The Best Staycation Hotels In Hampshire & The Isle of Wight
By CTH Editors
6 months ago
Where to stay in the UK's south east region
With miles of beautiful coastline, two national parks, a handful of pretty market towns and acres of greenery, Hampshire is one of the UK’s best staycation spots – and the Isle of Wight is but a short ferry link away, meaning you can extend your journey even further. Planning your next UK retreat? Read on for the C&TH pick of Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s best hotels.
Read the C&TH Responsible Tourism Guide
Best Hotels In Hampshire & On The Isle Of Wight 2024
Reviews are taken from this year’s Great British & Irish Hotels Guide – here’s where to buy your copy.
Wellington Arms, Baughurst
There’s something pretty special about The Welly. Thought to have originated as the Duke of Wellington’s hunting lodge
on the edge of his Stratfield Saye estate, it’s now a real foodies’ pub, owned and run with great charm by Simon Page (front of house) and Jason King (award-winning chef). Set in countryside on the Hampshire/Berkshire border, it has a prolific kitchen garden and a field where hens, bees, sheep, geese and pigs are kept. The dining room – there are just 12 highly prized tables – is delightfully informal. Jason uses homegrown ingredients in most of his carefully prepared, country-style dishes. There are four bedrooms: the Apartment is a one-bedroom suite above the pub; there are two striking guest rooms tucked away in a converted 17th century oak-framed, brick and timber hay store; and the Cart House is a green oak barn. They have all the extras, from rain showers with Aesop products to Nespresso coffee machines and excellent beds dressed in top quality linen. Breakfast is a feast, with eggs straight from their hens and divine tea cosies knitted by Simon’s mum. Who could ask for more?
Doubles from £130.
+44 (0)1189 820110; thewellingtonarms.com
The Grosvenor, Stockbridge
This historic gem, The Grosvenor, sits proudly at the heart of Stockbridge, the smallest town in England, and home to the River Test. The hotel has been lovingly restored to its former glory by local resident Simon Henderson and his wife Teresa. It’s a delightful, relaxing hotel, where you can celebrate and unwind. There are 34 beautiful bedrooms, which mix antiques with contemporary pieces. Book the sumptuous Hayloft suite with its own sitting and dining area and Cook’s Corner. Or there’s one of the stunningly-designed Garden Rooms, opening onto the Walled Garden. There’s also the lovely three-bedroom Tap Cottage. Dogs are welcome too. Headed up by chef Oli Abbott, there are three fantastic eateries, from the elegant Market Room Restaurant to the River Room for private dining and the fabulous new 1822 Bar. The beautiful Terrace is ideal for enjoying a morning coffee in the sunshine or for dining al fresco. The Grosvenor offers an abundance of sporting pursuits to boot, including fly fishing (ask the hotel for one of their delicious hampers) and shooting. What could be better?
From £180 B&B.
+44 (0)1264 810606; thegrosvenorstockbridge.com
Stanwell House, Lymington
This beautiful Georgian property in the heart of Lymington in the New Forest is rejoicing in its new dawn, following a major renovation in 2022 by its new owners. Today, thanks to local interior designer Jo-Jo Macnamara, there is a wide range of elegant Georgian-inspired bedrooms. Choose between the cosy Loft Rooms, the Terrace and Garden Rooms, tucked away at the rear of the hotel, the spacious House Rooms, and Luxury Rooms and Suites, with super king-size beds. Whichever you go for, each is individually decorated with vintage touches, lovely printed fabric and pops of colour. Spot unique Georgian touches, such as original windows or exposed fireplaces. Food has been carefully considered, too. The Samphire, a laidback stylish bistro, serves the very best from land and sea. The glass-roofed Orangery offers a superb afternoon tea and you will never want to leave the Salt Bar, a local favourite. The magic of the New Forest is right on your doorstep and the Lymington Sea Wall is great for a seaside stroll. You can even do a day trip to the Isle of Wight.
Doubles from £185.
+44 (0)1590 677123; stanwellhouse.com
The Manor at Sway, Lymington
In 2014, hotelier Tim Holloway and his wife Edlyn Cunill decided to swap London for the peace and quiet of the New Forest, with happy results for anyone looking for an affordable yet stylish rural trip. In the village of Sway, surrounded by open heath and woodland that’s ideal for walking, horse riding and cycling, they found The Manor, built in 1906. With the help of interior designer David Bentheim they’ve given the solid brick Edwardian house a stunning makeover, its 15 beautifully coloured bedrooms decorated with prints from John James Audubon’s Birds of America, an open-plan restaurant and bar, and a sitting room that daringly pairs William Morris fruit wallpaper with lime green furnishings and black and white check carpets, to stunning effect. The food, elegant, fresh and seasonal, from a constantly changing menu, is excellent (think harissa-spiced lamb rump, say, or pea risotto), as are the wines. Best of all, the hotel overlooks five acres of sloping wooded grounds, surveyed from a splendid terrace that’s perfect for outdoor dining on a warm summer’s evening.
Doubles from £120.
+44 (0)1590 682754; themanoratsway.com
East End Arms, Lymington
Welcome to the New Forest, 145 square miles of ancient heath and woodland where ponies, donkeys, pigs, cattle and deer still freely roam and where the East End Arms makes the perfect affordable base. The owner is Dire Straits’ bass guitarist John Illsley. When he bought the pub in the mid-1990s, he received a letter from the regulars, saying: ‘Hands off our public bar!’ He says, ‘They wouldn’t even let me repair the hole in the ceiling and when we repainted, it had to be exactly the same colour. Fine by me!’ For a simple room with locals at the bar and real ales, turn right. For some of the best food in the New Forest – it has featured in Rick Stein’s television series, Food Heroes, and been nominated a top UK pub-with-rooms – in a charming dining room, enlivened by monochrome photographs of musicians and celebrities, turn left. For a comfy night, head upstairs to one of the five cute and comfortable bedrooms with their king-sized beds dressed in crisp white sheets, Nespresso machines, Mulberry fabrics and walls decorated with John’s paintings. As you’d expect, breakfast is spot on.
Doubles from £110.
+44 (0)1590 626223; eastendarms.co.uk
Chewton Glen, New Forest
Chewton Glen is a true English original: a five-star Relais & Chateaux hotel and spa, situated on the edge of the ancient New Forest and a short walk from the beach in Hampshire. Choose from a variety of quintessentially English guestrooms and luxurious suites or spend the night among the trees, immersed in nature, in your very own secluded Treehouse Suite on stilts (they even come with al fresco hot tubs). Savour delectable cuisine (twice-baked cheese soufflé say, or Wiltshire venison loin) and afternoon tea in The Dining Room, or enjoy a relaxed meal at The Kitchen, an exciting restaurant overseen by chef James Martin. Want to improve your culinary skills? There’s also a cookery school offering lessons from the chef himself. Within the 130 acres of grounds, you can enjoy all kinds of family-friendly activities: there’s a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts and a croquet lawn. Or simply unwind in the fabulous indoor and outdoor pools and the indulgent, award-winning spa – there’s something to satisfy everyone. Service is effortless too. Without doubt, this is one
of the country’s finest hotels.
Doubles from £405.
+44 (0)1425 282212; chewtonglen.com
Careys Manor, Brockenhurst
When life’s cares start to pile up, escape to this New Forest bolthole for a weekend of spoiling and relaxation in Hampshire – it’ll be just the ticket. The spa hotel occupies a striking redbrick Victorian manor in neat gardens on the outskirts of Brockenhurst and is the sister hotel of The Montagu Arms. The reception room has oak-panelled walls and an open fire to welcome you in. Seventy seven large, comfortable bedrooms await you upstairs, combining modern amenities with traditional country house style.
Lyndhurst Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7RH
Jack Russell Inn, Faccombe
Sitting at the heart of the beautiful Faccombe Estate, this classic country pub ticks all the boxes: great views, attractive decoration, friendly staff and excellent, seasonal, locally sourced food served in the airy dining room. Head chef Andy Watts is the man behind the menu, which uses estate produce, from seasonal game to orchard fruits – all accompanied by the best sustainable wines from around the world. There’s an outdoor terrace with a log fire and sheepskin throws for early evening drinks or after-dinner cocktails. There are 11 bedrooms to choose from and each is named after a different dog breed. Indeed, dogs are positively welcomed with dog beds and bowls provided. Little luxuries such as espresso machines and a gastronomic breakfast menu raise the bar further. Popular all year round, the Newbury races, beautiful market towns of Hungerford and Marlborough and some prestigious vineyards are not far away. The wonderful surrounding countryside is great for walking. Eco-conscious guests will love the estate’s borehole, wind turbine and wood pellet-burning biomass boiler providing heat to the pub, lodge and local community.
Doubles from £130.
+44 (0)1264 737315; thejackrussellinn.com
Heckfield Place, Hook
Like the water lilies on its two lakes that unfurl in the afternoon sun, this country house hotel has elegantly blossomed into life. You can swim wild, picnic in the woods, and wander around the hotel’s biodynamic market garden and organic farm. Inside, there’s a sense of warmth and homeliness, with lime plaster walls in natural colours, linens, English oak floors, handcrafted furniture and matting woven from sweet-smelling River Ouse rush. Heckfield Place, once home to Charles Shaw-Lefevre, Speaker of the House of Commons in the 19th century, is artistic (fine 20th-century English pictures from the owner’s private collection), literary (a library of interesting books in the Morning Room and bedrooms) and entertaining (The Assembly is a curated programme of films and events). There’s also The Bothy by Wildsmith, the 17,000 sq/ft home of wellbeing, and the delicious cooking of celebrated chef Skye Gyngell at the Green Michelin-starred Marle and open-fired Hearth restaurants, where you can taste their estate-grown ingredients. As for the bedrooms, they are simply lovely and include six distinctive and original room types.
Doubles from £600.
+44 (0)118 932 6868; heckfieldplace.com
Lime Wood, Lyndhurst
It’s all about attention to detail at this sumptuous New Forest hideaway. Oak doors are thick, paint finishes fresh and floor lights switch on as you walk into the bathroom from your quietly opulent, individually decorated bedroom (there are 33, in the main house and throughout the grounds). In the sybaritic Herb House Spa, you can do yoga on the rooftop herb garden, have bespoke treatments from brands such as Bamford and Ground Wellbeing, take in forest views from the sauna and eat nourishing food in Raw & Cured. Inspired by nature and their forest surroundings ‘Re-root at Lime Wood’, is a series of retreats guided by the rhythms of the seasons that bring guests back to their roots. Lime Wood is also home to Hartnett Holder & Co, the brilliant restaurant partnership between Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder which serves Italian-influenced dishes in gorgeous, laid-back surroundings. The glamour is there, but the stiffness of formal dining has been swept away. It’s how we want to live today, and Lime Wood perfectly captures the laid-back luxury mood.
Doubles from £495.
+44 (0)23 8028 7177; limewoodhotel.co.uk
Rhinefield House Hotel, Brockenhurst
Rhinefield House Hotel, part of the Hand Picked Hotels collection, is a country house surrounded by 40 acres of stunning private grounds, known locally as the ‘Jewel in the Forest’. And for good reason. Hidden deep in the New Forest National Park, it seamlessly blends Tudor and Gothic architecture, with grandeur down to a fine art. The bejewelled Alhambra Room conjures up the majestic splendour of Granada’s palace, while the Armada Restaurant – an elegant picture of intricate wood panelling – serves classic British dishes with a contemporary twist. The Conservatory, another superb dining spot, celebrates local ingredients (order the braised New Forest lamb shank). Guests can stroll around the beautiful gardens with ornamental ponds, fountains and terraces, and gorgeous surrounding woodland. The hotel is proudly dog friendly, too. There’s also the health suite – the ultimate woodland retreat – plus indoor and outdoor pools. The buzzy villages of Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst are nearby – after a day of exploring, the luxurious 50 bedrooms are the perfect place to relax, with marble bathrooms and far-reaching views.
+44 (0)1642 706606; handpickedhotels.co.uk/rhinefieldhouse
The Pig in the Wall, Southampton
If THE PIG in the New Forest is the country house, then this is its town cousin, just 20 minutes away in Southampton. Charmingly embraced by the city’s medieval defensive walls, it’s gorgeous, affordable and makes a great choice for a hassle-free short break, easily reached by train from London. Hole up in one of its faultlessly chic bedrooms with their retro radios, telephones and alarm clocks, rain showers and roll-top baths, superb beds, well-stocked fridge ‘larders’, bare floorboards, painted wood ceilings and pretty fabrics. In the morning, linger over pastries, cold meats, and boil-your-own eggs, and peruse the morning papers in the Edwardian country-style kitchen-cum-parlour. For lunch, graze from the inviting deli counter, which acts as the reception, too. Later you can do some serious damage in the Westquay shopping centre in Southampton (if you dare) and then, at cocktail hour, head back to The Wall for a delicious dinner of freshly prepared salads, hearty plates (such as the pie of the day) and sweet treats, where you’ll be as happy as pigs in – er – manure.
Doubles from £205.
+44 (0)2380 636900; thepighotel.com
The Pig, Brockenhurst
Many hotels boast Kitchen Gardens, but few are as central to operations as that of THE PIG in the New Forest. Here, the garden is an imaginative edible paradise from which the chefs source much of their daily produce, the rest coming from within a 25 mile radius. This local and seasonal food-centric ideal is the inspiration for the original concept of THE PIG and its subsequent litter of hotels in the Home Grown Hotels sty, founded by British hotelier Robin Hutson in 2011. Here at Brockenhurst, the hotel, which is in its 13th year, is located in a handsome Georgian shooting lodge that stands in a clearing in the New Forest, with walking, foraging and spa treatments on offer. There’s a wonderful Victorian-style conservatory dining room, glamorous bar and outdoor courtyard. Calm, countrified and deeply comfortable, the hotel’s seductive shabby chic aesthetic comes in a palette of soft greens and chalky greys. Bedrooms include rustic, romantic lodges tucked away in the woods. The walled garden leads to a lovely lily pond and wooden Potting Shed treatment room. Oh,
and there really are pigs, too.
Doubles from £255.
+44 (0)1590 622354; thepighotel.com
The Hambrough, Isle Of Wight
Nestled on a pretty street in the coastal town of Ventnor, The Hambrough benefits from both a village-feel location and fabulous sea views. This boutique island hotel has seven individually designed rooms, all are fresh, light and airy, some with balconies looking across the English Channel. If you are after something more private, there is also a charming cottage for four and a lovely town house, which sleeps ten, with original features but modern amenities. This summer sees two more private houses just a couple of seconds away being added to the portfolio, each sleeping up to six people. A visit to The Hambrough Restaurant is a must, where Chef Curtis Elphick’s light classical style menus with a modern twist are attracting a faithful local following, and the Cocktail Bar with those stunning sea views is the perfect stop-off to chill after an exhausting day on the beach. The friendly staff add to its charm without compromising on service. On the southern tip of the Isle of Wight and sheltered by St. Boniface Down to the north, this is one of the sunniest spots in the UK and perfect for a seaside escape.
Doubles from £160.
+44 (0)1983 856333; thehambrough.com
The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu
Combining all the attributes of a traditional country house hotel – roaring log fires, oak panelling, pretty gardens and warm, comfortable bedrooms – with the pleasures of a picturesque village setting, The Montagu Arms makes an ideal base for a break. One of the latest additions to PoB Hotels’ collection, guests are invited to browse Beaulieu’s pretty high street, take a riverside walk to Buckler’s Hard or explore the surrounding New Forest National Park. Back in the hotel you’ll find a dark oak hall that contrasts with the bright, cream-panelled sitting room, leading in turn to a sunny conservatory and flower-filled gardens.
There are 33 bedrooms that stay true to the hotel’s heritage while enjoying contemporary colour schemes and designer fabrics. In the elegant, award-winning Terrace restaurant, a treat is in store. Tuck into modern, refined cuisine, which uses the best of the New Forest and the hotel’s own produce to create dishes that take local provenance seriously. Alternatively, there’s Monty’s, the hotel’s country pub, just next door, which offers delicious heritage cooking and much-loved English classics. Both children and
dogs are welcome, making it a great choice for families looking to escape the busy city for a wholesome New Forest adventure.
Doubles from £200
+44 (0)1590 612324; montaguarmshotel.co.uk; pobhotels.com
Careys Manor Hotel & Senspa, Brockenhurst
When life’s cares start to pile up, escape to this New Forest bolthole for a weekend of spoiling and relaxation – it’ll be just the ticket. The spa hotel occupies a striking redbrick Victorian manor in neat gardens on the outskirts of Brockenhurst and is the sister hotel of The Montagu Arms (see page 71). The reception room has oak-panelled walls and an open fire to welcome you in. Seventy-seven large, comfortable bedrooms combine modern amenities with traditional country house style. Some have four-poster beds and others with their own patio – ideal for soaking up the sun alongside your morning coffee. But what really makes Careys Manor stand out is its award-winning SenSpa, where you will be pampered with a mind-boggling range of treatments, from a traditional Thai massage to a gentle mud wrap to a thorough detox. As for food, there are three great options: Cambium, refined yet relaxing and celebrating all that is best about New Forest produce; Zen Garden, serving delicious, authentic Thai food; and informal French bar and bistro, Le Blaireau.
Doubles from £200.
+44 (0)1590 624467; careysmanor.com
Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, Dogmersfield
It’s hard to believe you’re only an hour from London here. Set amid 500 acres of the Dogmersfield Park Estate, you can watch the hotel’s horses frolicking in paddocks from the coolly sophisticated bedrooms (including a beautiful Martin Brudnizki designed Royal Suite with a private terrace). It’s easy to lose yourself in the grounds, playing croquet, fishing or cycling, while children can be kept busy at the Kids’ Playground or the hotel’s family adventure pool, Sharkie’s Reef. Located in the Manor House’s original 18th-century stable block, the large, light-filled spa, 20m adult pool and outdoor vitality pool all feel far removed from the modern-day stresses of everyday life. Service is exemplary, and the food is everything you would expect from Four Seasons. Wild Carrot makes the perfect setting for memorable seasonal meals while Café Sante serves a nutrition focused, south-east Asian menu. For a quintessentially British afternoon tea, head for the Drawing Room. Sunday lunch is a highlight, featuring entirely local produce from the heart of Hampshire. Go on, treat yourself.
Doubles from £595.
+44 (0)1252 853000; fourseasons.com/hampshire
