6 Best Hotels in The South, England

This grand early-19th-century country-house hotel and spa on 130 acres of manicured grounds ranks among Britain's most acclaimed—and most expensive—lodgings. All rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated using rich fabrics; many have a balcony or terrace, and all ooze luxury. Romantics might want to try one of the 12 secluded "treehouse" suites in the woods. The lavish spa is particularly strong on facials and has a large and elegant pool. The restaurant, the Dining Room at Chewton Glen, concentrates on grilled meats and more plant-based or Asian-influenced dishes, with a choice of more than 700 wines (there's also a less formal gastropub and pool bar). Besides golf and tennis (on indoor or outdoor courts), family-friendly leisure activities such as archery, falconry, pony grooming, and walking with miniature sheep are available, along with guided bike rides in the forest or kayaking. There's also a self-contained cooking school and a tree house kids' club. A 20-minute walk through the grounds takes you down to the coast. Chewton Glen is 12 miles southwest of Lyndhurst on the A35.

Because this country-house hotel reflects the owner's precise vision and attention to detail, a stay here is like a stay at a friend's home, if your friend has an exquisitely tasteful but comfortable, eco-friendly Georgian house on a 400-acre estate an hour from London. The decor is all about stealth wealth, eschewing traditional marble and glitz for muted earth colors in rich fabrics and luxuries like underfloor bathroom heating and Bang & Olufsen televisions. The hotel is committed to being as self-sufficient as possible, with 60% of its produce sourced from its biodynamic farm, eggs from its 480 hens, and cheese from its dairy cows (who you can visit). There are two restaurants (which have won a Michelin Green Star for sustainability), a board games room, and a screening room that hosts showings of first-run films as well as lectures. Also on-site is a spa complex with airy pool, and outdoor activities include wild swimming in the lake as well as fishing, horse riding, and falconry.

English Heritage has created two lovely cottages out of what was the ceremonial entrance to the Osborne estate (it's still the entrance the Royal Family uses when they visit the property). The two lodges, decorated in an understated contemporary style, have two double bedrooms each, plus a living room with a wood fireplace, dining room, kitchen, and private garden. Your rental includes free admission to both Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle, plus out-of-hours access to the Osborne grounds and beach, making it virtually your private estate.

This coastal outpost of the stylish, food-centric Hampshire boutique hotel minichain is in a Victorian Gothic former private residence in an unspoiled village on the scenic, peaceful Studland Peninsula. Rolling lawns look out over Studland Bay and the Old Harry Rocks at the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast; mats and towels are even provided for excursions to the beach below. Inside the hotel, shabby-chic bedrooms combine comfort with understated elegance (some have mullioned windows and paneled ceilings) as well as individualquirky touches such as freestanding roll-top baths. Two separate thatched-roof cottages are good for those who want privacy, and there's a caravanlike shepherd's hut on the lawn where you can spend the night. As at all the Pigs, the restaurant is excellent, utilizing seasonal ingredients grown on-site or sourced within 25 miles.

Although deep in the British countryside on a 500-acre estate, this country-house hotel, part of the luxury chain, is only a half hour from Heathrow; the manor house's original wing (the others are more contemporary) dates back to 1728, although luxuries like marble bathrooms and Frette linens are thoroughly modern. Relax in the heated indoor pool and spacious spa offering Dr. Barbara Sturm treatments and hypnotherapy, or enjoy country pursuits like horseback riding (there's an equestrian center), fishing in the stocked pond, falconry, and clay-pigeon shooting. For the more adventurous, there's zip-lining. There are also family-friendly elements, such as a special kids' pool with a waterslide and a supervised kids' club on weekends. Dining options range from a Vietnamese-influenced spa café and a pizzeria to a restaurant serving seasonal Modern British food.