Despite being a life-long Bristolian, I'd never been to Bradford-on-Avon before. And when we drove into it, down a steep windy hill, past gorgeous old honey-stone buildings, I was amazed by its beauty. Clusters of 17th-century cottages, cobbled streets and tall weavers' townhouses, with a mellow green river swept by weeping willows. It's a mini Bath (with a ridiculous number of coffee shops).
In the heart of town, Timbrell's Yard is a stylish, friendly and great-value heritage-chic retreat. There's a cosy bar and a great double-height restaurant serving excellent gastro-pub fare. Upstairs, the style in the bedrooms is all its own. Nordic in influence, with elegant greys, signature tiling, fishing lamps and bare wood, warmed by fur cushions and statement prints on the walls.
Highs
- Truly relaxing thanks to super-soft beds and the tranquil riverside location; ideal for a restorative break
- A welcoming restaurant and bar with delicious food by Tom Blake (formerly at River Cottage)
- No need for a car; you're a 2-min walk from the station with regular trains to Bath for day trips (10 mins)
- Great value for money, particularly the smaller rooms
- Friendly staff, who love the area
Lows
- Limited mobile signal (a High for us)
- The river view from the dining terrace is partly obstructed by the car park, but it's still a lovely peaceful spot
- If driving, bear in mind the town can get snarled up with traffic; we took the train (very handy)
Best time to go
This would be a great bolthole at any time of year. There's a terrace out front for drinking and dining in warm weather; the dining room is airy with huge glass windows so perfect for spring and autumn months, and there's a wood-burner in the bar for the winter months.
Our top tips
Timbrell's Yard shares the same winning formula of its popular sister properties: the Swan Wedmore, White Hart Somerton, The Kings Arms and Grosvenor Arms. These are also in the West Country and worth a visit if you get the chance.
Location
Timbrell's Yard is in the heart of the pretty town of Bradford On Avon, in Wiltshire.
By Air:
Bristol is the closest airport (47km / 45-minute drive) or you're 90 minutes from London Heathrow (153km / 2-hour drive).
By Car
Driving is convenient for exploring the surrounding area, but certainly not essential.There are 2 public car parks next to the hotel (daily charge); see our car hire recommendations.
By Train
The hotel is 2-minute walk from Bradford-on-Avon train station, which has direct links to Bath (10 minutes), Bristol (30 minutes) and London (2 hours).
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- Bristol 47.0 km BRS
- Southampton 96.0 km SOU
Other:
- Beach 60.0 km
- Shops 0.3 km
- Restaurant 0.3 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 8 independent reviews from i-escape guests
We had a blissful weekend escape at Timbrell's Yard. The room was clean and cosy, service from every single staff member was really friendly and helpful (special mentions for the manager and the breakfast server), food and wine was mostly very good, and a lovely setting by the river in the heart of handsome Bradford-on-Avon.
We got a very good value "Stay & Dine" deal through i-escape, which included dinner credits. Our first night's dinner was superb (including roasted hake, venison faggots, pear & ginger crumble); the second dinner (exact same fish dish) was strangely less good - perhaps a stand-in chef? Our room (a Small Double) was very comfy and quiet, and perfectly big enough for a 2-night stay. There are pretty walks from the door along the River Avon - downstream to Freshford and back via Iford Manor, for example. Lovely spot. Would definitely go again.
Super stay, great location. We had a small double which was perfect, lovely toiletries from Ubeity, spotlessly clean and great view looking over the river. Staff were really helpful and breakfast was amazing, cannot fault it. Also worth knowing that on Tuesday mornings there is a pop-up bakery in the hotel, which looked incredible.
I give a rating of 10/10 in all four categories. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and could not have asked for better service from the staff. In particular, Olivia, Doug, and Dawide all went above and beyond. The team of staff handled the rushes with poise and a smile on their faces, and make the experience of staying at the beautiful Timbrell's Yard (with its spectacular Sunday Roast) even better. When I encountered issues with my first room, they immediately rectified the issue for me. I was treated like family, and I will definitely be back in the future.
Delightful location by the river. Great to be able to get to the hotel by train. Reception good; staff very attentive and helpful. Menu very imaginative. I had lunch dinner & breakfast - all good. The ambiance was pleasant and I liked the history of the building. Some caveats: my double room was far too small for two people (luckily I was a single). The shower a disaster - not possible to get at the controls without standing directly under the rose, so I was deluged with cold water while I was trying to figure out how to use the controls. Worse - such was the power from the rose, a lot of water flowed out from under the closed door. Overall however - would certainly recommend!
Staff were all very friendly and professional. Very happy to help with any request
Lovely property in the middle of a great town.
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