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A Classic Country Escape on the
Hampshire Coast
If you’re after a country-house hotel that combines
classic English charm with plenty to do, Chewton Glen is a safe bet. Set in 130
acres of Hampshire countryside, close to the New Forest and the coast, it has
the feel of a grand country estate while still being easy-going enough for a
weekend away. Part of the Iconic Luxury Hotels collection, Chewton Glen has
been welcoming guests for decades, and there’s a reassuring sense of heritage
to the place. Inside, traditional details sit alongside more contemporary
touches, while the extensive grounds provide plenty of space to explore.
There’s a wide choice of accommodation, from classic
rooms in the main house to larger suites and the hotel’s distinctive Treehouse
Suites. The main-house rooms have a timeless country-house feel, with elegant
furnishings, soft fabrics and traditional details, while the larger suites
offer more space and additional touches suited to longer stays.
For something more memorable, the Treehouse Suites are
the obvious choice. Set high among the trees at the edge of the estate, they
offer a very different take on a country escape, with private terraces,
woodland views and a real sense of seclusion. Waking up surrounded by greenery
feels a world away from everyday life.
Across the accommodation, the emphasis is on quality and
understated luxury rather than anything overly trend-led. The rooms feel
established and considered, with generous bathrooms, good-sized beds and the
details you’d expect from a hotel of this calibre.
Dining is an important part of the Chewton Glen
experience. The Dining Room is the more formal option, offering modern British
cooking with a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients. It has the polished
feel you’d expect for a special dinner, while still avoiding unnecessary
formality.
For something more casual, The Kitchen offers an informal
setting and a menu designed for easy dining throughout the day. It’s
particularly well suited to families and groups, making it a useful contrast to
the main restaurant.
There’s also a bar for pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap,
with a classic country-house atmosphere. Whether you’re looking for cocktails,
wine or somewhere to meet before dinner, it’s a natural part of the evening.
Breakfast deserves a mention too. With plenty of choice,
it’s the sort of meal that sets you up for a day exploring the estate, heading
into the New Forest or making your way towards the coast.
For those wanting a country-house stay with plenty to do
– from spa days and tennis to walks through the New Forest – Chewton Glen
continues to get the balance right.
A Country House Escape With a New Forest Edge
Lime Wood has long been one of the names to know for a
stylish New Forest escape. Set within the National Park, this Georgian country
house has the grandeur you’d expect from a historic estate, but the atmosphere
is decidedly more relaxed and contemporary. There’s no sense of stiff formality
here – instead, the experience centres around great food, distinctive
interiors, the Herb House spa and the freedom to disappear into the New Forest
for a few days. The house itself sets the tone. Period architecture and
traditional details are mixed with antiques, artwork, natural textures and
flashes of modern design, giving Lime Wood a character that feels collected
rather than carefully styled. It’s polished, but never pristine.
The bedrooms are individual and full of personality, with
a residential feel that is central to Lime Wood’s appeal. Rather than a uniform
hotel look, rooms combine antique furniture, soft fabrics, fireplaces and
contemporary artwork, with each one having its own character. The larger suites
take things further, with separate sitting areas, generous bathrooms and views
across the gardens and woodland. Some have freestanding baths and fireplaces,
making them particularly appealing for a winter weekend.
Food is one of Lime Wood’s biggest draws. Hartnett
Holder & Co, the hotel’s main restaurant from chefs Angela Hartnett and
Luke Holder, brings together Italian and British influences with a focus on
seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The cooking is confident rather than
complicated, with dishes designed to showcase the produce.
For something completely different, head to Raw &
Cured at the Herb House. The menu is lighter and health-focused, with
salads, juices and fresh, seasonal dishes – ideal after a treatment or swim.
Then there’s the Spencer Holmes Bar, a
quintessentially Lime Wood space with its open fire, eclectic furniture and
shelves of books. It’s the natural place for a pre-dinner drink, a nightcap or
an afternoon coffee when the weather is doing its worst outside.
The Herb House is arguably what gives Lime Wood
its edge. This isn’t simply a hotel with a spa attached; the separate wellness
building has become a destination in itself. There’s a pool, treatment rooms,
sauna and steam room, exercise studios and a rooftop herb garden, with a strong
emphasis on natural, holistic wellbeing.
The overall atmosphere is sociable and grown-up, but
never overly formal. You’ll see guests in walking boots alongside others
heading to dinner, and the hotel manages to accommodate both without feeling
divided into different worlds.
For a weekend where the plan is good food, a little
pampering and plenty of fresh air, Lime Wood remains one of the New Forest’s
most distinctive stays.
