Looking for somewhere to stay in Winchester? We took a visit to Norton Park Hotel, a hotel that blends old with the new in the lovely Hampshire countryside.
Where is Norton Park Hotel?
The Norton Park Hotel & Spa in Sutton Scotney is just north of the lovely city of Winchester. Set in 54 acres of lush countryside it consists of a restored manor house with 13 rooms and a modern extension wing housing 152 rooms.
What is there to do?
Norton Park is a stone’s throw from Winchester (a 15 minute drive) where you can park your car at one of the Park & Ride stations and bus into the heart of the city, home to a gorgeous cathedral, castle ruins, delightful shops and market stalls, with plenty of places to eat or just have a coffee.
Should you prefer to just chill out at the hotel, there is an on-site spa offering the usual spa treatments plus a pool, sauna and steam room. Or take a walk in the lovely grounds. There is also a bar and restaurant, and rooms range from classic to suites to meet all budgets.
Where will I sleep?
We stayed in a Classic room with a double bed and en-suite bathroom. There are the usual facilities you’d expect from a hotel of this calibre such as 24-hour room service, complimentary high-speed wifi, bathroom toiletries, remote control flat-screen LCD TV, tea and coffee making, a laptop safe, hairdryer, iron and board. Sadly, though, we did not have a view of the surrounding countryside. Included in the price is complimentary use of spa and health centre, though towels are not provided for this. The tea and coffee was supplied with paper cups which we had to reuse over the course of the weekend - 'real' cups would have been more appropriate for a 4-star hotel.
Sometimes hotels with such a range of guests can be a tad noisy but we experienced plenty of peace and quiet. The bed and linen were sumptuous and we had a good night’s sleep, though the room was rather hot – an individual thermostat to adjust the temperature would have been welcome.
What is there to eat?
The Scene bar and restaurant areas have a good vibe – this is not a hotel for a romantic dinner though, it’s more of a casual dining experience; guests included everyone from families with young children to couples to single people and groups and the menu reflected this so was reasonably varied. I opted for pate and sourdough starter (prawn cocktail for hubby) followed by spicy salmon and noodles, finished off with a raspberry and vanilla cheesecake with berries compote. All very tasty and delivered to the table without too much of a delay. My husband had the obligatory steak and chips, ending with a chocolate brownie and ice-cream. Washed down with a bottle of wine, we were happily full! Staff were young, attentive and polite.
I also like a good breakfast before departing on my journey home and the breakfast at Norton Park was excellent. The cooked items were done to perfection and freshly presented. There was also cereal and fresh fruit on offer, pastries and toast, yogurts, endless tea and coffee, fruit juice etc – prefect for setting you up for the rest of the day!
How much does it cost?
It costs around £233 for a one-night stay with bed and breakfast and dinner for two in a Classic room.
To book, visit www.nortonparkhotel.com
Final thoughts?
This is an ideal spot to base youself for a weekend in Winchester and the surrounding area.
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