Hotels in Owslebury

Owslebury has no hotels of its own, so anyone wanting a proper bed for the night is better off looking to nearby Winchester, just five miles north-west, which offers everything from historic coaching inns to modern boutique hotels and budget chains, all within easy reach of the cathedral, the station and a lively choice of restaurants and pubs. Winchester makes a comfortable base for exploring the surrounding South Downs countryside, with Owslebury, Marwell Wildlife and the Itchen Valley all a short drive away. Closer to Owslebury itself, villages such as Bishop's Waltham and the wider Marwell area have a smattering of country pubs with rooms and bed and breakfasts, useful for those who want to be near the zoo or the downland footpaths without the drive into the city. Wherever you stay, the appeal of this part of Hampshire is the same: quiet chalk downland, well-kept farmland and a network of long-distance paths, including the Pilgrims' Trail and the Monarch's Way, both of which cross through Owslebury parish. Booking ahead is sensible in Winchester, especially around university open days, graduation weekends and the Christmas market season, when the city's hotels fill up quickly. Outside those peaks, Winchester is well served with availability year-round, and its central hotels put you within walking distance of everything the city has to offer while still leaving Owslebury and Marwell an easy morning drive away.