Looking to escape to the Hampshire countryside for a vacation?
I’ve worked and stayed at some of the top hotels and resorts in the UK. However, one always sticks at the top of my mind as one of the best in the UK: the 5-star Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa. I worked there as the Spa Manager, and its ethos and luxury stand out above the rest.
Chewton Glen is most definitely the place if you’re looking for a getaway to the English countryside with a twist. I’ll tell you all about the hotel, the spa, and the treehouses and even throw in a couple of insider tips to enhance your stay!
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Stay in the Heart of The New Forest
Chewton Glen is located on a large country estate in the heart of the New Forest in Hampshire, England. What’s fantastic is that it combines British country estate with being local to the beach as well. It’s just a short walk from the hotel Barton-On-Sea Beach near New Milton, and they even offer to arrange activities such as paddle boarding for you.
Pro tip: There’s a morning walk to the beach from the hotel every morning. It’s called the Bunny Walk, and it goes through the Bunny Reserve. The fitness team leads it, and I’d recommend stopping by the main reception to check the times and to book.
The fantastic location of the hotel, being on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, really sets you up for a great vacation. There are many fantastic things to do in Hampshire, such as Beaulieu, which has historic cars, plus the New Forest itself is wonderful as there are lots of walks and bike tracks you can enjoy. If you’re into cycling, the hotel has bikes you can borrow. Also, no visit to the area would be complete without a visit to a local country pub for some relaxation!
Hotel Suite or A Treehouse Adventure?
This exquisite country house hotel offers several different accommodation types. The various rooms and suites within the hotel range from a starting rate of between £405 and £1,450 a night, depending on size and category.
Of course, the main house’s rooms are designed to exceptional standards. You’ll find lovely little personal touches such as welcome notes from the general manager if you’re a return guest or a celebration chocolate plate on arrival if you’re celebrating an occasion such as a birthday.
Pro tip: If you’re celebrating a special occasion during your stay, don’t forget to let them know when you make your booking. Chewton Glen is well known for its delicious chocolates!
One of the most magical times to stay is during Christmas. The hotel decorates the house and hosts many special events, such as Christmas carol singing. When I worked there, I used to love the atmosphere of Christmas and the logs burning on the open fires.
Staying in a Treehouse Hotel Room in England
Yes, I just said treehouse! Chewton Glen is famous for its treehouse accommodation, which are beautiful suites with views over the forest. These are the premium options. However, once you stay, you’ll see why people repeatedly return! There are currently 12 treehouses in total hidden throughout the forest. They are self-sufficient houses with their own kitchenettes; however, if you need a little “extra help” in the kitchen, then they can arrange for a private chef to cook for you.
You’ll be given world-class luxury service from when you arrive to when you leave. On arrival at the hotel, you’ll be introduced to your own Treehouse Concierge, whose job is to ensure that every guest has an exceptional experience. They’ll also be on hand to drive you around the estate in one of the dedicated treehouse golf buggies.
Each treehouse is designed to encourage a sense of calm and serenity, with its own hot tub with incredible views over the forest. And for extra relaxation, you can book an in-room spa treatment in the glass-fronted lounge area. Bliss!
One of the best perks about staying in the treehouses is that they deliver breakfast to you each morning. And you don’t know until morning that the treehouse has a small door outside where the concierge can slide through a wicker breakfast basket full of goodies straight to your kitchen. You’ll wake in the morning as if the basket appeared there by magic!
Each treehouse varies in size depending on how many bedrooms you’d like. A few of them have cool mezzanine rooms, which make a perfect setup for where kids can sleep if you’re having a family vacation. The Yews Treehouse is the most exclusive of them all. It’s set apart from the rest, offering more exclusivity. Prices for The Yew start at £3,200 per night.
Pro tip: They often have packages on their website for both the main house’s bedrooms and suites and the treehouses that often include spa treatments or dining options during your stay.
Activities and Experiences on the Estate
I used to be the Spa Manager at Chewton Glen, so I would have to be biased and say it’s one of the best spas in the UK. However, you don’t need to rely on what I say, as the awards it wins hopefully speak volumes for themselves!
The spa is best known for its immense hydrotherapy pool, with various sections offering different thermal experiences. At one point, it was the biggest in the country! The spa also has some beautiful sauna and steam room experiences, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, and foot spa baths.
For treatments, the therapists use the award-winning Oskia and Natura Bisse product ranges. And if you’re looking for something more results-driven, I highly recommend trying the Oskia Theraface Pro!
If you’re looking for something more energetic, they offer a fully equipped gym and various exercise classes. You’ll need to book in advance to reserve your places in classes.
Watch for the children’s swim times at the indoor pool. If you have children, you’ll want to make the most of them. And if you’re on an adult getaway, you’ll probably want to avoid them, as they can be loud and busy.
The estate also runs many different activities and has a busy calendar of events throughout the year. For activities, they cover it all, from clay pigeon shooting to sailing to jam-making classes. All of their activities operate at an incredibly high standard, and mid-week, they run many corporate team-building events.
Family-Friendly Stays for Children of All Ages
Chewton Glen offers one of the best luxury, family-friendly holidays for children from babies to toddlers and teens. They have a fantastic kids club for young children from those who are potty trained upwards. Both the club and the kids’ activities are included in your stay. The kid’s team is based in The BeeHive, which is an especially built treehouse for kids with bi-folding doors, so it feels like an outside space, too.
The activities on offer for kids are amazing—covering everything from painting and felt-making to tennis and raft building so that there’s something for everyone. In the evening, they offered a babysitting service for a fee so that you could head for dinner without your children.
Dining in Style at Chewton Glen
The Dining Room is the main option at Chewton Glen, which focuses on local seasonal ingredients combined into classic dishes with a twist. They proudly celebrate that much of the food travels less than 100m from the walled kitchen garden.
I have had some delicious meals in the dining room, and I particularly recommend their Sunday roast, as I’m a big fan of a roast dinner, and they do it really well!
Whilst lunch and dinner are delicious, one of the things that Chewton Glen is known for locally is its Afternoon Tea, which draws people in from near and far.
The Wine Room is the name given to the Chewton Glen wine cellar in the middle of the Dining Room. If you’re hosting a special occasion, this space makes an amazing choice for a private fine dining experience.
Cookery School
One of the very unique things about Chewton Glen is that they have an on-site cookery school. What’s really cool is that they grow a lot of fruit and vegetables in greenhouses next to the school, so you’ll be using very fresh ingredients.
British celebrity chef James Martin curates the dining menu and again features local ingredients in dishes such as fresh pizzas, seafood, superfood salads, and a great burger. You should make room for desserts, as the ones that he makes are incredible.
Final Thoughts on Chewton Glen
The multiple awards speak for themselves, naming Chewton Glen one of the UK’s most amazing luxury country estates. The property offers an amazing variety of accommodations (though if you can, I’d always recommend the treehouses), fine dining, and a fantastic locally sourced cookery school.
For families, there are many kid-friendly activities, clubs, and a fully certified babysitting service. For adults looking for an escape, it has a best-in-class spa for treatments and relaxation. And if you want fresh air and exercise, it’s perfectly located in the New Forest.
For more family travel tips, check out Big Adventures With Little Feet.
