Four Seasons Hampshire: the place for family-friendly luxury in the New Forest
Whether you’re in London, Sicily or Los Angeles, you can always count on Four Seasons for its commitment to impeccable service, deeply luxurious interiors and idyllic settings. But why jet across the world when you can sample some of the magic in the New Forest?
Nestled in one of the prettiest counties in England, the Four Seasons Hampshire offers all the decadence you’d expect from an outpost in one of its far-flung locations, while being conveniently located just an hour from London.
Set within a 500-acre country estate that encompasses a lake and equestrian centre (not to mention three pools, an outdoor playground and kids’ club), it’s also one of the most family-friendly luxury hotels in the UK.
Step inside its elegant Georgian manor house and you’ll find lashings of country house style, plus two restaurants and a state-of-the-art spa. Throughout the year, the resort also runs seasonal activities for guests, such as VIP visits from Peppa Pig (who lives nearby at Paultons Park), alfresco dining experiences and outdoor theatre. With past festive offerings including a pop-up ice-rink and visiting reindeer, this upscale resort in Hampshire also makes a perfect winter staycation.
The vibe
Thanks to a multi million-pound restoration back in 2021, crumbling 18th-century country pile this is not. Outside on the lawn, life-size sculptures of boxing hares and wild boar greet visitors, while hotel rooms (of which there are 134, including 22 suites) assemble around an interior courtyard fashioned into cute gardens (rather sweetly, ours hosted a resident family of ducks who apparently came to nest and never left, prompting staff to create a miniature pond for them within the lawn).
While the swathes of historic parkland surrounding the hotel date back to the Domesday Book (fun fact: the site provided the backdrop to Henry VIII’s first meeting with Catherine of Aragon), the inside aesthetic is Georgian manor-meets-chic country house. Alongside the high ceilings, parquet wood flooring and huge picture windows sits traditional wood panelling, sumptuous drapes and bespoke printed wallpaper, giving the hotel a grand yet cosy feel.
The rooms
Essentially a main manor house with three adjoining wings (making up the ‘four seasons’), accommodation varies depending on your room category and location. Visiting as a family of five, we took two of the interconnecting Garden rooms (rooms 4008 and 4010, if you’re after a prime view of the ducks), which included two majestic marble-clad bathrooms with mirrored doors and separate showers and baths.
Next to the opulent fabrics, chandeliers and plush chaise lounges were three enormous beds (a King and two Queens), a sofa bed, and modern amenities such as Nespresso machines and ultra-thin flat-screen TVs. Also in the room were robes and slippers (impressively, the correct sizes had been picked out for each of us), complimentary toiletries, and a minibar laden with Cartwright & Butler snacks.
Upon arrival, the children were greeted with handwritten messages on the bathroom mirrors, freshly baked cookies and personalised bottles of milk with straws, while the adults were presented with a delicious homemade apple crumble pie.
The dining
The hotel’s primary dinner destination, Wild Carrot (named after a white wildflower in its grounds), steps up to the challenge of feeling slick and modern while honouring its countryside location. Round tables and leather chairs sit alongside intimate booths and beautifully upholstered banquettes, while vintage lamps and polished wood floors add to the traditional vibe.
We dined at sunset, looking out onto the countryside through the restaurant’s gargantuan picture windows while feasting on starters of burrata and Devonshire crab, followed by main courses of halibut with mussels and braised lamb shoulder with truffle mash. Delighted with the option of two children’s menus (in addition to the complimentary offering for under-5s, there’s a more grown-up Young Diners’ list), our eldest child, seven, lapped up a sirloin steak with chunky chips and sauce Béarnaise, while dessert was knickerbocker glories all round.
Breakfast, also served in Wild Carrot (although there’s an alternative dinner option in the reconceptualised spa restaurant, Café Sante) did not disappoint; think the most generous and high-end of buffets, with everything from Bloody Marys to fluffy lemon and ricotta pancakes, plus the option to order off menu.
Adjacent to Wild Carrot, there's a private dining room, while the library lounge, laden with books, sofas and nooks, is the makes a sophisticated space for afternoon tea or cocktails.
The facilities
Whether you’re alone, on a romantic break or with family, it would be remiss not to check out the converted 18th century stable block spa, home to a huge indoor pool and swim-through outdoor vitality pool featuring numerous jets to pummel and revitalise.
Making the most of the designated children’s swimming times, we popped in for a pre-dinner swim in the 20-metre conservatory pool, before heading to Sharkie’s Reef, a separate and pleasingly warm children’s fun pool with fountains and six-metre water slide. There’s also a gym, sauna, steam room and indoor jacuzzi, plus treatment rooms offering rituals devised by 111SKIN, Ila and Dr Barbara Sturm (the SturmGlow facial, featuring Dr Sturm’s signature anti-ageing massage, is a must).
Outside, there’s a tennis court, kids’ playground and horse stables offering equestrian experiences from riding to pony grooming, plus various outdoor pursuits such as archery and axe-throwing. And that’s without mentioning the simple pleasure of a stroll around the estate’s numerous walking trails and paths, plus the option to borrow bikes free of charge.
The family offerings
As our luggage was whisked away, the children were given their Four Seasons ‘passports’, before being transferred to our accommodation, where they discovered their personalised messages and sweet treats (as the Four Seasons concierge team had arranged a VIP visit for us to Peppa Pig World at nearby Paultons Park the next day, our daughter also received a range of Peppa Pig treats, including a Pickle and Bake biscuit and colouring activities).
As a family, we were all impressed with the sizeable beds, plus small thoughtful touches like a bathroom step. For those with very little ones, swim nappies were complimentary and available at the children's pool), while stashes of biodegradable wipes and Pampers in all sizes were stowed in the baby changing areas of the public bathrooms.
Although admittedly not as sexy as the rest of the surroundings, the mini children’s waterpark felt like a really unique and welcome proposition at a five-star hotel, and although we didn’t have the opportunity to visit the free kids’ club (available Thurs-Sun term time, and daily in the school holidays), our children were thrilled to squeeze in a visit to meet Milo and Dougal, the hotel’s resident ponies. Upon checkout, they were also given the opportunity to choose their own farewell gifts from an enormous chest of toys.
The location
With proximity to attractions like Winchester Cathedral, Paulton’s Park and Marwell Zoo (and with central London only 45 minutes’ away by train from Waterloo, or an hour in the car), the Four Seasons is brilliantly placed for a staycation. Although it resides in the small and otherwise nondescript village of Dogmersfield in Hampshire (its closest towns being Fleet and Hook), the surrounding estate is beautiful, with dining, pampering and outdoor pursuits on tap.
During the 24 hours we were there, we didn’t really want to leave (always a good sign!) and the convenience of being so close to home in Surrey meant we didn’t waste any precious R&R time (or at least as much R&R as you can have with three kids!). We felt like we’d escaped deep into the countryside and already have our eye on returning for a winter break in the run-up to Christmas.
A stay at the Four Seasons Hampshire starts at £500 per night.
You Might Also Like
