We booked this place through another guesthouse in Ella. Should have known better. Supposed to be a 10 minute walk to Kandy town...it is at least 20-30 mins down and a steep walk up. Rooms are small and dark. We were told we had to move from our room because someone wanted a balcony room - the room is so small the bed has to be moved to get the door open, and there is absolutely no sitting room on the balcony-waste of space. Anyway, we agreed on a room for us to have the next night, came back later in the day and they gave it to someone else for 2 nights. Kept trying to get us to take room #4 which is like a cell. The food is good, although gets fairly boring after a day or 2. we were told by another business person that these people are not nice...we agree.

We spent 3 nights at St Bridget's at the end of our 3 week trip. It was a good base to explore Kandy from, away from the hub bub of the city. The owners were very helpful with info and tips about various sites in Kandy which we really appreciated.

The free pick up from the railway station was prompt and Mr also helpfully gave us a lift one day to a woodwork factory (and waited for us) and then onto a spice garden. We returned to buy secret boxes from the factory on our last day as we had found no better quality elsewhere, though they weren't cheap, (but final price was 50% less than price on ticket). Our trip to the Spice Garden was interesting but, for me, took too long and ate into the time i'd wanted to spend at the Botanical Gardens. However, my partner is interested in Ayurvedic medicine so he found it interesting. Products on sale there seemed v expensive to me.

Our room at the guesthouse was the smallest of all the guesthouse rooms we'd stayed in on our travels but it was clean and comfortable (and it was also the cheapest, so can;t really complain). THe bathroom was a bit dated, and the showerhead curiously antiquated but it produced lashings of hot water which is very much the main thing!

We ate at St B's every night and enjoyed the variety of food (different dishes every night) and the subtle distinction of flavours that had been missing at some of the previous eateries we'd visited. Mrs Pippi takes pride in the food and that shows through. Evening meal was v competitively priced - 650SLR i think (better check tho). Breakfast standard - tea, fruit, eggs, toast and jam. (Mrs Pippi's pineapple jam is yum!)

The guesthouse is set in a well cared for garden - we enjoyed drinkinig tea on the veranda outside the front door after a busy day in the city. And when you sit in the semi-basement dining room it's almost like you're in the rainforest as there's dense vegitiation outside all the windows.

We were grateful to our hosts for arranging a driver for our onward journey to Marawila (north of Negombo) and we stopped at the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage/elephant bathing in river en route for 3 hours which saved us a day going to and from there from Kandy. Highly recommended. (Whole trip cost 8,500SLR. usually 7,500 to Negombo. Pinnew entrance extra).

Tuk tuk to town - 250SLR

Nice place for drink or pot of tea - Queen's Bar (like stepping back in time, and not overpriced)

Had lunch in Devon's - their 'pasty' selection - they give you a tray of pasties, samosas, rolls etc. You pay for as many as you eat.

Odel's (near Queens) have cheap European style clothes, in WHite Stuff style.

Went to morning puja at Temple of Tooth. Paid 500 to a guide for about 30 min tour. He gave us useful tips as to what to do when the drumming started.

Batanical Gardens superb. Got fantastic shots of two types of monkeys there. WIsh i'd had more time - you could spend a whole day there if you're vaguely interested in plants. We had lunch in the cafeteria on the Grand Lawn. A bit pricey but generous portions and worth it.

Mrs Pippi provided tickets to the cultural drumming/dance show which was well worth the 500. Get there early to get a decent seat. and move to the front (sit of stage steps) in the interval before the firewalking!

The guest house is in a quiet area within walking distance to the city. The room was very nice, but the bathroom with a toilet was not very clean. If the bathroom is more correct, it would be almost ideal accommodation for the price. The owner prepare a very good traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. There is a terrace suitable for evening. It would be good if the room was a storage space for things
The garden at the house is very well maintained.

The owner collected us from the station as we'd requested . St Bridget's is just the right distance from town . It's a very nice walk and quick in a tuk tuk . Contrary to all the horror stories I'd heard about the tuk tuk drivers of Kandy they always seemed a nice bunch of blokes , happy to do a bit of friendly haggling . We usually found 200 Rupees got us ( two adults and two children ) to or from town . Anyway , suffice to say town is an easy journey .
Our rooms were functional , comfortable and very clean . The communal seating area is very nice . Food was exceptionally good and was prepared to our tastes . ( For example I like my food spicy and the children not so much so . ) The quantities of food would feed a horse and the variety was amazing and different on each of the three evenings we stayed . It was clearly prepared with a lot of care .
The owners were very helpful and made good suggestions on things to see . Surprisingly my favourite was the Botanical Gardens . I'd highly recommend this . We went on a bank holiday and as well as the astonishing range of plants and trees it was a great day out for people watching . In the interests of balance , I think my blonde children were the most watched people in the gardens . I thought we might pass an idle morning there but we spent most of a day . You see lots of fruit bats in Kandy but you can get quite close to them in the Gardens . Avert your eyes from all those snogging couples !
So , I'd recommend St Bridget's as a good base . It achieves a nice balance between the city and the countryside . The food's good . The owners are helpful and keen to make your stay comfortable . The rooms are nice . Enjoy your stay and enjoy Kandy . It's great fun .