We have just returned to the UK after a two-week stay at The Magnolia House in Hampton, Virginia. We were visiting Hampton for a family reunion and were looking for accommodation that would give us personal service and a taste of Virginian lifestyle. Although there were plenty of hotels/motels locally, a bed and breakfast seemed to be the ideal solution to our needs. Nothing could have prepared us for the fantastic experience that was to come. The Innkeepers of Magnolia House, Joyce and Lankford Blair, gave us the holiday of a lifetime. Magnolia House is a beautiful old house that has been sympathetically restored by the owners to the very highest standard. There are only three bedrooms but what bedrooms! Our room, The Haven, was sumptuously furnished and was spotlessly clean. The en-suite offered everything we could possibly need, including toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, hairdryer and an abundance of towels. The bedroom had two very comfortable easy chairs, magazines, a CD player with a selection of very good CD’s, air conditioning, the list is endless. The house is beautifully furnished with period furniture and all areas are open to guests at any time of day or night. Joyce and Lankford’s taste is impeccable. To call this establishment a bed and breakfast is a great disservice. Breakfast is a gourmet feast and Joyce ensured we sampled a wide range of Virginian dishes during our stay including the most delicious muffins, coddled eggs,...We have just returned to the UK after a two-week stay at The Magnolia House in Hampton, Virginia. We were visiting Hampton for a family reunion and were looking for accommodation that would give us personal service and a taste of Virginian lifestyle. Although there were plenty of hotels/motels locally, a bed and breakfast seemed to be the ideal solution to our needs. Nothing could have prepared us for the fantastic experience that was to come. The Innkeepers of Magnolia House, Joyce and Lankford Blair, gave us the holiday of a lifetime. Magnolia House is a beautiful old house that has been sympathetically restored by the owners to the very highest standard. There are only three bedrooms but what bedrooms! Our room, The Haven, was sumptuously furnished and was spotlessly clean. The en-suite offered everything we could possibly need, including toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, hairdryer and an abundance of towels. The bedroom had two very comfortable easy chairs, magazines, a CD player with a selection of very good CD’s, air conditioning, the list is endless. The house is beautifully furnished with period furniture and all areas are open to guests at any time of day or night. Joyce and Lankford’s taste is impeccable.

To call this establishment a bed and breakfast is a great disservice. Breakfast is a gourmet feast and Joyce ensured we sampled a wide range of Virginian dishes during our stay including the most delicious muffins, coddled eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, flounder……. Every day there was another surprise, chocolates on our pillows, home-baked cookies in our room, Mimosas before breakfast, homemade lemonade served to our family on the veranda, the list is endless. The hosts have provided a guest’s pantry generously stocked with a range of cold and hot drinks, snacks, wine etc at no extra cost. However, the absolute highlight of our stay was the morning of my husband’s birthday. We went downstairs for breakfast and were greeted by the sound of someone tinkling on the piano. To our astonishment, our hosts had arranged for a pianist and vocalist to entertain us with two hours of live jazz over breakfast. Breakfast was brought to a close with the arrival of a slice of birthday cake complete with candle. I sincerely hope my husband wishes for a return visit to Magnolia House when he extinguished the flame! My everlasting memory will be of Lankford shimmying down the hall carrying a tray of Mimosas! Joyce and Lankford Blair’s...More