Shandon Bells
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Avg. $137 /night, 3/22 - 3/23
$186
per night
$152
per night
$118
per night
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Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
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About
#29 of 62 B&Bs in Cork
Location
4.1
Rooms
3.1
Value
3.2
Cleanliness
3.6
Service
3.3
Sleep Quality
3.4
Shandon Bells is an exceptional Bed & Breakfast situated on a river bank within Cork City offering a sophisticated urban retreat in almost rural surroundings. 10 beautiful furnished bedrooms supplement the wonderful feeling of the peaceful River Lee.
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Property amenities
Street parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Kid-friendly buffet
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Shared lounge / TV area
Room features
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English, Russian, Bulgarian, Italian and 2 more
Location
44 Western Road, Cork Ireland
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 74 out of 100
74
18 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
When you are used to modern hotels and their abundance of steel and glass, spending a few nights at a place like Shandon Bells feels almost like being in a time capsule. The labyrinthine corridor leading to the rooms in the main building, with its ups and downs, three steps here, two there, could be taken straight from a Victorian novel. Everything feels like from a different time.
The rooms are decorated and furnished nicely, while the bathrooms do not make you feel like you are missing out on any modern comfort.
The staff is delightful and very helpful.
One word about the location: especially if you are visiting someone who is studying at University College Cork, you would be hard put to find a more favourable place, 10 minute' walk from the city centre and literally on the doorstep of the main university campus.
The rooms are decorated and furnished nicely, while the bathrooms do not make you feel like you are missing out on any modern comfort.
The staff is delightful and very helpful.
One word about the location: especially if you are visiting someone who is studying at University College Cork, you would be hard put to find a more favourable place, 10 minute' walk from the city centre and literally on the doorstep of the main university campus.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The staff member who checked me in was so polite and helpful, the room was a single one with a full size bathroom.
The onsite parking is a bonus and there is overflow parking a few doors away. There is breakfast available although I didn't take use of that on this trip
The onsite parking is a bonus and there is overflow parking a few doors away. There is breakfast available although I didn't take use of that on this trip
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Located on the river, in the student area of Cork, with ample parking, but no particular facilities for motorbikes. Access by road can be slow at busy times. Our double room was spacious, clean and nicely decorated, with a modern bathroom, containing a powerful shower. Tea and coffee was provided but no bottled water (and one pack of biscuits in a double room?).
The wifi was free with no sign up and there was a good wifi signal, capable of supporting streaming, VoIP calls etc. There are plenty of sockets with USB outlets for your convenience, a small TV and hairdryer.
There are a couple of food outlets opposite and plenty of bars and restaurants within 15 mins walk. Breakfast was good with a varied choice.
My only criticism is that it is a ground floor room, facing the road, with no privacy to the window, other than to shut the curtains.
The wifi was free with no sign up and there was a good wifi signal, capable of supporting streaming, VoIP calls etc. There are plenty of sockets with USB outlets for your convenience, a small TV and hairdryer.
There are a couple of food outlets opposite and plenty of bars and restaurants within 15 mins walk. Breakfast was good with a varied choice.
My only criticism is that it is a ground floor room, facing the road, with no privacy to the window, other than to shut the curtains.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If I could give this ‘Guest House’ / B&B, or whatever they want to call themselves, a -10, I would. They need to decide which they are. Their website says B&B, yet on booking.com they’re a Guest House. I contacted the staff, who is a receptionist in the other half of the house where the cooking is done, seemingly, and we were brought a rad, so that temporarily heated the bedroom, but the bathroom had no source of heat whatsoever. The next morning, there was NO HOT WATER and NO HEAT at all! I understand heat is metered, and only comes on at different times of the day and night, but in the morning when you get up, I would think there should be hot water so you could shower, or, at the very least wash! That issue was ignored. Instead, when I brought up the issue and wrote to the establishment asking for at least one night’s compensation at an already way overpriced establishment, I felt the blame was put back on us. I agree, they moved us to another room at the top of the stairs in the morning, but that room was just being vacated, so of course we had no access to it, and went out for the day already cold and unhappy. When we came back, again we needed a rad, because the room was so cold. Thankfully, we had hot water this time, but as another guest wrote in their review, you could hardly stand in the shower without conking your head. Also, in all our travels over the years, most places that advertise as a B&B include breakfast in the price, they don’t charge you extra for it. We usually stay one night at a B&B, then move on. Unfortunately, we stayed two nights at this nightmare of a place!
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Just don’t stay here. Not worth your hard-earned money. Cold rooms, maybe yes, maybe no hot water.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We reserved this accommodation as part of a 80 day European holiday. We arrived and were shown to our room. It was located on the top floor. We noted the staircase and walls etc were dirty and damaged. We entered the attic room. The ceiling was water stained with mould. The room was dingy to say the least. There was a wardrobe size door that we later found was the doorway to the bathroom. I could not fit in square on. I had to turn sideways to squeeze in. The old chest of drawers in the corner was missing handles and the whole room was dated and grimy. The room was one of the more expensive on our holiday, at AUD $286 for one night. I acknowledge its close proximately to the city. We asked to be moved to a room that matched the photos on the booking site but told they were booked out and nothing could be done. We asked to speak with the manager. The lady manager met us in the foyer. As soon as she heard we were complaining she ushered us out into the carpark away from other customers. We lodged our complaint saying the room was nothing like that advertised and in our view unacceptable. She said there was nothing she could do and the photos on the website were random. We felt the accommodation has misrepresented their room and was not worth the money. She became irate yelling at my wife and I, stating "There is nothing I can do, I am only an employee" We stayed with our complaint and eventually she said, "OK I list you as a no show and then you can get a refund." I said, "if I am a no show then I will have to pay. She replied "No, this is what we always do. I will reply to your booking agent that we will waive the no show fee" This was done and we did receive a full refund. I just want other to know that when the booking is cancelled in this way there is no ability to leave a review on the booking site. I believe that's why the number of poor reviews are not reflected when viewing this hotel on line. Stay clear of this hotel it's not as represented, in our view and the manager was rude. We left Cork and never explored the town because of this experience.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: This hotel is run down, grimy and the management rude.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My brother and I had a 4-night stay here. We were in room 4 in the refurbished part of the building. There were tea and coffee making facilities (with biscuits) and a lovely little shower room with an excellent shower. Downstairs was a room where you could sit if you wanted to with a large TV, fridge and microwave available for use.
The breakfasts were amazing with all you could wish for (these were included in the price when we booked, but people who hadn’t booked breakfast were free to add it later).
We were usually served by Karen who was an absolutely delightful young lady from Manila. She was so happy and cheerful all the time and we looked forward to seeing her every morning at breakfast.
There was some renovation work taking place outside that looks as if it will be a pleasant outdoor area for guests when finished. This didn’t detract from our stay in the least.
We didn’t need the car park but it did seem rather small for the number of guests.
We were able to walk into the centre within 10 - 15 minutes, so the location is very convenient. Also Fitzgerald Park is only a few minutes' walk away.
I would not hesitate to come back here and would highly recommend this place.
The breakfasts were amazing with all you could wish for (these were included in the price when we booked, but people who hadn’t booked breakfast were free to add it later).
We were usually served by Karen who was an absolutely delightful young lady from Manila. She was so happy and cheerful all the time and we looked forward to seeing her every morning at breakfast.
There was some renovation work taking place outside that looks as if it will be a pleasant outdoor area for guests when finished. This didn’t detract from our stay in the least.
We didn’t need the car park but it did seem rather small for the number of guests.
We were able to walk into the centre within 10 - 15 minutes, so the location is very convenient. Also Fitzgerald Park is only a few minutes' walk away.
I would not hesitate to come back here and would highly recommend this place.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: We liked room 4 in the refurbished part of the building.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed several nights here to visit my child at UCC. It is directly across the street from the university gates and an easy, flat 10-15 minute walk into Cork centre. My room was big with a large window and nicely updated ensuite. It was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was included with my rate and it was cooked to order, which was delightful. There is a small deck off the back overlooking the river. Staff were always pleasant and helpful. I enjoyed my stay very much.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When we arrived, we were made to feel very welcome, but as she showed us our room, she said it was very small. We had booked a twin room back in March. It was smaller than some of the other rooms we had seen as we were showed to ours! The bathroom was a strange shape, and if you are bigger than a size 16 you would struggle to get through the gap to the toilet & shower. The door to the bedroom was not a firedoor and you could see the light from the landing all around the door. Breakfast was good. Our plane was not till late evening, she let us leave our luggage for the day, but as soon as we went back she rang us a taxi to get us to the airport, felt like she wanted us out. The furniture in the bedroom was dated but adequate. The carpet could do with a clean.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Parking is available but needs to be booked in advance and is essential as street parking nearby is not easy.
The room was clean and bright but tiny. The only furniture besides the single bed was a small bedside table occupied by the tea making tray. It was by moving this to underneath this table that I actually managed to create somewhere to put my glasses, keys and other bits on. The sun shone right into the room, and it was boiling hot despite curtains. There was no fan. The bathroom was also very small. However both areas were very clean.
The pillows on the bed were worn out and needed replacing and the mattress had seen better days.
Breakfast was in a riverside room with an outdoor terrace. The place was full, and the table service was somewhat chaotic, with English being a problem for some of the staff. The fry-up and porridge were good.
The room was clean and bright but tiny. The only furniture besides the single bed was a small bedside table occupied by the tea making tray. It was by moving this to underneath this table that I actually managed to create somewhere to put my glasses, keys and other bits on. The sun shone right into the room, and it was boiling hot despite curtains. There was no fan. The bathroom was also very small. However both areas were very clean.
The pillows on the bed were worn out and needed replacing and the mattress had seen better days.
Breakfast was in a riverside room with an outdoor terrace. The place was full, and the table service was somewhat chaotic, with English being a problem for some of the staff. The fry-up and porridge were good.
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Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The room was in the apex of the roof with sloping ceilings almost down to the floor. It was also a very narrow room with the bed pushed up to the wall, so we could not sit up in bed. The bathroom also had a sloping ceiling immediately over the wash basin, so low that my wife banged her head on it when cleaning her teeth. This bedroom is not fit for purpose and certainly not worth the amount charged.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: If you are over four feet tall this room is not for you!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"It is useful to get acquainted beforehand with the one-way traffic system near the Shandon Bells Guesthouse in Cork."Read full review
"Just don’t stay here. Not worth your hard-earned money. Cold rooms, maybe yes, maybe no hot water. "Read full review
"If there is no parking on their car park there is a road just over the river to put your car."Read full review
PRICE RANGE
$119 - $165 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IrelandProvince of MunsterCounty CorkCorkMardyke
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Shandon Bells
Which popular attractions are close to Shandon Bells?
Nearby attractions include Cork Public Museum (0.2 miles), The Abbey Tavern (0.3 miles), and Lewis Glucksman Gallery (0.09 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Shandon Bells?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, baggage storage, and outdoor furniture.
What are some restaurants close to Shandon Bells?
Conveniently located restaurants include The River Club, Paradiso, and Cafe Depeche.
Is Shandon Bells located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.7 miles away from the center of Cork.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Shandon Bells?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Bulgarian, and Lithuanian.
Are there any historical sites close to Shandon Bells?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Nano Nagle Place (0.7 miles), Cork City Gaol (0.5 miles), and Blarney Castle & Gardens (4.2 miles).