Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, England

We recently stayed at Four Seasons Hampshire for a birthday weekend with our two-year-old son, who is nearly three, and had an exceptional experience. If you are considering this hotel, particularly with a toddler or young child, I would wholeheartedly recommend it. The hotel and grounds are absolutely beautiful, but for us the standout was the service. Every single member of staff we encountered was warm and friendly. I don't just mean the people directly looking after us – even staff passing us in corridors would pause to say hello and acknowledge our son. There was a warmth throughout the hotel that made a real difference. Our arrival set the tone. Several parties seemed to arrive at once, but the excellent valet and reception teams managed everything so smoothly that we didn't wait at all. Our son was immediately made to feel welcome too. For our son, the absolute highlight was Sharkie’s. He adored it and honestly would have stayed there all day! He went down the water slide again and again and again, and we mostly had the area to ourselves during our visit. It was such a brilliant facility for a child of his age. It was also the little practical details that made travelling with a toddler so easy. There was a toddler-sized dressing gown and slippers waiting for him, and even swim nappies were available. These are small things individually, but together they made it feel as though someone had really thought about what families with young children actually need. The hotel is particularly good at making children feel that they are guests in their own right, without making the hotel feel like a children's resort. Our son was given a little passport and could collect stamps at different locations around the property, which he was incredibly excited about. There were children's wellies available, bikes, cookies waiting in our room for him to decorate and fruit in the room, which he thoroughly enjoyed. The staff also took so much time and care helping us get things set up for him. Another highlight was pony grooming at the stables. Grace was exceptionally kind and patient with our son and made the experience really special for him. The drivers who took us to and from the stables were also lovely. We also used the hotel's babysitting service one evening so that my husband and I could have dinner together, and the whole process was incredibly easy. Our babysitter was so lovely and immediately put us at ease. She even offered to send us updates every half an hour while we were at dinner. We didn't feel we needed them, but really appreciated that she offered. It meant we could have a proper evening together knowing our son was being very well looked after. Our room was beautiful and immaculately clean. We were celebrating my birthday and arrived to find a chalked birthday welcome on the mirror, which was such a cute touch, as well as a delicious birthday cake. Later, the restaurant team had all signed a birthday card for me. We all really enjoyed the food. Breakfast worked particularly well for us: I ordered à la carte, while my husband and son enjoyed the extensive buffet. The children's menu was excellent too. Our son had an absolutely gigantic and delicious hot dog for supper, which was a huge success! For our dinner together, we had oysters followed by a seafood platter and really enjoyed exploring the extensive wine list. The bar snacks were also delicious and the cocktail menu was superb, and I particularly appreciated the excellent choice of low-alcohol cocktails. Elena looked after us wonderfully in the restaurant and deserves a special mention. I also have significant food allergies and was extremely impressed by the hotel's allergen procedures. Every server checked my allergies, made sure I was comfortable and handled everything discreetly. I never felt as though I was causing an inconvenience and, importantly, I felt safe eating there. Anyone travelling with food allergies will understand how much that contributes to being able to relax and enjoy a stay. Another thing the hotel gets particularly right is the balance between families and adults. The restaurant is cleverly zoned so that there are areas where families can feel completely relaxed, while other areas retain a more grown-up atmosphere. The same philosophy seems to run throughout the hotel. Our son was warmly welcomed everywhere, but we never felt that we were staying in a "family hotel". It still felt luxurious and special for us as adults. That, for me, is what Four Seasons Hampshire does exceptionally well. Plenty of hotels have beautiful rooms, impressive grounds and excellent facilities. Here, it was the thought behind the experience that made the difference. So many tiny things had clearly been considered, and the warmth of the staff was remarkably consistent across every part of the hotel. We felt thoroughly looked after, our son had an absolute ball, and I had a very special birthday. We left with such happy memories and would return in a heartbeat.

One of our favorite places for a relaxing weekend. Nothing is too much, and they made my son feel like a prince. Thank you to all of the staff for a memorable experience. We have stayed a few times and will be sure to come again.

I visited the Four Seasons Hampshire for lunch recently and discovered a policy so backwards it genuinely beggars belief. The hotel has EV charging points on site. On this particular day, they were free and available - not a single car plugged in. Naturally, I asked whether I could use one while I ate lunch in their restaurant. The answer was no. Only hotel guests may use the chargers. I confirmed this not once but twice with reception, spelling it out clearly: "So you're telling me that even if a charger is free, and I'm here spending money on lunch in your restaurant, I'm not allowed to plug in?" Both times, the answer was the same. Yes, that's correct. Guests only. And let's be clear - this isn't even a case of freeloading. The chargers cost £20 per session. I was perfectly happy to pay. They still wouldn't let me. Let that sink in. In 2026, when every brand on earth is tripping over itself to signal its green credentials, when sustainability is the buzzword du jour, when hotels plaster their lobbies with leaflets about reducing carbon footprints - the Four Seasons Hampshire would rather leave its chargers sitting empty and earning nothing than allow a paying restaurant customer to hand over £20 to top up for an hour. This isn't about revenue protection. The chargers were unused. It isn't about capacity. There was space. It's about a petty, gated mentality that treats a basic piece of modern infrastructure as some kind of exclusive perk for overnight guests, as though letting a lunch guest pay to charge would somehow cheapen the brand. The irony is thick. You can almost hear the sustainability officer's PowerPoint presentation about the hotel's "commitment to a greener future" - a commitment that apparently stops the moment someone without a room key asks to pay £20 to use a charger that's doing nothing anyway. For a hotel that charges premium rates and prides itself on service, this is remarkably short-sighted. The £20 I was happy to pay would have been pure revenue for a charger that was otherwise sitting idle. The goodwill generated would have been real. Instead, I left with a flat battery, twenty quid still in my pocket, and a distinctly unimpressed view of a brand that talks green but walks small. If you drive an EV and you're thinking of popping in for lunch, don't bother. You're not welcome at the charger unless you're sleeping in one of their beds. Sustainability, it seems, is strictly for guests - and so is the right to pay for electricity. 1 star - and that's generous.

Visited for 3 nights to attend a wedding in Winchester. The hotel is located approximately 45 minutes from London Heathrow and was easy to find despite its remote location in the suburbs. Arrival is via a long driveway to the building that was likely a manor of sorts in the old world. We were greeted promptly and warmly by the door staff and directed to the front desk who worked efficiently to settle our affairs. Valet parking was offered that I forlorn as the parking lot is just a few minutes walk away through a lovely garden.Lobby hosts the library with comfortable and inviting seating and is the locale for afternoon teas and quiet reading. First impressions were excellent - the decor throughout were aesthetic, warm and luxurious; I was enchanted. Assigned room (south wing) was a few minutes sojourn through nicely decorated corridors with good lighting and views of the adjoining gardens and courtyards that were pleasing to the eye and added to the sense of comfort and calm with this establishment. Room (and bathroom) was of good size, was beautifully decorated with period furniture that reflected the age of the building, was fully functional - in terms of offerings, viz, climate control, electrical outlets, lighting, wifi, bathroom amenities, water pressure etc. However, of note, our room on the second floor had a smaller window than those on the lower floors - a small detail but make make a difference to those who prefer more light. The south wing hosted the primary restaurants (Wild Carrot and La Terrazza) that provided a great selection of offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Service staff at the restaurants and throughout were attentive, friendly and efficient - I appreciated their attention to detail during our short stay. Family also partook in their spa offerings that provided great service. The pool and play areas were also great that I could see provided good entertainment for younger guests. There were many other offerings of activities - that we did not engage because of time - but would consider if revisiting (which I plan to) that included, horse riding, clay shooting and fishing plus others - that I can see would make this a great destination vacation in its own right with families. The hotel is also conveniently located to many local attractions in Winchester and Salisbury for example that nicely complemented our visit prior to attending the wedding. This is a quintessential luxurious Four Seasons in an amazing locale for an entertaining and relaxing getaway with family and friends.

Do not go to this hotel if you want a peaceful, relaxing, calm escape! It is filled with unruly, noisy children who wake you up early and fill the dining room with constant shouting and noise. This is because it’s Four Seasons policy not to charge for food for under 5s or for their accommodation and so the hotel is over-run by families. Parents allow children to take scooters and footballs into the dining room and let them run around allowing them to spoil the environment for other guests. Seemingly the hotel staff can do nothing to stop this. They are able to stay in the dining room til 10pm spoiling a whole evening. A special birthday weekend was ruined. It’s a beautiful location, building and spa but all unenjoyable because it’s become like Centre Parks. Four Seasons needs to think about its policy or make it clear that this hotel is only really for families. The staff are kind and helpful but when you’re paying thousands per night this is entirely unacceptable. If you’re a couple wanting a romantic weekend getaway I suggest this is not the place for you. This is not a luxury or refined hotel as it’s become a children’s holiday play park.