The Down House Cottage less than 3 miles from the heart of historic Winchester.
A simple & cosy, Victorian cottage, nestling within the South Downs. Sleeps 2/3. King size bed. Bathroom with large, walk-in shower. Private sitting room with flat screen TV & DVD player, log burning stove (logs/kindling are supplied for the first evening & available to buy at either of the two local stores thereafter) and dining area over-looking mature garden. Small, basic kitchen equipped for light catering. Washing machine. Wi-fi. Ample, secure off road parking. Small outside courtyard perfect for breakfast. Beautiful walks along the River Itchen or on the South Downs on the doorstep. Shawford has its own station making for easy day trips to London (approx. 65 mins) or the New Forest/South Coast (approx. 40 mins). Winchester, the ancient capital, is less than three miles away, - a four minute train ride - there you will find a variety of restaurants (Rick Steins, The Ivy, Blancs Brasserie, Cotes plus some varied independents), plenty of old, historic pubs, pavement cafes, a buzzing High Street, live theatre..... alternatively stroll through the pretty back streets behind the magnificent Norman Cathedral to find Jane Austen's house and the Bishop's old Palace. If you enjoy walking, Winchester can be reached in around 40 minutes by following the path of the River Itchen which flows through the centre of Shawford. Shawford village has a local pub which serves good 'pub grub' and has a large beer garden. The Down House Cottage is attached to our family home, it has it's own separate front door and is entirely private although as it is attached there can be some occasional noise transference. Our family has two friendly labradors which can be easily ignored if not keen on dogs, please let us know upon arrival. It is a non-smoking premises. We look forward to welcoming you.
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock
About the area
Winchester
Located in Winchester, this cottage is in a rural area. Jane Austen's House and Westgate Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Paultons Family Theme Park - Home of Peppa Pig World and The Deanery. TeamSport Indoor Go Karting Southampton and Marwell Zoo are also worth visiting.
Paultons Family Theme Park - Home of Peppa Pig World - 37 min drive - 28.6 km
Getting around
Winchester Shawford Station - 11 min walk
Southampton (SOU) - 18 min drive
Restaurants
The Ship Inn - 5 min drive
The Black Boy - 5 min drive
The Wykeham Arms, Winchester - 6 min drive
The Bishop on the Bridge, Winchester - 5 min drive
The Otter - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is The Down House Cottage less than 3 miles from the heart of historic Winchester. pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at The Down House Cottage less than 3 miles from the heart of historic Winchester.?
As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Down House Cottage less than 3 miles from the heart of historic Winchester. on 16 May 2026 start from AU$143, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at The Down House Cottage less than 3 miles from the heart of historic Winchester.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The Down House Cottage less than 3 miles from the heart of historic Winchester.?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The Down House Cottage less than 3 miles from the heart of historic Winchester.?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is The Down House Cottage less than 3 miles from the heart of historic Winchester. located?
Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 3 miles (5 km) of Hospital of St Cross, Marwell Zoo and Wolvesey Castle. Jane Austen's House and University of Winchester are also within 3 miles (5 km). Winchester Shawford Station is 11 minutes by foot.
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Our stay was excellent.We travelled a lot by train thanks to the railway station at a very short distance. The accomodation was excellent too.It was only a pity that you could hear the noise of the highway, when sitting in the garden. Over all we really enjoyed our holiday in Shawford.
The down house is a beautiful cottage in a very peaceful location but very close to shawford train station, which only takes 5 minutes to winchester. There is also a beautiful riverside walk to winchester which takes 45 minutes. Sue the host is lovely attentive lady. We have stayed here before and will stay again.
sean p.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Aug 2025
Delighted to see you two again, thank you so much …. & thank you Sean for all the ball throwing for Peggy - she kept going to look for you after you’d left! 😄
Old rambling and interesting property with plenty of room and sufficient utilities for a short stay. Although the shower could have done with a bit more oomph.The local train station is a 5 minute walk away, and one stop from Winchester.There is a very good restaurant 5 minutes walk away and others easily accessible by car. Or Winchester has many cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops.You can also walk into Winchester via a local footpath, about 3 miles each way.We had a very nice time.
The rental was conveniently located within walking distance of the station and local pub. The Itchen Way was a superb route to walk into Winchester with an abundance of wildlife to see. Twyford is a short walk, having a well stocked shop, a gastro pub and a friendly local.
Comfy cottage in a peaceful location. We were so pleased we chose to rent this cottage. It was a perfect location for exploring Hampshire and the South Downs.Thank you Sue and Tim for making us feel so welcome.
ALLAN W.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 May 2024
It was a pleasure to meet you both, thank you so much for choosing us & hope you enjoy London & the rest of your trip. Safe flight home. Sue & Tim x
Really greta place, central for what we wanted, warn, clean.
just one thing need instruction for log burner.
David P.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Nov 2024
Dear David,
We’re so glad you enjoyed your stay. We do wish you’d asked about the instructions or read the information in the cottage as the instructions for the log burner are all there.
It is one part of a bigger house so occasionally you can hear the people in the main part of the house. Nice area close to Winchester. Actually we may have disturbed them more as we both caught Covid and coughed and sneezed a lot. Sorry!
David C.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 June 2025
David thank you so much for your review, we felt very sad for you that your break was spoilt by Covid. You absolutely did not disturb us in any way (rather unfairly we can hear nothing from the cottage but we’re aware that noise from our hall does transfer) do hope that you’ve both made a full recovery. Sue x
Ideal location for river walks, South Downs and city visits. Short walk to railway station and bus stop, and very near M3 junction 11. Lovely garden at the back of the property (shared with the owners).
A beautiful house located in the south down country park ,a short walk to the river itchen and a picturesque river walk to winchester about 3 miles in all.
Location is excellent and the house is beautiful with a great host.
We loved staying at The Down House Cottage. It had everything we needed and the hosts Sue and Tim were super helpful. The location was excellent-the Cottage was a stroll away from the local train station (which is a 4 minute ride in to Winchester) and there are lots of nice walks on the doorstep.
Comfortable, clean and cozy home situated just to the south of Winchester, Down House Cottage suited us perfectly. Ideally located for trips to the surrounding attractions and the city itself. Sue and Tim were perfect hosts, we would happily return if ever back in the area.
Everything was fantastic! Only complaints were a slight struggle to initially find the property based on provided address and (I know it's a very minor complaint) we found the bed slightly firmer than comfortable.
Thanks for everything Susan!
Welcomed by our gracious hostess, we immediately felt at home in the lovely cosy cottage. Lots of space and comfort and a fantastic dog inviting us to play with her, we still miss her. Tea, coffee and delicious biscuits were at hand to make us feel welcome. Also the use of the washing machine was very wonderful. All in all a great place to stay!
Abraham d.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 July 2023
You were delightful guests I’m so glad you enjoyed your stay & Peggy misses you too - she keeps taking her ball around to the cottage door just in case you’re there & ready to play!
We had a lovely few days staying at The Down House Cottage which suited our requirements perfectly. Very clean, very comfy bed and with plenty of space for two. The log burner makes it very cosy in the colder months. Access to Winchester and beyond via the local train station is very good and we enjoyed a meal at The Bridge, all easily accessible on foot. With more time we would explore further afield and would return. The Owners very friendly and accommodating, thank you for a great stay.
The Down House is perfectly located for easy access via public transport to explore Winchester but is also located near to beautiful countryside & close to the New Forest. The accommodation is cosy & comfortable & spotlessly clean - Sue & Tim are perfect hosts, available should you need them without being intrusive. We highly recommend this property.
Lovelly place to stay in nice location, very comfortable and spacoius bedrroom, an increase in hanging space would be desirable. Lovely kitchen with superb cooker, a freezer and microwave would be desirable additions.
Overall a lovely place to stay, particularly as we previoulsly originated from the Wincheser area.
John L.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Sept 2024
Dear John,
Thank you for your review & we’re very glad that you enjoyed your stay. We do state very clearly on our listing that the cottage kitchen is simple & basic with limited space. We also ask that should the items you mention be important to you that you pass us by & choose a place that has them. It feels rather unfair that we get marked down for not having something that you knew would not be there but yet you still chose us.
Lovely quiet location of the property with Sue & Tim being welcoming hosts. Easy access to the train station a few minutes walk away & to local visitor attractions. Several good options of pubs & eateries in the local surrounding area. Plenty of space in the property for two people to enjoy a short break. For a longer stay some additional storage space for clothing in the bedroom would be helpful, as would be the availability of a microwave in the kitchen. We would definitely return if in the area & recommend to others.