Countryside serenity awaits at this nature-surrounded retreat where guests can shop and dine without leaving the property or simply relax in green surroundings.
The Elephant Hotel offers a family-friendly escape in peaceful rural settings. Visitors can browse the on-site shops, enjoy a coffee at the café, connect with WiFi from their rooms, or take a refreshing walk through the garden grounds.
Located in Reading, Elephant Hotel is in a rural area and near a train station. Reading Museum and Town Hall and Hexagon are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Basildon Park and Reading Abbey Ruins. Traveling with kids? Consider Beale Park, or check out an event or a game at Madejski Stadium. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including golfing. Visit our Reading travel guide
RG8 7AR, England, Reading, Church Road, Pangbourne
What's nearby
North Wessex Downs
1 min walk - 0.0 km
Thames Path
3 min walk - 0.3 km
Madejski Stadium
12 min drive - 14.8 km
Whitchurch Maze
19 min walk - 1.7 km
Beale Park
7 min drive - 3.0 km
Getting around
Reading Pangbourne Station
5 min walk
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
46 min drive
Restaurants
Costa Coffee
2 min walk
Herbies Pizza
7 min drive
The Water Tower
7 min drive
The George Hotel
2 min walk
Blip
7 min drive
About this property
Elephant Hotel
Family-friendly hotel near Thames River
At Elephant Hotel, you can look forward to a terrace, shopping on site, and a coffee shop/cafe. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities such as a garden and a playground.
You'll also find perks like:
Free self parking
Full breakfast (surcharge), an area shuttle, and an electric car charging station
Express check-out, express check-in, and supervised childcare (surcharge)
Guest reviews speak well of the overall condition
Room features
All guestrooms at Elephant Hotel include thoughtful touches such as premium bedding, as well as amenities like free WiFi and desk chairs.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
Hair dryers and toilet paper
TVs with premium channels
Coffee/tea makers, heating, and daily housekeeping
Awards and affiliations
Eco-Certified Property
This property participates in Green Tourism Program, a program that measures the property's impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural-heritage, the local economy.
Full breakfast available for a fee 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM on weekends; GBP 17.50 for adults and GBP 10 for children
A bar/lounge
A coffee shop/cafe
A restaurant
Snack bar/deli
Things to do
Horseback riding/rentals
Playground
Shopping
Family friendly
Playground
Snack bar/deli
Soundproofed rooms
Supervised activities for children (surcharge)
Conveniences
Guidebooks
Limited-hour front desk
Luggage storage
Newspapers in lobby
Safe at front desk
Guest services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Housekeeping (daily)
Multilingual staff
Wedding services
Business services
Meeting rooms
Outdoors
Garden
Terrace
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible lounge
Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
More
1 building
2 floors
Ballroom
Banquet hall
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Premium bedding
Bathroom
Hair dryer
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Entertainment
TV with premium channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Free bottled water
Limited room service
More
Connecting rooms available
Desk
Desk chair
Heating
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Soundproofed rooms
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 16
Check-out
Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 7 AM - 11 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of GBP 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total (up to 66 lbs per pet)
Specific rooms only; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Food and water bowls are available
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for GBP 20.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are available for GBP 20.0 per night
Property payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Fee for full breakfast: approximately GBP 17.50 for adults and GBP 10.00 for children
Pet fee: GBP 20 per pet, per night
Service animals are exempt from fees
Crib (infant bed) fee: GBP 20.0 per night
Rollaway bed fee: GBP 20.0 per night
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
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; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation
Property is also known as
Elephant Hotel Reading
Elephant Reading
Elephant Hotel Hotel
Elephant Hotel Reading
Elephant Hotel Hotel Reading
Frequently asked questions
Is Elephant Hotel pet-friendly?
Yes, Elephant Hotel allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 66 lbs per pet. There's a fee of GBP 20 per pet, per night. Service animals are exempt from fees.
How much does it cost to stay at Elephant Hotel?
As of Mar 10, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Elephant Hotel on Mar 13, 2026 start from ¥17,634, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking?
Self parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at Elephant Hotel?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: midnight.
What time is check-out at Elephant Hotel?
Check-out is at 11 AM.
Where is Elephant Hotel located?
This family-friendly Reading hotel is located in a rural location, within a 5-minute walk of Thames Path and Thames River. Beale Park and North Wessex Downs are also within 3 mi (5 km). Reading Pangbourne Station is only a 5-minute walk.
Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?
Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.
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Reviews
Elephant Hotel Reviews
8.4
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.0
Cleanliness
9.0
Location
8.6
Staff & service
7.8
Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 61 out of 140 reviews
10 - Excellent
61
Rating 8 - Good. 50 out of 140 reviews
8 - Good
50
Rating 6 - Okay. 15 out of 140 reviews
6 - Okay
15
Rating 4 - Poor. 13 out of 140 reviews
4 - Poor
13
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 140 reviews
2 - Terrible
1
Reviews
8/10 Good
Philippa
Nov 4, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Nice, clean room with complementary toiletries and a nice selection of teas/coffees.
We were lucky to have a garden room and it was a bonus to have our own space outside.
Very welcoming receptionist when we arrived and when we checked out
Room was spacious and clean, though there were stains on the carpet. Breakfast was substantial and arrived promptly. Dinner was good, as long as you like steak.
The hotel is lovely the majority of the staff were more than helpful and very accomodating... one member called the day after my stay and sounded on the phone a little like she didnt want to be there but all others were amazing.
Expensive for what it is. The room was tired, and other than the location had little else going for it. I eaten at restaurant in past, and that was great but hotel experience was let down.
The reception staff were very welcoming and helpful. Excellent location, although the carpark is very small and was fully occupied by the time I arrived. Customers using the hotel restaurant. Public parking is nearby at £1 a night. The room was very clean and well presented, however some of the furniture is rather tired looking. There's a good choice of quality tea, coffee biscuits and bottled water in the room. I'm very happy with my stay. Sadly I had to leave early and missed the breakfast.
Really enjoyed the hotel, clean but small room. Steak dinner was not cheap but really tasty, definitely recommend the steak. Staff were friendly and helpful. Only disappointment was that the bar closed at 10:30, despite me and my 2 colleagues being in the bar and hotel residents. That was the only thing that let it down.
Nicholas
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024
6/10 Okay
Dennis
Aug 23, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Boiling hot room with no aircon and just a really noisy fan.
Suggest they invest in good pedestal fans with a quiet night setting.
Excellent breakfast.
Dennis
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024
6/10 Okay
Richard
Oct 20, 2023
Disliked: Room comfort
Good for a couple of days
Parking was an issue. Location noisy as right on a busy junction.
Restaurant was good with the meat being cooked in the room which was nice. Breakfast okay but limited cold selection limited
Stayed overnight for work.
Good: very nice and efficient girl for check in; comfortable bed; very good shower; nice tea/coffee/shampoo etc; large TV; room decorated nicely; good price; good breakfast service
Poor: Cold room at night and morning; loud intermittent plumbing noises all night affected sleep; road noise; small carpark
It’s a very old hotel and therefore small rooms and no elevator - ours was quite a distance from the reception. We were underwhelmed with the staff and there was no notice there or in the room with the WiFi code. The bar smelled of smoke so we didn’t go in. It was convenient to Reading and near the river, so it worked for us.