Travel

New Forest

Establishment neighborhood
Chewton Glen
New Milton, New Forest
The price tag is up there for the English countryside, but when you walk into the spa’s pool, which is flanked by colonnades, it starts making sense. The main highlight here is definitely the spa, with Linda Meredith facials, Ila treatments, and, apparently, the largest hydrotherapy pool in the UK. And then there are the Treehouses: A recent addition to the hotel, these contemporary suites are literally built into the trees on the property. Secluded and peaceful, with stunning views out into the trees and the property beyond, this is pretty much the definition of a luxurious countryside retreat. The rooms down on land aren’t bad either, with more traditional, cozy English décor—they’re all pretty big, too. Another plus is that the food here is great, with plenty of light options. You can balance your spa downtime with tennis, golf, clay pigeon shooting, or even falconry lessons. There are also great options for walks on the property and on nearby trails into the New Forest. It’s also really close to the ocean.
Lime Wood
Beaulieu Rd., Lyndhurst
With roots that date all the way back to the 13th century, this country manor-turned-luxury hotel is a prime candidate for weekends away from London. It's just 20 minutes from the coast and steps from the rural beauty of the New Forest, which, in addition to providing guests with eye candy and roaming space, supplies the hotel’s eateries with freshly foraged fare. With chefs Luke Holder and Angela Hartnett at the helm, Hartnett Holder & Co serves up traditional English dishes letting locally-sourced ingredients shine while the health-focused Raw & Cured—as the name suggests, most of the menu is raw or cured. Spanning three floors and overlooking the ground, the spa, Herb House, is hailed as one of the best in the country. It offers a slew of stress-melting treatmentsa and a caldarium. What’s a caldarium? A piping-hot plunge pool inspired by ancient Roman baths.