Balmer Lawn Hotel and Saltus Spa Reviewed

A treat for the eyes, senses and soul, Balmer Lawn Hotel in the New Forest is one of our favourite hotels of the season. A gorgeous 4-star Country style hotel, this establishment offers unique access to one of the most beautiful parts of the South of England.

Originally built as hunting lodge back in the 1800s, this building is now suave and sophisticated hotel. In fact, it seems very much a feature of the area and it works well aesthetically with the lush natural surroundings. It is certainly one of the most striking and memorable landmarks of the New Forest National Park.

A short journey in the car will take you to the tiny village of Brockenhurst, a village which very much sums up the New Forest with small hearty pubs and great areas for walking. However, should you need to walk and wander, then the hotel has its own 3 acre grounds. Complete with New Forest ponies and other such wildlife for an extra touch of excitement.

Inside the Balmer Lawn Hotel

Heading inside, the hotel has an extensive range of leisure facilities – 2 squash courts, tennis court, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fully equipped gym, Finnish Sauna and spa bath – you will not be short of things to do, even if the weather is being unkind!

On setting foot in the lobby we felt immediately at home. Dark woods, plush and comfortable furniture, an elegant décor and a feeling of warmth made for a great start to our stay.

The rooms

The hotel offers 54 rooms with a modern and contemporary twist on the country house aesthetic. Each room has its own style and has been individually designed and decorated. This is a wonderful touch and gives a reason to keep revisiting and discovering which rooms work best for you.

Our room (number 43), was comfortable, fairly compact and decorated with a dark plum style décor.  The view was wonderful and we could see miles of the New Forest sprawling from our window. Overall, we were happy with the room, but we felt there could have been a closer eye on cleanliness throughout the bedroom and bathroom. Plus, the mattresses were on the firm side, so keep that in mind if you favour a softer sleep.

Places to relax and enjoy

One of our favourite areas to explore was the hotel’s perfectly formed outdoor seating area to the front of the premises. Fountains, a range of comfortable outdoor seats and heaters was the perfect place to enjoy one of the last warm (ish) evenings of the Summer. A great place to spend any evening we feel!

Dining

Within this wonderful hotel you will find Beresford’s restaurant. The restaurant proudly bares an AA Rosette for fine dining and the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. Beresford’s is also fully reviewed and featured here.

The Balmer Lawn Hotel is a destination we have regularly passed on our travels through the New Forest and one we have always wanted to visit. Our recent trip made us excited about revisiting once more, but it left us a little sad that we had left it so long to visit! A fantastic destination.

For more information and to book your stay, please visit here.