Night away for 2 friends - south

[Ineedanightaway]

I realllllly need a night away/ lie in (I have a pandemic toddler and have never had a night away!) And a friend is up for a mini break. We live near Brighton and don't mind travelling up to a couple of hours.

I've looked at Portsmouth but not sure if there's much there? General vibe is shopping/ eating/ drinking/ sleeping/ crafting(?). We're 2 30 something's, not looking for crazy nightlife, just a nice hotel not too far from everything really.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Have I missed any other key criteria?

Thanks in advance! Also I've name changed for this. I don't really know why, I have never name changed before and fancied trying it?!

Voco Oxford Spires or Abode in Canterbury

Bath? Afternoon tea in pump rooms. Thermae spa.

Not Bath. It’s horrific hen party fodder.
Chichester might be nice for you and not too far ?
Bristol is cool too.

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/bristol/articles/bristol-travel-guide/

Portsmouth is good. We went there recently. Theres a big outlet village for shopping at gunwharf quays, and there are plenty of restaurants, a cinema, bowling alley and a couple of cocktail bars.

Bath is lovely and I doubt many big hen parties at the moment with covid

Portsmouth is a good choice
Nice shopping area called Gunwharf Quays - overlooking the Solent ...shops and cafes bars etc
Can't take a trip around the harbour
Go up the Spinnaker Tower
Stay in Southsea....lovely wander along the beach some nice cafes etc
We live along the South Coast a bit but have often gone for a weekend break
I can recommend some hotels if you're interested

I would say Portsmouth is a shit hole Gunwharf is ok for a couple of hours but it’s a shopping outlet with a Franke and bennys. Not exactly picturesque. Spinnaker toilet takes 15 minutes and meh

Bath is so OBVIOUS. It’s where waiters say hello ladies and offer you Prosecco Very live laugh love. I dunno , maybe you like that

Winchester! Some lovely shops, bars, restaurants. There are some lodges near there with hot tubs too. Trying to remember what they're called!

Chichester is surprisingly nice.

Winchester has great food options (pick a farmers market weekend if that’s your thing), museums, walks along the river, cathedral…

I stayed at the Methuen Arms in Corsham recently (about half hour drive from bath, and near a mainline rail station that is on the Bath line) and it was absolutely lovely. Not exactly cheap, but not that much more than a chain hotel and the rooms/vibe were just brilliant. Corsham itself is small but has a couple of nice restaurants and pubs and a little bit of nice shopping, and it's easy to get in and out of Bath from there

Portsmouth is very depressing. Winchester is a good shout. V pretty, nice restaurants, nice walking

I'd go for Portsmouth too (despite weird post above). Dh and I had a weekend there and enjoyed a wander around the historic dockyard, a boat trip around the harbour and big shopping outlet next door. There's a bowling alley cinema and at least 10 restaurants/cafes so not just a Frankie & Bennys

@Ohmycron

Bath is so OBVIOUS. It’s where waiters say hello ladies and offer you Prosecco Very live laugh love. I dunno , maybe you like that

www.thebathpriory.co.uk

This is gorgeous and nothing like hen party prosecco hahahaha.

Canterbury?
Central London?
Bath?
What do you want to do?
Do you want a pool/spa? Do you intend to leave the hotel?
Do you want a big night out?

@IDontHaveThePelvisForAFuton

I'd go for Portsmouth too (despite weird post above). Dh and I had a weekend there and enjoyed a wander around the historic dockyard, a boat trip around the harbour and big shopping outlet next door. There's a bowling alley cinema and at least 10 restaurants/cafes so not just a Frankie & Bennys

@IDontHaveThePelvisForAFuton

I think this is different perspectives, if you like shopping centres than Portsmouth is great. Me, I find them to be the seventh circle of hell and Portsmouth outside of gun wharf is pretty deprived in places, hence I find it depressing overall.

@sorryiasked

Chichester is surprisingly nice.

No surprise. Affluent cathedral city

Chichester - Harbour Hotel is nice, The Witterings, the Theatre, Purchases restaurant, shops are meh. but Chi is mainly boring as buggery.

Emsworth is nice, JJs Bar & restaurant, harbour walks, side visit to Chichester and or Portsmouth. Walking on South Downs, vineyard tours, Goodwood Hotel and Spa.

Winchester?

Bradford Upon Avon. Bath's smaller sister?

I didn't get any notifications so only just seen these replies, thank you everyone!

I opted for portsmouth in the end, there's enough there to fill up a day and I've booked an escape room which I'm a huge fan of so hopefully it's a good one

Also I don't mind if it's a bit of a shit hole, I'm mostly keen for a lie in 🤣

What about a Champney’s spa? My friend and I have had a few really lovely breaks. Feels like longer than 2 nights away because it is so relaxing. www.champneys.com/spa-resorts/

Oddly I’ve just had to book a night in Portsmouth. There is literally no luxury hotel

New Forest has lovely hotels, near to Lymington, Beaulieu, Bucklars Hard...some gorgeous places around that area