A storied hotel where history meets heartfelt hospitality

Three Swans Hotel in Market Harborough, what a glorious slice of English history! Nestled along the old coaching routes from London to Manchester, this splendid inn has stood since at least the 16th century, welcoming travellers with warmth, wit and a helpings of good cheer Picture the clatter of hooves and the rumble of carriages as this coaching inn bustled with activity, long before motorways and mobile phones. It was a hub of gossip, letters, ale, and rest, where weary souls found a hot meal and a soft bed. But it wasn’t just merchants and mail coaches who crossed its threshold. This remarkable inn even hosted King Charles I during the turbulent times of the English Civil War. Imagine it, Royal footsteps on these old floorboards, whispered secrets over tankards of ale, and the flicker of candlelight dancing on the walls. The King himself is said to have addressed his troops from the high street balcony, a moment of pure, spine-tingling theatre in a town brimming with tales.

And still, through the centuries, the Three Swans has evolved without ever losing its soul. Georgian elegance mingles with Tudor beams, and the air is thick with stories. Writers, politicians, poets, they’ve all found solace here. The inn’s famous triple swan emblem, said to have been adopted from three different landlords’ signs, is now iconic, proudly carried through time. Today, it remains a beloved landmark, where modern luxury meets the romance of history. Guests can sip wine where soldiers once dined, rest where royalty once pondered, and marvel at the layers of life lived within its honeyed walls. It’s not just a hotel, it’s a living tapestry of British heritage, lovingly preserved, delightfully experienced, and gloriously celebrated.