English Inn and Resort

I guess this is what it is now called, but I know it as the "Olde England Inn."

Anyway, this is a really neat place to stay. Having stayed in a number of often very old inns and hotels in the UK, many being half-timber and at least partly Elizabethan/Tudor structures, I can say that this place does a pretty good job of reproducing the feel of many of those old British inns, right down to the creaking stairs and halls. It has good English food, including breakfast, and neat rooms set in nce grounds.

I should note that while I have been here twice, my last stay here was 1996, so things may have changed.

Unique Quality: It reproduces old English inns better than I have seen outside of Britain, has lovely, Tudor-style architecture, beautiful gardens, and includes the Ann Hathaway cottage, itself a common tourist attraction.

Directions: It's in Esquimalt, west of Victoria proper. Take the Johnson Street bridge out of downtown and head out on Eqsuimalt Rd., then turn left on Lampson Street.

Imagine an Elizabethan style mansion located in temperate Victoria, BC. This is the English Inn Resort. I spent one night here in February 2003, and what an incredible place! We had a suite that included a giant bed (with bedposts & curtains), our own fireplace, a couch, television, private bathroom, and a view of the garden and ocean. Did I mention the ceiling was about three floors high? And the room was HUGE! I felt like a princess, even if it was for one night. When we arrived, we had candles lit, a bottle of champagne on ice, and four delicious cookies awaiting. It was very romantic!

Unique Quality: The English Inn's architecture is what gives it its unique quality.

Breakfast is included. The chef will make you an omelette or a waffle, and you can have bacon, sausages, hash browns, toast, muffins, croissants, fresh fruit, yogourt, cereal, plus an arrangement of tea, coffee or fruit juice. It was a perfect way to wake up on a cold rainy February morning.

Also, located on their 5 acre garden is is the Verona village, Shakespeare's house and Anne Hathaway's cottage! Complete replicas of the real thing, including a duplicate of Anne's garden. Having been to Stratford-Upon-Avon myself back in 96, it kind of felt like deja-vu!

Directions: It's located a 10 minute drive west outside of downtown Victoria nearby the neighbouring suburb of Esquimalt.