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Award Winning House in Portmouth's South End

Vacation home near Market Square in Portsmouth

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Photo gallery for Award Winning House in Portmouth's South End

Interior
2 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Interior
Property grounds
Property grounds

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
Portsmouth, NH
  • Place, Market Square
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Strawbery Banke Museum
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, The Music Hall
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Portsmouth, NH (PSM-Portsmouth Intl.)
    ‪9 min drive‬

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About the area

Portsmouth

Seaside stay .With a stay at this South End vacation home, you'll be steps from Wentworth Gardner and Tobias Lear Houses and Children's Museum of Portsmouth. Prescott Park and Strawbery Banke Museum are also within half a mile (1 km).
View more Vacation homes in PortsmouthOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Prescott Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Market Square - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Strawbery Banke Museum - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • The Music Hall - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Water Country - 9 min drive - 6.1 km

Getting around

  • Dover Transportation Center - 19 min drive
  • Portsmouth, NH (PSM-Portsmouth Intl.) - 17 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Hearth Food Garden - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Clipper Tavern - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪The Rusty Hammer - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Daniel Street Tavern - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Toscana Chophouse - ‬10 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Award Winning House in Portmouth's South End

Stay in a beautifully rejuvenated 18th century, light-filled, Georgian home with views of the Piscataqua River, just minutes on foot from Strawbery Banke and Portsmouth's downtown dining and shopping. Staying at the stunningly refurbished Tobias Lear House, where President Washington took tea in November of 1789, will immerse you in Portsmouth's rich history. It's like living in a museum house but with all the comforts of the 21st century. The house’s sleeping arrangements include a family suite with two bedrooms as well as Madam Lear’s Chamber, which features an en suite bathroom. All our bedrooms, most comfortable beds and beautiful views. In May 2023 the Tobias Lear House’s rejuvenation was honored by the NH Preservation Alliance. Due to the house's historic nature and close proximity to neighbors, our maximum is four adults and two children and we do not allow parties or events on site.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Lobster/crab pot
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a village
  • Near a hospital
  • Near an outlet shopping mall
  • Near the bay
  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Whale watching nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 30

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

Please enjoy one of our several outdoor seating and dining areas but please also be respectful of our neighbors.
We have eight fireplaces but unfortunately cannot allow you to build a fire in any of them. The chimneys were blocked up during a recent renovation.

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector in each accommodation.

Reviews

Award Winning House in Portmouth's South End Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 36 out of 36 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Starla P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Gorgeous historic home! Location could not be better. Views of the water from several perspectives. We walked everywhere exploring the gardens and downtown Portsmouth. The home is cozy and well appointment for being a historic property. Kitchen and bathrooms have all the modern conveniences.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lauren K.

Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christopher T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful! Great location. Walkable to everywhere. Our family loved it.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rachel Z.

Liked: Cleanliness
We all had a very enjoyable time staying in this lovingly restored house. A living museum with modern amenities in an extremely desirable area of town. Simply perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rob H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic historic property with everything provided for a great stay. Great location close to downtown, water and historic museums.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kim L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fantastic stay

Beautifully restored historic home with all the modern necessities like indoor plumbing, electricity and ac ;). We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. The kids loved playing cards by candlelight at night for fun. The location and area is easily walkable to the beautiful Prescott gardens, the waterfront, shops and restaurants and even Maine by way of the Memorial bridge. The neighborhood was beautiful and quiet. The host was very accommodating and responsive.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jill C.

Liked: Cleanliness
What a beautiful house! In a great location, and full of local history too.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steph M., Park City, UT

Liked: Cleanliness

Fabulous historic find

This house is an absolute gem. It's like staying in a museum. My husband and I found ourselves reading so much about the history of the house and the area with all the books that the owner provided. It was very comfortable and a lovely place to stay for three days.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessi S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Charles H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Absolutely Amazing!

Staying at the Tobias Lear House in Portsmouth was definitely a 'bucket list' opportunity for my wife and me. We have visited Portsmouth many times, always staying in the downtown area and taking our leisurely strolls through the South Mill Pond area. Well, a few years ago after visiting the Wentworth Museum, we learned the Tobias Lear House can be rented for overnight stays, and we couldn't pass up this opportunity. It did NOT disappoint! The detail of Mr. Foster's efforts (and the crew who did the work) to return the home to its glory of 1760 is amazing. My wife and I are both lovers of everything this home represents and truly enjoyed our stay. The ability to disconnect from today's technology world and just sit and take in the quiet comfort of this home, was not lost on us. Plus, the opportunity to enjoy tea in the same room George Washington had tea in 1789 was surreal. This was just such a great experience. Thank you for making this home available for people to appreciate a small piece of American history first hand.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer F.

Liked: Cleanliness

TG @ Historic Lear House

What a wonderful stay we had at the Lear House! The owner spared no expense in their restoration of this home. Stunning paintings & antiques, comfy beds, gorgeous well-equipped kitchen and bathrooms. Perfect location in the heart of the historic district. We loved the Lear House & hope to return someday soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rajeev P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fantastic Stay, book without hesitation!

The Tobias Lear home is a jewel of a property located a short walk from the fantastic restaurants and shops of downtown Portsmouth.   My family and I spent a long weekend in this meticulously restored property, enjoying the local shops and restaurants, as well as preparing meals in the homes’ well appointed kitchen.  I would definitely recommend this home and hope to stay there again down the road.  Host was highly responsive and a delight to work with
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

John G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect stay for family trip

Everything was perfect. They have done a wonderful job maintaining the historic charm while updating beautiful bathrooms and modern kitchen. We spent the days with coffee over looking the water, walking
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Incredible location

Loved the location and the history
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lyndsay F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Historical Magic

We had the BEST stay in this historical beauty! We drooled over the floors….not to mention all of the attention to detail! Did I mention that I am moving in!!?? Hah. Anyway, fantastic location, easy to walk to town, walking paths, close to the waterfront, historic cemetery close by, great restaurants and shops. What else can I say!?? It’s a Beaute Clark!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael V.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing Historical Property

We really enjoyed our stay in Portsmouth. Communication with Anthony was excellent. The house is in amazing shape. It is really cool to have the opportunity to stay in a home with so much historical significance. Thank you for opening your home to us!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eleanor M., Owensboro, KY

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect Stay

This home has been perfectly renovated to retain the historic details while adding all the modern amenities you want to be comfortable! It was a great place to experience with friends for a destination wedding weekend. My only wish was that we’d stayed a few more nights! I hope to be back one day with family to really relax and enjoy this beautiful house for a longer stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing House!!

The Tobias Lear House was incredible and if we could give it 10/10 stars we would. It was more than we could have dreamed and we were absolutely delighted with our stay. Surrounded and immersed in history, the house is honorably maintained and full of character. We loved the decor, beautiful rugs, books, and artwork. The kitchen and bathrooms were exceptional and had everything and more than we could have asked for. The fridge had been supplied with water, OJ, eggs, butter, jam, as well as bread and bananas, which was a sweet surprise and nice touch. The location was perfect and we enjoyed walking into town. Parking was close and plentiful. The host was very responsive with any questions we had. We truly would recommend this house 100%. We are looking forward to visiting again. Thank you for the opportunity to stay in such a remarkable home. We were grateful and honored to enjoy our time together in this stunning part of history.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dahlton B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fabulous Historic House & Excellent location

This stunning, spectacular home is in the perfect location near the water and within walking distance to wherever you want to be, from nearby gardens, charming, chic shops, and delectable dining. This historic home is impressive with its restoration and opulence. Very comfortable, well-appointed. Thoughtful, communicative hosts. We look forward to coming back soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Noah J.

Liked: Cleanliness

High quality property

We loved our stay. The fascinating home, the gorgeous surroundings, and the relaxed feel and beauty of Portsmouth made for a perfect trip. Thank you for a memorable experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sandy M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect stay in Portsmouth

Our stay at the exquisite Tobias Lear House was absolutely perfect. It was such a special stay for my daughter’s wedding. We could walk to all wedding events and everything else to offer in beautiful Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The home is well represented on the VRBO site-
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

chris f.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect

One of the best vacation rentals I’ve had the pleasure to stay in. Top shelf. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

kendra b.

Liked: Cleanliness

Over the top

We took our British family to New England to introduce them to American history and scenery different from their usual trip to us in Florida. We could not have imagined a more perfect house to set the stage. My spouse and I usually select beautiful restored homes (B&B's) when we travel, but this was far superior to any place we've ever stayed. We felt welcomed, even embraced, by the welcoming feeling the house provides - in addition to the amazing restoration and beautiful antiques. In our experience, we've been willing to sacrifice some of the modern conveniences in order to enjoy the ambience of the old homes. Not so in this case. Bathrooms and kitchen are top of the line. I'll close by saying that my husband immediately claimed a spot in the study, with a comfortable chair and amazing reading light and declared that he simply was not leaving! Thank you so much. We will always remember this home.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Becky W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great home for my family!

I was so excited to stay in this historical home and it did not disappoint. This home is beautiful; I felt like I was transported back in time, but we had a beautifully updated kitchen and bathrooms. We enjoyed our morning coffee in the beautiful garden; it was so peaceful. We can’t wait to return and stay longer. Anthony made everything so easy and we appreciated the supplies. Best VRBO experience we’ve ever had!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Serenity M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Enchanting

My fiancé and I stayed here in early spring and loved every second! We chose Portsmouth for the nightlife but found ourselves more interested in exploring and enjoying all this beautiful home has to offer. Entering the front door was like stepping back in time - with all the comforts of modern living. It was clear from every detail that great care was placed on rehabilitating this home in a way that preserves all of its glory, while elevating it to the fully imagined dream of the family that worked so hard to build it. We spent our entire first evening roaming from room to room; exploring, reading about its history, and enjoying each other's company in a way this world has forgotten. We highly recommend gathering your closest friends and enjoying this incredible experience together. We saved the first night for ourselves and had our friends join us for the second night. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for an experience unlike any other is this lifetime. We greatly appreciate the care that was taken in the home itself and in making us feel at home. We will be back! 💗
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023