I am arriving from Gatwick and driving to Winchester as my base. Does anyone know of any reasonable priced b&b's in the area? Has anyone stayed at King Albert's or Farrells? .

Are you set on staying in Winchester? We visited Salisbury three years ago and stayed outside (about 7 miles) in Woodfalls at the Woodfalls Inn. Very reasonably priced and excellent food in the pub and restaurant. We will be there again in June and have just made reservations to stay again. It is about 17-18 miles from Winchester. If you are interested, look at their website, www.woodfallsinn.co.uk. Hope this helps! (By the way, a cricket field is next door, and you might be lucky enough to watch a game out the window of your room. We did!)

Jerry,I have no direct experience of staying at B&B's in Winchester as I live fairly near to the city, but I will try and help. Do you perhaps mean the King Alfred (not Albert), if so it is a typical 'local' type pub,and is within walking distance of the city centre and from what I remember of the times I have been there parking outside the pub is fairly easy. This is something to bear in mind if you are staying near the centre of the city as parking can be a bit of a headache. Not familiar with the other place you mention but looking at it on the smoothhound web site (www.smoothhound.co.uk) that too seems to be within walking distance of the centre, I would check out the parking situation though before I booked. If I can help further just ask.

Jerry I live in the centre of Winchester. I don't know the name of either of the B & Bs you refer to. Let me know the addresses and I will investigate.

Thank you for your replies. I just want to be centrally located and in walking distance of the town and cathedral on my first day. Ann, any suggestions you may have as a local resident are appreciated.