Careys Manor Hotel & Spa, Brockenhurst, New Forest

Although in the heart of the New Forest, this country hotel is a suitcase-draggable distance from Brockenhurst train station, with its fast links to London. The hotel has its own extensive grounds and walking maps of the area to help you explore. Beaulieu Motor Museum and Buckler's Hard are both just a short drive away. The sister property the Montagu Arms is a seven minute drive, with its award-winning Terrace restaurant.

By car: around 30 minutes' drive from Southampton and 2 hours from London. The hotel offers free parking.

By train: Brockenhurst station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The journey takes 13 minutes from Southampton and 1 hour 40 minutes from London Waterloo. Book trains to Brockenhurst.

It is hard not to be wowed when you walk into the lofty reception area with its roaring fire and grand wooden staircase. If you take a room in this original part of the hotel, which was an 18th-century manor house, then you might never see the more modern corridors of rooms in the newer wings.

Bask in super friendly service from a loyal team, some of whom have been working at the hotel for decades. All guests can access the swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room and pay extra to enter the hydrotherapy pools and thermal rooms. The gym and fitness classes are also superb.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Indoor pool
• Spa
• Wheelchair accessible
• Free breakfast
• 24-hour room service
• Laundry service

• Free parking

• Free Wi-Fi

The styling is different depending on where you are in the hotel. Manor rooms and suites are in the old part of the building and generally have high ceilings and antique furniture including, for example, a four-poster bed. Garden rooms either open onto the garden or have a Juliet balcony and garden views and have more modern furniture.

Room types: Manor Rooms & Suites, Garden Rooms & Suites, Pittefaux Cottage

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with bath & shower, tea and coffee-making facilities, bathrobes, king-size bed, TV, free Wi-Fi

A wonderfully characterful French restaurant called Blaireau serves up classic Gallic cuisine, such as moules, bisque and confit duck with tables that spill out onto the terrace. The main hotel restaurant Cambium is more formal, with a refined modern British menu and expert sommelier. Zen Garden serves Thai for lunch and dinner and a healthy spa menu.

Cambium: two AA Rossettes, formal, refined British dishes, local ingredients. Open daily. Mains from £15.