Limewood Hotel | A Luxury Winter Retreat

As you drive up the sweeping entrance to Limewood Hotel you can’t help but feel a flutter of excitement as the stunning Regency country house comes into full view. Originally established as a hunting lodge in the 13th century, huge care has been taken not to over-run its original charm.

That’s actually the amazing thing about Lime Wood – it’s super charming, super welcoming and super luxe – a bit like going to a friend’s absolutely incredible country home for the weekend. You will simply not want to leave.

Lime Wood is a boutique country house hotel set in the heart of the New Forest National Park – about 1.5 miles from the small town of Lyndhurst and just an hour and a half drive from London. Above is the aerial view of the main house, coach house, cabins and Herb House – the amazing spa.

When you arrive you walk into the beautiful entrance hall and are greeted by staff dressed in beautiful green tweed jackets and jeans – these guys know Lime Wood inside out. Dogs are welcome – a complete novelty for a 5 star country house hotel – and are treated like royalty. The check-in process is seamless with staff able to quickly and diligently attend to your needs. After a long (or short drive) it’s these little touches that make all the difference.

From a design point of view, Lime Wood captures the essence of laid-back luxe combined with classic contemporary style that we love so much at HM.

The collaboration of creative talent who helped to bring Limewood back to life is simply second to none – the architectural parts were designed by Charles Morris and Ben Pentreath, interiors have been added by David Collins and more recently Martin Brudnizki whose recent work includes the Ivy Chelsea Garden.

Ben Pentreath of Working Group Design restored the main house and its extensions, comprising 16 bedrooms, a series of classically designed sitting rooms, library, dining room, informal eatery, bar, cellar and billiard room. Meanwhile Charles Morris, whose previous work includes the Orchard Room at Highgrove, designed the additional buildings which include a further 11 suites and two guest rooms.

The style is both luxurious and relaxed and makes the most of local materials to ensure that the interiors work perfectly with their surroundings. So that they didn’t lose Lime Wood’s original charm, the furniture is an eclectic mix of antique and bespoke pieces while the hand-picked artwork and objects d’art.

Because this is an old English country house, there’s the odd eccentric touch so that there’s always something to be amused by. Really, all you really have to do is kick back, relax and soak up the atmosphere to your heart’s delight.

One of my favourite rooms at Limewood was the Scullery where breakfast is served – it can also be hired out for private events and is used for things like pop-up dining events.

It’s a stunning space with painted wooden floorboards and floor to ceiling plate racks. The focal point though is the stunning stone chimney. Like every room in Lime Wood, the design is classically English with a cool twist.

Accommodation at Lime Wood spills across the entire site so you take a room in the main house, opt for the coach house or get closer to nature in the garden lodges. Each room is beautifully appointed and sums up understated opulence perfectly.

To take a look at all the accommodation options take a look here.

Taking a stroll around the grounds and beyond into the New Forest is the perfect way to work up an appetite for dining at HH&Co and the scenery is absolutely stunning all year round.

Escaping for a weekend at any time of the year is lovely, but particularly during the winter months when everything is a bit grey and dreary. Life at Lime Wood is anything but and you’ll come away completely refreshed (if you leave that is).

To organise a stay at Limewood – book online via their website (keep an eye on these amazing late deals) or call reservations on 023 8028 7177.

Lime Wood Hotel, Beaulieu Rd, Lyndhurst, New Forest, Hampshire SO43 7FZ www.limewoodhotel.co.uk || info@limewood.co.uk