an ideal base for exploring the area. Guests frequently commend the friendly and welcoming atmosphere cultivated by the staff, enhancing the overall experience.
The breakfast at The Goddard Arms receives numerous accolades for being cooked to order with fresh ingredients, featuring hearty options like a full English breakfast and Eggs Benedict. Many visitors find the breakfast both delicious and filling with excellent value for money and accommodating timing that starts at 7 a.m. Although there are occasional remarks about slow service or specific items, the predominantly positive reviews emphasize the top-notch breakfast experience.
Dinner experiences are generally positive with a noteworthy selection of food and drinks, including various vegetarian options and a remarkable assortment of gins and whiskies. The meal quality is frequently described as excellent with specific dishes like the lamb shank receiving repeated praise. Despite instances of food service delays and occasional unavailability of certain menu items, guests often find the dining atmosphere cozy and the service friendly and efficient.
Rooms at The Goddard Arms showcase a mix of modern refurbishments and older decor. Many guests appreciate the spacious, clean and comfortable accommodations, highlighting large bathrooms and a warm, quiet ambiance. While some reviews mention that certain rooms could benefit from updates and aesthetic improvements, the overall comfort and cleanliness maintain a positive impression, particularly for travelers with pets.
Cleanliness receives mixed feedback but tends to trend positively. Many guests commend the clean and tidy rooms with some highlighting exceptional cleanliness and fresh appearances. However, there are mentions of areas needing improvement, such as scuffed walls and dated features, though these are overshadowed by general satisfaction with the housekeeping standards.
The hotel staff consistently receive accolades for their friendly, accommodating and professional service. Guests frequently mention the warm and attentive service throughout their stay, contributing to a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. Despite a few isolated comments about less motivated personnel, the overwhelming majority of reviews emphasize the staff's dedication to high hospitality standards.
WiFi connectivity receives mixed reviews with some guests finding it reliable and fast, while others experience poor reception and patchy signals. The inconsistencies suggest that while the WiFi can be satisfactory, improvements are needed to ensure a uniform experience across the hotel.
Located in a bustling area, The Goddard Arms serves as an excellent choice for nightlife enthusiasts, offering easy access to local bars and pubs. The lively atmosphere, particularly on Thursday nights, provides ample opportunities for socializing. However, the vibrant environment can lead to noise disruptions, though this is often considered a minor inconvenience amid the lively and trendy setting.
Beds at The Goddard Arms are widely praised for their comfort, contributing to a restful night's sleep. Positive comments highlight the clean and cozy bedding, although there are sporadic mentions of less comfortable or smaller beds.
As a three-star hotel, The Goddard Arms meets and occasionally surpasses expectations. Guests find the accommodation pleasant, dependable and a good value for money with ample food options and free parking adding to their convenience. While certain aspects are basic, the hotel delivers a consistently satisfactory experience, making it a reliable option for budget-conscious travelers. Show more
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Dog Friendly Hotel
This hotel offers a welcoming environment for guests traveling with dogs, providing dog-friendly rooms and amenities.
Small Hotel
Located on High Street, The Goddard Arms offers a traditional and cozy experience. This hotel is known for its friendly atmosphere and comfortable accommodations, making it a charming choice for visitors.
3-Star Hotel
Located on High Street, this hotel provides a central location and standard amenities. It is a practical choice for visitors seeking a convenient base for exploring Swindon.
Hotel for Honeymoon
Hotel near Nightlife Spots
Hotel with Free Wi-Fi
Hotel for Adults Only
Room Types
Single RoomEach room has an en suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV with Freeview channels, and a hairdryer. Some rooms are street facing, and all have tea and coffee making facilities.
Double RoomEach room has an en suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV with Freeview channels, and a hairdryer. Some rooms are street facing, and all have tea and coffee making facilities.
Twin RoomEach room has an en suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV with Freeview channels, and a hairdryer. Rooms also benefit from tea and coffee making facilities.
Superior Double RoomThe double room features a tea and coffee maker, a carpeted floor, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a hairdryer. This double room provides heating and a flat-screen TV. The unit has 1 bed.
Small Double RoomThe double room provides an electric kettle, a carpeted floor, as well as a private bathroom featuring a bath and a hairdryer. This double room offers heating and a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.0
Very Good
Location
The Goddard Arms enjoys high praise for its exceptional location in the heart of Swindon’s Old Town. Guests frequently highlight its close proximity to shops, restaurants and various cafes, making it a convenient choice for a wide range of activities and social events. Many visitors appreciate its central position, which offers easy access to local pubs, parks and event venues, as well as being a short walk to Swindon town centre. The historic and traditional charm of the hotel, combined with friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere, adds to its appeal. Whether for family gatherings, social outings or work-related stays, this well-situated establishment proves to be an ideal base for exploring Swindon’s Old Town.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at The Goddard Arms is generally well-received by guests, often described as very good, delicious and freshly prepared. Numerous positive reviews highlight the breakfast as being cooked to order with fresh ingredients, including a variety of options such as a hearty full English breakfast and yummy Eggs Benedict. Many guests found the breakfast filling, tasty and excellent value for money. Additionally, there is praise for its generous portions and the availability of healthy choices like fresh fruit.
The quality of service also stands out with staff frequently described as friendly and responsive. Despite occasional remarks about slow service, tasteless avocado or cold items, a majority of reviews emphasize the exceptional and top-notch breakfast service that leaves many visitors considering a return solely for the morning meal. Furthermore, the breakfast timing, starting from 7 a.m., accommodates early risers, which adds to the overall positive dining experience at The Goddard Arms.
Dinner
Reviewing the dinner experience at The Goddard Arms reveals a generally positive impression with some notable highlights. The selection of food and drink stands out as a key strength, offering a wide variety of choices including vegetarian options and a remarkable assortment of gins and whiskies. Meal quality is frequently praised with terms like excellent, superb and amazing commonly used to describe the dining options. Specific dishes such as the lamb shank and full English breakfast receive repeated commendations.
The atmosphere of the bar and restaurant adds to the overall dining pleasure, creating a cozy and lovely setting. Despite the often busy nature of the pub, particularly on Saturday nights, the staff are consistently recognized for being friendly, amazing and helpful. Customer service is highlighted as a positive element with service noted for being excellent, fast and efficient.
However, there are occasional mentions of delays in food service, though these delays are generally forewarned. There are also mixed reviews regarding the variety and availability of menu items with some guests noting that a few meal choices were unavailable during their visit. While the overwhelming majority of guest comments are favorable, a handful of reviews do express dissatisfaction with the food quality, calling it poor or very poor.
Overall, dining at The Goddard Arms is deemed a worthwhile experience, characterized by great food, excellent service and a pleasant atmosphere, making it a recommended spot for both a casual meal and special occasions.
Rooms
Nestled in an old building, The Goddard Arms provides a charming yet comfortable experience for guests with a mix of recently refurbished rooms and more dated accommodations. Many visitors find the rooms to be spacious, clean and equipped with all necessary amenities. The overall comfort is a recurrent theme with large bathrooms featuring both baths and showers being a particular highlight. The warm and quiet ambiance, even with a bar below, adds to a relaxing stay. Some rooms have been noted for their modern refurbishments, leading to a comfortable night’s sleep.
However, there are instances where the rooms are described as small and in need of a decorative update with issues such as cracked tiles, grubby carpets and dated features being mentioned. Despite these occasional setbacks, the hotel staff are praised for their friendly service and efforts to maintain cleanliness across the property. The cozy and quiet atmosphere, good heating and sizeable rooms make it a pleasant stay for many, particularly for travelers with dogs who appreciate the ease of access.
While some rooms require more upkeep and aesthetics improvements, the overall experience at The Goddard Arms is one of comfort and convenience with warm, clean and adequately equipped rooms that cater well to a variety of guest needs.
Beds
The beds at The Goddard Arms receive widespread praise for their comfort. Many guests highlighted the beds as very comfortable with numerous mentions of how they contributed to a restful night's sleep. The beds were often described as comfy, warm and cosy, providing a welcoming retreat after a long day. Cleanliness and attention to detail also received positive remarks with guests noting the crisp and clean bedding.
However, a few guests had mixed experiences. Some found the beds to be smaller or less comfortable than expected with occasional comments about firmness or discomfort, particularly relating to the pillows. There were isolated mentions of the beds showing signs of age or having issues like dipping in the middle or being near noisy windows. Despite these occasional drawbacks, the general sentiment depicts a positive impression of the sleeping arrangements, making The Goddard Arms a reliable choice for a comfortable stay.
Cleanliness
The Goddard Arms receives mixed reviews regarding its cleanliness, though the feedback trends positively overall. Many guests appreciate the clean and tidy rooms, noting their comfort and warmth. Several mention that the room was exceptionally clean and fresh with good-sized and well-appointed spaces. The housekeeping staff are frequently praised for maintaining cleanliness and the bathrooms often receive positive remarks for being nice, large and new.
However, some areas of the hotel fall short of expectations. A few guests highlight that rooms appear tired and would benefit from updates. There are mentions of scuffed walls, grimy carpets and occasional lapses in cleaning with specific references to dusty areas and dirty ceilings. Despite these less favorable comments, the general consensus leans towards a clean and tidy environment with a few guests noting that the rooms had everything they needed and were clean and comfortable.
Overall, while there are areas for improvement, many visitors find The Goddard Arms to offer a satisfactory level of cleanliness and comfort, making it a viable option for travelers seeking value for money.
Staff
The guest reviews of The Goddard Arms consistently highlight the exceptional performance of the hotel staff. Words like friendly, accommodating, helpful and welcoming appear frequently, portraying a team that is genuinely pleased to assist guests. Several mentions of excellent and outstanding staff further solidify the positive impressions. Specific staff members received individual praise for their efforts, showing a personal touch in service.
Guests frequently mentioned the warm and attentive service at check-in, during meals and throughout their stay. The staff was often described as polite, professional and informative, providing assistance whenever needed and creating a pleasant and inviting atmosphere. Even when the hotel was busy, the staff maintained their friendly demeanor and helpful nature.
Although there were a few isolated comments about unmotivated or indifferent staff, the overwhelming majority of reviews paint a picture of a well-coordinated and cheerful team dedicated to making guests feel comfortable and welcome. Comments such as bent over backwards to accommodate and exceptional service suggest a commitment to high standards in hospitality at The Goddard Arms.
Wi-Fi
The WiFi at The Goddard Arms has generally received mixed reviews from guests. Many have noted that the WiFi signal was good with some mentioning it as fast and reliable. Decent and generally good WiFi connectivity has also been observed by several guests. However, there were also mentions of issues such as poor reception, patchy connectivity and difficulty signing in. Some guests reported no WiFi in their rooms or even non-existent service in certain areas. Therefore, while the WiFi shows promise in some aspects, it appears to be inconsistent across different rooms and areas of the hotel.
Nightlife
The Goddard Arms enjoys a prime location in Swindon's Old Town, making it an excellent choice for those keen on exploring the local nightlife. The immediate vicinity is bustling with bars and pubs, contributing to a vibrant evening atmosphere. Guests commend the central location for its easy access to various nightlife options, including popular night clubs. Thursday evenings are particularly lively with the pub bustling with drinkers and providing a fun outing for guests. The establishment is noted for its balanced mix of customers, possibly due to it not being a music venue, unlike some competitors. However, the lively environment does come with its downsides, such as noise from both the pub and the nearby beer garden, as well as sounds from police cars and occasional late-night disturbances. Despite these disruptions, the lively and trendy atmosphere is highlighted as a positive aspect, offering plenty of opportunities for people-watching and enjoying a brilliant night out.
3 Star
The Goddard Arms comfortably meets the expectations for a three-star accommodation, providing a stay that is both pleasant and dependable. Reviews highlight that the hotel lives up to its rating and even excels in some areas, making it a solid option for travelers seeking value for their money. Guests have pointed out the consistent standard for a three-star establishment with the facilities and services reflecting this rating accurately.
Among its strengths, the hotel offers plenty of food options, enhancing the dining experience for guests. Additionally, the availability of free parking is a notable convenience for those traveling by car. While some aspects are described as very basic, the overall sentiment is that guests receive what they anticipate from a well-rated three-star hotel, reinforcing its reputation as a decent choice for budget-conscious travelers.
No, The Goddard Arms doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Goddard Arms.
Yes, The Goddard Arms welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Goddard Arms.