The ancient and beautiful cathedral city of Winchester has been a tourist destination for over 200 years. The city offers many attractions for the visitor, more than can be visited in one day. Therefore, it is well advised to spend a night or two in one of the fine hotels that are in, or just outside, Winchester.



There are quite a few hotels in and around the city of Winchester, offering different standards of accommodation at different room rates to suite all tastes and budgets. Winchester in a very popular and world famous city with many thousands of tourists coming to visit the city each year. Therefore, it is advisable to book your hotel room in Winchester well in advance, especially during Summer and holidays.

No tourist can come to Winchester without going to visit the Cathedral. The Winchester Cathedral is probably the most beautiful of England's cathedrals. It has played an important part in English history and its setting, surrounded by parks, is sublime. The Macdonald Wessex Hotel overlooks the cathedral, making this hotel very special. The hotel itself was built in the 1960s and is of no architectural interest but its situation overlooking the cathedral makes up for this. The Wessex Hotel in Winchester is 4 star, has 94 bedrooms, all en-suite with private bath and shower. They also come with satellite television, mini bars, hair dryers, trouser press, iron and ironing board and tea and coffee making facilities. There are direct dial telephones with modem points for easy access to the Internet and email services. All in all, the Macdonald Wessex Hotel lacks charm but the standard of accommodation and facilities provide are very good and the location of the hotel is the best in Winchester.

Another modern hotel in close to the center is The Winchester Hotel. The rooms are cheaper than those of the Wessex Hotel. The Winchester Hotel has a 3 star rating and comprises 71 rooms. You get all the facilities you would expect of a 3 star hotel but, in addition, the hotel has a comfortable air-extraction gymnasium with fixed and free weights where qualified instructors are on hand. There is also an indoor heated pool with spa, sauna and steam room as well as a solarium. One major plus offered to guests when staying in The Winchester Hotel is the large, free car park - a very rare luxury for a hotel in the center of any English city.

If you're looking for something that exudes charm then the Winchester Royal Hotel could be the place to stay. Parts of the building go back to 1530 and it has been a hotel for a century and a half. There are 75 bedrooms and the hotel has a 3 star AA rating. The restaurant is superb. It's called the Conservatory and serves quality a La Carte and Table d? Hote menus at lunch & dinner. The restaurant was awarded a nationally recognised AA Rosette award for quality food. Rooms start at a very reasonable rate but if you can afford it you might want to book a room in the West wing; all these rooms overlook the beautiful walled garden.

Lainston House Hotel is almost certainly Winchester's best hotel. The hotel is situated on the outskirts of the city. It is an elegant William and Mary house that was built in the 17th century and is set in 63 acres of Hampshire's downland countryside. It has a 4 star AA rating. All guest rooms have been furnished to reflect the period charm of the house. Guests can enjoy afternoon tea or a pre-dinner cocktail in the Drawing Room and Cedar Bar, both of which have enchanting views along Lainston's spectacular avenue of Limes. The hotel really does offer the very best of elegant charm from bygone years - for those who can afford it.

The hotels discussed above are just some of the wonderful hotels that are on offer to tourists wanting to spend a few days in the beautiful cathedral city of Winchester. There are others, suiting all budgets and tastes. There are also many fine hotels within easy driving of Winchester. Hotels situated in Salisbury, Southampton and the New Forest are only half an hour away.