Orange Grove Hotel & Gardens

Some hotels are built for a quick stop; this one gives you more room to settle in. Orange Grove Hotel & Gardens is an aparthotel in a Victorian building, with landscaped grounds and woodland around it, close to the Hamble River. The setting has enough character for a proper evening walk, while the accommodation keeps the useful side of things in view: private bathrooms, air conditioning, garden views in the family rooms, tea and coffee-making facilities, and free WiFi.

English is the language used across the hotel's website, so the essential information is readily available before you arrive. The hotel also has a restaurant, bar, terrace and shared lounge, which means you can eat on site, have a drink and find a chair without immediately reaching for the car keys.

It suits couples who want more space than a standard overnight room, as well as families and guests travelling with a dog. There is a practical caveat for anyone who treats stairs as an optional extra: the hotel has no lift, and there are no accessible rooms.

The address is Coldeast Drive, Sarisbury Green, in Southampton, United Kingdom, close to the Hamble River. This is not a seafront hotel, and no distance to the sea is given; the geography here is inland and green rather than beach-based. You are staying outside Southampton's centre, with woodland and open grounds around the property rather than a row of town buildings under the window.

Swanwick railway station is 0.8 miles away, while Bursledon station is 1.4 miles away. That gives you a rail option for exploring the area, although the hotel's own free private parking makes arriving by car the straightforward choice. The surrounding area also gives you a few alternatives when you want to leave the dining room: Sarisbury Green Social Club is 1.1 miles away, and Chows Dynasty and Bold Forester are both around 1.2 to 1.4 miles away.

For a change of scene, Bursledon Brickworks is 1.2 miles away. Southampton's historic town walls are 5 miles from the hotel, and Solent Sky is also 5 miles away. The location works best if you want the Hamble area as your base, with Southampton and its sights close enough for a planned outing rather than an accidental stroll.

The accommodation ranges from compact double rooms to larger apartments and suites, so the sensible choice depends on how much space you want around the bed rather than on the name printed above the door. A Studio Apartment keeps things simple for two, while a One-Bedroom Apartment gives you a separate living arrangement. If you are travelling as a small family, the Luxury Suite or a Premium Family Room gives you more useful breathing room than a basic double room.

The apartment categories are particularly handy when you want somewhere to sit and organise the next day's clothes, cameras or travel plans without using the bed as a workbench. Do not expect a full self-catering kitchen: the listed kitchen facility is an electric kettle. You do, however, have a private bathroom, towels, toiletries, a hairdryer, TV and tea and coffee-making facilities.

Air conditioning matters when you return warm, tired and carrying the day's salt around with you. A fan is also available in the rooms, along with heating and ironing facilities. Garden views feature in the family accommodation, and the grounds give the property more visual space than a conventional town hotel. Refurbishment work is under way, with newer and older room styles in circulation, so study the photographs attached to the room category before booking rather than assuming every room has the same finish.

Pet-friendly accommodation is available in selected room categories, including the listed pet-friendly and basement options. The hotel advises choosing the appropriate category for your dog. Children of any age are welcome, although children aged 17 and over are treated as adults for occupancy purposes, and the availability of cots depends on the accommodation selected.

The Orchard Brasserie is the main dining room, with a terrace for meals when you want your dinner outside. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, combining international cooking with British dishes and seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The menu is not built around a single cuisine, which is useful when one diver wants something familiar and the other wants to try something different.

Breakfast is a buffet with full English and Irish choices, as well as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Warm dishes, juice and pancakes are part of the morning spread. Breakfast starts at 7.30am from Monday to Friday and at 8am on Saturdays and Sundays, so early departures need a little planning rather than a heroic dash through the dining room.

Lunch runs from noon to 3pm from Monday to Saturday, dinner from 6pm to 9pm from Monday to Saturday, and Sunday roast is served from noon to 6pm. Afternoon tea runs from noon to 3.30pm from Thursday to Saturday. A bar sits on site alongside the restaurant, with a coffee house also available. Happy hour, themed dinner nights and live music are part of the property's programme, while the restaurant and bar have a specific winter restriction: during January and February 2026, lunch and dinner are not served on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Yoga and meditation are available for the quieter end of the day. That gives you a way to stretch out and slow the breathing without turning the afternoon into another timetable. The terrace, landscaped grounds and woodland provide the physical setting; you can choose between sitting outside with a drink, taking a short walk or simply letting the day stop where it is.

The shared lounge has a TV area, board games and puzzles, useful when the weather has turned properly British or when your ideal evening involves a chair and no more decisions. Families also have access to outdoor play equipment, and the accommodation includes family rooms. These are small details, but they give different members of a group somewhere to go while someone else is still gathering themselves.

For a more social evening, the hotel runs themed dinner nights, happy hour and live music or performances. Weddings, events and business meetings are also held at the property throughout the year, so the atmosphere can change according to what is taking place. The grounds and terrace remain the reliable parts of the plan.

Southampton Airport is 6 miles away, while Bournemouth Airport is 24 miles away. Airport transfers are not listed among the hotel services, so arriving by car, taxi or public transport needs to be arranged as part of your travel plan. Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation required, and bicycle parking is also available.

Check-in runs from 3pm to midnight, and you need to give the hotel your expected arrival time. Photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in, while the minimum check-in age is 18. Check-out runs from 1am to 11am. Payment before arrival by bank transfer may be required, with the hotel contacting you after booking with the instructions.

The front desk operates around the clock, and WiFi is free in the rooms and throughout the hotel. The property is non-smoking, parties and events are not allowed, and quiet hours run from midnight to 7am. That last point is worth noting if your evening plans involve returning late and noisily; the building is not being asked to host a nightclub.

Dogs are accepted on request in the designated pet-friendly accommodation. The hotel is currently carrying out building works and refurbishing rooms, with older and newer styles available at different accommodation types. Check the photographs for the specific room you are choosing. There is no lift, so ask yourself honestly whether a staircase is acceptable before you arrive with a full case and a week's worth of dive clothing.