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Bee and Thistle Inn

3.5 star property
3.5-star Georgian inn with free breakfast

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Photo gallery for Bee and Thistle Inn

Front of property
Interior
Room Five | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished
Exterior
Front of property - evening/night

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Spa
  • Breakfast included
  • Room service
  • Bar
  • Housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
100 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, 06371
  • Florence Griswold Museum
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Goose Island
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Essex Steam Train
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • New Haven, CT (HVN-Tweed - New Haven Regional)
    ‪37 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room Eleven

Room Eleven | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Eleven

  • 179 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room One

Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room One

  • 280 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Two

Room Two | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Two

  • 325 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

Room Seven

  • 133 sq ft
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Room Three

Room Three | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Three

  • 338 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Room Five

Room Five | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Five

  • 195 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Eight

Room Eight | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Eight

  • 255 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Nine

Room Nine | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Nine

  • 210 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Ten

Room Ten | Living area

Room Ten

  • 249 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Room Four

Room Four | Premium bedding, individually decorated, individually furnished

Room Four

  • 195 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

About the neighborhood

Old Lyme

On river.You'll be steps from Florence Griswold Museum and within a 15-minute walk of Lawrence & Memorial Family Medicine. Connecticut River and Ferry Landing State Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).
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What's nearby

  • Florence Griswold Museum - 1 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Goose Island - 6 min drive - 2.5 miles
  • Essex Steam Train - 7 min drive - 5.7 miles
  • Rocky Neck State Park - 7 min drive - 5.3 miles
  • Essex Island Marina - 10 min drive - 6.7 miles

Getting around

  • Old Saybrook Station - 9 min drive
  • Bradley Intl. Airport (BDL) - 61 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Burger King - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Coffees Country Market - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Mystic Market Kitchen and Eatery - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Mad Coffee Roasters - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Bee and Thistle Inn

3.5-star Georgian inn with free breakfast
There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Free breakfast is available daily. Public spaces have free WiFi.

Spa services, multilingual staff, and tour/ticket assistance are also featured at Bee and Thistle Inn. Free self parking is available.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this Georgian Old Lyme inn.

  • 1 building
  • 10 guestrooms or units
  • 3 levels
  • Meeting rooms
  • Built in 1756
  • Full breakfast (free)
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Wedding services available
  • Garden
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue
Bee and Thistle Inn offers 10 accommodations with complimentary bottled water and complimentary toiletries. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Beds feature premium bedding. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily.
Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the onsite spa services. There are massage/treatment rooms and couples treatment room(s). Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Swedish massages, and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy.

Languages

English

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast available daily 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Accessibility

  • No elevator

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Private bathroom

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water
  • Room service

More

  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 9 AM - 9 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 9 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children 16 and younger are not allowed at this property. All guests older than 16 are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

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
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 is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

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.
  • Reservations are needed for massage services and spa treatments. For reservations, contact the inn before arrival using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • Children 16 years old and younger aren't allowed at this property.

Property is also known as

Bee & Thistle Inn
Bee & Thistle Inn Old Lyme
Bee Thistle Inn
Bee Thistle Old Lyme
Bee And Thistle Hotel Old Lyme
Bee Thistle Inn Old Lyme
Bee Thistle
Bee and Thistle Inn Inn
Bee and Thistle Inn Old Lyme
Bee and Thistle Inn Inn Old Lyme

Frequently asked questions

How close is Bee and Thistle Inn to the airport?

Bee and Thistle Inn is 19 mi (24-min drive) away from the New London, CT (GON-Groton - New London) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Bee and Thistle Inn have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at Bee and Thistle Inn.

How close is Bee and Thistle Inn to the beach?

This inn is 17.4 mi (31-min drive) from Ocean Beach Park and 6.4 mi (14-min drive) from Harvey's Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Bee and Thistle Inn offer free breakfast?

Bee and Thistle Inn offers free full breakfast every day from 8 AM to 9:30 AM.

Is there a casino at Bee and Thistle Inn?

No, there is no casino at this inn.

What time is check-in at Bee and Thistle Inn?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Bee and Thistle Inn?

This inn offers free self parking.

Does Bee and Thistle Inn have a pool?

Bee and Thistle Inn does not have a pool.

Does Bee and Thistle Inn have a restaurant?

Bee and Thistle Inn is home to The Chestnut Grille, which features American cuisine, garden views, and happy hour.

Does Bee and Thistle Inn have a spa?

This inn doesn't have a spa, but it does offer Swedish massages, facials, and aromatherapy.

How close is Bee and Thistle Inn to downtown Old Lyme?

Bee and Thistle Inn is 0.8 mi away from Old Lyme.

Bee and Thistle Inn Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 55 out of 87 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 87 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 87 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 87 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 87 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

4.6/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
THEY ARE OUT OF BUSINESS!!!! YOU BOOKED ME A HOTEL THAT NO LONGER EXISTS!!!!!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2021

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021

2/10 Terrible

Dean

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lynne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely Inn and staff was very friendly and helpful. Dinner was beyond excellent!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Bee and Thistle was a huge letdown for us. The outward appearance of the property and grounds are very nice . The rooms however are a different story. Dark, dreary and desperate for deep cleaning and coat of fresh paint in cheery color. The bathroom is almost unusable. Small , dirty, shower that barely functioned. The bed was very uncomfortable , pillows etc. The owners need to give this place an overhaul. The dinner experience was also bad. A server touched our food with bare hands in front of us. We could not get coffee until 8 am so we had to go to a convenience store . 😭
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2014

10/10 Excellent

Bill

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019

6/10 Okay

Guillermo, USA / France

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service

Lovely area, the hotel could improve in some areas

Overall we would have to say that this hotel was okay. Nothing special but also not horrible. It is a beautiful house that has a lot of charm to it. The grounds around the house are also nice to walk around. We had only a couple issues, though to us they were important. We knew we were going to arrive late, and called the day before to let them know. They contact us via hotels.com and informed us that if we arrived after 9pm then out keys to our room would be in the basket outside the front door. Easy enough. Well, when we arrived, around 11:30pm there was no key in the basket and no phone number to call. Luckily, the last restaurant worker was leaving, making sure the front door was locked, and saw us arrive. They were kind enough to open the door, find out key in an envelope that was inside the house (not helpful) and showed us our room. Definitely not their job, but they did it. Which was very nice. Unfortunately that was the last of the good customer service. The following day no one said hello, gave us a welcome talk or provided us with information. When we went to ask the front desk person didn't know the answers to most of our questions. The second issue was the bed, after two nights sleeping on it, our backs started to hurt. Could use better pillows as well. However, otherwise we really enjoyed our visit to Lyme, the sites and the beach. It is a lovely area to explore.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Dawn, Hartsdale

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

Charming inn

Friendly, helpful staff that provided great information about the area and things to do. Inn was a comfortable charming place with o stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Philip

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kim, Suffield, CT

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Absolutely amazing place, very comfortable accommodations. Ate dinner there too, and it was probably the best I have in a long time. A little issue with the hair dryer early in the morning and no one around, but it was such a minor inconvenience I don't want it to detract from the review. I would absolutely book there again in a heartbeat. Staff have limited hours, but when they were there, they were so attentive without being overbearing. Wonderful musicians on a Sunday night during dinner, great wine selections, and chef has a real creative way of using local items. Bar tender also creative with drinks, though I loved the wine selection. Bed SOOOO comfortable. Enjoy!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sandiphoto, Baltimore, MD

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Love the original art on walls, the garden with live music and happy hour. The restaurant was fantastic!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018

4/10 Poor

Eli, NJ

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
For years we have passed the Bee and Thistle and always wanted to stay there. What a disappointment. Great staff and location but boy is the place run down. It looks like there must be absentee ownership that has either run out of money or just doesn’t care anymore. Many areas badly in need of painting, filthy windows and windowsills, poor AC, threadbare carpets, water stains on ceilings etc., etc. Considering the condition of the property the rates should be a fraction of what they are. I’m aware of the term “shabby chic” but the current Bee and Thistle is just shabby.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

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

Nice to experience how people lived in the past.

No TV in the room or on the premises. The breakfast was outstanding.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Pete

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Unique place. Great outdoors
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Bridget

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

Wonderful New England charm &art

My room was nice and quiet, staff were friendly and assisted with local outdoorsy info .The breakfast was delish. I love the shore area in ct.and the inns along the coast

10/10 Excellent

Warner

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

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Quick one night stay

Wish I had more time to explore the area, but the dinner at the restaurant was excellent and the breakfast was plentiful and pretty good too!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Patric N

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

Relaxing, quiet... beautiful

Great way to spend our anniversary....great food too
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2018

10/10 Excellent

Karen

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

Charming inn

Very charming inn. Cookies were delivered to our room in the evening, and we received a bag with water and apples at checkout. The breakfast was very good, with an egg dish, bacon, toast, and assorted delicious pastries and gourmet coffee and tea. Staff was very friendly and helpful.Only negative was slow-filling tub on the third floor, but completely understandable with the age of the house.Lovely toiletries.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

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

Charming Inn in a quiet location

We were greeted by name when we arrived, an the hostess explained to us all the features of the Inn. It's very much like one of the old houses at Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, except it has electricity and air conditioning. :-) The room as arrayed like a Victorian bedroom, with nice views of the surrounding landscape. There's a beautiful Japanese chestnut tree spreading majestically near the front entrance. Parking is ample. The grounds are nice for walking, the property is located right on the river.The area is very quiet, and the bed was firm, but very comfortable. We slept with the windows open, very nice. The included breakfast is also very good. Upon checkout, we were even given a goodie bag to take with us. All in all, a wonderfully romantic weekend getaway. We'll be sure to repeat.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2017