Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa Hotel

New Milton, New Forest, Hampshire, England

It’s easy to see why people keep coming back to Chewton Glen. The setting is spectacular: it’s only a few minutes’ walk to the Hampshire coast and boasts beautiful gardens and a croquet lawn. The spa is large, with superb treatments and thermal pools. There’s a lovely new restaurant, Vetiver, with signature dishes such as Thai-spiced Christchurch lobster curry and a list of over 700 wines. However, as always, it comes down to the little things. Our suite, which was cavernous, and came with a garden terrace, contained a bottle of honey made by the hotel’s bees. Every weekend there are complimentary wine tastings with the sommelier in the ‘wine room’, a spacious cellar-cum-dining area. Frederick Marryat, author of Children of the New Forest, was a frequent guest here, and so first-time visitors are given a copy of the novel (to keep) at bed turndown. If you’re celebrating a special occasion you’ll wake up to balloons and a card at your door. If you’ve not yet been to this enchanting countryside retreat, go now, and add your name to the ever-growing list of regulars.