Best places to stay in the New Forest for a country, coastal or riverside escape
From sprawling country estates and secretive forest getaways to boutique B&Bs not far from the sea
A nature-lover's paradise, this 350-square-mile area of Hampshire and Wiltshire is a bewitching spot, perhaps most famous for its free-roaming wild ponies, combining ancient woodland, gorse-clad heathland, river valleys, quaint villages and 40 miles of uncrowded coastline.
It’s a great alternative to the Peak District or the Lake District for a weekend break, and it’s a fabulous option for a dog-friendly holiday – most of our top recommendations for the best places to stay in the New Forest are more than happy to accommodate your pooch in style and comfort too.
What is there to do in the New Forest?
Walking, cycling and horse-riding are fantastic ways to experience the natural beauty of the National Park, which includes the giant redwoods and rhododendrons of the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive and the fallow deer that you can watch from the special Bolderwood Viewing Platform. There are 140 miles of walking trails that take in everything from sweeping moorlands to pretty villages, and more than 100 miles of off-road cycling routes, too.
Which part of the New Forest is best?
Beaulieu, on the southeastern edge of the New Forest National Park, is simply lovely – a wonderful place for riverside picnics and kayaking, as well as visiting the major New Forest attraction of the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Gardens, Beaulieu Abbey and World of Top Gear.
Another great spot is the coastal Georgian market town of Lymington, where you can watch boats and small ferries come into the quay and venture to sandy beaches. The capital, Lyndhurst, is also well-loved for its antique shops, art galleries and cafés.
Where is the best place to stay in the New Forest?
From sprawling country estates and secretive forest getaways to boutique B&Bs not far from the sea, our top places to stay in the New Forest have something to suit all kinds of breaks. Browse the best places to stay in the New Forest, including stylish country retreat, the Montagu Arms and the famous luxury treehouses at Chewton Glen.
Chewton Glen, New Milton
This is the very essence of an English country house hotel: a 130-acre estate complete with its own cookery school, golf course, croquet lawn, four indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and country activities such as clay-pigeon shooting and falconry. Chewton Glen also has a super-swanky spa with an airy indoor pool, a hydrotherapy pool, aromatherapy saunas, and light, healthy cuisine.
Elsewhere in this magnificent property, there’s everything from fine dining to classic afternoon tea. As well as charming rooms and suites, some with alfresco hot tubs, it has treehouse suites perched up in a leafy canopy, with the best forest views.
The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu
Just a few minutes' walk from Palace House and the National Motor Museum, you'll find this country-chic hotel decorated with botanical wallpapers and prints. Some have four-posters, others have wood panelling and large lead-lined windows with views of the Gertrude Jekyll-inspired gardens. Suites at The Montagu Arms come with free-standing bathtubs and a complimentary decanter of seasonal gin.
There’s fantastic dining based on ingredients picked fresh from the kitchen garden in The Terrace Restaurant, while for indulgence, you can head to nearby sister hotel Careys Manor with its award-winning Thai Spa, SenSpa.
The Old Mill, near Lymington
A beguiling riverside pub with boutique rooms, The Old Mill is housed in an 18th-century flour mill and oozes personality in cosy rooms, including a super-king suite with original beams. Its gorgeously rustic dining room serves modern global food such as Romsey lamb neck and merguez sausage with couscous.
Perhaps best of all, though, is the hotel’s Secret Garden, where a restored Victorian swimming pool has been transformed into a whimsical pond. The grounds and gardens also conceal river walks and hidden places in which to simply sit and contemplate the world.
Rhinefield House, Brockenhurst
A palatial country estate on Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, Rhinefield House is unique and drenched in atmosphere. Its Alhambra, an opulent replica of the grand palace in Grenada, is reserved for private dining, but you won’t feel short-changed by The Armada with its intricate wood panelling, soaring ceilings and pale-pink marble fireplace – a romantic setting for Modern British food.
Rooms and suites come in a mix of classic and more contemporary styles. When not relaxing in one of them, you can play tennis, hire a bike, or kick back by pools – one an indoor splash and spa pool, the other a seasonal outdoor pool - or over a spa treatment.
Lime Wood Hotel
Once a mediaeval hunting lodge, Lime Wood Hotel is an idyllic, luxurious retreat nestled in the New Forest National Park. This hotel keeps nature at its very heart, from the cottage cabins and lodges with views of the meticulously landscaped grounds to Herb House spa – where design and treatments are centred around the lush forest surroundings.
Quality and sustainability stand out at restaurant Hartnett Holder & Co (with chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder at the helm) – where local ingredients shine through the lens of Italian classics.
The White Buck, Burley
A charming country house in the heart of the New Forest National Park, surrounded by woodland, The White Buck has 20 boutique offerings decorated in a restrained English style – including Indulgence rooms with six-foot beds, rolltop baths and fluffy bathrobes.
This is a haven for horse-riders, cyclists, hikers, dog-walkers and those with children, with extra treats for four-legged friends and an adventure playground in the garden for little ones. Dining is upmarket pub fare.
Master Builder's House, Buckler’s Hard
In the one-time home of Henry Adams, 18th-century shipbuilder for Nelson's navy, Master Builder's House has a divine location on the Beaulieu River. Rooms with something of a New England feel come as a surprise – but not an unpleasant one! They include several that won the hotel an award for dog-friendliness.
Dining and drinking take place in the lovely Riverview restaurant and Yachtsman Bar, and seasonally also in the outdoor Crew Bar BBQ, from which you can watch the kayakers out on the water - or even join them.
New Park Manor, Brockenhurst
Perfect for reconnecting with nature, New Park Manor – a former hunting lodge that was once a favourite of King Charles II and retains lots of period touches, including stained-glass windows and snug fireplaces – is tucked away in lush woodlands in the depths of the New Forest, with its own resident deer.
A member of the Luxury Family Hotels group, it’s perfect for spending time together but also has an OFSTED-registered crèche, meaning parents or grandparents can sneak off for some pampering in the lovely spa.
Stanwell House, Lymington
In the heart of the port town, Stanwell House is an elegant Georgian townhouse with boutique rooms and fabulous food and drinks in Samphire restaurant, The Orangery with its champagne afternoon teas, and Salt Bar.
Accommodation ranges from garden rooms with their own terraces – perfect for those with dogs – to loft rooms with rooftop views, all decorated in a fresh and pretty style.
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