👨👨👧👦 Countryside Family Friendly House & Annex - completely detached
The Crest Droxford. A stylishly furnished family friendly detached house & separate annex tucked away in the South Coast countryside. We have no direct neighbours so you will feel like you have the countryside all to yourselves!
👨👨👧👦 The Crest is perfect for multiple families & groups of friends - read the many reviews to see what our guests say!
As soon as you walk through the door you'll see that both the house and the annex are different from your usual holiday home, furnished to a high standard and spaciously laid out with a high attention to detail. We loved it as soon as we bought it as our family home in 2010 and I know you will too!
Enjoying a rural location, on the edge of Droxford Village in the beautiful Meon Valley & South Downs National Park. Droxford Village includes The Bakers Arms pub awarded 'best Sunday lunch', a shop & post office, great playground and access to plenty of bike trials & walks. We are 20 minutes away from Winchester/Southampton/Portsmouth/Chichester and many more!
The large lawned garden at the Crest is a haven in the summer months, providing a perfect setting for al fresco dining with friends or family.
Within the grounds are a childrens 2 storey wooden playhouse and swing, outside games, a large gas BBQ and various eating areas.
Surrounding Area Along with many other beautiful villages, Exton is 2 miles away with the fabulous waterside Shoe Inn. West Meon is 5 miles away, with pubs serving great food and where the founder of Lords cricket rests; Wickham and Bishops Waltham are both 6 miles and host an array of little independent shops, cafes, restaurants & foodie pubs.
Family days out are close by: Peppa Pig World 🐷🎠 Goodwood (Festival or Speed & Revival)🚗 Monkey World 🐒 Marwell Zoo 🦒 Hawk Conservancy 🦉 Winchester planetarium🚀 Portsmouth Historic dockyard (their Victorian Xmas faire is fantastic)⛵ Portsmouth sea life centre🐠 Beaulieu motor museum🚗 Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery 🍸 .......to name but a few!
Within easy reach are; 🌳 The glorious South Downs National Park and The New Forest, 🌊 Portsmouth with waterside dining & ferry trips to the Isle of Wight, ⛪️ Historic Cathedral cities Winchester & Chichester, 🚋 Market town of Alresford with steam railway station ⛵️ Southampton & Gosport with their remarkable maritime history, ⛱️ Beaches at Lee-On-Solent, Hill Head and The Witterings.
🚲 Walking and cycling enthusiasts will enjoy both the Meon Valley Railway Line trail, accessible from Droxford, and Beacon Hill accessed via Exton (2 miles).
Come stay at The Crest, a welcome basket awaits, the house will be all set up for you to have a fantastic escape away!
Follow The Crest Droxford on social media for updates on local events and special offers, and if you see a gap in our calendar but it doesn't meet our minimum please just send me a note and we will try our best to fit you in 😊 Please do contact me with any questions, I'm happy to help.
Property Description Large living room with 2 sofas, an extra large TV & wood-burning stove. Sitting room with 2 sofas & open fire - games & childrens DVD library. Dining room with large dinning table (seats 9) & French doors to garden.
Kitchen, fully equipped you will truly feel like it's a 'home from home'. Utility with washer/dryer leading to garden. Separate downstairs loo.
First floor: All rooms have amazing views out to the countryside. Large double bedroom with Kingsize bed, wooden floor, en-suite bathroom with over-bath shower. Double bedroom with ornamental fireplace & wash basin. Twin bedroom. Single bedroom. Hotel quality linens Bathroom, over-bath shower, toilet.
Annexe (all downstairs): Living room/kitchen area with TV. Double bedroom (with King). Shower room with double shower cubicle and toilet. A private garden adjoins the annex.
We have a discreet security camera pointing down to the drive for house security only. We do not monitor this camera and will only review footage should there be damage to the house (it is mainly there for when the property is vacant).
•Wood-burning stove, open fires - initial fuel included, thereafter available locally •Hotel quality bed linen and towels included •Wooden cot & mattress •High chair • Bluetooth speaker •TV (gym and annexe also) •DVD (gym also) •Xbox and Wii (small libraries but feel free to bring some of your own) •Washer/dryer •Dishwasher •Fridge/freezer •Free Wi-Fi •Large lawned garden with patio and furniture (annexe: separate enclosed dog proof garden) •6 Burner Gas Barbecue •Children garden swing and playhouse •Table Football (annexe) •Ample parking •Gym (annexe) •Children’s toys •Non-smoking household •2 Dog welcome (see house rules - although we try our best we do not guarantee that the garden is 100% dog escape proof!) •Ground floor facilities (annexe)
•NB: Pond in garden
Read the reviews, we love our little business and you can see others do too!
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Modern 3-Bed, 3-Bath House | Sleeps 10 | Free off Road Parking For Cars or Vans<br>Newly refurbished home just off the M27. 10 mins to City Centre, Hospital & Airport. Ideal for families, contractors & groups.
Modern 3-Bed, 3-Bath House | Sleeps 10 | Free off Road Parking For Cars or Vans<br>Newly refurbished home just off the M27. 10 mins to City Centre, Hospital & Airport. Ideal for families, contractors & groups.
Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
No large raucous parties! Respect house & neighbor
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Pets
Pets allowed: limit 2 total
Please see rental agreement
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
No Smoking allowed
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Turn off the Heating in the house and annex please
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Do not flush anything down the loos apart from loo roll and natural waste - we are on a septic tank
We welcome small celebrations but no raucous house parties!
Please see attached rental agreement
Important information
You need to know
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 7
Note from host: No large raucous parties! Respect house & neighbor
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 fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Southampton
Located in Southampton, this holiday home is in a rural area and near theme parks. Marwell Zoo and Butser Ancient Farm are local attractions and those in the mood for shopping can visit Gunwharf Quays and Winchester Christmas Market. Travelling with kids? Consider Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, or check out an event or a game at Utilita Bowl. Jet skiing and kayaking offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hunting and hiking nearby.
Southampton Cruise Terminal - 30 min drive - 32.8 km
New Forest National Park - 32 min drive - 41.9 km
Getting around
Southampton Botley Station - 10 min drive
Southampton (SOU) - 33 min drive
Restaurants
The Bakers Arms - 5 min walk
The Bucks Head - 2 min drive
The Milburys - 6 min drive
The Black Dog - 7 min drive
The Crown Inn, Bishop's Waltham - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is 👨👨👧👦 Countryside Family Friendly House & Annex - completely detached pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at 👨👨👧👦 Countryside Family Friendly House & Annex - completely detached?
As of 1 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 👨👨👧👦 Countryside Family Friendly House & Annex - completely detached on 13 Apr 2026 start from AU$606, 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 👨👨👧👦 Countryside Family Friendly House & Annex - completely detached?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at 👨👨👧👦 Countryside Family Friendly House & Annex - completely detached?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at 👨👨👧👦 Countryside Family Friendly House & Annex - completely detached?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is 👨👨👧👦 Countryside Family Friendly House & Annex - completely detached located?
This family-friendly Southampton holiday home is located in a rural location, steps from Meon Valley and within 6 mi (10 km) of South Downs National Park and Wickham Park Golf Club. Marwell Zoo and Butser Ancient Farm are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Really lovely property in a remote location. Everything we needed for a family get together. Very well stocked, managed to cook a full roast dinner for 9 without any problem. Welcome basket much appreciated, nice touch! You need a car but we knew this in advance so not a problem. Very comfy beds & plenty of hot water. Our dogs loved sniffing in the beautiful garden & also enjoyed their stay.
Brid H.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Sept 2025
Thank you Brid! That's such a thoughtful review, I really appreciate the time you took over it :-)
We had the best stay here, the property was immaculate, and the gardens incredible, local walks and pubs were fabulous, and the communication with the owner was quick and informative. We had the best time here and would recommend it to anyone looking for a home away from home.
Nichola S.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Aug 2023
Awww, thanks so much for your super duper review Nichola, you've made my day 😀
This wonderful property had plenty of space for us all upstairs and down with the attention to detail providing a lovely, comfortable stay. Enjoying great spring weather we also made good use of the big garden with the children loving the playhouse, swing and garden toys. Being close to several local attractions made it a great place to stay. Jo was very helpful answering any queries promptly which was much appreciated.
A beautiful family home with very good facilities. Comfortable and cosy with plenty of room. Also ideal for our group of friends who needed individual bedrooms. Hoping to meet there again next year.
Sue O.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Nov 2023
Thank you for your really lovely review Sue. We really hope to see you again next year :-)
This was a great place for a get together of a collection of old friends. We cooked, we drank, we hiked. The house was spotless and well equipped, from games through to bathrooms.
David W.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 6 June 2023
Thank you for the positive review David, and thank you for taking such great care of the house
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Nicky H.
3 Mar 2018
Brilliant stay at this lovely house
Really beautiful house with stunning views - it had everything we needed to make our 4 day stay relaxing. We had a lovely time celebrating an 80th birthday (little welcome pack was provided on arrival with goodies)
The children loved playing with the toys and games provided and the adults relaxed in the lounge or games room!
We would easily return for another holiday, thoroughly recommended :)
Nicky H.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar 2020
It's so nice to hear that you all had a great time away together! Thank you for choosing The Crest Droxford for your get together, we hope to see you again 😁
We had a wonderful post Christmas celebration with family at this beautiful home.
The house was extremely cosy, beautifully decorated and very well equipped.
We could not have asked for more.
holly n.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Jan 2023
Thank you so much Holly, and Happy New Year to you all x
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Peter D.
4 Apr 2017
A lovely few days at The Crest
We've just come back from a long weekend at The Crest. The house is very comfortable and the welcome basket was thoughtful and much appreciated. The garden is beautiful and we were lucky to have sunny days where we were able to sit outside as well as enjoy the local area.
Peter D.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar 2020
Thank you so much Dawson Family for making The Crest your home for the weekend. Let's hope the sun continues to shine!
My family and I stayed at the Crest during a holiday in Hampshire. The home was gorgeous, and our children loved the yard, swing, and playhouse. The home is close to a nice village, and convenient to a number of local attractions. Hi was very helpful with directions and local recommendations. I would definitely stay at the Crest again.
Matthew B.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for choosing The Crest to explore Southern England, I hope you had fun with your onwards travels!
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Cate W.
12 Aug 2017
Home away from home and some!
A very well equipped house that catered for 3 generations and our dog. Grandparents with disability stayed comfortably in the annex. The garden is enchanting and the house had a good layout.
Cate W.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar 2020
Thank you for taking the time to write your lovely review Cate.
I'm so pleased the annex worked out well for the grandparents, that's great to hear.
I just wish the sun would have shined for you all a bit more last week!
Heres to an Indian summer, Jo!
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Steven C.
9 May 2017
Spacious, warm and inviting
Always a joy to leave a review for a property that impressed us.
Large spacious rooms well decorated and comfy. With a wonderful large garden there is no need to leave if you just want to relax the day away. We were not disappointed.
Steven C.
Stayed 8 nights in May 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar 2020
Thanks for Staying with us Steve, we thoroughly enjoyed you making our home your home for the week and hope you have a cracking rest of the year, happy travelling!
Jo & Lynne
We had a lovely weekend break at The Crest in November. Beautiful home in lovely surroundings. Easy to get to Winchester for the Christmas market and also the sea for a cold swim! Jo provided lots of really useful information and was always on hand to answer any question we had. Fab break!
Amanda B.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Dec 2022
Thank you for your great review Amanda, rather you than me with the sea swimming!!!! I need a picture!
We recently had a 3 night stay in this wonderful property and loved almost every moment off it. The only negative for us was the road noise from the A32 when relaxing outside in the garden. Apart from that the house, annex, garden and the lovely host were perfection.
WENDY H.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Oct 2023
Thank you for taking time out of your day to review our property Wendy.
Beautiful spacious house and garden with all the facilities you could possibly need. Very clean and well looked after.
Great communication with host and very detailed pre-arrival information.
Would love to return in the future.
Nikki F.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 16 June 2021
Dear Nikki,
Thank you so much for your 5* review. I do hope you had a fun time visiting the local pubs and Bowman Ale brewery (I must get myself up there!).
Have a great summer and we really do hope to see you all again 😚
Jo
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Christine M.
20 July 2017
Gorgeous English Countryside Manor House 5 Stars!!
To date this is the most comfortable and beautiful home we have ever stayed. All the comforts of home with gorgeous countryside local towns pubs nearby. Driving easy on country roads, truly an English countryside experience! Jo was easy to reach, had lots of great tips on things to do and how to get around. Highly recommended 5stars!
Christine M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar 2020
Dear Chris,
It's been an absolute pleasure to 'meet you' over email and hear all about your adventures! Thank you for taking such good care of the house and you are welcome back any time.
Safe travels
Jo
The house and annex were perfect for a group of friends and one small baby - a short walk from the village, with a lovely local pub, as well as close to longer countryside footpaths for the keen walkers! The beds were comfortable and there’s plenty of space for everyone. Jo also very kindly lent some electric car charging cables to us when the hire car company we’d used neglected to include them, which really saved the day!
Sarah B.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 9 June 2022
Thank you for your fab review Sarah, it was nice to meet you and we hope to see you all again for a future visit :-)
The communication between the owner and us was fantastic, she was always very quick to get back to me if needed.
The house was stunning, very clean, very spacious and the perfect amount of room for all 9 of us.
We had 2 babies with us also, and the baby blanket, cot and bath were a lovely and very helpful touch.
It's a perfect location for a break away, everything is a drive away but that was fine for us.
Droxford is a lovely little village with great pubs!
We really enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back at some point!
Thank you
Rachel B.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Sept 2020
Thank you for taking the time to leave your kind words Rachel. I'm so pleased you had such a sunshine to enjoy your weekend away :-)
We had the best long weekend, house was immaculate and included everything we required.
Kids loved the toys in the bedroom, games consoles and garden games.
Kitchen was fully equipped with everything we needed.
Dog loved the garden and was very secure so didn't have to worry about the dog escaping.
Host very responsive and provided all the details we needed and quick replies to any queries we had.
Will certainly be looking to book again for next year!
Dan R.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 6 June 2023
Thank you so much for your great feedback Dan. We certainly hope to see you all again next year!
Property as described. Well appointed, spacious, comfortable. Well equipped. Thoughtful extra touches. Plenty of toiletries and a bottle of wine and fresh eggs on arrival.
Only one comment that when sitting in lovely garden the noise of traffic on main road is noticeable. Otherwise perfect for our family get-together.
We had an amazing Easter week at the Crest, a beautiful house in the Meon valley, everything we could wish for..... Jo answered any questions and also made sure we had complete peace and privacy..... everything in the pictures and description is accurate, although in real life it's better. My only concern is leaving a great review will only make booking again more difficult!
Edward T.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Apr 2024
Thank you for your superb review Edward. I'm so pleased that you all had a great stay. Safe travels back home to Canada 🇨🇦
Lovely house with a beautiful garden. Perfect place to bring together family and friends for a birthday celebration.
Plenty of space to get-together in both the house and the garden. Really well equipped; the house had everything we needed to cater for everyone.
Fabulous views from all of the bedrooms; comfortable beds and lovely rooms.
Great location in the South Downs with lovely walks and cycling routes straight from the house.
The only downside was the road noise at times when sitting in the garden; although this wasn't a problem when indoors.
Angela C.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Oct 2023
Thank you for your review Angela and Russ, I'm glad that you all enjoyed your week together :-)
The house is spacious, comfortable and very well equipped and especially for children, with a lovely doll's house in one bedroom which my three year-old grandson loved to play with. The tree house, swing and car were particular favourites too.
The annexe is an added bonus, with gym equipment upstairs and a well-furnished, comfortable bedroom and kitchen.
The literature sent to us by Jo prior to our stay is comprehensive and we made use of her restaurant recommendations.
The Crest is a place we would certainly go back to.
Maroulla D.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Oct 2023
Thank you for choosing The Crest for your family get together, I'm so thrilled that you had such a lovely time and that your Grandson enjoyed himself so much 😊
My family and I have just had a four day stay in this beautiful property and could have not been more impressed. The house is spotlessly clean and tidy, it is well equipped with lots of little extra touches, the bedding was clean, crisp and fresh, and the beds and pillows were extremely comfortable. We stayed in November so didn’t use the beautiful garden to its fullest advantage but the dogs absolutely loved it and it was very secure for them to be in. One small downside was the road noise which could only be heard outside and not in the property at all and it would certainly not stop me returning which we hope to do as we visit this lovely area fairly frequently.
Kathryn C.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Nov 2022
Thank you so very much for your 5* review Kathryn, I really appreciate all the details in it and we very much look forward to your return visit. Good luck with your ventures in Wales xxx
About the host
Hosted by Jo Studer
I'm a Mum of 2 (Alfie & Violet) and we returned recently from living in the US, and now live within The South Downs. As well as running The Crest I am a firefighter for Hampshire & IOW. The Crest is our family home we left behind when we moved here in 2014, and because of all of this The Crest is first and foremost presented as a 'home from home' and a place we return to several times a year. We love sharing our home, absolutely love it and I'm sure you will too.
Why they chose this property
It's simple a beautiful family home set in the most stunning location. You will feel like you are in the middle of the countryside, and yet you are no more than 25 minutes from Winchester, Chichester, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Southampton and all of the treasures these places provide.
We have the real deal when it comes to the best country pubs (White Horse & Bakers Arms in Droxford, Thomas lord in West Meon, The Shoe in Exton to name but a few), renowned walking and cycle routes and Historic sites all around us. It really is somewhere where you can just hang out and relax if you don't feel like exploring.
The house and annex is perfect for everyone to get a little space of their own whilst on holiday.
Come and visit!
What makes this property unique
Spacious + Homely House + stunning location
Space - the house sleeps 9 people set over 2 properties; the main house and a one bedroom annex. There is also a gym area with TV for folks to escape to or for a chill out The Garden is large, spacious and well kept - it's glorious, I love it and I know you will.
As this was, and to a certain extent still is, our home you will definitely notice the difference from other 'holiday lets'. It is truly a 'home from home' and you will relax as soon as you walk through the door.
My mum! My mum (Lynne) looks after the house and you will feel this. You will no doubt speak with mum coming up to your arrival and she is available for babysitting at 13/hr!
We love well behaved dogs. Please check if you are thinking of bringing you canine companion.