The Running Horse

A good choice if you want to visit historic Winchester but enjoy a bit of country-chic comfort, the Running Horse lies just outside the city in the pretty village of Littleton. You can be in the centre and parked-up in 15 minutes or so, but you have the benefit of returning to your charming room, with its vintage stylings and home comforts. That means DAB radios and Nespresso coffee machines, smart TVs, tea and biscuits, and even the things that many B&Bs forget – hair dryer, iron and ironing board. There are doubles and twins, as well as family rooms with bunk-beds.

The pub's a winner too, good for families and for dogs – there's a large, outdoor decked terrace, while special overnight packages are available in the designated dog-friendly rooms, including bed, blanket, bowl and treats. For humans, breakfast and brunch are served until 11am, so no early starts required. The main menu is a modish, bistro-style affair – fish pie to vegetarian parmigiana, roast chicken to rib-eye. And when it's time to move on, you're around half an hour from Marwell Zoo or the South Downs or New Forest national parks.