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3-star hotel Check-in 14:00 · Check-out 11:00

Bell Hotel

Experience chic, riverside stays at Bell Hotel in Sandwich. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly rooms, and nearby attractions like Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral.

The Quay, Sandwich CT13 9EF, United Kingdom View on map
8.6/10
Very Good Based on 1014 recent guest reviews
Free Wi-Fi Free breakfast Accessible Pet-friendly Kid-friendly
What recent guests emphasize

Balanced comfort in a charming riverside setting

Guests highlight the hotel's prime location by the river and town center, alongside friendly and attentive staff. While food and drink receive strong commendations, limited parking availability is a noted drawback.

Guests often praise

  • Friendly, helpful, and professional staff providing attentive service throughout the stay.
  • High quality food and drink with enjoyable menus, especially praised are breakfast offerings and the restaurant's flavorful dishes.
  • Convenient and scenic location near the river, within walking distance to Sandwich town center and train station.
  • Comfortable guestrooms with pleasant furnishings, some overlooking the river.
  • Pet-friendly approach appreciated by guests traveling with dogs.

Worth knowing

  • Parking is very limited, with only a few spaces on-site and additional parking available nearby but not guaranteed.
  • Some variability in kitchen performance reported, indicating occasional issues with food quality or timing.
  • The hotel does not have air conditioning, a pool, fitness center, or airport shuttle services.
  • Prices for food and drink are considered somewhat high, reflecting the tourist location.
  • The property has a historical Edwardian charm, which may mean some traditional features rather than modern finishes.

Best for

  • Visitors seeking a stylish and charming base close to Sandwich's attractions and transport links.
  • Travelers who appreciate good dining experiences without leaving the hotel premises.
  • Guests looking for friendly service with personalized touches, including pet owners.
  • Those who prefer a quieter, historic setting by the riverside rather than modern city hotels.
  • Tourists planning to explore nearby landmarks like Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral.
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About this property

Welcome to Bell Hotel

Situated on The Quay in the historic town of Sandwich, the Bell Hotel occupies a refurbished Edwardian building offering stylish guestrooms with riverside views. Its location is convenient, just a short walk from the Secret Gardens of Sandwich and the town’s railway station, making it well suited for visitors exploring the region. Nearby attractions include Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral, providing additional cultural and historical interest.

The property combines multiple functions as a hotel, bar, restaurant, and wedding venue. Guests can enjoy a bar/brasserie atmosphere alongside a fine-dining restaurant praised in reviews for flavorful dishes and attentive service. The hotel’s dining options, including the on-site Indian restaurant Namaste Sandwich, cater to diverse tastes. While breakfast is included and highly regarded, parking is limited with only a few bays available on a first-come basis, though public parking is close by.

Amenities provide practical comforts such as free Wi-Fi and accessibility features, with a pet-friendly and kid-friendly environment. There is no air conditioning, pool, airport shuttle, or fitness center on site. Guest feedback highlights friendly and professional staff alongside pleasant and well-maintained interiors. Some reviews note occasional inconsistencies in food quality, reflecting a generally positive but varied guest experience.

The Bell Hotel’s setting by the river and proximity to town benefit those seeking a charming base within a quaint English town. It is especially appropriate for visitors interested in exploring local history, enjoying nearby golf or museums, or hosting special events. The property’s 4.3-star rating from over 1,000 reviews suggests it meets the expectations of many guests, though some should be prepared for modest limitations such as parking and mixed food experiences.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Facilities & essentials

What's on-site and what you should know before you arrive

The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.

Most popular facilities

Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
Accessible
Pet-friendly
Kid-friendly
Restaurant
Bar
Smoke-free

Not available at this property

Free parking
Pool
Air-conditioned
Airport shuttle
Fitness center
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

VO
Valerie Overton Apr 18, 2026
10

Had an enjoyable meal, best F & C I have eaten for a long time. Definitely will be back. Staff who served us were friendly & professional. There was plenty of food & drink choices. A great place to sit outside & watch the sun go down.

SM
Swaroop Manjrekar Apr 12, 2026
10

This a nice traditional hotel in a quaint beautiful town of Sandwich. The hotel is located just near the river on the entrance into Sandwich town. The hotel has a bar and restaurant open for guests and local people and some 40 odd rooms. The hotel staff was very helpful and polite. The breakfast service was amazing and we enjoyed our stay. The hotel has limited parking facilities 4 parking bays to be precise on a first come.basis, but there is a parking place just round the corner which is very convenient.

ML
Matt Linehan Apr 11, 2026
8.0

Lovely little hotel that does great food and drink. Prices are a bit touristy but hey ho. Met up with 3 old pals and had a very pleasant time. Extremely tasty salmon sandwich, could have done with a few more chips. Might make a regular event of it!

TS
Tom Stafford Apr 09, 2026
8.0

Difficult to score this as it is a mixed bag, but here goes. The location is great, right by the river. The furnishings are also very pleasant. When we turned up on a Friday evening without a reservation we were seated straight away and it was all going very well. Then the food arrived. I won't go into detail but there was a major problem with the kitchen and one of the dishes should never have been allowed out, while the other was just ok. Why 4 stars? Because stuff happens and the front of house really did make an effort to put it right. First they checked what had happened, apologised profusely and offered whatever I wanted from the menu which came promptly, was fine, and wasn't charged(the offending dish wasn't either, obviously). There was also a minor issue with coffee which again was put right straight away. I hope the kitchen malfunction was a one-off. Excellent front of house don't deserve to be let down like that, and I would go back.

R
Rodney Mar 31, 2026
10

A wonderful experienc at a great location near the river and to the city center. The food at the restaurant was really tasty with nice presentations and so. All of the staff we dealt were not only very helpful but friendly. The hotel has a nice timely appearance a lovely aged exterion.

EB
Elizabeth Bowles Mar 30, 2026
10

Thoroughly enjoyed my overnight stay at The Bell Hotel on 17th Dec in Sandwich. Caring , helpful staff 5 stars. Well done

HL
Heidi Luck Mar 10, 2026
10

Just popped into the Bell today for a quick sandwich and drink, staff were so helpful especially as I wanted a vegan sandwich which they kindly created for me! How lovely was that, thank you so much, great service and good as always.

AH
Andrew Hutchings Feb 28, 2026
10

Absolutely loved it!! Room was lovely overlooking the river. Restaurant on Saturday evening was great, service spot on. Special mention to Becky who checked us in on Friday and looked after us in the restaurant. Great choice at breakfast. Ideally located for the town and railway station. Thankyou to all the staff. Loved the place, cannot wait to return .

BH
Barefoot Hippy Feb 26, 2026
8.0

Really friendly & helpful staff, went out of their way to accommodate our dog (even making him a sausage for breakfast!). Good cooked vegan breakfast in the morning. Convenient location to town. The only downside was the parking- there are only 3 spaces outside the hotel. Otherwise you need to park across the road in the public car park.

AJ
Agnes Jones Feb 18, 2026
10

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wow – absolutely fantastic food! We ordered the Scotch egg, squid, and Ceaser salad, and every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Service at the bar by Mark was attentive, friendly, and made us feel very welcome. A truly outstanding experience.

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find Bell Hotel

Sandwich, United Kingdom

Set in a refurbished Edwardian building, this chic riverside hotel is a 2-minute walk from the Secret Gardens of Sandwich and a 9-minute walk from Sandwich train station.

  • Sandwich 11 min Walk
  • Guildhall (Stop A) 4 min Walk
  • Guildhall (Stop B) 4 min Walk
  • Heathrow Airport 1 hr 59 Car · 2 hr 59 Transit
  • London Gatwick Airport 1 hr 37 Car · 3 hr 16 Transit
  • London Stansted Airport 1 hr 49 Car · 3 hr 11 Transit
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in United Kingdom. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

Dover Castle 17,172 reviews

Dover Castle

Castle Hill Rd., Dover CT16 1HU, United Kingdom

4.7 · Castle
Canterbury Cathedral 14,427 reviews

Canterbury Cathedral

Cathedral House, 11 The Precincts, Canterbury CT1 2EH, United Kingdom

4.6 · Cathedral
The Royal St George's Golf Club 540 reviews

The Royal St George's Golf Club

Clubhouse, Sandwich CT13 9PB, United Kingdom

4.7 · Golf Club
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