Mums do travel

Travel with and without teens

  • Home
  • Destination
    • UK
      • London
      • Kent
      • Northern Ireland
      • Wales
      • Elsewhere
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Croatia
      • France
      • Gibraltar
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • USA
      • Canada
      • Carribean
      • Costa Rica
    • Africa
      • South Africa
      • Tunisia
    • Asia
      • Thailand
      • Bali
      • Singapore
    • Australia
  • Inspiration
    • Things to do in…
    • Things to do in London…
    • Where to stay
    • Language learning
    • Family travel interviews
    • The journey
    • Recipes
  • Published in
  • About
  • Contact
  • Travel shop
Home / Destination / Europe / UK / Elsewhere / New Park Manor luxury spa hotel review

New Park Manor luxury spa hotel review

February 5, 2018 by Gretta Schifano 4 Comments

New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

I really enjoyed visiting the New Forest for a winter break. Although it’s only around 100 miles from where I live in southern England, I’d not really explored this area much at all, and I was intrigued to learn about its history. While I was there I took part in some outdoor adventures – you can read about it in my post 7 great outdoor activities in the New Forest.

New Forest

The New Forest was designated a royal hunting ground by King William I in 1079 and a management system of verderers, agisters and commoners was set up to protect the land and its animals. Almost a thousand years later, the New Forest is now a National Park. The medieval management system is basically still in place, and continues to shape the landscape. Verderers protect the forest from development and are responsible for the welfare of its animals. Verderers employ full-time agisters to work on the forest and check on the animals. The livestock, mostly ponies and cattle, belong to commoners, who have the right to graze them on the forest.

New Park Manor

My home-from-home for the three-day trip was New Park Manor, a luxury country house hotel and spa, and a former favourite hunting lodge of King Charles II. The hotel has 25 bedrooms and is close to the village of Brockenhurst, Hampshire, in a peaceful landscape of heathland, fields and woodland.

The room

I stayed in the original part of the 17th century manor house in room number five, also called Catherine of Braganza (Catherine was married to King Charles II). With its high ceilings, ornate plaster cornices and antique wooden furniture, the room is rather grand, but it’s also homely and welcoming.

'Catherine of Braganza' room, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

‘Catherine of Braganza’ room, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

There’s a cushioned window seat next to one of the huge sash windows, perfectly placed for spotting New Forest ponies and deer. There’s a sofa (which is also a sofa bed) in one corner. The bed is very comfortable, and I like the vintage fish eye mirror on the wall and the Orla Kiely mugs on the tray of tea and coffee-making things. There’s free wifi for guests to use throughout the hotel, and it worked fine in my room.

I felt right at home there, but my only slight grumbles about the room are that the lead on the kettle is so short that I had to put it on the floor in order to plug it in, and that the lighting is so low as to be rather gloomy after dark.

The bathroom is well lit and has a bathtub with a rainfall shower over it and luscious Elemis toiletries to use. In the room there are white cotton towelling robes and slippers for guests to use at the spa and pool.

'Roe' room, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

‘Roe’ room, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The newer part of the hotel has some more contemporary rooms, and I went to see what they were like. You can see both my room and some of the other rooms in this short video which I filmed at the hotel.

Hotel facilities

New Park Manor has a spa with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub, as well as an outdoor pool which is open during the warmer months. I enjoyed an early morning swim during my stay, and had the 16-metre indoor pool to myself.

Indoor pool, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Indoor pool, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The hotel is very family-friendly, but in an understated way. There’s a creche (complete with guinea pigs and chickens) and a cinema room full of activities for older kids, and I spotted several toy boxes around the hotel, but it still feels like a grown-up kind of place. I really like the lounge area with its open fire and comfortable, friendly seating.

Lounge, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Lounge, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

To help you to explore the grounds and the surrounding countryside, wellie boots stand in the hotel entrance, waiting to be borrowed, and there are bikes available to hire.

Wellie boots to borrow, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Wellie boots to borrow, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The New Park Manor staff look after their guests in a kind, thoughtful and unobtrusive way which makes it a very relaxing place to stay.

Food

There are two restaurants at the hotel, including one which is just for adults and well-behaved over-12s. Breakfast is served in the conservatory restaurant and the menu is very good: I had poached egg and smoked haddock on one morning and poached egg and avocado on another. When I first arrived I had some delicious homemade butternut squash soup for lunch.

Vinery, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Vinery, New Park Manor, New Forest. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Getting there

I drove to the hotel from my home in Surrey, and it took me a couple of hours. There’s plenty of space to park at the hotel. You can reach the New Forest by train from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst (two miles from the hotel) in 90 minutes.

If you're looking for a luxury spa hotel in England's New Forest, then New Park Manor could be just what you're looking for. Besides the spa it has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and it's very family friendly. Click through for a full review, including a video tour.

 

Verdict

I really enjoyed being a guest at New Park Manor and would definitely recommend it, with or without children. It’s a luxurious, welcoming, relaxing place to stay, even in January. Rooms cost from £115 per night including breakfast.

Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links, so if you clicked through and booked, I would receive a small commission. I was hosted by New Park Manor and Go New Forest for the purposes of this review. All words, images, video and opinions are my own, as ever. I was in the New Forest with colleagues from the British Guild of Travel Writers, and you can see more about our trip by searching for #BGTWNewForest.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Categories: Elsewhere, Luxury, Room reports, Spa
Tags: New Forest

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

Facebook - Twitter - Google+

Subscribe to posts by email?

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Comments

  1. Rifat says

    June 30, 2019 at 12:16 pm

    ITS VERY HELP FUL AND VERY INFORMATIVE.THANK YOU.

    Reply
  2. Sarah Palin says

    February 22, 2018 at 8:35 am

    Interesting read! And I the old, rustic feel of the manor and little accents that give you the ever needed home away from home experience. Would definitely plan a visit in the future

    Reply
  3. Annaela says

    February 15, 2018 at 12:01 pm

    This is a very interesting article.

    Reply
  4. luis parsons says

    February 8, 2018 at 7:41 am

    woah!this is such a cool place I love the old feeling of it like and the artistic way of the interiors!thanks for sharing this hotel. will surely go here someday!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Things to do in the New Forest - Cyclex Experience - Life Beyond Borders says:
    March 5, 2018 at 6:29 pm

    […] are a variety of hotels to stay in; spa hotels, opportunities to become involved with cookery classes to manor […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Search site

Follow me!

Email: gretta at mumsdotravel dot com
Follow me on FacebookFollow me on Google+Follow me on TwitterFollow me on InstagramFollow me on YouTubeFollow me on PinterestFollow me on Bloglovin

You'd like posts by email?

Booking.com

Most popular posts:

  • Where to find Mary Poppins film locations in London
    Where to find Mary Poppins film locations in London
  • How to pack for an 8 kg luggage allowance
    How to pack for an 8 kg luggage allowance
  • Thailand with teenagers: a two-week summer itinerary
    Thailand with teenagers: a two-week summer itinerary
  • What to do when your teenager doesn't want to go on your family holiday
    What to do when your teenager doesn't want to go on your family holiday
  • Itinerary for a three-night Berlin sightseeing trip with a teenager
    Itinerary for a three-night Berlin sightseeing trip with a teenager
  • 5-night itinerary for Northern Tunisia
    5-night itinerary for Northern Tunisia
  • 8 great family holidays for football fans
    8 great family holidays for football fans
  • Hotel review: Amari Watergate, Bangkok, Thailand
    Hotel review: Amari Watergate, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Jane Austen tour: the places where she lived and wrote
    Jane Austen tour: the places where she lived and wrote
  • Hotel review: The Tongsai Bay, Koh Samui, Thailand
    Hotel review: The Tongsai Bay, Koh Samui, Thailand

Recent Posts

  • How to apply for Italian citizenship: everything we’ve done so far
  • How to explore London’s top attractions from home
  • Amsterdam virtual museum & gallery tours
  • Introducing Armchair Travels
  • How to explore Florence, Italy, from home

About

  • About
  • Published in
  • Contact

Disclosure

This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

Copyright © Mums do travel 2019
Header by Suzanne Barton
Website by
Callia Web

Sign up for my free newsletter:
Subscribe to the Mums do travel mailing list... it's FREE!
You'll receive family travel news, offers and competitions. Once you sign up you can download my tips for saving money on family travel.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Sign up for my free newsletter: