Lime Wood

📍New Forest, Hampshire

For our Neighbourhood Stays series our travel tastemakers uncover hotels and boltholes that ooze style whilst celebrating local. In this instalment Amira Hashish feels fabulously pampered in the New Forest’s finest retreat…

Neighbourhood: Nestled within Hampshire’s New Forest National Park, Lime Wood is enveloped by ancient woodland, bridleways, and dappled glades that feel lifted from a storybook. Just under two hours from London, this secluded country haven is a luxurious retreat with a genuine sense of place. Thickly wooded trails and the soft hush of nature make for a relaxing escape from city life.

What to expect: More laid-back country house than formal five-star hotel, Lime Wood is casually elegant and undeniably welcoming. What began as a Regency hunting lodge has evolved into a relaxed yet refined bolthole that manages to be both grand and grounding. Whether you are escaping for wellness, food, or fresh air, it has all the ingredients for a restorative stay—from forest bathing and spa rituals to fireside cocktails and slow, seasonal dining.

Community and ambience: There is a joyful warmth to Lime Wood. Service is polished without being precious, and the team balance discreet attentiveness with genuine care. Families, city-dwellers in need of a recharge, and stylish locals on weekend lunch dates all blend seamlessly. There is a convivial energy here—especially in the lounges and bars—that makes you feel like a guest in a beautifully kept (and very well-fed) country home.

Design details: The architectural parts were designed by Charles Morris and Ben Pentreath, interiors have been added by David Collins and more recently Martin Brudnizki, Rob Angell and Susie Atkinson. The result is a carefully curated blend of period charm and contemporary style.

Think four-poster beds, roll-top baths, wood-burning stoves, and earthy tones that echo the surrounding forest. From the Italian marble floors to the lived-in velvet sofas and eclectic artworks, every corner feels considered, with a mood that is calm, tactile, and luxuriously unpretentious.

Which room should I stay in? Each of Lime Wood’s rooms and cottages has its own character. We bedded into one of the Forest Hideaway Suites. Tucked away in the grounds, these two-storey spaces come with private terraces, log fires, and forest views. Ideal for couples or small families, they offer a cocooning sense of privacy while still being steps from the main house. For something even more indulgent, the Lake Cabin—on its own private lake—is impossibly romantic.

On the menu: Food is a major draw here, thanks to Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder, who co-head Hartnett Holder & Co, Lime Wood’s flagship restaurant. Expect bold, seasonal Italian-British dishes using ingredients grown in the hotel’s kitchen garden or sourced from local producers. Fresh pasta, grilled meats, wild mushrooms, and imaginative vegetarian options are all highlights. Do not miss the homemade limoncello. For something more casual, head to the bar for small plates and clever cocktails made with herbs from the grounds.

Raw & Cured, Lime Wood’s laid-back all-day café and store, serves healthy smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and hearty salads alongside artisanal bread, charcuterie and cheeses. It is the perfect spot for a nourishing light lunch or post-spa snack. With a warm interior and easy, feel-good food, it has become a local favourite.

Spa time: The Herb House Spa is spread across three floors and built into the forest canopy. It blends seamlessly with the surrounding woodland, with floor-to-ceiling windows that draw the outside in. At its heart is a 16‑metre indoor pool and a rooftop herb garden with meditation pods, while the thermal facilities include steam rooms and hydropools.

Treatments draw inspiration from nature, using organic products from brands such as Bamford and VOYA. The Forest Awakening Massage is particularly restorative—a full-body experience using essential oils, rhythmical strokes, and warm stones to ease tension and rebalance energy. Or try the Bespoke Herb House Massage, tailored to your needs on the day. There are also reflexology sessions, pregnancy massages, and holistic facial therapies for a more personalised approach to wellbeing.

Whether you are floating between sauna and spa garden or curled up post-treatment in the relaxation lounge, the vibe is refreshingly unhurried.

Local experiences: Lime Wood is surrounded by nature, and guests are encouraged to explore it —whether on foot, bike, or horseback. The hotel offers maps for self‑guided walks and has wellies and bikes on-hand. Further afield, visit local farm shops, explore the Georgian market town of Lymington, or wander down to the coast for windswept beach walks.

Is it family friendly? Absolutely. Little ones are well catered for at Lime Wood with dedicated children’s menus, high chairs, and cots available. There are specific pool access hours for younger guests, accompanied by an adult. Bikes with child seats, scooters, board games, and a games room are all at hand. Babysitting services can also be arranged for an additional charge.

For expectant parents, the Bump Bundle is a total treat. The midweek babymoon package includes a restful overnight stay, two 60-minute treatments (including pregnancy massages or facials), a welcome drink, and a three-course dinner in Hartnett Holder & Co. You will leave feeling suitably pampered.

Book: Rooms start from £495 per night, limewoodhotel.co.uk.