Winchester Royal Hotel

Home to King Arthur's legendary Round Table, Winchester draws travelers with its prestigious heritage and small-town charm. Fully refurbished in 2012, The Winchester welcomes guests with its own piece of history, dating back to 1857, and having been home to a bishop, shoemaker, and hat-maker. Interiors are classic, with deep wood paneling, gilded hangings, shimmering wallpaper, and stone busts adorning smartly furnished spaces. A lounge area with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth over a fireplace, intricate white ceiling, and ceramic vases is particularly quaint. The bar and restaurant's large windows overlook a sequestered "Secret Garden", where summer afternoon teas are popular. The property welcomes leisure and corporate guests, although frequent wedding parties can be disruptive due to late-night noise. There isn't much for kids on-site, but an unbeatable location still makes this property a good family pick.

Just off the main drag, a two-minute walk from its shops, cafes, and restaurants, the hotel's side-street location is removed from noise, yet central. Deep in the British countryside, Winchester is a vibrant small town. Fabled King Arthur's Round Table site, The Great Hall, is a six-minute walk, while the 1079-built Winchester Cathedral is two minutes closer. All within a 10-minute walk are the Old Town's narrow streets, Wolvesley Castle, Winchester's registry office (for weddings), and Winchester train station. Nature at The New Forest National Park is a 23-minute drive. The M3, A31 and A34 highways are nearby. The nearest Southampton Airport is an 18-minute drive, or 25 minutes by public transport. Heathrow Airport is one hour by car, or 90 minutes by public transport.

Occupying the main hotel and newer wing, 2012-renovated rooms are outfitted in elegant, modern decor that still emit a cozy feel. Although decor varies a bit by room, expect lovely furnishings like pale-blue or muted-gray upholstery, houndstooth throws on beds, gray carpeting, and wooden furniture. Branch-motif wallpaper, oval gilded portraits, chandeliers, and/or leaf-patterned drapes add charming touches. Garden View rooms are worth the splurge, especially since entry-level ones overlook parking lots. Feature Rooms have historic characteristics, while lavish Four-Poster Suites have full sitting areas, and a Bridal Suite is available. Bathrooms have granite sinks and shower/tub combos, or walk-in showers and separate deep tubs in upgraded categories. High-end toiletries and towel racks are provided. Standard amenities include desks, armchairs, small tables, flat-screen TVs, kettles for tea- and coffee-making, hairdryers, and ironing facilities. Unfortunately, there are no mini-fridges or AC, and only some rooms have safes. Rooms can be fitted with cribs. In-room Wi-Fi is free, but signal strength varies between rooms. Note, aside from ground-level units, rooms are reached by stairs.

Amenities aren't extensive here, as the hotel lacks wellness facilities and a pool. Dining-wise, however, the Winchester Royal Hotel has enough to keep guests satiated. The bar has large windows overlooking the garden, plus a menu of light all-day meals, various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and afternoon teas alongside three-tiered stands filled with traditional British sandwiches, cakes, and scones. Weather permitting, they're served in the garden, where terrace furniture sits beside potted plants and quiet lawns. The conservatory-style Garden Restaurant is contemporary, with hanging lamps illuminating white-clothed tables, light-gray chairs, and exposed brick, and modern European fare here is refined. At a fee, buffet breakfasts here offer "Full English" cooked and continental fare. Five meeting rooms hold up to 120 people, and weddings are often held on-site. Pets are not permitted. On-site parking is limited and at a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout.