Westgate Retreat

Westgate Retreat is a self-catering holiday home in Winchester city centre: a three-bedroom townhouse on Upper High Street that sleeps six, with a private hot tub, a games room, and dogs welcome. It stands beside the Westgate, a short stroll from the cathedral, the High Street and Winchester station, and you can book it direct with us right here.

The house at a glance

• Sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms: two king rooms with their own showers, and a twin that can become a king
• 4 bathrooms, one with a freestanding bath
• Private courtyard with a sheltered hot tub, outdoor dining and an electric barbecue
• Games room with an arcade table, electronic darts and cinema seating
• Open-plan kitchen and living room, Wi-Fi, a work desk and a washing machine
• Dog-friendly
• Free parking permit for one car
• Self check-in 4 pm to 9 pm, check-out 10 am

Inside the house

Nothing here is beige. Each bedroom has its own theme, from the seaside mural in the twin room to the monochrome king bedroom, with artwork and bold wallpaper throughout. Cooking and relaxing share one open-plan space: a fully fitted kitchen with a double oven, induction hob, dishwasher, microwave, fridge and freezer, toaster and coffee machine, a breakfast island that seats six, and a living area with mustard sofas, armchairs, a smart TV and a period-style decorative fireplace.

Bedrooms and bathrooms

One bedroom is on the ground floor; the other two are downstairs on the lower ground floor, along with the games room.

Bedroom 1: king-size bed, en suite shower room, smart TV and a decorative period fireplace.

Bedroom 2: king-size bed and TV, with a walk-in shower, toilet and basin of its own inside the room.

Bedroom 3: two single beds that we zip together as a king on request, plus a desk and a smart TV.

A family bathroom with a freestanding bath and a separate wet room make four bathrooms in total. We make up every bed before you arrive with hotel-quality linen, and leave towels for everyone, spare pillows and blankets, and room-darkening blinds. There's no cot or high chair at the moment, so bring a travel cot if you need one.

Games room and courtyard

The games room is where most evenings end up: an arcade table, electronic darts, Union Jack cinema seats, a smart TV with an Amazon Fire TV Cube and a pile of board games for wet afternoons. Outside, the private, enclosed courtyard has a table for eating outdoors, a parasol, an electric barbecue and the hot tub under a shelter, so it works in any weather.

Using the hot tub

We drain, clean and refill the hot tub before every single stay; that is what keeps it hygienic and in line with health and safety guidance. The trade-off is heating time. Fresh water needs around 6 to 8 hours to come up to temperature, so if another group left that morning it may still be warming on your first evening. It is available until 10 pm each night, out of respect for the neighbours in the separate flat upstairs.

Where you are in Winchester

Upper High Street is the top end of Winchester's historic centre. Walking times from the front door: the Westgate 2 minutes, the Great Hall and King Arthur's Round Table 3, Winchester station 5, the Theatre Royal 5, the Buttercross and the High Street's shops and restaurants 7, and Winchester Cathedral 10. In November and December the Cathedral Christmas Market is ten minutes away on foot, and the Water Meadows path to St Cross and the view from St Giles Hill make easy walks. By car you are close to the M3, the South Downs, Marwell Zoo (about five miles), the New Forest, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Parking, arrival and departure

Parking is on-street permit parking in Zone Q, and we arrange a free digital permit for one car for the length of your stay. Check-in is self check-in by lockbox between 4 pm and 9 pm, check-out is by 10 am, and our local team is on hand by message every day from 8 am to 8 pm.

Good to know before you book

• Check-in 4 pm to 9 pm by lockbox; check-out by 10 am
• Quiet hours 10 pm to 7 am, as there is a flat above; the hot tub closes at 10 pm
• Up to two dogs; a pet fee is added in the booking box
• No cot or high chair at the moment
• No parties or events, and no smoking
• After booking, the lead guest completes a short ID check and deposit step with our partner SafeGuest

Questions guests ask

• Can we bring our dog? Yes, up to two dogs are welcome; a pet fee is added when you book.
• Is there parking? Yes: on-street, with a free permit for one car that we set up for you.
• Can the twin beds be made into a king? Yes, tell us when you book.
• Can we walk to the cathedral and the station? Yes, about 10 and 5 minutes on foot.
• Is there Wi-Fi and somewhere to work? Yes, Wi-Fi throughout and a desk.
• When can we use the hot tub? Any time until 10 pm. It is refilled for every stay, so it may still be heating on your first evening.
• Can we arrive after 9 pm? No. Check-in closes at 9 pm, so please plan to arrive between 4 pm and 9 pm.
• Is there a cot or high chair? Not at the moment, so please bring a travel cot if you need one.
• Are all the bedrooms on one floor? No: one is on the ground floor and two are on the lower ground floor.
• Is this the same house as Westgate Cottage? No. Westgate Cottage is our two-bedroom cottage further along Upper High Street; Westgate Retreat is the three-bedroom townhouse with the hot tub and games room.

Who looks after this home

Westgate Retreat joined Blue Puffin Stays in October 2026, so it doesn't have guest reviews yet. It is looked after by the same local team as our other Winchester home, Westgate Cottage. Blue Puffin Stays Ltd is a family-run company founded in 2021, rated Excellent on Trustpilot, a member of PASC UK, and winner of LUXlife's Best Luxury Serviced Accommodation Provider 2026 for the Cotswolds and Hampshire.

Booking direct

Booking here is cheaper than booking the same dates through some of the big booking sites, and you deal directly with our own local team from your first question to check-out. The booking box shows the full price for your dates, cleaning included, before you pay anything. Longer stays are discounted, and if you have particular dates or questions in mind, email us before you book and we will see what we can do for you.