Lainston House: A relaxing stay in a 17th century hotel with sprawling countryside views | UK | Travel

Lainston House is a five-star hotel, encapsulated in 63 acres of Hampshire parkland, located just outside of Winchester. Dating back to the 17th century, the hotel has the longest line of lime trees in England, standing tall at one mile long. It’s also home to historic chapel ruins, a sundial garden and a walled kitchen bursting with life.

I recently stayed at Lainston House and had a relaxing stay, and I could not recommend the hotel enough. From a delicious drink overlooking the stunning countryside to a multiple-course tasting menu in The Avenue restaurant, the experience was one to remember.

Rooms

Whatever the occasion, this hotel has a suitable room or suite. From Shoebox Rooms to Cosy Rooms, there are six options depending on how much room you need or the view you’d like.

There are also three different suites to pick from, including Heritage Junior Suites, which are decorated with country-house flair, a Four Poster Junior Suite, which features a large bed and a Family Junior Suite, which consists of two enormous beds and plenty of space.

I stayed in a Heritage Junior Suite, which was one of the largest I’ve ever stayed in. It comprised a separate lounge area, a working area with a desk, a breathtaking bathroom, and a large wardrobe.

The suite was grand, with wood panelling, chandeliers, and large windows complete with blackout shutters. It also had impeccable attention to detail, with ornate ceiling cornicing, gold-framed paintings, and subtly patterned red wallpaper.

The bathroom was huge, with two sinks, a large bath, an airing cupboard for the towels, and a shower like no other.

Visitors can also stay in Lainston’s Signature rooms, where original features, private outdoor spaces and even a hot tub can be enjoyed.

Prices start at £500 per suite, and you can choose from five, each suitable for different occasions.

Anyone looking to stay at Lainston House can book direct for access to all room types, your choice of rate plan, the very best price, guaranteed, as well as a full English breakfast worth £60 for two. Click here to find out more.

Lainston House also has a few rooms which are fitted, or can be fitted with assistance bars in the showers and adapted for wheelchair users. The hotel is also able to put a fridge in your room for any medications and all public areas are accessible by wheelchair.

Dining and drinking

Whether you’re looking for casual dining or something a little more upmarket, Lainston House has everything on offer.

The Avenue

I had dinner at The Avenue, a restaurant offering a fresh take on flavour with a multiple-course tasting menu. Tom Hamblet, the restaurant’s head chef, won BBC MasterChef: The Professionals in 2023 and has worked with his team to celebrate seasonality with the finest quality produce, much of which is British or even grown in the on-site kitchen garden.

All guests dine off an eight-course tasting menu with a choice of starter, main course and dessert, with snacks also on the menu before the starter. The customer service was impeccable, with the staff extremely knowledgeable of the menu curated by Tom.

For bread, we were served fennel pollen-laminated brioche with garden herb butter, which was an incredible work of art and extremely flavoursome. For starters, I picked pigeon on toast, but there was also a scallop option and for mains I opted for the lamb, which came with lamb tartare, sweetbread, crispy kale and peas, all served intricately on a plate. The lamb was succulent and cooked to perfection. Turbot was also on the menu for mains if you fancied fish.

It was impressive that there were a couple of food options, unlike some tasting menus, where there is only one. I felt I could really personalise the menu to my taste. Vegetarian and pescatarian menus were also available, with equally delicious options.

A pre-dessert of Gariguette strawberries with kaffir lime and buttermilk with olive oil and verbena was a standout for me, although the caramelised puff pastry with vanilla, yuzu, along with blackberry and patis sorbet was also highly impressive.

The presentation of the food from start to finish was clearly very well thought-out, and the flavours were divine. I was shocked at how big the portions were for a tasting menu, with guests getting lots of food for their money.

I thought all of this for £125 was very affordable and perfect for a special occasion, and I’d highly recommend checking it out. I’m already wondering when I can visit again for the Chef’s Table experience.

This is also the location of breakfast, and despite not offering a continental breakfast, I very much enjoyed the freshly baked pastries that arrived at the table just after sitting down. I also enjoyed warm banana bread with yoghurt and caramel sauce—not a breakfast I’ve ever seen, but it was delectable.

The Wellhouse

If you’re looking for something more casual, The Wellhouse is where you can find it. The Wellhouse, which also houses the Season cookery school, is one of the only UK restaurants with food exclusively cooked by woodfire. Pick from a vast menu which features flame-grilled steak, herb-fed chicken, roasted Japanese aubergine and more.

The Cedar Bar

The Cedar Bar offers drinks and casual dining in a cosy room with an open fire and ornate panelling. It also overlooks the stunning lime trees, with views as far as the eye can see.

Amenities

Lainston House is only one of the hotels I’ve visited without spa facilities, and to be honest, I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would. It’s perfect for travellers who aren’t fussed by spas and swimming pools and want to enjoy the great outdoors. There is however, a gym for hotel residents if they wish to use it.

The hotel is situated on 63 acres with historic chapel ruins, a sundial garden and a walled kitchen garden bursting with life. Residents are free to explore the grounds, and you can find an estate map online to guide you. You can also book a kitchen garden tour for £5 per person, which goes to the Solent Mind charity. Here, you’ll learn the intricacies of growing fruit, veggies and herbs at Lainston House.

Season is the on-site cookery school, which offers a variety of cooking classes, including how to cook steaks, how to make stocks and sauces, knife skills, and seasonal classes.

These take place in the beautiful Wellhouse, which has state-of-the-art kitchens, or out in the kitchen garden, where woodfired ovens and Big Green Eggs steal the show.

Things to do

Winchester is just a 10-minute drive from Lainston House, or an hour from London; it’s a city steeped in history. It was England’s ancient capital and former seat of King Alfred the Great.

Today, Winchester boasts the best of city life with the freshness of the surrounding countryside. Visit the Cathedral, which offers a unique heritage of the English nation’s life, or the independent businesses that make up the city.

Winchester Castle is a medieval building in the city, built by William the Conqueror. Only The Great Hall still stands, and the imposing Westgate, which once served as the castle’s primary defence and it’s well worth the visit.

The city is also one of the gateways to the South Downs National Park and marks the start of many long-distance trails and country walks through market towns and villages. The South Downs National Park is a short 15-minute drive from Lainston House and perfect for all walking abilities.

At Christmas, Winchester also hosts a festive market, showcasing the best of local businesses and a plethora of food stands.

Plan your visit to the city via Visit Winchester’s website to find out where to shop and what’s on.

Overall, it was an incredible stay at the hotel, with impeccable service and delicious food. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing stay, an exploring trip or those who wish to visit historic Winchester, and I’d highly recommend checking it out.

Prices to stay at Lainston House vary, and you can book a stay here.