The Bear Hotel

3.0 star property
Enjoy the restaurant at this 3-star Wantage hotel

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for The Bear Hotel

Exterior
Bar (on property)
Restaurant
Standard Double or Twin Room, Ensuite (2 Double Beds)
Room

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • 24/7 front desk
  • Bar
  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi
  • Business services

Explore the area

View in a map
Market Place, Wantage, England, OX12 8AB
  • Place, Uffington White Horse
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Place, Didcot Railway Centre
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Place, University of Oxford
    ‪28 min drive‬
  • Airport, Oxford (OXF)
    ‪35 min drive‬

Room options

Double Room, Ensuite

7.8 out of 10
Good
(18 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Standard Double or Twin Room, Ensuite (2 Double Beds)

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

Twin Room, Ensuite

7.8 out of 10
Good
(7 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

Suite, Ensuite (Sleeps up to 3)

7.2 out of 10
Good
(5 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Single Room, Ensuite

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(12 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

Triple Room, Ensuite

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 3 Twin Beds

Standard Single Room, Ensuite (Courtyard )

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

About the area

Wantage

In Wantage .You'll be within 3 miles (5 km) of Bakers Yard and 6 miles (10 km) of Champs Chapel Museum of East Hendred with a stay here. Also within 9 miles (15 km) are Uffington White Horse and The Library.

What's nearby

  • Uffington White Horse - 15 min drive - 14.6 km
  • Frilford Heath Golf Club - 15 min drive - 14.2 km
  • Didcot Railway Centre - 17 min drive - 16.8 km
  • Christ Church College - 27 min drive - 33.5 km
  • University of Oxford - 28 min drive - 30.1 km

Getting around

  • Newbury Station - 21 min drive
  • Heathrow Airport (LHR) - 75 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Grove Kebab Van - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Lord Nelson - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪The Kings Arms - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪The Royal Oak - ‬4 min walk

About this property

The Bear Hotel

Enjoy the restaurant at this 3-star Wantage hotel
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. A computer station is on site, and both WiFi and wired Internet are free in public spaces. The Bear Hotel also features a garden and an elevator.

This 3-star Wantage hotel is smoke free.

  • 36 guestrooms or units
  • Continental breakfast (free)
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Wedding services available
  • Pool or billiards table
  • Garden
  • Computer for guest use
  • Elevator
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
The Bear Hotel offers 36 accommodations. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Similar properties

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • High chair

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Billiards/pool table

Accessibility

  • Elevator

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:30 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Property payment types

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards
This property is professionally cleaned
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. The property is professionally cleaned.

We should mention

  • Please note that this property can refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, which include pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties.

Property is also known as

Bear Hotel Wantage
Bear Wantage
The Bear Hotel Hotel
The Bear Hotel Wantage
The Bear Hotel Hotel Wantage

The Bear Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 170 out of 420 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 166 out of 420 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 53 out of 420 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 19 out of 420 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 12 out of 420 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

7.4/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Ian

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The room was perfect for our needs and the hotel had a restaurant and bar so everything we needed. The food was excellent and the service was also really good.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

DAVID

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay!

From the off, when the receptionist greeted us so warmly, we had a perfect stay. Wish we'd dined in, but hope to be back and do that another time. Breakfast and waiting staff were excellent.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Sherry

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

Not the best

The hotel itself was fine. We had a drink on the bar and there are lots of places to relax. Unfortunately our room (no 8) was extremely hot. We had both windows open but it didn’t seem to make any difference. This also meant that we heard all the people leaving the pub and immediate areas until approx 0230-0245. When we were finally able to doze off we were woken up at 0350 by the tradesmen starting to set up for the market in the morning. Whilst I appreciate that the hotel cannot directly affect these things had I known I would not have booked to be honest. The room was clean but needs an update. The bathroom sink tap was loose and the shower does not keep consistent temperature. The bathroom was very tired. When we went to check out in the morning there was no one on reception to let know of these problems. We had to leave to get on our way. Such a shame but from our experience we wouldn’t go back.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

MR

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

sarah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very helpful staff, nice location
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Asha

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julian

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good location. Friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amancio

Very good
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

rupert

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Not one for posting reviews, but this was pretty bad. Firstly the staff were lovely and this doesn't reflect on them at all. Room 24. Go have a look. The room is tired but the bathroom is apocolyptic. Last upgraded about 40 years ago, light switch is illegal, shower head holder snapped off, water so hot that you cannot add enough cold to make it usable and the water stinks. Prob crap in the water tank. The silicone around all surfaces must have been done with a knife and fork or possibly with a blindfold on. I'm not really exaggerating either. The three cups we had on the tea station were coated in dried detergent (that you couldn't see) leading to 2 cups of tea being thrown and a day of soap suddy mouths. The room was hot, but that's not really anyone's fault. But having the windows open just meant we had to listen to a rowdy crowd doing coke and drinking just outside the window. Bed was comfy. Sheets were smelly. In the morning, someone had distributed the days clean sheets for the changeover leaving them outside each room on the filthy carpet. My oh my. The cheek to charge £100 for this.... Never again thanks. I have photos and a video of you want them.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

short break

ideal for short breaks, good food and friendly atmosphere
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice quirky hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Allison

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Comfortable room (#33), luxury bathroom with large walk in shower, fluffy towels. Excellent full English breakfast included in room rate. A fan would have been welcome as not comfortable opening window as ground floor room. No info in room inc wifi code. Definitely recommend this hotel
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Mike

Travelled with family

Good location, terrible beds!

Good location, friendly staff, but the beds are TERRIBLE. This was probably the worst bed I have ever slept in!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Gyuricza

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It was oke for staying one night.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Rhiannon

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Joanne

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Two night midweek stay for work. Location is excellent as right in the centre of Wantage, with access to local shops and restaurants. No hotel car parking, but overnight parking available in local council car park (£3/night). Room was cosy and had all facilities needed for a comfortable stay. Relatively quiet during the night, but Wantage wakes around 5am, so expect to as well. Ate in the restaurant for the first night - good quality food, but ventured out the second night for greater menu variety. Good choice at breakfast with well-prepared meals. Quick service.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Alan A

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely Stay look forward to doing it again.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

S

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good stay.

Good hotel in centre of town, long stay carpark at rear of hotel £7 for 23hours,
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Keith

Liked: Cleanliness
Centrally located in Wantage with excellent staff.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Clean hotel, helpful staff, quiet, slept well, good breakfast. Enjoyed the stay.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

claire

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good breakfast, friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room was clean and comfortable. Bed a little hard. Very quiet during the night
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Sonia

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Jeanne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Enjoyed the stay at the Bear Hotel

Had a great stay at The Bear Hotel. Love its charm and the feel of a true English hotel. It’s been here 500+ years. We stayed in a front room that looked over the Wantage Market Square. The room was fine, very clean, and the bed was comfy. However if you are tall, like over 5’ 9” you must watch your head and you probably won’t fit in the shower. Staff were all excellent! Love the breakfast that came with the room, delicious!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025