1777. at the Albion

There is a feeling of entering a Dickensian era coach house as you carefully steer off Wimborne High Street into the confines of this quaint and very pleasant hotel. That feeling of another age continues as you climb the stairs to the rooms overlooking the High Street and facing the imposing Minster building just across the road. Each of the spacious well appointed rooms has its own individual character and quirkiness, some with their own copper bath. The bed was extremely comfortable and the pillows were good. The shower was fine too. The WiFi is good but there was no safe in the room. Everything was exceptionally clean and well maintained. The traffic wasn’t that much of a noise issue (although you do get the early morning High Street deliveries and garbage collections). But it’s true that a little model soldier perched up in the Minster tower dings his bell on the quarter of the hour throughout the night which might disrupt light sleepers. The hotel is part of the Hall and Woodhouse chain and the towns main H&W establishment, the Olive Branch, serves as a sort of alternative reception and breakfast room for the hotel. It sounds a bit strange but worked out very well as you walk the 152 strides (the hotel has measured it) around the corner to the pub for your excellent choice of breakfast and buy the newspapers on the stroll back to the hotel. Wimborne is a lovely little town with good restaurants in close proximity to the hotel and a wide selection of pubs and coffee/tea establishments. The National Trust’s wonderful Kingston Lacy estate is less than 10 minutes drive from town and well worth a visit on a fair weather day. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

We missed the ferry at Portsmouth due to car trouble, so managed to get a next day sailing from Poole. We were tired and a little worried as we had three dogs and there didn’t seem to be anywhere that would accommodate us, and then we found this beautiful place in Wimborne. The lady on reception was fabulous and very welcoming, there was no worry about us having dogs. She let us check in early (we had driven through the night). The room was spectacular, the bed extremely comfortable and the town was also beautiful. From a nightmare it turned into a great experience. There is a large very well kept lawn area at the back which was perfect for the dogs. Thank you so much.

Very disappointing for the money I paid, the reception was a tiny office, which was mostly unoccupied, no real greeting, no bar, no service, no nothing for your money, dark rooms, noisy from church bells and clock, plus young ones shouting and screaming under your window. The only positives were a comfy clean bed, if you could sleep through the noise, (they did supply ear plugs) the room was clean, and the staff and food at the Olive branch was good.

Lovely little find. Great area. We booked very last minute and were plesently surprised. Would stay again. Made vety welcome and comfy room