Cross Keys Hotel
36-37 The Square, Kelso TD5 7HL Scotland
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About
#6 of 18 hotels in Kelso
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice
The Cross Keys provides a warm and friendly welcome to its guests and excellent service from attentive, friendly staff. The hotel is an ideal centre for business or pleasure situated in a peaceful corner of Scotland, yet still within easy reach of Edinburgh and Newcastle. The hotel is in the heart of Kelso’s picturesque French-styled cobbled square. The present hotel was built in 1769, but in other forms, a Cross Keys Hotel has occupied the site since the earliest days of Scottish Coaching Inns. Today, the hotel provides a comfortable and convenient base to explore all that Kelso and the Scottish Borders has to offer. So, whether it's a relaxing break or an action-packed holiday that you are looking for, the Cross Keys can be enjoyed by all.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Bicycle rental
Game room
Highchairs available
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Car hire
Electric vehicle charging station
Street parking
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Golf course
Hiking
Horseback riding
Darts
Fishing
Table tennis
Taxi service
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Shared lounge / TV area
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Desk
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Room service
Coffee / tea maker
Cable / satellite TV
Sofa bed
Walk-in shower
Safe
Seating area
Sofa
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Iron
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Landmark view
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English
Location
79Somewhat walkable
Grade: 79 out of 100
20Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
10Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
36-37 The Square, Kelso TD5 7HL Scotland
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485Reviews6Q+A100Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
Traveller rating
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Stayed 1 night on 7th October as going to a 70th at Kelso Rugby Club. After a wander around Kelso went back to the room to get ready. Room was shabby and badly needing refurbished. Chair in room wobbly, table badly marked and stained, windows dirty, no ventilation in room as windows don’t open. Room smelled musty and stale. Decided we were only there for 1 night so would just get on with it. Then flush in toilet wouldn’t work. Phoned reception and maintenance came to room. Couldn’t fix toilet. Plumber called who also couldn’t fix it properly. Could hear he was trying his best. He was there for over an hour before we left. Had to leave for party so left plumber to it. Wasn’t ideal trying to get ready with plumber in the bathroom! Returned to room toilet flush still not working properly. No staff around as was late. Good points were communal areas were nice and clean. Breakfast was good. Lots of choice. Buffet style but replenished often. Staff polite and friendly. Plumbing is obviously an issue as the smell in the ladies toilet next to restaurant and bar is awful. Hotel receptionist advised hotel fully booked so we couldn’t move rooms. Offered to phone round hotels to see if any room’s available elsewhere. Declined as tight for time, had a party to get to and didn’t want the hassle of going elsewhere. Asked if there was a toilet on our floor that could be used. Receptionist wasn’t sure. On checking out another receptionist offered a miserable £20 refund to my credit card. I don’t expect much but for just under £100 per night I expect a flushing toilet.…
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Old coaching inn, in the middle of main square. Room 204 was huge with a sofa in one end, but two of the three windows were frosted due to unsightly views! The bed was rick solid, and I found it impossible to sleep due to pain in my back. I have a firm bed at home… Room needs redecorated to bring it into this century. The friendly staff make this hotel. We were lucky that on Thursday night there were about eight musicians playing Scottish music in the bar, which we enjoyed. You can sit at a table outside on the square if you want to also. Coffee and cakes are available during the day from the bar. Or if your a Greggs lover, get yourself there for a carry out a couple of doors away 😆 I wouldn’t stay again due to the very hard beds.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Helpful
RichardOldfield wrote a review Sept 2023
Radcliffe on Trent, United Kingdom1334 contributions621 helpful votes
+1
We stayed for two nights including breakfast and one evening dinner. Firstly the good points … the breakfast is good - plenty of choice including fruit, cereals, pastries, cooked choices etc etc, and service is good. We had an enjoyable evening dinner. It’s always a risk ordering a fillet steak however, it was cooked perfectly. Other dinner selections were equally as good. And reasonable value for money under the hotel offer. The hotel is well situated in the centre of Kelso. Large bed. Unfortunately the hotel needs a refurb. It’s a great building with lots of potential. Our bedroom was reasonably sized but definitely needs updating. Our en-suite had a very small shower cubical. We are not large people but the shower is too small. There was no where to put toiletries apart from a very small shelve. No extractor fan! Curtain… a curtain in a bathroom! The wall light over the dressing table hadn’t been dusted. The mirror inside the dressing table hadn’t been dusted in a long time. There a security chain on the door but the lock is very old fashioned. No ‘do not disturb’ sign You can hear the next room using their en-suite and their TV. The hotel could be so much better. Would we stay again … doubt it.…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Helpful
+1
Room 312 is grim!!! Pictures on website show their updated rooms. This is misleading. We stayed in their non-advertised “requires updating” 1980’s miserable double room. Bathroom has shower running off bath taps, more like a trickle and hard to regulate. Completely inadequate in this day and age. Beige tiles patched with light blue flowery ones. Old furniture, embossed grubby wallpaper, hard bed, one pillow each, cheap teddy fleece used as a throw. Felt greasy is the only way I would describe it. Supposed to be a family run hotel. I invite them to spend a night in Room 312 and see what they make of it. My advice to the management is stop letting out rooms like this until they are overhauled. Looks like reviews are ignored as the same has been said for years and nothing done!!! We are a couple in our mid to late 50’s. We stopped in accommodation like this when we had no money in our 20’s. We would never come back here. Our only positive and one star given is staff are lovely and friendly. Food is ok. Stop in the Queen’s Head Hotel folks if you value your money.…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Avoid staying at this hotel
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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.
Helpful
I have visited hotels in kelso for 30 odd years.Possibly seen them all now. Availability has brought me back to the Cross Keys, which left me slightly scarred years ago, and vowing never to return! What a pleasant surprise it has been. Large hotel sitting right in the town centre/ market square. A warm welcome and painless check in. Lifts available to the 3 floors. My room is unexciting, but good size; twin beds, desk, armchair,, adequate storage. Roomy bathroom with a decent shower, no complaints there. What has made the visit a pleasure has been the staff throughout the hotel and the food. Breakfast has anything and everything you could ask for, fresh fruit, cereals, pastries, decent porridge and a wide range of hot cooked to order, served with a smile dishes. Dinner has been standard pub grub, good value and healthy portions, but last night, I ordered steak which I usually avoid due to recurring disappointment, and it was exceptional. Chargrilled to exact order, good side orders and a lovely sauce, which actually it did not need but habits die hard. Good range of draught beer. Downside, no housekeeping, (post CV19 apparently) which some may regret. Overnight free parking in the square outside (until 10am)…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
Helpful
Called into this hotel to use the restaurant. Ordered chicken curry. I was starving. I was very disappointed in the quality of the chicken curry. It was as though a curry sauce was just poured over some chicken chunks. I would have sent it back but I was starving so I ate 3/4 of it. Never had to use salt and pepper on a chicken curry before. Won't be going back.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Helpful
I organised a golfing weekend for 16 golfers. We played 3 different courses in berwickshire and surrounding area. From arrival my whole party found everything we needed was provided. Firstly Fiona on front desk had arranged for all of us to store clubs, trollies etc in cellar. This made life easy as no clubs in rooms. 2 of the guys missed breakfast on Saturday morning due to a few to many, however breakfast provided a couple of bacon rolls and coffees to get them on their way to golf. On Sunday morning at buffet, a couple of guys wanted some items that weren't on counter. Again staff ensured all was done to our approval. All staff we met over weekend and sometimes that was the wee small hours were friendly and very helpful. Would recommend to anyone. Massive thanks to the team, with a wee extra thanks from myself to Fiona and Audrey on nightshift desk, from us guys at langlands Golf club…
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled 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.
Helpful
Stayed here for a night on the Borders Abbey Way. I wasn’t particularly enthused on arrival as I felt it had the feel of an older person’s hotel. However, that myth was soon dispelled. The receptionist was lovely and gave a warm welcome. My bag was being transported and hadn’t yet arrived but she phoned my room as soon as it did. I enjoyed the comfortable lounge area, relaxing with a book ahead of dinner. The food was excellent - I’d eat here again anytime! For dinner I enjoyed the special of pan fried hake which was beautifully done. The ginger and lemon sponge was also delicious. In the morning I had smoked haddock and perfectly poached eggs. Total win with the catering! The room itself was lovely and spacious. I had a huge bed and the room was very clean. Lovely quiet hotel too, a great night’s sleep.…
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
Helpful
Stayed here while doing The Borders Abbey Way . Very welcoming, good food , comfy beds, fluffy towels. Only negative point our room , The Leader , I could hear an extractor going off and on all night . If your a light sleeper avoid this room, my husband didn’t hear a thing 😂
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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.
Helpful
Large spacious room which was spotlessly clean . Very nice meal in hotel’s restaurant. Staff were very nice indeed . Will definitely return again .
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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.
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$133 - US$158 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
cross keys kelso
LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandScottish BordersKelso
NUMBER OF ROOMS
26
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Claim Your ListingCROSS KEYS HOTEL - Updated 2023 Reviews (Kelso)
Frequently Asked Questions about Cross Keys Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Cross Keys Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Rutherfords Micropub (0.05 miles), Kelso Abbey (0.1 miles), and Kelso War Memorial (0.08 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Cross Keys Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Cross Keys Hotel?
Top room amenities include a flat screen TV, a desk, and a view of a nearby landmark.
What food & drink options are available at Cross Keys Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Cross Keys Hotel?
Yes, free parking and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Cross Keys Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Saddlers Restaurant @ Cross Keys Hotel, The Cobbles - Freehouse & Dining, and The Contented Vine.
Is Cross Keys Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.4 miles away from the centre of Kelso.
Are pets allowed at Cross Keys Hotel?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Cross Keys Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Are there any historical sites close to Cross Keys Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Hume Castle (4.8 miles) and Roxburgh Castle (0.4 miles).
Is Cross Keys Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.