Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel

The White Hart sits on St John Street, opposite the entrance to the Cathedral Close, which is about as good a position as Salisbury offers. It is a Mercure hotel with sixty-eight en suite bedrooms, including executive rooms, and the listing on the local tourist board describes it as situated opposite the cathedral, a few minutes from the city centre and shopping. Inside, there is a lounge and bar with log fires in winter, a secluded courtyard that is pleasant in good weather, and Squire's restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel has function suites, air conditioning in the rooms, free wifi and a twenty-four-hour laundry, and it is listed as accessible to wheelchair users. Rooms vary in size and style, as is usual in a historic building, so it is worth asking for a larger or quieter room when you book, and executive rooms offer more space for a longer stay. Rates are in the mid to upper range for Salisbury, and breakfast is often included in guide prices, so compare the flexible and advance-purchase offers.

Location and getting around: the White Hart is on the edge of the cathedral quarter, so the cathedral, the Close, the Salisbury Museum and the Magna Carta are all within a few minutes on foot, and the market square, the shops and the restaurants of the old city are a short stroll beyond. The railway station is about a mile away, with taxis available, and the Stonehenge tour bus and local buses run from the centre. Old Sarum is about ten minutes by taxi, which makes this a good base for a no-car visit, and the Stonehenge day tours can usually be joined from the city.

The rooms and facilities: standard rooms are comfortable and neatly kept, with the quirks of an older building, and the executive rooms are larger. The lounge and bar are the social heart of the hotel, with log fires in winter that make it a good place to return to after a day on the plain. Squire's serves a full English breakfast and evening meals. The hotel has on-site parking, about sixty spaces, with a modest overnight fee per car, which is very handy in a small city where parking is difficult, though spaces can fill up, so confirm when you book. The apartments mentioned by some travellers should be checked directly with the hotel.

Who it suits: first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere, couples on a weekend break, and anyone attending an evensong or a cathedral event. It also suits business travellers because of the function suites. If you want a quiet room, ask for one facing away from the street, and if you want views of the cathedral spire, ask whether a room on that side is available. In winter the log fires and the short walk to the cathedral make it especially appealing, and in summer the courtyard is a restful place to sit. For a budget stay choose Premier Inn instead, and for a riverside setting choose the Rose and Crown.