Herb House at Lime Wood
Dreaming of escaping to a luxury spa in the New Forest with fine food, dreamy décor, a sumptuous spa and the level of service you simply don’t get at home? The New Forest’s sublime Lime Wood delivers.
The lowdown
A gorgeous Georgian Manor in the heart of the New Forest with a laid-back luxe vibe, a super spa and fabulous food. Everything about Lime Wood is thoughtfully designed and delivered – from the top-to-toe treatments in the glass-walled spa, to the lovingly landscaped gardens and cracking cocktails. Transport concerns are equally well taken care of, with a couple of EV charge-points for your Tesla, and a helipad, in case you’re arriving by chopper. This nature-loving luxury spa in Hampshire’s New Forest has it all.
Spavellous for
A romantic retreat, foodies, family escapes, solo spa goers, special occasion spa break, afternoon tea, escape to nature.
Spa info
Lime Wood’s Herb House spa has been cleverly designed to make the most of the natural forest surroundings and, as a result, it has a very tranquil feel. Treatments are holistic and benefits are designed to last well after your return home. Enjoy using the spa as a hotel guest or book one of the spas luxury spa day packages or nature-loving wellness retreats.
Herb House Spa facilities include:
• 16m indoor pool
• Large outdoor hot pool with a mediterranean feel
• Spacious and indoor hydro pool with pretty forest outlook
• Sauna – also with lovely forest views
• Steam room and mud room
• Well-equipped modern gym
• Pretty planted roof terrace with outdoor classes during the summer months
Treatment highlights
Herb House spa offers a great range of treatments and spa days which are available to non-residents as well as hotel guests. The spa has partnered with a carefully selected range product houses who share their nature-loving ethos, including Voya, Bamford and Ground Wellbeing, plus Sarah Chapman for facials. Favouring a holistic approach, many of Herb House’s treatments and rituals incorporate elements of traditional wellbeing philosophies and practices, including Ayurveda.
Treatments are luxurious and expertly delivered, with favourites including:
• The Bamford De-Stress Massage – perfect for relieving tension and reducing stress
• The oil-rich Ayurvedic Abhyanga Massage
• Sarah Chapman Bespoke Facial – a tailored, results-driven treatment
Spa staff are very helpful and will happily talk you through options to help you find the treatment best suited to your needs, but we strongly advise booking any treatments well in advance.
I was booked in for the Ground Restorative Ritual, a holistic treatment experience using natural products from small batch Irish skincare brand Ground.
Before the treatment started, the therapist gave me a blind scent test, dabbing Ground’s three signature oils on my hand for me to pick the one I was most drawn to. I chose Balance, a calming oil with lavender, frankincense, and sweet orange – designed, as the name suggests, to promote harmony and equilibrium.
The Ritual began with a refreshing hot towel foot cleanse and some guided breath work, during which I was gently instructed to clench and release my fists in sync with my in and out breaths, a subtle Ground twist on the usual ‘grounding breaths’.
Starting with a firm, rhythmic pressure, the therapist began targeting pressure points, moving up my arms and across my shoulders, sweeping underneath me to get deep into my tight muscles. I could feel the tension subsiding as my mind started to drift away with the soporific music.
Next came the facial element of the Ritual, starting with a gentle cleanse, followed by a slow, sweeping massage using a rich rosehip balm, which she smoothed into my face and décolletage. The therapist’s pace was slow and deliberate, signalling my whole body to calm down and move towards a state of deep relaxation.
My scalp was next in line for a treat – an area that’s often disappointingly overlooked in massages, in my experience. Working Ground’s Recovery Hair Oil, infused with rosemary and clary sage, into my hair, the therapist used firm but gentle strokes to massage my scalp, gently pulling sections of hair as she went. It felt incredibly soothing, and the fresh, herby scent of the oil added to the relaxation.
Then came my favourite bit – chilled gua sha, which created a cooling, calming sensation as the therapist worked the smooth stone around my hairline before moving to my face. She gently scraped and sculpted, paying particular attention to my (tight) jaw and the area around my eyes. It was great for releasing facial tension and felt like it was working wonders on my sleep-deprived eye area too.
Finally, a cloth was gently laid over my eyes and a warm towel was placed across my shoulders to signal the end of the treatment.
After the treatment I was shown to the Relaxation Room where I snuggled under a blanket on one of the comfy lounges and enjoyed a cup of herbal tea and some dried fruit and nuts. Reclining at the press of a button, I eked out a few more precious minutes of relaxation before returning to reality.
Rooms
Like the rest of the place, rooms are beautifully designed and have a top-end feel, from the roll top baths to the marble bathrooms. There are various accommodation options depending on your fancy and finances, ranging cosy rooms in the eaves to the ‘floating’ rustic lakeside cabin. In the main house there’s a lift to the first floor and some of the bedrooms have wet rooms. Family suites and interconnecting rooms are ready to accomodate groups and families.
Wining and Dining
You know a place is serious about its food when it has its own smokehouse and grows its own produce.
There are two dining options at Lime Wood: the acclaimed Hartnett Holder & Co. restaurant, co-helmed by Michelin Star-winning Angela Hartnett and specialising in tantalising Italian fare, and the plant-oriented Raw and Cured café in Herb House spa, offering smoothies, colourful salad bowls and healthy breakfasts. The Courtyard Bar in the main hotel is perfect for a pre-dinner drink or two and will inspire you to get round to that lounge makeover once you’ve made your reluctant return home.
why so spavellous?
Lime Wood is a real treat in every way – from the delightful design to the just-right level of service. The food is fabulous and the spa leaves you feeling perfectly pampered and there’s
something truly special about the forest setting and the sense of natural calm. One of the best luxury spas in the UK, let alone the New Forest.
spavellous tips
Don’t bother packing wellies or kids’ bikes – Lime Wood has a selection of both available for use during your stay.
Check you know where you’re going – it’s not the easiest place to find, especially after dark.
Children are actively welcomed at the hotel, but the spa is adult-only. You can bring your dog, for an additional fee.
Lime Wood also has its own cookery school.
Spa Goers say...
‘Our stay and treatments were perfect in every way’
‘It’s worth the overnight stay – even though it’s very expensive’
‘I loved doing yoga on the roof terrace’
‘I’m already planning my return!’