If you’re planning to visit the area in summer, then finding New Forest hotels with pools might be a must. Close to the coast yet sheltered by the Isle of Wight, this is one of the sunniest parts of England. So having access to an outdoor pool in summer can be a real plus!
Or perhaps you’d prefer to find New Forest hotels with indoor pools so you can keep up with your triathlon training. Or enjoy a wealth of other facilities found at New Forest hotels with a spa, such as a steam room, sauna and treatment rooms.
In a rush to find the best hotel in the New Forest with a pool? View my number one choice here
I’ve picked Rhinefield House because it offers both indoor and outdoor pools. This is a lovely property with practical facilities in a truly special setting, and it’s packed with character throughout.
Whether you want to book a place with an outdoor swimming pool or are looking for New Forest hotels with indoor pools, this guide will help you find the right accommodation for you. From New Forest family hotels with a pool to romantic couples’ boltholes, this area offers it all in abundance.
To plan New Forest holidays with a swimming pool at your disposal, read on. Plenty of luxury hotels in the New Forest can offer you somewhere to dip your toe into the water during your stay, and due to competition room rates can – perhaps surprisingly – be very reasonable indeed.
Here are seven of the best New Forest hotels with swimming pools.
Best New Forest hotels with pools contents
- Best hotels with pools in the New Forest comparison chart
- Best place to stay in the New Forest with a pool – Top options
- Best New Forest hotels with pools – Reviews & recommendations
- Choosing a New Forest hotel with a pool – What to look for
Best New Forest hotel with pool comparison chart
| Name | Star rating | Location | Pool type/s | Key features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinefield House | 4 star | Brockenhurst | Indoor & outdoor | Lovely restaurant; 40 acres; spa, gym & tennis courts | Check here |
| Burley Manor | 4 star | Burley | Outdoor | Character property; at village edge; spa, bar & restaurant | Check here |
| Chewton Glen | 5 star | Barton-on-Sea | Indoor & outdoor | 5 star facilities, near beach, James Martin cookery school | Check here |
| New Park Manor | 3 star | Brockenhurst | Indoor & outdoor | Hot tub & sauna, central New Forest, kids’ afternoon tea | Check here |
| Balmer Lawn | 4 star | Brockenhurst | Indoor & outdoor | Family owned, very helpful team, unstuffy yet smart | Check here |
| Macdonald Elmers Court | 3 star | Lymington | Indoor & outdoor | 2 swimming pools, expansive grounds, spa on site | Check here |
| Carey’s Manor | 4 star | Brockenhurst | Indoor | Central location, 3 restaurants, beautiful grounds | Check here |
Best accommodation in the New Forest with a pool – Top options
- Rhinefield House, Brockenhurst – Best for a stunning setting
- Burley Manor, Burley – Best for a beautiful building
- Chewton Glen, Barton-on-Sea – Best for spoiling yourselves
- New Park Manor, Brockenhurst – Best for local history
- Balmer Lawn, Brockenhurst – Best for relaxed luxury
- Macdonald Elmers Court, Lymington – Best for great room rates
- Carey’s Manor, Brockenhurst – Best for a Thai-style spa
7 of the best New Forest hotels with a pool
Rhinefield House
Best for a stunning setting
- Star rating: ****
- Location: Near Brockenhurst
- Pool: Indoor and outdoor
Situated on the beautiful Rhinefield Ornamental Drive near Brockenhurst, historic Rhinefield House dates back to 1887. The glorious grounds are a real highlight of staying at this hotel, and among those there is a lovely outdoor swimming pool.
Inside the Gothic structure you’ll also find a crystal steam room, a gym and a spa bath. In the 40 acre grounds there’s also tennis courts.
Rhinefield House is also home to one of the New Forest’s top restaurants, the Armada, and the magnificent Alhambra room named after the original in Granada, Spain. The hotel also serves one of the best New Forest afternoon teas.
High points:
- 40 acre grounds
- Lovely restaurant
- Spa, gym & tennis courts
Low points:
- 2 miles from Brockenhurst
- Not the cheapest option
Click here to book Rhinefield House
Burley Manor
Best for a beautiful building
- Star rating: ****
- Location: Burley
- Pool: Outdoor
I love Burley – the village – and I also adore Burley Manor. It’s a real character-packed property right on the fringe of one of the forest’s most beautiful villages. Like the hotel, the village is also a one-off, with witchcraft shops, a clutch of lovely pubs and a great bike shop.
Burley Manor has an outdoor pool for seasonal use. It also has the best-smelling spa I know, and the gorgeous scent penetrates way beyond the walls enclosing the pampering rooms.
For a four star place with reasonable room rates, Burley Manor really delivers. The restaurant serves delicious fare made from local produce, and accommodation comes with luxury touches like Hypnos beds, deep soaking tubs, power showers and genuine antiques.
High points:
- On edge of village
- Character property
- Spa, restaurant and bar
Low points:
- Not the biggest pool
Click here to book Burley Manor
Chewton Glen
Best for spoiling yourselves
- Star rating: *****
- Location: Barton-on-Sea, New Milton
- Pool: Indoor and outdoor
If you appreciate five star luxury, then you’ll love Chewton Glen. It’s got indoor and outside pools, so you can take al fresco or undercover dips here. But there is another reason why fans of outdoor swimming should book a room here.
Chewton Glen has the beach at Barton-on-Sea just down the road. This is a pebble beach, so pack your beach shoes and more than a paddle in the ocean might be in order.
Other selling points of the Chewton Glen include a James Martin cookery school, laid-back and more formal eateries, tennis courts, free bike use, a luxury spa, tennis courts and much more. There’s also a range of plush accommodation, including the gorgeous signature treehouses in the sprawling grounds.
High points:
- 5 star facilities
- Near Barton-on-Sea beach
- James Martin cookery school
Low points:
- Bucket-list prices
- Not in the heart of the forest
Click here to book the Chewton Glen
New Park Manor
Best for local history
- Star rating: ***
- Location: Near Brockenhurst
- Pool: Indoor and outdoor
New Park Manor offers pools both indoors and out. The hotel was Charles II’s hunting lodge and has a spa, bar & restaurant.
New Park Manor is one of the best hotels in the New Forest for afternoon tea – or for families to stay at – and that’s partly because the hotel has two pools for kids to splash about in. Or indeed adults to have a more serious swim in.
The indoor pool forms part of the hotel’s Bath House Spa, which offers a range of massage, beauty and pampering treatments. There is also an outdoor hot tub and a sauna, and the outdoor pool is very clean and well maintained.
New Park Manor hotel is just outside Brockenhurst village, in the heart of the New Forest. It also has a restaurant and bar on site.
High points:
- Children’s afternoon tea available
- 2 pools, hot tub and sauna
- In central New Forest
Low points:
- Just three stars
- WiFi signal varies
Click here to book New Park Manor hotel
Balmer Lawn
Best for relaxed luxury
- Star rating: ****
- Location: Brockenhurst
- Pool: Indoor and outdoor
The Balmer Lawn is my favourite New Forest hotel of all. It’s a smart yet totally unstuffy place with a truly fantastic team at the helm. And it’s family owned.
It’s family friendly too. There are indoor and outdoor pools, plus Saltus Spa. Beresfords Restaurant also specialises in locally sourced fare, and the good quality afternoon tea here is served in the lobby – sometimes with views of a cricket match and/or New Forest ponies.
The position of the Balmer Lawn is also unbeatable. It’s on the edge of Brockenhurst, right by the road to Lyndhurst and withing walking distance of everything in the village. Including a mainline train station offering direct connections to London Waterloo.
High points:
- Family owned
- Very helpful team
- Unstuffy yet smart four star hotel
Low points:
- Some rooms could do with a refresh
- Building style isn’t to everyone’s taste
Click here to book the Balmer Lawn
Macdonald Elmers Court
Best for great room rates
- Star rating: ***
- Location: Near Lymington
- Pool: Indoor and outdoor
With indoor and outdoor pools plus a spa, gym, restaurant & 2 bars, guests at this hotel near Lymington are spoiled for choice.
Macdonald Elmers Court lies to the east of the well-heeled, coastal town of Lymington. It’s one of the New Forest country hotels which has both an outdoor pool for summer and an indoor one for all-season use.
Though the slightly tired decor isn’t quite what you might expect from boutique hotels in the New Forest, the location and facilities are good. There are extensive grounds too, and rooms have sweeping views over the lawns and courtyards.
All the amenities you might need can be found on site, including a couple of bars, a restaurant with a terrace, a gym, a spa and of course those indoor and outdoor pools.
High points:
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- Expansive grounds
- Spa on site
Low points:
- Tired decor
- Only three stars
Click here to book Macdonald Elmers Court
Carey’s Manor
Best for a Thai-style spa
- Star rating: ****
- Location: Brockenhurst
- Pool: Indoor
For New Forest hotels with a spa, Carey’s Manor is one of the best. It’s also centrally located in Brockenhurst, close to the train station and all the village amenities including pubs, restaurants, cafes and a scattering of shops.
The hotel itself has a good choice of eateries, including a modern British restaurant, a Thai place and one serving French cuisine. You’ll also find an oriental-style spa here, plus a gym, steam room, sauna, spa bath and indoor pool.
Despite the convenient location, Carey’s Manor also has scenic, spacious grounds that are a delight to wander around.
High points:
- Central Brockenhurst location
- 3 restaurants on site
- Beautiful grounds
Low points:
- Can be pricey
- Room sizes and standards vary
Click here to book Carey’s Manor
Choosing hotels in the New Forest with a swimming pool – What to look for
Indoor or outdoor pool
Are you seeking a hotel with an indoor pool, or country house hotels in the New Forest with spacious grounds and an outside swimming pool?
You can use an indoor pool all year round. In summer, though, there’s nothing quite like an al fresco swim in the open air. Some of the best New Forest hotels offer both, meaning you don’t have to choose.
Other amenities
As well as the pool, what other sort of facilities would float your boat? A sumptuous spa, perhaps, or a choice of restaurants on site? Do you want lots of outdoor space in which to wander, or constant access to a well-equipped gym?
Location
What luxury hotels in the New Forest offer in terms of amenities may matter less if you pick a property that’s close to local facilities. Like pubs, cafes and restaurants to dine at.
Also think about where in the New Forest you’d rather be based. Do you want to be near the train station in Brockenhurst, or a cycle hire shop in Burley, for example? Which matters most – where the hotel is, or what it can offer in terms of what you want?
Price
Prices for accommodation in the New Forest can vary a lot. At one end of the scale, there are New Forest luxury hotels. 5 star hotels in the New Forest will clearly cost more than 4 or 5 star places. What is really important to you – and how much are you prepared to pay for it?
Which is the best hotel in the New Forest with a pool?
There is some really good quality accommodation in the New Forest National Park area. And some even comes with the benefit of an indoor or outdoor swimming pool. In some cases, both.
If you’re a bit of a water baby who loves to take a dip inside or out, then you don’t need to miss out when choosing hotels in the New Forest area. From a family-friendly three star to a New Forest hotel regarded as one of the finest in the land, it’s easy to find whatever you want in this unparalleled part of the UK.
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