Riverdale Hall Hotel Review: Facilities, Dining & Ratings

Riverdale Hall Hotel Bellingham

Location and setting

Riverdale Hall Hotel sits on the banks of the River North Tyne, on the outskirts of Bellingham in Northumberland. According to the official website, the Victorian mansion was built in 1886 and later converted into a modern hotel. The official site describes the property as “Northumberland’s premier country house hotel providing excellent sporting facilities, unlimited access to Hadrian’s Wall country, an indoor heated pool and sauna.”

The hotel is roughly 700 yards (a short walk) from the centre of Bellingham village, per Booking.com, giving guests easy access to local shops and pubs while still feeling rural. Travel Weekly notes the nearby attractions include Hadrian’s Wall and Hexham Abbey, which makes the hotel popular among walkers and heritage tourists.

The bottom line: If you are looking for a base to explore Hadrian’s Wall country or simply want a quiet riverside retreat, the hotel’s position is hard to beat in this corner of Northumberland.

Riverdale Hall Hotel Reviews

TripAdvisor rating and traveller feedback

On TripAdvisor, Riverdale Hall Hotel holds a 4.0 out of 5 rating based on 865 traveller reviews (as of March 2026). It ranks number 1 of 1 hotel listed in Bellingham. A TripAdvisor overview notes that guests consistently praise the “great food, comfortable rooms, and a beautiful setting and grounds with stunning views from most rooms.”

Across Booking.com, the property scores an overall rating of 8.4 out of 10. The breakfast sub-score is particularly high at 9.6 out of 10 — a detail confirmed by Booking.com. One verified guest review on the platform describes “a fantastically friendly welcome” and “comfortable and peaceful accommodation.”

Expedia’s 2026 listing (Expedia UK) reinforces the pattern: travellers particularly like the food, location, rooms, and staff. Free Wi-Fi and free parking are noted as value points on multiple platforms.

“Very Friendly hotel” with “fantastic” food. — TripAdvisor guest review

The trade-off: A subset of reviewers on TripAdvisor describe the decor as “dated” — particularly in public areas and some bedrooms. This is not a universal complaint, but it appears in enough reviews to note. For some, the Victorian character is part of the charm; for others, it falls short of modern expectations.

Riverdale Hall Hotel Menu

Award-winning restaurant and menu prices

The hotel’s on-site restaurant positions itself above standard pub dining. According to the hotel’s Facebook page, it markets an “award-winning restaurant.” TripAdvisor’s restaurant feature page notes the menu includes higher-quality dishes such as lamb and salmon, which guests describe as a step up from typical pub bar menus.

One TripAdvisor reviewer commented: “Nice to have hotel restaurant food rather than the standard bar menu in the pubs. Lamb and salmon were excellent. Decor is certainly dated.”

Current menu prices are not consistently published online. The official site and booking platforms do not list a downloadable PDF or price list. For the most accurate pricing, contacting the hotel directly or checking their site at time of booking is recommended.

Riverdale Hall Hotel Menu Prices

Price range for meals

Specific menu prices for Riverdale Hall Hotel are not published on the official website or on major booking platforms. However, the hotel’s positioning as a mid-range country house hotel suggests main courses would typically fall in the range typical of such properties — around £15 to £30 for dinner mains, based on regional averages for similar establishments in Northumberland. This is an editorial estimation, not a verified figure from the hotel.

For a precise menu with current prices, the most reliable source is the hotel itself — calling or emailing ahead will avoid surprises.

Bellingham Hotel, Wigan

Why Riverdale Hall Hotel is not in Wigan

There is a separate hotel called the Bellingham Hotel located in Wigan, Greater Manchester. This is a different property entirely from Riverdale Hall Hotel. Riverdale Hall Hotel is situated in Bellingham, Northumberland — a village about 35 miles west of Newcastle upon Tyne, near the Scottish border.

If your search brought you to this article, you have found the correct property for Bellingham, Northumberland. The Wigan hotel is not affiliated with Riverdale Hall Hotel Ltd (company number 03746017), and the two should not be confused.

Riverdale Hall Hotel Leisure Facilities

Indoor pool and sauna

The hotel offers an indoor heated swimming pool and a sauna, confirmed by the official website and Booking.com. Booking.com also lists additional leisure activities including cycling, hiking, fishing, and a golf course within 3 km.

Guest feedback on the pool is mixed. While many appreciate having the facility, TripAdvisor reviews mention that some guests find the pool water “very cold” despite being advertised as heated. This is not a universal complaint, but it appears in multiple reviews, suggesting temperature consistency may vary.

“The swimming pool was lovely, but very cold.” — TripAdvisor guest comment on pool

Grounds and access to River North Tyne

The hotel’s large grounds lead directly onto the banks of the River North Tyne. The official site positions this as central to the property’s appeal as a sporting and country retreat. Travel Weekly describes the river as a salmon river, which attracts anglers and walkers alike.

The pattern: Guests who value outdoor activities tend to rate the hotel highly. Those expecting a modern spa experience may find the facilities dated or underwhelming. The pool and sauna are real amenities, but not luxury-spa-level.

Alternatives to Riverdale Hall Hotel

If Riverdale Hall Hotel is not available or does not suit your needs, here are two comparable properties in the region:

• Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort — Also in Northumberland, this is a larger country house hotel with a full spa and golf course. It is more modern and geared toward leisure breaks with higher-end amenities.
• Netherwood Hotel — A Victorian country house hotel in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, with spa facilities and historic charm. A strong alternative if you prefer the Lake District over Northumberland.

The catch: Neither property is in Bellingham itself — they are regional alternatives rather than direct competitors. For a hotel actually in Bellingham, Riverdale Hall is the only option listed on TripAdvisor.

Our pick: leisure traveller seeking a country escape

For a leisure traveller specifically looking for a quiet, rural hotel in Northumberland with basic leisure facilities and good food, Riverdale Hall Hotel is a reasonable choice. The guest ratings are solid across multiple platforms, breakfast is exceptionally well-regarded, and the setting beside the River North Tyne is genuinely attractive. However, the decor is not uniformly modern, and the pool temperature may not suit everyone. If your priorities are a friendly welcome, hearty food, and a walking-friendly location, this hotel fits well. If you expect a polished spa resort, you may want to check Slaley Hall instead.