When it comes to finding a base from which you can explore the historic surroundings of Winchester to your heart’s content, voco Winchester Hotel & Spa and its 131 rooms makes an excellent choice.
Rest your head and recharge an appetite within these contemporarily comfortable walls – Sophie Ritchie shares more about how to plan a staycation at this four-star South Downs stay
Once hailed as the very first capital of England, the city of Winchester is nothing short of a history buff’s dream. It’s home to one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, the country’s oldest working watermill and for the romantic readers amongst us, is the final resting place of Jane Austen herself.
It makes wonderful terrain for a day or two dedicated to the art of pottering, with plenty of shops and independent cafes thrown in for good measure too. Scenic and charming, there’s plenty to enjoy both on foot within the city centre and the surrounding South Downs landscape, where local trails and footpaths await.
For the pragmatic thinkers (or simply those with young children), there’s also an excellent science centre on Winchester’s perimeter, from which I have fond memories of being dragged around for my teacher mother’s school reccy visit as a small and unruly child.
Located directly next to this planetarium and within a mere five-minutes drive from the city centre awaits voco Winchester Hotel & Spa, a modern property that ticks all the boxes when it comes to finding a comfortable, budget-friendly abode that offers a spacious way to unwind after a day on the go.
A former Holiday Inn, the hotel rebranded to voco Winchester Hotel & Spa in late 2024 following an extensive multi-million pound refurbishment that spanned the course of eight months. The result is a gleamingly clean, contemporary 131-room space suited for both business and leisure travellers, both of which can usually be spotted in the hotel’s main open lobby where oodles of sofas and tables provide relaxing perches.
The Food & Drink
After a busy day on the go, there’s no need to venture far for food – new restaurant Kitchen 21 provides a relaxed setting for classic British feasting.
On the menu, think unique metre-long pizzas, plus salads, handmade pastas, juicy burgers and seafood dishes to-boot. Staff are friendly and hospitable, making the experience just as comfortable as the pillows that await you upstairs.
Breakfast is also served within these walls, where A Lighter Start provides guests with a simple but sufficient selection of buffet-based classics or for an additional cost, a further a la carte and hot selection of dishes.
The Room
The hotel’s makeover has given abodes a modern facelift, with soothing blue colour schemes, and modern furnishings to make a guest feel at home in the calm abodes after swiping a key. Simple, comfortable and spotlessly clean, mod cons within the space include a plasma TV, USB sockets, tea and coffee making facilities and the getaway essential, a duo of fluffy robes.
I share with my sister, which means we sleep in two singles as opposed to the usual kingsize bed – but despite the smaller frame both of us still enjoy a delicious night’s sleep on the Goldilocks-approved mattresses.
The Wordrobe Verdict
Modern, spacious and full of helpful amenities, when it comes to finding a base from which you can explore the historic surroundings of Winchester to your heart’s content, voco Winchester Hotel & Spa and its 131 revamped rooms makes an excellent choice.
Rest your head and recharge an appetite within these contemporarily comfortable walls, where a good night’s sleep goes hand-in-hand with delicious platefuls of British sustenance.
Make it happen
Where: Telegraph Way Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HZ
How: Find out more and make a booking via winchester.vocohotels.com
Wallet: Premium rooms start from £250.00, based on two people sharing
Words by Sophie Ritchie, editor
