Over 60 acres of beautiful Hampshire parkland to enjoy...
Lainston House is one of Hampshire's most beautiful country
house hotels.
Take a tour around the grounds and you'll
see gorgeous gardens, lovely terraces and beautiful scenery to
enjoy.
At the corner of the house, you come to the sheltered South
Terrace and croquet lawn. From here you can see the lovely old
single white rose, rosa cooperi or Coopers Burma Rose creeping up
the wall of the house and the majestic evergreen or ‘Holm
Oaks’.
Fragrant gardens and sun traps
Enclosed within a yew hedge, the beautiful Sundial Garden (in
the centre of the car park) is a real suntrap and a glorious spot
to sit and relax. Adjacent to the Sundial Garden, behind an old
wooden gate lies a secret, ancient, walled Kitchen Garden which has
recently been restored beyond its former glory. Apart from
supplying the hotel’s award-winning kitchen with fresh herbs and
vegetables, the Kitchen Garden is now a charming location for
guests to enjoy contemplative, sweet smelling walks and has also
become the perfect location for early evening drinks parties or
afternoon tea with friends.
Take a stroll up to the Kitchen Garden to say hello to our very
special residents including a Bengal eagle, Harris hawks and Barn
owls…
Billy displays his birds in the hotel grounds most Sunday
mornings and afternoons (a post Sunday lunch or pre afternoon tea
treat perhaps!). Or to experience the thrill of flying, handling
and even hunting with some of natures most spectacular birds of
prey Billy is also available for:
- Falconry Experiences
- Hawk Walks
- Hunting with Hawks
- Static and Flying Displays
- …and even has an owl trained as a wedding ring bearer!
Please note: Due to the change in seasons-
the Falconry time table will be changing. Click
here to view our winter falconry schedule
Our falconry
adventures are ideal for everyone - no experience is necessary - so
come along and experience them for yourself. Find out more.
Gift vouchers are also available for Falconry Experiences
Lainston is also perfectly placed for a variety of country
pursuits including local shoots, fly-fishing on the River Test,
clay-pigeon shooting, archery and local cycle tours.
See all out Country
Pursuits
In memory
Walking up the slope at the far side of the croquet lawn you
come across the pet cemetery and the memorial stones for the family
dogs and for Dixie, the hotel’s pet cat. Lainston and Leveller
belonged to the two Craig-Harvey brothers who went off to the war
in 1939. The dogs pined so much for their masters that they had to
be put to sleep. On leaving the pet cemetery you come to the Red
Oak planted in memory of Williams Charles Lynn, gamekeeper for the
late Andrew Craig-Harvey, the last owner before
Lainston became a hotel in 1980.
St Peter's Chapel
Now a ruin, St Peter’s Chapel dates back to the 12th century and
is still consecrated ground today with a beautiful font and ancient
burial stones. A short stroll from here takes you up to the back
drive under the Horse Chestnuts, with plenty of conkers to be found
in autumn. Here you will come across some delightful garden
furniture cut from a beech tree which fell near the house some time
ago.
Sit awhile and you may hear the green woodpecker (Yaffle)
tapping at the Sweet Chestnut, three trees beyond where you are
sitting. Further along is another bench with stunning views across
the Hampshire Downs.
A mile of limes!
The most striking feature within the grounds is the
avenue of lime trees. Planted circa 1716 as a 19th
century gentlemen’s vista rather than as an entrance way, the
avenue is the longest line of limes in England. Walk or jog to the
far end crossing the Sparsholt Road via the main gates and here you
will find a special 25 foot silver birch planted in 2006 to
commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Exclusive Hotels. Take a
rest here on the specially commissioned arched seating surrounding
the tree and admire the view back up the avenue to the beautiful
William and Mary house.