Staying in cottages in the New Forest is the ideal way to experience this charming area. There’s New Forest holiday cottages dotted all around the National Park area, in and close to places such as Barton on Sea, Brockenhurst, Burley, Fordingbridge, Lymington, Milford on Sea and more.
Take New Forest holidays or short breaks and you can enjoy all this glorious area has to offer. Including the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, the beaches of the south coast and all the trails to explore in the New Forest National Park.
Whether you want to find a family friendly or dog friendly cottage, this guide is here to help. I live locally, so I know all the villages and towns of the New Forest very well. Only the best New Forest cottages are listed here, which have been handpicked because of what they offer in terms of location, amenities, luxury and value for money. This list includes only the highest rated properties for your New Forest holiday too.
Self catering in the New Forest means you can make the most of all the great farm shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants of the area. Wander into the village for a cosy pub lunch, book a top notch restaurant for a feast to remember, or pick up some outstanding pies, exceptional sausages or local cheeses for a snug evening in.
Here are 20 of the best New Forest holiday lets. From New Forest luxury cottages for two to holiday homes in the New Forest for all the family plus the pets, you can find them all right here. Let’s go!
Cottages in the New Forest contents
- New Forest National Park cottages comparison chart
- 20 best holiday cottages to rent in the New Forest
- 1 bedroom cottage hire in the New Forest
- 2 bedroom holiday homes to rent in the New Forest
- 3 bedroom holiday cottages in the New Forest area
- 4+ bedroom cottages to let in the New Forest
New Forest Cottages Comparison Chart
| Name | Location | Size | Type | Highlights | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pebble Cottage | Barton on Sea | 1 bedroom, sleeps 2 | Studio | Close to cliff top, fresh decor, garden views | Check here |
| East Lodge | Fordingbridge | 1 bedroom, sleeps 2 | House | Historic gate house, open fire, pet friendly | Check here |
| Jekyll Gardens | Burley | 1 bedroom, sleeps 2 | Flat | Gertrude Jekyll garden, character property | Check here |
| Beaches Studio | Milford on Sea | 1 bedroom, sleeps 2 | Studio | Coastal location, close to village and beach | Check here |
| The Coop | Milford on Sea | 1 bedroom, sleeps 2 | Shepherd’s hut | Tiny home, cosy feel, near village and beach | Check here |
| The Old Dairy | Lyndhurst | 1 bedroom, sleeps 4 | Converted farm building | On a farm, near village pub and shop | Check here |
| Riverside Lodge | Fordingbridge | 1 bedroom, sleeps 4 | Log cabin | Glorious gardens, waterside, character feel | Check here |
| Victorian Cottage | Lymington | 2 bedrooms, sleeps 3 | House | Neighbourhood location, lots of green space | Check here |
| Trinny’s Pad | Lymington | 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4 | Flat | Just off high street, homely feel | Check here |
| Charming Cottage | Ringwood | 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4 | House | Lovely garden with BBQ, modern farmhouse look | Check here |
| Weir Cottage | Fordingbridge | 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4 | Thatched cottage | Beautiful grounds, quirky decor | Check here |
| The Dairy Cottage | Burley | 2 bedrooms, sleeps 5 | House | Country house location, brook nearby | Check here |
| The Lodge by the Lake | Milford on Sea | 2 bedrooms, sleeps 4 | Lodge | On holiday park, right by fishing lake | Check here |
| Pilley Green | Lymington | 3 bedrooms, sleeps 5 | House | Luxurious interior, near village pub | Check here |
| Saltwater Cottage | Milford on Sea | 3 bedrooms, sleeps 6 | House | Lovely coastal decor, long garden | Check here |
| Downton Cottage | Milford on Sea | 3 bedrooms, sleeps 6 | House | Peaceful spot, large garden with BBQ | Check here |
| Burley Croft | Burley | 3 bedrooms, sleeps 6 | House | Modern tech, wood burner, mud room | Check here |
| Burley Cottage | Burley | 4 bedrooms, sleeps 7 | House | Character property, Rayburn, big garden | Check here |
| The Old Post Office | Milford on Sea | 4 bedrooms, sleeps 8 | House | Coastal decor, Aga, birdwatching | Check here |
| Brockenhurst Bolthole | Brockenhurst | 4 bedrooms, sleeps 9 | House | Close to train station, very well equipped | Check here |
7 x 1 Bedroom Cottages in the New Forest
Pebble Cottage
Best for cliff top walks
- Area: Barton on Sea
- Sleeps: 2
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: up to 1 dog under 25 kg
- Kids permitted: 0 – 2 only (travel cot available)
- Parking: Yes
Pebble Cottage is a self contained annex in the grounds of the owner’s home. This is among those New Forest coastal cottages that’s perfect for lovers of beach life. The hosts here provide thoughtful touches like tea, coffee, fresh milk and luxury toiletries.
The cottage is just a pebble’s throw from the beach. Walk in one direction and you’ll reach the Cliff House – one of my favourite local eateries – or in the other to hit The Housemartin – a great local pub (and another I often visit). For cliff top walks and good grub, there’s nowhere better to stay.
East Lodge
Best for a romantic retreat
- Area: Fordingbridge
- Sleeps: 2
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: Yes
- Kids permitted: Babies only
- Parking: Yes
If you’re seeking luxury dog friendly cottages in the New Forest for just the two of you plus pooch, then you have to check out East Lodge. This historic, character-packed property is perfect for getting away from it all, and the owner here is even happy to arrange the delivery of homemade meals.
Key features making this stand out from other boutique retreats in the New Forest include an open fireplace with logs supplied, underfloor heating, a courtyard garden and a village pub and shop close by. Rockbourne Roman villa is also in this area.
Jekyll Gardens
Best for a historic garden
- Area: Burley
- Sleeps: 2
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: Yes
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
This flat in Burley forms part of a historic country house, and is close to the White Buck, a great New Forest pub. It’s ideal for holidays in the New Forest with dogs, or a couple who want some time together. The garden is gorgeous, can be used by guests and is in fact on the Hampshire Register of Historic Gardens.
Inside it’s classic rather than contemporary, and very clean and comfortable. There are views over those glorious Gertrude Jekyll designed gardens from within, and you’ll find all you need – plus plenty of ponies – in Burley.
Beaches Studio
Best for bijou beach accommodation
- Area: Milford on Sea
- Sleeps: 2
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: No
- Kids permitted: Babies or older children only
- Parking: Yes
Beaches Studio is located in Milford on Sea, and within walking distance of Keyhaven. It’s among the best New Forest self catering cottages for two, and you can walk everywhere from here. Locally you’ll find the lovely coastal village of Milford on Sea, plus the salt marshes of Keyhaven which are popular with bird watchers.
Beaches Studio offers bright, airy and quiet accommodation in a lovely spot close to Hurst Castle, beaches and village amenities. It’s ideal for a couple, including those with a baby, or one parent plus an older child.
The Coop
Best for a shepherd’s hut
- Area: Milford on Sea
- Sleeps: 2
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: Yes
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
As an alternative to pet friendly cottages in the New Forest or New Forest holiday lodges in a busy park, why not opt for a quirky shepherd’s hut? The Coop can be found in the Milford on Sea area. You can walk to local beaches, shops and eateries from here, and Milford on Sea has a great fish and chip shop too. (One of our favourites in the area.)
This is tiny home living at its finest, and the hut is stylishly and cleverly fitted out. Everything you need is right here, and the compact size gives it a cosy, intimate feel. It’s likely to be different from anywhere you’ve ever stayed before.
The Old Dairy
Best for a farmstay
- Area: Lyndhurst
- Sleeps: 4
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: No
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
If up to four of you would love to stay on a farm, then check this one out. It offers self catering accommodation in the New Forest within walking distance of Bramshaw village facilities. These include two pubs and a shop, plus woodland trails.
The resident creatures will charm the children, and it’s also only a 10 minute drive to Peppa Pig World from here. You can even bring your own horses if you’re not content with emus, ponies, chickens, sheep, donkeys and geese. The cottage was once a working dairy, hence the name.
Riverside Lodge
Best for a waterside location
- Area: Fordingbridge
- Sleeps: 4
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: No
- Kids permitted: Ages 3 to 17
- Parking: Yes
This has to be the pick of the New Forest cottages to rent when you love being by the water. There’s also plenty of outside space with this riverside property. It was fully renovated in 2020, and offers small but perfectly formed accommodation for up to 4.
The French doors lead from the kitchen diner to the outdoor deck, and the dining area here is private. Other outdoor spaces are shared between three cottages, including this one. Paddle stairs lead to the living area which has a sofa bed, plus a bedroom and shower room.
6 x 2 Bedroom New Forest Holiday Cottages
Victorian Cottage
Best for charm and character
- Area: Lymington
- Sleeps: 3
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: 1 dog under 20 lbs
- Kids permitted: Ages 3 to 12
- Parking: Available opposite
If you want to find holiday cottages in the New Forest that are dog friendly, how about this one? A dog under 20 lbs can stay, plus a child aged over 3 and up to 12. It’s right opposite a public green space, so is ideal for dog walking and a breath of fresh air.
This is one of those independent cottages in the New Forest with a local feel, as it’s in a residential part of Lymington. It’s also packed with Victorian charm and character, and has a large back garden too.
Trinny’s Pad
Best for Lymington high street
- Area: Lymington
- Sleeps: 4
- Bathrooms: 2
- Pet friendly: No
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
I’m not kidding when I say that you could not be more centrally located than this when it comes to cottages to rent in the New Forest. Trinny’s Pad is just off Lymington high street, and thus close to pubs including a smart and great value Wetherspoons, an M&S food and all the other lovely shops and places to eat in this upmarket town.
The apartment is flooded with light thanks to large windows, and is split over two floors. Dining furniture for half a dozen, a work desk, zip and link beds, blackout blinds, a dishwasher and more ensure you have all you need.
Charming Cottage
Best for a modern farmhouse feel
- Area: Ringwood
- Sleeps: 4
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: 1 only
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
For New Forest cottages for short breaks and longer stays, this cottage between Burley and Ringwood is hard to beat. It’s positioned closer to the market town of Ringwood, which has shops, pubs and plenty of eateries. Moors Valley Country Park and the charming village of Burley are also nearby.
The cottage is styled along the lines of a modern farmhouse, and there are wooden beams throughout. A lovely garden is a real perk, and a barbecue is provided here for preparing meals al fresco.
Weir Cottage
Best for a thatched cottage
- Area: Fordingbridge
- Sleeps: 4
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: No
- Kids permitted: Ages 3 to 17
- Parking: Yes
Weir Cottage is the idyllic, picture postcard country cottage personified. The two acre gardens here are a real plus, and are shared between a trio of homes offering self contained accommodation in the New Forest.
It will be hard to tear yourself away from your camera when staying here, due to the quaint exterior with a thatched roof and the quintessential English country garden. The interior also offers some delightful details, including an American style fridge freezer with water and ice dispensers, a grandfather clock and a nautical-style rope stairway rail.
The Dairy Cottage
Best for a country estate
- Area: Burley
- Sleeps: 5
- Bathrooms: 2
- Pet friendly: 1 house trained dog
- Kids permitted: Yes – cot or folding bed available
- Parking: Yes
Situated in the grounds of Great Wells House, The Dairy Cottage accommodates up to 5, close to central Burley. It’s perfect for self-catering holidays in the New Forest, with wildlife and walking trails all around. There’s even a babbling brook nearby.
This cottage is classic rather than contemporary in style, and an idyllic place for a well-earned break in the Burley area.
The Lodge By The Lake
Best for lake fishing
- Area: Milford on Sea
- Sleeps: 4
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: 1 dog only
- Kids permitted: Yes – cot available
- Parking: Yes
Whether you love fishing or simply like to be by the water, The Lodge by the Lake is spot-on. It’s the pick of the luxury lodges in the New Forest when it comes to position, as you can see from the pictures in the listing.
A spacious deck means you can relax right by the water, and you have all the facilities of the five star Shorefield Country Park to hand. It’s also only 10 minutes’ walk to the beach at Milford on Sea, and the sweet little village close to that.
4 x 3 Bedroom Holiday Homes in the New Forest
Pilley Green
Best for peace plus a local pub
- Area: Lymington
- Sleeps: 5
- Bathrooms: 2
- Pet friendly: Up to 2 house trained dogs
- Kids permitted: No
- Parking: Yes
In a village near Lymington, this is one of the New Forest dog friendly cottages that permits up to two pets. There’s a pub and shop on the doorstep when staying at Pilley Green, so you won’t need to drive everywhere. Lymington town centre is just ten minutes away by car.
Book dog friendly holidays in the New Forest here and you’ll have plenty of space at your disposal. This includes 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, lounge, dining and kitchen areas, and even a garden.
Saltwater Cottage
Best for a beachside break
- Area: Milford on Sea
- Sleeps: 6
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: No
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Available for free in street or local car park
Saltwater Cottage is close to both the beach and the village green in the timeless spot that is Milford on Sea. It’s ideal for those seeking holiday rentals in the New Forest in a coastal and village location.
This is a fabulous New Forest village to stay in, as you have the beach but also a village with everything you need including pubs, cafes, restaurants and a great range of shops. The cottage is beautifully kitted out and also has a long garden outside for the kids to play in.
Downton Cottage
Best for outdoor space
- Area: Milford on Sea
- Sleeps: 6
- Bathrooms: 2
- Pet friendly: Yes
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
Close to both Milford on Sea and Lymington, Downton Cottage is among those fairly large holiday homes in the New Forest. In Downton village, there’s The Royal Oak pub close by, and you can drive or cycle to the town of Lymington or the beach at the village of Milford on Sea from here.
A spacious, private and fenced-in garden makes this the perfect property for pets and kids. Up to six can stay here, and you’ll have access to Smart TVs, a barbecue and parking for a couple of vehicles.
Click here to book
Burley Croft
Best for two lounge areas
- Area: Burley
- Sleeps: 6
- Bathrooms: 3
- Pet friendly: Yes
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
If you want to find New Forest self catering dog friendly accommodation for a family or group, take a look at Burley Croft. It’s in one of the area’s most beautiful villages, and you can walk to the eateries, shops and pubs there in moments.
Burley Croft offers all the mod cons you could want – Smart TVs, fast WiFi, gas central heating and more, plus a snug wood burning stove for winter warmth. There’s even a boot room with garden access for any muddy gear. With two lounge areas and a large garden, there’s lots of space for everyone here.
3 x 4+ bedroom New Forest Holiday Lets
Burley Cottage
Best for New Forest ponies
- Area: Burley
- Sleeps: 7
- Bathrooms: 1
- Pet friendly: Up to 2
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
Burley is a gorgeous New Forest village with some interesting shops and good pubs. There’s also a bike rental and equipment shop here, plus horse riding stables and trails in all directions. Though family sized, this cottage has got to be one of the most romantic cottages in the New Forest as it’s old, packed with character and even has a Rayburn in the kitchen.
There’s also an open fire, French doors that open out onto the garden, parking for up to three cars, wood flooring and even doggie treats! The bedrooms comprise two doubles, a twin and a single. Burley is the best place to spot New Forest ponies wandering through the village, incidentally.
The Old Post Office
Best an Aga and birdwatching
- Area: Milford on Sea
- Sleeps: 8
- Bathrooms: 3
- Pet friendly: No
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
The Old Post Office is located in Keyhaven, near Milford on Sea. It’s a lovely holiday home offering luxury self catering in the New Forest, for up to 8 of you. There’s even an Aga in the kitchen, plus a coastal decor throughout in soft greens, blues and neutrals.
It’s a bird spotter’s dream, as there are panoramic views over the marshes from the property. You can walk to pebble beaches or Hurst Castle from here, and Milford on Sea is only around a mile away.
Brockenhurst Bolthole
Best for a train station
- Area: Brockenhurst
- Sleeps: 9
- Bathrooms: 3
- Pet friendly: No
- Kids permitted: Yes
- Parking: Yes
If you want to arrive in the area by train, then this is the holiday house in the New Forest for you! It’s even equipped with a washer dryer so you can stay on top of the laundry – and a whole lot more besides.
This Victorian house is also convenient for the bus stop and all the facilities of this central New Forest village. As well as open plan living space, it’s got a generously sized garden, and you’re likely to see ponies and even Highland cattle wandering past. Foodies will also love the well-equipped kitchen with dishwasher, food mixer and double oven.
Which Holiday Rentals in the New Forest are your Favourites?
From New Forest weekend breaks in a log cabin on the lake to places offering family or pet friendly holidays in the New Forest area, there’s plenty of choice. Which will it be?
Whether it’s a bijou cottage by the sea for two, a Burley bolthole or a larger house in central Brockenhurst, you’re going to adore spending time in this glorious part of the British Isles. Fresh air, traditional pubs, local wildlife and lots of character – what’s not to love?
For more accommodation options, explore guides to glamping in the New Forest, New Forest gastropubs you can stay at, the best hotels in the New Forest for families, the top 20 New Forest hotels and the best hot tub lodges in the New Forest.
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