Hotel du Vin & Bistro Winchester

If it's a city-centre hotel you are after this is hard to beat. Situated just off the high street, all the shops, bars and historic sites of this cathedral city are just a saunter away. The Great Hall with its legendary Round Table, the Gurkha Museum, Winchester Castle and Winchester cathedral are all within a five-minute radius. The train station is a little further, so you may want to get a taxi if you are coming with luggage.

The Queen Anne architecture of this townhouse makes you feel like you are stepping into a Jane Austen novel. Inside the décor is stylish and bohemian. A large stag's head looks out over the fireplace in the bar where groups gather on mustard buttoned-leather stools, while the panelled walls of the restaurant are painted sage with framed French prints on the walls and striped wood floor boards. Outside the pretty walled courtyard is strung with fairy lights (it is one of few city-centre restaurants with a garden).

Staff were friendly and welcoming, with good local knowledge and a cheery demeanor. They will ensure you have a good supply of your favourite coffee pods if you express a preference. Services include a 24-hour front desk, room service and laundry. A small car park has space for 33 cars (£15 a night).

Nespresso machines, snack tray, minibars and underfloor heating all contribute to the feeling you are spoiling yourself. These are rooms with city-breaking couples in mind: the lighting is low, the mood romantic. Each room is different in choice of soft furnishings and décor; you might get an original fireplace, a freestanding roll-top bath, a mahogany wardrobe or a four-poster bed. Bathrooms are all a good size with magnifying mirrors, monsoon showers and L'Occitane toiletries. Dog-friendly Garden rooms have their own patios.

This might not be the finest food you can get in Winchester, but the romantic atmosphere and courteous waiters are hard to better. You’ll find a solid à la carte menu of modern French cuisine (which is standard throughout all the Hotel Du Vin restaurants) and a seasonally changing set menu. Perhaps you might try a starter of smoked salmon with treacle soda bread and fromage blanc. Or a main of beef cheek bourguignon. The sommelier was passionate about his wine list and encouraged us to try something more adventurous than our usual tipple. You can also ask to see the wine cellar, where occasional tastings are sometimes run. Afternoon tea was a delight with croissants and quiches in lieu of the usual white finger sandwiches and exquisite cakes.

Breakfast was leisurely with some little glass pots containing chia pudding, granola with yoghurt, fruit and muesli and avocado on toast with poached eggs, a favourite on the menu.

Double rooms from £134 in low season; and from £148 in high. Breakfast included.

One Garden suite, Casa, is adapted. It has a walk-in shower with grab-rails. Elsewhere the rest of the hotel is accessible apart from the bar which has three steps to it.

Yes, although it suits older children better. Z-beds can be erected in Deluxe rooms or suites for those aged three-14 (for £30 a night) and there are a pair of interconnecting rooms. Children's menus and high chairs are available in restaurant, and cots are available on request.