Edington Road, Winchester, SO23

Eldon Lodge is a characterful property with plenty of space for a growing family to enjoy. Tucked behind mature hedging off one of the most popular roads just to the north of Winchester, this immaculately presented five-bedroom house sits on the private no-through lane of Edington Road, with dedicated parking along the length of the boundary and a detached single garage at the end — a genuine rarity this close to the city centre.

Arranged over four floors, the house wears its Edwardian period charm with quiet confidence: fireplaces anchor each reception room, engineered wood flooring carries a lovely patina, and impressive large windows flood every room with natural light. It's close enough to walk into town for dinner, yet you'd never guess how near the buzz of the centre really is.

Through the front door, a welcoming entrance leads via double doors into a central hallway of real scale, with beautifully crafted oak stairs rising in an easy sweep to the first floor.

To one side, the sitting room takes a relaxed approach, with its own fireplace and log burner, plus double doors opening straight onto the garden, ideal for evenings that end up running later than planned. Next, for a more formal gathering, or a quiet space to read, the drawing room is Eldon Lodge at its most classically elegant: a striking fireplace, exposed timber flooring, fitted bookshelves and a deep bay window overlooking the front lawn — the room for a fire lit early on a winter's evening, or Sunday papers with a pot of coffee.

Daily life here will naturally gravitate towards the open-plan kitchen, living and dining space — the undoubted star of the ground floor, flooded with light from an opening lantern roof and windows on every side. The kitchen itself is fitted with sleek units and integrated appliances around a central island with breakfast bar, perfect for the morning scramble of toast and school bags and equally handy for a glass of wine while dinner is on the go, with the much-coveted pantry adding even more storage. A central wood burner separates the living zone, while full height windows and glazed French doors lead straight out to the spectacular raised decked terrace, complete with its own glazed balustrade, for morning coffee or an evening drink looking down over the garden. An electric awning one side creates a shadier spot for midday dining.

The lower ground floor, developed by the current owners when the kitchen was extended just over ten years ago, leads from a hidden staircase in the kitchen and also has its own entrance, under the gorgeous covered patio into the boot room. There is a utility room and a shower room (handy after a long walk or bike ride), ensuring practicalities are away from the rest of the house. And there is also thought given to relaxation too, with a dedicated cinema room for family film nights. The current owners tell me their older teenagers used to hang out here with their friends, giving them a great sense of independence – and a separate entrance so they did not disturb anyone later on in the evening!

Upstairs, a lovely light landing leads to four generous double bedrooms occupy the first floor, one with its own en-suite, the rest served by a well-appointed family bathroom — every room sharing the same easy sense of proportion as downstairs, appropriately sized, bright and airy with lovely feature windows and generous ceiling heights. Further stairs to the second floor and Eldon Lodge delivers another surprise: a fifth double bedroom with its own bathroom, complete with freestanding tub, a further shower room, and a single bedroom currently used as a study, forming a self-contained suite at the top of the house — ideal for older teenagers after some quiet independence, nanny quarters, or visitors staying a while.

It's the garden arrangement that really sets Eldon Lodge apart. At the front, a generous lawn framed by mature hedging and deep, plentiful borders is private enough for children to have the run of it, and easily big enough for football, a swing, trampoline or a fun game of croquet. Round the back, the mood shifts entirely to a tranquil and relaxing space: a formal parterre garden, laid out in clipped box hedging with gravel beds and brick pathways, offers a quieter, more considered space, perhaps best admired from the terrace above with a glass of something cold, as much as it's enjoyed at ground level, perhaps in the shade of the covered patio in summer.

Edington Road sits just north of Winchester's historic centre, in a long-established and highly popular residential area. The Westgate School, which is a much sought after combined primary and secondary school, is less than a mile away, and the house is close to one of the best Sixth Form colleges in the UK - Peter Symonds - as well as a choice of well-regarded independent schools — a real draw for families.

Winchester itself needs little introduction: the Guildhall hosts the Hampshire Farmers' Market twice a month, a general street market runs Thursday to Saturday near the Brooks Shopping Centre, and the city's restaurant scene is particularly impressive from both choice and quality perspectives. For quieter days, the Water Meadows, St Catherine’s Hill and the Itchen Navigation offer walks that have changed remarkably little since Keats wandered them, looking for inspiration.

Commuters are equally well served, with Winchester station putting London Waterloo within reach in as little as 58 minutes, alongside excellent road links via the M3 and A34 for those who'd rather drive. Heathrow (under an hour) and Southampton (15 minutes) airports are both very accessible too.

Eldon Lodge really is a rare find so close to the city centre — a beautiful historic city that feels more like a town, with lots going on and a great sense of community.

Important Notice: These property details are intended as a guide only and do not form part of any contract. While carefully prepared, Stowhill Estates WBNH cannot guarantee total accuracy. Prospective buyers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each statement. All measurements are approximate, and no services or appliances have been tested.

The current owner loves the house because…

“My favourite room in my house is actually the terrace leading from my kitchen/ dining area-it’s a real oasis of greenery and the perfect place to enjoy a coffee in both summer and winter looking out onto the trees and enjoying some peace.

I’ve also done a summary of positives living where we do!

I feel so lucky to live in a beautiful city which has such great access to countryside, seaside and yet is in easy reach of London. Having access to 2 local airports as well as the 2 major London airports makes international travel so much easier and less stressful.

Ours was a busy active family and having access to so many excellent sporting clubs within easy walking distance of our house made our lives so much easier. Winchester RacquetsClub, Winchester Rugby and Football clubs, plus Winchester hockey club so nearby meant my children could access these without me constantly needing to drive them everywhere! We also have a great choice in both private and state schools including Winchester college, St Swithuns and the hugely successful Peter Symonds 6 th form college.

There are also 3 excellent golf clubs in and around the city and a fabulous new Leisure centre with pool, gym and climbing walls all of which children can walk or cycle to. 

Winchester is also a great cycling hub with easy access to countryside and great cycling trails. We can also walk directly from our house onto the South Downs way, the Clarendon Way and the Itchen Valley trail.

Winchester is full of great restaurants and cafes. We particularly love Bar Lento a great tapas bar and Forte Kitchen is a great place for coffee and brunch - but there are so many available including Turkish, Lebanese, Japanese and many more.

Culturally we have 2 theatres a great Everyman cinema and very active drama and music groups. Winchester cathedral and Winchester college also host many cultural events which are accessible to residents.

We love our home. It’s design is perfect for raising an active modern family and taking advantage of all Winchester has to offer.”