Easthampstead Park Wokingham
A Victorian mansion with formal gardens
About this hotel
The formal gardens here are the main draw for families who want somewhere for kids to run around beyond the hotel's own car park, a genuine change of pace from the pavement-and-car-park setting of most budget chains nearby. The Victorian mansion setting gives the rooms a cosier, more characterful feel than a standard chain room, and dining on site covers both breakfast and dinner without another car journey after a day at Coral Reef Waterworld. The pet-friendly policy means the family dog can walk the gardens alongside everyone else rather than staying confined to a hotel room all trip. Free parking rounds out the practical side of what is otherwise a noticeably quieter, more grounds-focused stay than the town-centre alternatives.
- Formal gardens on site
- Pet-friendly countryside setting
- Dining without leaving the property
Our take
It suits families who want gardens and a quieter setting over pure proximity to Coral Reef Waterworld, accepting a slightly longer taxi ride in exchange for more space to let kids and dogs run around. Families chasing the shortest commute to the flumes should look toward the town-centre cluster instead. The room itself won't win any awards, but it does exactly what a family needs between two days of swimming.
- ✓Let kids burn off energy in the formal gardens before or after a full day at Coral Reef Waterworld.
- ✓Bring the dog along and use the grounds for a proper walk rather than just pavement around a car park.
- ✓Book dinner on site at least once to make use of the mansion setting rather than driving out to eat.
Why we love it
- Victorian mansion with formal, walkable gardens
- Cosy rooms with genuine period character
- Dining and event space on site
- Pet-friendly grounds for the family dog
Why guests love itThe formal gardens at Easthampstead Park gave our toddler somewhere to run properly after a full day at Coral Reef Waterworld, which made a real difference to bedtime compared with a budget chain room where the only outdoor space was the hotel car park itself. Nothing about the stay was memorable in itself, and that was exactly the point on a trip built around the pool.