House in England
Reasons to book
About this house rental
Five bedrooms and two bathrooms sleep up to 12, with the games room's sofa bed taking the twelfth guest. The bedrooms hold two doubles, a king with an extra single, and two twin rooms, one of which zips into a super king. On the ground floor, a single open-plan room combines kitchen, dining table and lounge, so the group stays together, while the games room has darts, table football and an Xbox. There's a large back garden, and Purbrook Heath recreation ground is a 10-minute walk.
The Space:
Sleeping
Four bedrooms are upstairs and one is on the ground floor.
Bedroom 1: UK double bed (135 cm, close to a US full).
Bedroom 2: two single beds (90 cm each, close to a US twin).
Bedroom 3: UK king bed (150 cm, similar to a US queen) and a single bed.
Bedroom 4: UK double bed.
Bedroom 5: two single beds, which we can zip and link into a UK super king (180 cm, close to a US king) if you ask when booking.
Games room: a sofa bed for one guest.
All beds are made up before you arrive, towels are provided, and each bedroom has a fan.
Bathrooms
Two in all: a family bathroom upstairs with a bathtub and a separate shower, and a shower room with toilet on the ground floor beside the utility room. With a full house, a little planning around morning showers helps.
Kitchen and dining
The kitchen has an oven, stove, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, freezer, kettle, toaster and coffee maker, with cookware, baking trays and wine glasses. A breakfast bar and a dining table share the same open-plan room.
Living and games
The lounge has sofas and a large TV. The separate games room has a dartboard, table football, an Xbox and board games.
Outside
A large back garden with outdoor furniture, a barbecue, a fire pit and plenty of room for children to play.
Everyday practicals
Wi-Fi, a laptop-friendly workspace, heating, portable fans, a washing machine and tumble dryer in the utility room, an iron, a hair dryer and plenty of storage space. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit are fitted.
Travelling with children
Children and babies are welcome. There is a travel cot, a high chair, and children's books and toys.
Bringing your dog
Up to three dogs are welcome, and a pet fee applies. The garden fencing is not fully dog-proof, so please supervise dogs outside.
Good to know
The house stands well back from London Road, a main road with a bus lane, so traffic noise doesn't carry indoors. The gateway to the driveway is tight for wide vehicles. A doorbell camera at the front door records video and sound when triggered; there are no cameras inside. Southsea and the city centre are a drive away, so a car is useful.
Guest Access:
The whole house, garden and games room are for your group alone. Self check-in is by lockbox between 4 pm and 9 pm, with check-out by 10 am. Parking is on the driveway in front of the house, with room for three or four cars depending on size.
The Neighborhood:
Widley lies on the northern edge of Portsmouth, just over Portsdown Hill from the city. Purbrook Heath recreation ground, about 10 minutes on foot, is the nearest place for children to run and dogs to stretch their legs. Five minutes by car brings you to Fort Widley and the views from the top of Portsdown Hill. Within about 12 minutes' drive are the Port Solent marina, Portchester Castle and Staunton Country Park. Allow 15 to 20 minutes for Gunwharf Quays, the Spinnaker Tower and the seafront at Southsea, or for the waterside village of Bosham and the village of Wickham. Goodwood, around 25 minutes away, gets busy on event days, so allow extra time, and the New Forest is about half an hour.
Getting Around:
Cosham railway station is about 6 minutes by car, and buses run along London Road. Southampton Airport is around half an hour's drive. Most outings are a short drive, so a car is the simplest way to get around.
Other Things to Note:
ID check and deposit: after booking, the lead guest completes a short ID check and deposit step with our partner SafeGuest. You choose either a Damage Deposit of £400 (your card is saved and nothing is taken up front; it can only be charged for a claim SafeGuest approves after check-out) or SafeGuest's No Deposit fee of £45 (a one-off fee paid to SafeGuest). If you can't use the photo ID check, message us and we'll arrange a short video call instead. Please don't send ID documents by email. Your booking is on the Blue Puffin Stays Booking Terms (Guests) and the House Rules for this home.
Interaction with Guests:
Widley Retreat is looked after by our own Blue Puffin Stays team, based locally. Reach us through Vrbo messaging any day between 8 am and 8 pm, and we'll help with your arrival until 9 pm. In a genuine emergency during your stay, use the emergency number in your check-in details at any time. We're happy to suggest days out, beaches and places to eat nearby.
Amenities at Widley Retreat, Family Home with Games Room near Portsmouth
Map of England
