Summary:
Two bedrooms upstairs, one bathroom and room for five: a king room, a twin room with two single beds, and a single sofa bed in the sitting room. Downstairs there are two places to relax, a front room with a brick feature wall and a kitchen-diner that opens onto a small enclosed deck. Winchester is all on foot from here: the Great Hall about 3 minutes, the station 5 and the cathedral 10. Two free street parking permits are included.
The Space:
Sleeping
Bedroom 1 (upstairs): UK king-size bed, 150 cm wide (about the size of a US queen).
Bedroom 2 (upstairs): two single beds. The room is compact and the beds take up most of it.
Sitting room (ground floor): a single sofa bed for a fifth guest.
Hotel-quality cotton linen and towels are ready for everyone, with blackout blinds and extra pillows and blankets.
Bathroom
One bathroom, upstairs, with a shower (there is no bath). It is on the small side, so a full house will want to take turns in the morning.
Kitchen and dining
A dishwasher, fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle, pod coffee machine, oven and hob, with cookware, plates, cutlery and glasses. The dining table is in the kitchen-diner, next to the door to the deck.
Living
The front sitting room has a sofa, a Smart TV, bare brickwork on one wall and an old fireplace kept for display only.
Outside
A small, enclosed decked garden off the kitchen, with outdoor seating.
Everyday practicals
Wi-Fi throughout, a washing machine, tumble dryer and iron, heating, a hair dryer, toiletries, and tea and coffee to start you off.
Travelling with children
Children are welcome. The bedrooms are upstairs, and the twin room's two singles suit children well. There is no cot at the moment; please bring a travel cot if you need one.
Bringing your dog
Up to two dogs are welcome, and a pet fee applies. The deck is enclosed, and the Water Meadows by the river make a good walk.
Good to know
The road outside is a busy one, though the windows keep most traffic noise out. Permit spaces on the street are shared, so on a busy evening you might need to try the next street or a pay car park.
Guest Access:
The whole cottage is yours. Self check-in is by lockbox from 4 pm, with the last arrivals at 9 pm, and departure is by 10 am. Parking is on the street in permit Zone Q, with two free digital permits set up for you; the yellow line beside the bus stop is fine for unloading.
The Neighborhood:
On foot from the cottage: the Great Hall, with King Arthur's Round Table, 3 minutes; the High Street 5; Winchester Cathedral 10; the Guildhall 12; King Alfred's statue on the Broadway 13; and Wolvesey Castle 15. Beyond the cathedral, the Water Meadows path follows the River Itchen to the Hospital of St Cross, and St Catherine's Hill gives a view across the city. The Cathedral Christmas Market runs through November and December. By car, the South Downs and the New Forest are both within easy reach for a day out.
Getting Around:
Winchester station is about 5 minutes' walk, and trains run from there to London Waterloo and Southampton without a change. The Royal Hampshire County Hospital is about 12 minutes on foot and the university about 15.
Other Things to Note:
ID check and deposit: after booking, the lead guest completes a short ID check and deposit step with our partner SafeGuest. You choose either a Damage Deposit of £350 (your card is saved and nothing is taken up front; it can only be charged for a claim SafeGuest approves after check-out) or SafeGuest's No Deposit fee of £40 (a one-off fee paid to SafeGuest). If you can't use the photo ID check, message us and we'll arrange a short video call instead. Please don't send ID documents by email. Your booking is on the Blue Puffin Stays Booking Terms (Guests) and the House Rules for this home.
The lockbox check-in window ends at 9 pm, and we are not able to offer later arrivals.
Interaction with Guests:
Our own local Blue Puffin Stays team looks after Westgate Cottage. Message us on Vrbo any day between 8 am and 8 pm and we'll help with directions, the parking permits and ideas for eating out. Your check-in message includes an emergency number for anything urgent during your stay.