Our guide to luxury New Forest holidays
Wild horses couldn’t drag us away from this 140,000-acre haven of ancient woodlands and wild heathlands, where the pace of life slows from a canter to a trot. This is the Unique guide to luxury holidays in the New Forest.
As the late English novelist H. E. Bates once wrote: “the New Forest is a naturalist's paradise... For sheer beauty and variety, I doubt if any other area in the British Isles can equal it." Frankly, one wonders who could disagree. The New Forest isn't just a pin on the map; it's a living, breathing sanctuary where nature reigns supreme and the spirit of adventure beckons with every winding trail. There's ancient canopies, forest floors that come alive with a kaleidoscope of wildflowers, and glades where wild ponies graze. All that, plus bakeries tumbling with hot bagels and forest delis selling made-to-order chocolate slabs.
From the haunting ruins of Beaulieu Abbey and the historic shipbuilding village of Buckler’s Hard to bucket and spade days in nearby Barton-on-Sea, there’s a whole host of reasons you might be tempted to down tools for a last-minute long weekend. No time to carefully curate your itinerary? These home-from-homes in Hampshire have left no stone unturned. Heated pool? Check. Private chef? Consider it done. Secret garden for sundowners? Say no more. We’ve uncovered the best things to see, do, and where to dine in our guide to luxury holidays in the New Forest, so you don't have to.
Locations in New Forest
Spend afternoons cradled in summer sun on the banks of the Avon in Fordingbridge, or head to Lyndhurst, where cobbled streets lined with antique shops and artisan coffee shops mark the gateway to the New Forest.
Collections in New Forest
Give in to nature’s call and escape to the wilderness — just a couple of hours from London. Whether you need space for all the party accessories or space to think, our curated collections ensure the whole coterie is catered for.
Any day stays
From anniversary spots to party-ready manors, these luxury homes open their doors any day of the week, making them the ultimate flexi staycation.
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Coastal Retreats
From modern beach houses to bohemian self-catering cottages by the sea, spend days watching the waves in one of our luxury coastal cottages.
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Dog-Friendly Escapes
Luxury self-catering for dog-friendly escapes, these coastal cottages and country retreats are designed with discerning hounds in mind.
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Couples´ Retreats
From Valentine´s breaks to honeymooner´s hideaways, these luxury cottages were designed for couples with romance in mind.
View collectionLuxury Homes with Pools
Feel the heat? Choose from our luxury holiday homes with swimming pools. Indoors, outdoors, heated, natural... we have them all.
View collectionFamily-Friendly Self-Catering
Unique family-owned homes creatively designed with relaxation in mind, our luxury child-friendly holiday cottages offer stress-free escapes.
View collectionLarge Self-Catering Groups
Our larger luxury self-catering homes and big country houses are just the ticket for a celebratory luxury group gathering.
View collectionHoneymoons
Start married life with the ultimate romantic honeymoon in a luxury retreat, from cosy cottages to beach hideaways.
View collectionLuxury Homes with Hot Tubs
Plot your escape to one of these exclusive, hand-picked luxury self-catering cottages with hot tubs for a truly relaxing and rejuvenating break.
View collectionLuxury Homes with a Private Chef
From romantic breaks where dessert is always on the menu to celebration homes where chefs make the family favourites; see our homes with catering.
View collectionCountry House Breaks
Our exclusive collection of country houses includes luxury manor houses, opulent mansions with pools and beautiful private estates.
View collectionWorking Remotely
Discover luxury self-catering with inspirational home office spaces, allowing for both work and play on your holiday.
View collectionLuxury Homes with Tennis Courts
From Victorian vegetable stores to fairytale millhouses, our luxury homes with tennis courts bring the best of Wimbledon to the country.
View collectionAlternative Group Option
Alternative holiday cottages for groups. Stay as a small group in one of our luxury self-catering holiday homes with our alternative group option.
View collectionHoliday homes 2-3 hours from London
Plotting a romantic escape from the city? These luxury coastal and country retreats within two to three hours’ drive of London are just the ticket.
View collectionEco-Friendly Escapes
Our luxury eco-friendly retreats include a beach hut Cornwall and a coastal cabin in Scotland. Good for the soul, and the planet.
View collectionBaby-Friendly Breaks
For families with a baby on board, our unique baby-friendly breaks provide luxury self-catering with safety, comfort and parents in mind.
View collectionElopement Weddings
Whether a luxury home by the sea or grand country manor, run away to enjoy the elopement wedding of your dreams at a unique private home.
View collectionSecret Garden Escapes
Our unique garden escapes feature woodland hideaways, secret garden cottages and exclusive private homes in Alice in Wonderland estates.
View collectionFilm and Photoshoot Locations
Whether you want a unique film shoot backdrop or luxury venue for a new product launch, these shoot and stay locations are one of a kind.
View collectionWaterside Living
Experience the charm and tranquility of living on the water´s edge at these unique waterside properties set by lochs, lakes, rivers or beaches.
View collectionWellness Retreats
Wellbeing venues with a difference, take exclusive hire of a private home for your next wellbeing, fitness or yoga retreat.
View collectionLuxury Solo Travel
Indulge in a little me time and create your own itinerary with an independent solo travel experience at an inspiring luxury homestay.
View collectionElectric Car Escapes
If you are looking for an eco-friendly holiday that supports your electric or hybrid car, these sustainable luxury properties will be just the ticket.
View collectionLong Let Holiday Homes and Properties
Relocating for work? Between houses? Make yourself at home! Enjoy a long let rental without the hassle at a private luxury holiday home.
View collectionCorporate Events
Our unique corporate event venues promise creative settings for inspired company retreats, ideal for team-building or company rewards.
View collectionSurf Retreats
Unique surfing holidays along the UK´s stunning coastline, where chic beach houses provide a luxury base for adrenaline-fuelled escapes.
View collectionValentine´s Breaks
Unique Valentine´s Day breaks for a get-away-from-it-all adventure, from iconic beach huts to remote woodland cabins for two.
View collectionUnique Hen Weekends
For sophisticated brides wanting an alternative hen weekend its got to be Unique Homestays. Think yoga barns, swimming pools and disco balls.
View collectionWilderness Retreats
Idyllic hideaways perfect for wild food foragers and barefoot wanderers, our wilderness retreats combine remote settings with natural style.
View collectionBoho Hideaways
Embrace your inner nomad with our boho cottages and hideaway homes, where eclectic décor and laid-back vibes combine to make the perfect boho luxury escape.
View collectionLimited Edition
Be one of the lucky few to stay in one of these unique private homes, available for only a select number of weeks per year.
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Things to do in New Forest
Lace up your hiking boots and discover trails from the doorstep, hire a pastel-hued hut for a barbecue in nearby Hengistbury Head, or take a boat trip on the Beaulieu River, one of the most beautiful marinas on the south coast.
Explore the New Forest
Whether by foot, bicycle, or horseback, explore this National Park and its many treasures. For the young at heart, two water parks with inflatables, trampolines and jumping points offer belly-aching laughter.
Hengistbury Head
Jutting out into the English Channel between Bournemouth and Mudeford, this ancient monument is fit to burst with white sands, pastel-hued beach huts and stunning walks with views out to the horizon.
Things to see in New Forest
Admire the small (but nationally important) Blackwater Arboretum, leave the New Forest´s bounds to catch a toe-tapping family musical at Southampton´s Mayflower Theatre, or view Elizabethan oil paintings on display at Breamore.
Breamore House
Walk up the winding drive, past a twisted 1000-year-old yew tree and into this Elizabethan manor (used as a film location for many a period drama) on the edge of the New Forest. History buffs will be in their element.
The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
On the regular circuit for London´s West End shows, the Mayflower Theatre is the largest across England´s south coast. A must for musical lovers, and even fans of dance, comedy, and theatre; from rhythm and blues to the Nutcracker.
Journals about New Forest
Find out where to make a splash in the great outdoors, discover the woodland home that´s a thing of Frederick Marryat’s dreams, and read about the free-roaming species that have become an iconic part of the landscape.
Lifestyle
Beautiful places to visit in the UK in autumn
Whether heading to the hills with walking boots in tow or for a hot soak in a Roman city, autumn offers a new perspective for travellers. Read our guide to making the most of the season.
Lifestyle
The best luxury homes with private pools
On your marks, get set, and dive! This month marks the grand reopening of our pools for the season. Natural, heated, or designed like a Roman bath, these sparkling vats of water await your slinky arrival this summer.
Lifestyle
The season for lovers
From dog-friendly cottages containing lots of little luxuries to hot tub hideaways that hang over secret Cornish beaches, what lovers don’t wish for a winter getaway?
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Enchanted cottages from the pages of fairytales
Delve into the land of fairytales with a stay in an enchanted cottage, hidden in some of the UK´s wildest corners.
New Forest FAQ’s
Looking to learn more about the native ponies? Want to know where the nearest beach is? If you have a New Forest-specific query, you might find the answer here. For everything else, visit our general FAQs.
What is the largest town in the New Forest?
Lymington. Perched on the edge of the Solent, this maritime town is full of coastal charm, with a buzzing quayside, cobbled streets, and beautiful Georgian architecture. There are independent boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops hidden down tiny side streets, and a lively market which has been going since the 13th century.
Where exactly is the New Forest?
Stretching over 500 square kilometres, split between Hampshire and Wiltshire, the New Forest sits on the south coast of England. Ranging from ancient forest to heathlands, wetlands and coastal scrub, it includes towns like Lymington, Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, and Beaulieu, often regarded as the prettiest of them all. Originally decreed as a royal hunting forest by William the Conqueror, the area remains unspoilt and protected by law.
Does the New Forest have a beach?
Though the New Forest is inland, its boundaries bump into neighbouring coastal towns Milford-on-Sea and Barton-on-Sea, offering around 40 miles of stunning coastline and shingle beaches. At the latter, would-be palaeontologists might like to get up at the crack of dawn and go fossil hunting for remnants of a Jurassic era gone by. Views that reach across the Solent to the Isle of Wight keep restless minds at bay whereas the pretty pastel beach huts that line the clay behind offer bursts of colour on a drizzly day.
Are the pigs still in the New Forest?
Indeed, pigs roam freely in the New Forest to this day, given right of way during a specific season known as ‘pannage’, usually from September to November. This ancient practice serves multiple purposes: the pigs play a vital role in managing the forest's acorn and beech mast, feasting on these fallen nuts and preventing them from becoming toxic to the New Forest's iconic ponies and other wildlife.
Do New Forest ponies have owners?
New Forest ponies are owned by local commoners. Under ‘Commoners' Rights’, those who own land that contains these ancient rights are allowed to let their ponies graze freely within the New Forest. These semi-wild ponies help to keep the biodiversity of the forest flowing – but, be careful, those caught touching or feeding the ponies can be fined up to £1,000.
Own a property in the New Forest?
Are you the keeper of a woodland chalet? Or the custodian of a riverside palazzo? From Normansland to Beaulieu to coastal Calshot, we´re seeking the New Forest´s most unique homes to join our growing portfolio.
