A long weekend. Three simple words with the remarkable power to inspire you take a deep breath and relax. Combine this power with the magical qualities of the New Forest, add the delights of an exceptional hotel into the mix, and you really do have the long weekend break of your dreams.
In terms of delights, all of the New Forest Collection hotels are comfortable and luxurious, with elegant interiors, award-winning restaurants showcasing locally sourced and seasonal produce, and beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds to enjoy.
Each one has superb leisure facilities and most have their own pool too, with onsite parking, EV charging points and WiFi as standard, so your long weekend break has all the elements you could possibly desire, and more.
Families are always well looked after, with generously-proportioned rooms and suites that are great if you’re opting for a long weekend break with the children.
Parent-friendly settings and fantastic children’s options are available in most of the restaurants too, and guests with children (and dogs, who are also welcome in the bar) feel right at home in The Drift, the laid-back and stylish country pub right next door to family-favourite Beaulieu Inn.
This characterful and quirky former coaching inn is located right in the middle of the heath, and literally brings the joys of the New Forest right up to your doorstep in the form of the cheeky ponies who graze here. Its elegantly modern interiors and soothing atmosphere make Beaulieu Inn the ideal spot to relax and unwind on a long weekend break in the New Forest.
Moorhill House nearby should also be top of any family’s long weekend wishlist. It’s a beautiful bed and breakfast hotel with fresh, light interiors and comfortable rooms with treetop views. There’s also plenty of space for the children to explore in the garden and beyond into the forest itself.
Canine companions love it at Moorhill too, and are more than welcome to join you here and in any of the other New Forest Collection hotels, where they are greeted and treated to all sorts of goodies on arrival.
One of these dog-friendly hotels is Bartley Lodge, a glorious Grade II listed country house hotel. Its eight acres of landscaped grounds are pure doggie heaven, and human guests adore it here too. Its heritage-meets-contemporary interiors, fabulous restaurant, and gorgeous rooms that each have incredible views, invite you to relax and enjoy every moment of your precious long weekend away.
If you’re a couple looking to spend a romantic long weekend in the forest and are seeking a quintessential boutique hotel, then Forest Lodge, near the thriving and friendly town of Lyndhurst, could be the one for you.
Stylish and intimate, its rooms feel crisp and contemporary, and the Lodge also plays host to 1820, the area’s award-winning brasserie and grill.
Somewhere else couples might consider for a long weekend break in the New Forest is Burley Manor, a magnificent country house set within an 800-year-old estate. Burley Manor boasts sumptuous rooms, wellbeing facilities and indulgent signature treatments, as well as the ultimate couple’s secret escape, The Shepherd’s Hut. Its wood-burning stove, copper roll-top bath and secluded woodland setting is the complete package, and takes your romantic long weekend break to the next level.
You might be planning your long weekend break well in advance, making it something to really look forward to, or opting for something more spur-of-the-moment. It’s always worth checking what’s available last-minute as great deals are often available, so whether you opt for a classic Friday to Monday 3-night package, or start there and end up extending your stay, the choice really is yours.
Each of these exceptional hotels in the New Forest is easily accessible from anywhere in the UK and beyond. There are excellent transport links via road, rail and sea, making any one of them the perfect choice for a long weekend staycation.
Plus, with hundreds of acres of forest to explore, pretty coastal villages and water sports to enjoy, and vibrant towns with their independent shops, galleries and markets to visit, there’s always plenty for everyone to do nearby.
A long weekend. Say these simple three words to yourself and see what happens. Then book in at one of these stunning hotels in the glorious New Forest and whilst all the delicious details of your long weekend break are yet to be discovered, whatever happens next, you can guarantee it’ll be pretty darn amazing.
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