Chewton Glen Hotel

Chewton Glen may be the country-house hotel against which to measure all others. The location is spectacular, occupying 130 acres of parkland at the edge of the New Forest (once the hunting ground of Norman nobles, later the refuge of smugglers carrying Continental contraband). Nearby are Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, and the Isle of Wight; closer still is the sublime, dramatic Dorset coast, and beyond, the Channel.

As scenic as the surroundings may be, many guests may never get to see them — the hotel is luxurious enough that to tear oneself from the grounds requires a supreme effort. The exterior may be simply that of a very big house in the country, but within the walls is a completely modernized luxury hotel. Those in search of authentic 18th-century interiors may be disappointed, but those who prefer comfort to rickety (however authentic) furnishings will be delighted. They simply did not make suites (and especially bathrooms) this large in the old days. And space isn't the only luxury — the huge windows offer views of the grounds that are breathtaking enough to compete with the satellite TV and Bang & Olufsen entertainment centers.

Perhaps an excellent meal is enough to lure you from your room; The Dining Room offers a quintessentially English dining experience, with a menu that celebrates old Chewton Glen favorites while also embracing new flavors based on the best seasonal ingredients. And across the estate is The Kitchen by James Martin, where guests enjoy lunches or cooking classes while chefs develop menus and pick fresh ingredients from the garden and greenhouse.

In keeping with the theme of decadent relaxation, and carrying on the Roman bath tradition in the South, is the Chewton Glen Spa — one of the best in England, and a consistent award-winner. There’s a dizzying array of treatments on offer. If a simple swim is more to your liking, then take a dip in the 17-meter indoor pool, in the central hall of the hotel. This pool is not just massive and photogenic, but ozone-treated as well, reducing the need for chlorination, and turning an everyday indoor pool into a spa-worthy luxury.

As for outdoor activities, there is everything one could wish for from a country house hotel, located between the forest and the sea. On the grounds one may indulge in golf, tennis and croquet, while shooting and riding can be arranged nearby. If you are feeling adventurous, the hotel staff is happy to arrange fishing expeditions, 4x4 excursions into the New Forest, and even sailing the Solent (the channel between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight).

How to get there:
Chewton Glen Hotel is about a 90-minute drive from Heathrow Airport as well as London's city center. By rail, the trip from London's Waterloo Station to New Milton Station is 1 hour and 50 minutes, and a taxi can be arranged to meet you at the station. New Milton Station is 10 minutes from the hotel.