We arrived at the Queen’s Hotel in Portsmouth, tired, hungry, and soaking wet. Earlier in the day while touring the Naval Stockyards, the sky opened up on us. It stopped briefly as we exited the stockyards, but once again drenched my daughter and me. We found some respite inside the Spinnaker Tower, but met the rain once again when we left. By the time we checked in, we were a mess.
A friendly employee, who gave us a rundown of the hotel and all the workings within, greeted us at check-in. My socks squished inside my shoes as we walked towards the elevator, or “lift” as I now will forever call it. We arrived outside the door, and my daughter begged me, as she usually does, to be the one to swipe the key card. It was too late; my hand was already placing the key card inside the door’s pocket.
The door opened, and a spacious room awaited us. My daughter kicked off her shoes, and life filled her eyes, while a smile lit up her face. I nodded at her and said, “Only one hop.” She leaped onto the bed, and jumped in the air three times, but then I warned her she might make noise and we could be kicked out. She slumped over in the bed, laughing in her infectious way.
I opened another door and motioned for her to walk over and pointed at a room and informed her she would sleep in the smaller room with two single beds. She smiled, “I get my own room?” We’ve been staying in lovely hotels throughout our time in England, but shared the same room. We were both thrilled to see that we would have our own bedrooms, even though we both knew fully well there was no way she was going to sleep in a hotel bedroom by herself.
After cleaning up, we headed to the restaurant for a wonderful meal. I ate fish and chips, while my daughter ate bangers and mash. We followed our dinner with the most delicious dessert that I’ve ever tasted. We walked away from the restaurant, stuffed and thankful for the hotel’s lift.
Back in the room, we chatted about our day, looked through photos, and she called her sister and her mom. Her mouth ran 90 miles an hour, sharing all the adventures of the day, including meeting a random friendly cat in a nearby field.
The Queen’s Hotel has been meeting the needs of weary travelers for over 100 years. The site of the hotel was originally a private mansion for Sir John and Lady Morris in 1861. In 1865, Portsmouth went through a tourism boom and the property became a hotel, receiving its long-standing name, “The Queen’s Hotel.”
On December 8, 1901, a fire destroyed most of the building, leaving behind two outer walls. The following year, owner G.H. King hired architect T.W. Cutler to design a new Edwardian Baroque-style building. The hotel opened on May 19, 1904, with 63 guest rooms and 33 staff rooms. Later in 1909, the hotel was extended, nearly doubling its size.
Winston Churchill, King George V, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Beatrix Potter, and President Dwight Eisenhower have stayed at the hotel. I doubt the Queen Mother would have approved of my daughter jumping on the bed, but I also heard Rowan Atkinson of Mr. Bean fame filmed an episode of his TV show at the hotel, and I’m sure he would have allowed a leap or two.
I love when a hotel meets all of a traveler’s comfort needs. I especially love it when those needs are met with a backstory. I’m sure there are many stories hidden within the walls of the Queen’s Hotel. Hopefully, they all stay hidden, because I’m always in need of a good night’s rest.
I partnered with Visit Southeast England on this trip. To learn more about things to do in the Southeastern part of the UK, click here.
You might enjoy these other stories:
England:
– Arundel
Arundel Castle is a Must-Visit for History Lovers, Photographers, and Little Ones Who Want to be knights
– Chawton
A Father and Daughter Visit Jane Austen’s England
– Hadrian’s Wall
Reliving the Dads4Kesem Hadrian’s Wall Hike
How an Ice Cream Truck Saved the Day During a Hike Across England
– London
Flying Down the River Thames on a Speedboat
Climbing the O2 Arena with My Son
A Speedboat Tour on the Thames is the Perfect Way to Start a London Vacation
Attending a Chelsea FC Match with My Son
Visiting Westminster Abbey
Visiting the Harry Potter Studios in London
Getting Lost on a Ghost Tour in London with My Son
– Portsmouth
Escaping the Rain by Staying in the Lovely Queen’s Hotel
The Spinnaker Tower Looms Above Portsmouth Offering Beautiful Views of the Solent
– Stratford-upon-Avon
3-Day Itinerary for Visiting Shakespeare’s England
Walking in Shakespeare’s Footsteps: A Father/Son Story
Visiting Anne Hathaway’s Cottage: Where William Shakespeare’s Love Blossomed
Visiting Shakespeare’s Grave with My Son
Exploring Kenilworth Castle
Stepping Back in Time at Warwick Castle
– Whitchurch
Father and Daughter Weave Silk at the Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire
– Winchester
Winchester England’s Culinary Delights
Winchester 878 AD Interactive Experience was a Highlight for my Daughter During Our Trip to Southeast England
Northern Ireland
Taking a Black Taxi Tour in Belfast
Crossing the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Touring Bushmills Distillery, the Oldest Whiskey Distillery in the World
Visiting Giant’s Causeway
Ireland
2 Days in Dublin
Touched By a Ghost in Leap Castle in Ireland
Visiting Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher
Visiting the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin
A Pint at the Oldest Pub in Europe: A Stop at Sean’s Bar in Ireland is a Must-Stop for Beer Lovers
The Ancient Mound Newgrange in Ireland is Older Than the Pyramids and Stonehenge
For more travel stories, click here.