Best hotels in New Forest 2023: Treehouses, manors and more

Sitting pretty in southern England – covering southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire – the New Forest was once a royal hunting ground for the likes of William the Conqueror.

Fast forward 1,000 years, and you’ll find the ancient landscape of glades, woodland, open moors and heathland hasn’t changed that much at all, with Willie’s “Nova Foresta” still full of mystery and romance – and ponies, of course (5,000 of them at last count).

Spend couple of days in the New Forest and you’ll soon get used to waking to the sight of deer grazing outside your window, having to put your foot on the brakes as those free-roaming ponies trot carefree across the road, and stopping every few minutes while on a walk to take photographs of donkeys grazing under ancient oak trees.

But where are the best places to stay? Whether you’re looking for a boutique room above a pub, a smart townhouse with top-notch food or a grand country pile with roaring fires, all these New Forest hotels have character, style and super service for a romantic getaway pour deux or an adventure-filled break for the whole family. Wild horses won’t be able to drag you away…

Neighbourhood: Lyndhurst

Situated right on the High Street in Lyndhurst, the “capital” of the New Forest, this is a great place to stay if you want easy access to the independent boutiques and bars that make up this vibrant town.

Occupying a striking half-timbered building at the top of the High Street, the Crown Manor House has plenty of historic flourishes in its design, including a kissing seat in the reception and a two-AA-Rosette restaurant bathed in the light from arched Victorian bay windows. The 50 rooms are all a little different in shape and size, and come with period styling.