The best spa hotels in the New Forest

Just two hours from London, on whichever road you approach, the sudden rumble as you cross over a cattle grid announces your arrival in the New Forest: 145 square miles of ancient heath and woodland where ponies, donkeys, pigs, cattle and deer still freely roam. Designated as a royal hunting ground by William the Conqueror, England’s smallest national park is criss-crossed by walking and cycling paths and dotted by pretty villages.

With such peaceful surroundings, the New Forest is a perfect location for a spa retreat. Here, tranquility and naturalness are assured, both in relaxing spas and out in the open air. Read on to discover the country house hotels, which excel in their wellness offering as much as they do in hospitality, setting and gastronomy. All in picturesque pockets of Hampshire, these are the five best spa hotels in the New Forest.